Blog Archive

On one of my trips to India, I met an interesting man. I’ll call him Rajiv. To look at him, you might not find him exceptional. But then you learn the truth—beginning with this surprising fact: Rajiv cannot read or write. Yet he is one of the most powerful and effective pastors in the Bihar state of India! 

How does it happen? Through his faithful wife. She does all the reading for him every day, and as he speaks, she does his writing too. It’s an absolute partnership of Bible study and sermon preparation! 

But of course, while an illiterate pastor is extraordinary, Rajiv is not alone in his illiteracy. He grew up in a tribal culture where education was not a high priority. From his earliest childhood, Rajiv learned to relate to forces both natural and supernatural. He became a good farmer, a good shepherd, and ultimately, a good witch doctor! Rajiv became what the Indians call a “spiritual man.” He could literally walk on fire and not get burned. He could stir a large boiling pot of rice with his hands and arms. And he could teach these practices to others. 

But there was a lot of sadness and darkness to life. It was oppressive. It was harsh in its treatment of people. Ultimately, even though he was a “spiritual man,” he was spiritually empty. Then one day, by the grace of God, Rajiv heard someone talking about a man who had lots of powers: power over water, power over nature, power over life and death. There was no literature to read about this strange phenomenon—and if there had been, Rajiv couldn’t read it anyway. But he wanted to learn more about this man—and about His followers. The more he explored, the more impressed he was. Until finally one day he decided to give his life to Jesus Christ as His personal Savior and Lord. 

From that day to this, Rajiv says he has found those original stories to be totally true: Jesus is everything he heard about and much more! 

Rajiv and all his family are now involved in ministry and he has devoted his life to helping others hear the story of Jesus. Teaching others He’s real. He’s alive. He’s the Son of God. He’s all-powerful. He’s all loving. He’s totally available to give the gift of abundant life—and eternal life—to anyone who comes to Him! Glory to God. 

 

In our relentless pursuit of spreading the Gospel, we find ourselves standing witness to a phenomenon that transcends human comprehension—the uncontainable move of God. As we navigate the intricate pathways of faith, we are confronted with moments that defy the limitations of language, leaving us grasping for words to encapsulate the magnitude of what we’re experiencing.

Picture this: a landscape transformed by the divine touch, where hearts once hardened are now softened by the gentle whisper of grace. In the midst of uncertainty and chaos, we see the emergence of hope, like a beacon illuminating the darkest of nights. Each encounter, each testimony, is a testament to the boundless love and power of our Creator.

But how do we begin to articulate the ineffable, to capture the essence of the miraculous unfolding before us? It’s as if we need a new lexicon, a “divine dictionary,” to translate the profound into the tangible. From the fervent enthusiasm of those embracing visionary Christian views to the intentional pursuit of divine purposes, we find ourselves immersed in a language that speaks directly to the soul.

As we journey deeper into the heart of God’s mission, we discover that our words fall short, unable to contain the fullness of His glory. Yet, even in our inadequacy, we press on, compelled by the urgency of the task at hand. For we know that beyond the boundaries of language, there lies a realm of possibility where God’s love knows no bounds.

Join us as we seek to unravel the mysteries of this divine movement, to bear witness to the transformative power of faith, and to journey together into the uncharted territories of God’s kingdom. Together, let us embrace the wonder of the uncontainable move of God, knowing that in His presence, there are no words—only awe and wonder.

As the New Year dawns, it’s common to find ourselves in a reflective state, considering our aspirations and setting resolutions for the year ahead. A young man recently approached me with a thoughtful inquiry that is likely on the minds of many: “How can I position my life to achieve fruitfulness in the year ahead?” In essence, he was asking not just how to make wise New Year’s resolutions, but more importantly, how to keep them. This question finds its answer in the teachings of Jesus, particularly in John 15:8, where He says, “The Father is glorified in our bearing much fruit—AND—this proves we are His disciples.”

This scriptural insight provides a profound framework for setting resolutions as it highlights the importance of bearing fruit. But what does it mean to bear fruit in the context of New Year’s resolutions? The fruits that Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit seek are evident in three key areas: Christian character, Christian conduct, and Christian converts.

1. Developing Christian Character:

Christian character refers to the inner transformation that aligns us with the virtues of Christ. This includes cultivating qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In setting resolutions, consider goals that foster these attributes. For instance, resolving to spend daily time in prayer and Bible study can deepen your understanding and practice of these virtues.

2. Exhibiting Christian Conduct:

Christian conduct is about how we live out our faith in our daily interactions and decisions. It involves embodying the teachings of Christ in our relationships, work, and community involvement. Resolutions that focus on improving how we treat others, volunteering for charitable work, or being more ethical in our professional lives are ways we can exhibit Christian conduct.

3. Fostering Christian Converts:

The third aspect of bearing fruit pertains to evangelism and discipleship – leading others to Christ and helping them grow in their faith. This doesn’t necessarily mean setting a goal to convert a specific number of people; rather, it’s about being open to opportunities to share your faith and being a living testimony of Christ’s love. Resolutions might include joining a ministry at church, starting a Bible study group, or simply being more intentional about having spiritual conversations with friends and family.

In aligning our New Year’s resolutions with these aspects of fruitfulness, we do more than just set goals for self-improvement. We position our lives to glorify God and demonstrate our discipleship. This approach transforms our resolutions from mere aspirations into acts of worship and service.

As you set your resolutions for the year ahead, consider how they can contribute to developing your Christian character, conduct, and ability to foster converts. Remember, the goal is not perfection but progress in aligning our lives more closely with the teachings of Christ. In doing so, we not only find personal fulfillment but also contribute to the greater work of God’s kingdom.

May this New Year be one of growth, not just in our personal ambitions, but in our journey of faith, as we seek to bear fruit that glorifies God and proves our discipleship.

Every so often we hear from our national leaders who reach out with enthusiasm to share life-changing stories. We recently heard from Dawn. You could hear the excitement in her voice as she shared about a young woman from Turkey, whom she led to the Lord two years ago. 

She called Dawn in tears a few days. She was working at a hospital where she met a young girl looking to have an abortion. Her doctor had recommended that she abort the baby in her womb because she had taken a strong medicine which the doctor was sure could cause deformity in the baby. The only way he would allow the pregnancy to go on was if a sonogram could prove him wrong. The two young women didn’t have the money for the sonogram so Dawn, our missionary, sent money from the support she gets from us. The sonogram showed the baby to be in perfect shape! The baby was saved, and the young mother received the Lord as her Savior! 

Just as Dawn exclaimed in her audio message, we join her in saying that – by the Grace of God, WE SAVED A LIFE! 

Thank you for your faithful support and commitment to World Link Ministries’ mission.