Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Revival - Pandita Ramabai

I want to write about some of the revivals which the church witnessed. I won’t be writing in detail but will be giving a brief note.

Let me start from India and Pandita Ramabai.

In schools, it is taught about the Indian social reformer, Pandita Ramabai. She was a poet, a scholar, and a champion of improvement in the plight of Indian women. As a social reformer, she championed the cause of emancipation of Indian women.Her father was Anant Shastri Dongre, a scholar of Sanskrit, and her mother was Lakshmibai. They were a Chitpawan Brahmin couple. Her father taught her Puranic Sanskrit and she made quite a name for herself as a scholar in Puranic circles, earning the name Pandita.

Although she was a Brahmin, she married, on 13th November 1880, Babu Bipin Behari Madhavi, a Bengali lawyer at Bankipore (Patna, Bihar), who was not a Brahmin, and this created a stir in the orthodox circles of Hindu society.

After her husband’s death she found herself unable to play the role traditionally reserved for upper-caste Hindu widows, and converted to Christianity, an action which created a scandal even in liberal Calcutta society.

It is noted by some historians that this prayer warrior initiated one of the earliest revivals that swept across India. She was a nominal Christian till 1891 when she was fully converted. She led an institution to help widows and orphans, among which many were victims of famine. By 1901 she had around 2,000 girls in her institution. She called it Mukti Mission near Pune, Bombay.

She spent long days in fasting and prayer. Between December-February 1901, 1,200 girls in her institution were baptized. God began a revival there. It was in 1904 that she heard that there was a revival in Wales, and her hunger to see the same in India deepened. Prayer circles were organized. It grew from 70 prayer circles to 550. She later challenged them to work for the Lord. At first 30 young women volunteered. They were empowered with great power. One of the thirty volunteers was so deeply consumed in the spiritual fire that the other girls threw water on her thinking that the fire was real! Ramabai’s teachings had so much power that women - both young and old - began to weep, confess their sins, and pray for more power from above. Two girls, it is said, were so gripped with hunger that they prayed and prayed still their face literally shone with a heavenly light. Many missionaries from other parts of India came in to spend time there. Many testified to receive the “baptism of fire” thus spreading it to many parts of India.

My prayer is that may God raise may people like her and may we all see a mighty revival.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Malayalam Christian Sermon Site

I came across a site yesterday which I had seen earlier also. Its a good site with latest Christian News, Songs, Messages etc. It’s has this years IPC Kumbanad Convention Message also. I hope its this years though I am not sure. You must visit this site if you are looking for things in Malayalam.
The Global Messenger- Malayalam Christian Online Daily
http://www.thegmnews.com

IPC Kumbanad Messages
http://01772ee.netsolhost.com/KUMBANAD_CONVENSION_PRASANGAM.html

There are many other things to see in that site.

May God Bless the People who are behind it

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Persecution in India and Andhra Pradesh

I feel the people in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India are facing lot of persecution these days. I can remember that maximum reports are coming from there. I posted a blog with a video link few days ago and it was about a pastor being beaten in AP.
Now some of the latest news from AP and other places :-

Indian Hindu Militants Burn Down Church, Attack Pastors
http://www.worthynews.com/christian/indian-hindu-militants-burn-down-church-attack-pastors/

India: Pastor Tied, Beaten with Wooden Clubs
http://www.worthynews.com/christian/india-pastor-tied-beaten-with-wooden-clubs/

India: Young Pastor Found Dead in Andhra Pradesh
http://www.worthynews.com/news/worthynews-com-christian-india-young-pastor-found-dead-in-andhra-pradesh-/

India: Dubious ‘Reconversion’ Movement Expands
http://www.worthynews.com/christian/india-dubious-reconversion-movement-expands/

India Militants Massively Attack Bible College; Christians Injured
http://www.worthynews.com/news/worthynews-com-christian-india-militants-massively-attack-bible-college-christians-injured-/

I am sure that these reports are not the only reports. But this will help us all to understand the situation prevailing in India now.

One thing is sure-Persecution has increased and people are facing more problems now.

But persecution against God’s children did not start yesterday. 1st century church had to go through lot of problems. But in mist of it they saw the glory of God. If we read Acts of Apostles then we see that its a story of church growing in mist of persecution. When persecution started in Jerusalem and people were scattered- we see the church starting in many new places like Antioch.

I would like to put here what Gamaliel said in Acts 5:34-39-

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.”For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.”After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.”So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

I want to again repeat the last part:-
“I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

Only time will prove what is truth. For more than 2000 years it stood still. Many kings and rulers rose to wipe out Christianity and Bible from the world. But it has only grown.

All these reports may bring sorrow to us because the people who are doing all this “do not realize what they are doing”.
Lets pray for all the people who are burning down and killing innocent people. May God have mercy on them and open their hearts to see the truth in the way they ought to see.

May God Bless all the people who are involved in persecution!

Monday, March 12, 2007

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Pastor Beaten in India Video

I found this video of a Pastor being beaten in India for the sake of Gospel Preaching.
May it encourage you to pray for people going through persecution around the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAi7iyjEdT8

Be Alert: Do not fall into this trap!

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