Greetings from Brother Rao
Brother Rao has worked for many years in the Andra Pradesh region of India. He set up the FACT (Faith Action for Community Transformation, www.fact-india.org) project that is reaching out to many people at grassroots level in this region. Brother Rao was able to share on his work at the recent ministries without borders WorldWatch conference in Cardiff, UK in 2009.
Our God is so good and He has blessed me and our ministry in 2009. Firstly, He has answered my prayers to travel abroad after 23 years of waiting. I received an invitation for a conference in UK, and He has increased my burden and concern to do more of His work in our area. It was a great privilege with unforgettable memories.
We faced several problems last year, but saw the helping hand of the Lord in each and every movement. I offer full thanks to my God and have to share this joy with you. God has given us many souls in 2009. Many of the families we work with are very strong Hindu devotees and have been in the clutches of idols for many years. But God has touched their hearts and they have surrendered their lives to Him. In one month, 192 men and women accepted the Lord. Amen!
One man from a village called Vullupalem miraculously accepted the Lord as his personal saviour. He was notorious for causing us troubles. He committed thefts, and cut the wheels of our rickshaw used to publicise our night meetings in the village. One day he interrupted our prayer and fasting meeting by coming in drunk and swearing at us. On our way home from the meeting he waited by the road with a stick to beat us, but God protected us because he disappeared as a police van came along.
But one day he was bitten by a cobra and fell unconscious. There was no way of taking him into town, which is more than 60 km from the remote village. I called our pastors and believers and we prayed for him. People were crying and said God had sent the snake to kill him because he was stopping God’s work. I said, “My God is a loving God, and because of this love we came to your house. If you allow us to pray for him, our God will heal him.”
We prayed from 10am to 4pm and Hallelujah, glory to God! At 4.15pm the man was healed! He was surprised and started crying, saying, “Now I know how God loves me and has saved my life.” This is not just a story – it’s a real life-changing experience. God has been doing miracles; healing the sick, releasing people from evil and changing many lives.
We have also been doing social work, supporting the women to overcome poverty by starting their own agricultural business. We are praying and fasting for 70 milk cows lost during the recent floods; each costing 20,000 rupees.
This year a total of 267 members were added to the Kingdom. Our target is to reach more than 500 families this year. I have a burden for the over 8 million Hindus in the Andhra Pradesh region.
Please remember our ministry in your prayers. May God give you more blessings in 2010. Happy New Year.
Your brother,
Rao
