renewal for us, hope for them

As many of you know, the Renew Conference we had at our church last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday had a duel purpose. First, it was a time for us to reflect on our own need for spiritual renewal and revival. As we focus together on the cross of Christ during this lent season, our intention is to reflect on what is most important in this life- the true meaning of the gospel is that Christ came to us and demonstrated His love for us by dying on the cross- that is the central issue of our lives- that the One who is most important in the universe sees us as His beauty, and therefore nothing else in this life has more meaning. It is the ultimate truth that answers all of our fears and anxieties and encompasses all of our hopes and dreams for the future. When we get the gospel straight and recalibrate our hearts according to that truth, everything else takes care of itself. That is what we drive home day after day during this forty day fast of lent season leading to Easter.

My good friend and Indian pastor, Sundar Sing Moses lead us through this journey with some excellent Bible study on prayer and spiritual renewal. I am very thankful for Sundar and your response to him. He was truly blessed by our congregation. It was wonderful to hear what God is doing in India and to hear from this humble and godly pastor.

The second purpose of this event was to benefit the orphanage in Motipur India. Our church is partnering with Global Action in the construction of several homes at the orphanage that will house up to 7 children apiece along with house parents. This "Hope Center" is run by Indian Christians on the edge of the Napal rain forest in one of the most unreached parts of the earth. The region is almost exclusively Muslim and Hindu, and yet this little orphanage has started a church and has a goal of raising over 200 children in a Christian environment and provide them with a first class education. The Hope Center will also provide a medical clinic for the region, an agricultural center and vocational training. In just a few months the school already has close to 100 children about half of which were taken from the slums of Delhi and Calcutta and Lucknow and given a new life and a new home, while the other half come from the surrounding community. It is truly a miracle in the making, and I am so pleased that our church has joined the effort.

I am thrilled to tell you today that in the three days of our conference, our church raised over 20,000 dollars for this Hope Center! Even as I write the words I can hardly believe it.

What an amazing and beautiful and generous congregation we have! I am so thrilled to be a part of what God is doing and to be involved in our church. I am so grateful to pastor such a loving and generous and Kingdom minded group of people. It is truly humbling and exciting to share this journey with you.

In addition, we have had many who have committed to return to Motipur next October for a mission trip that will begin the construction of these new homes. We have had some excellent builders and engineers from our congregation, along with some of our teenagers and parents who have committed to this trip.

It will be wonderful to be a part of the construction of this Hope Center and to follow the progress of these beautiful children down through the years.

What started for us as weekend of renewal, will translate into the transformation of many young lives in one of the darkest places on the planet.

As Sundar is fond of saying- "Praise the Lord!"