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

News of MPs’ expenses have been grabbing headlines and becoming the topic of conversation in the UK for weeks. Stories continue to unfold day by day on government ministers systematically abusing public finance for personal gains.

Trust in our country’s leaders are shaken, bringing their reputations into disgrace and disrepute. The thousands of pounds claimed by MPs for second homes, taxi rides and mortgages that didn’t exist outrage the public.

The latest in the scandal first exposed by The Daily Telegraph involves the resignation of The Speaker Michael Martin, the first in over 300 years. This calls for a major shake-up of the entire system.

The expenses scandal has spread all over the country as regional papers pick up scrutinise their local MPs from Westminster to Wythenshawe.

How a select few could exploit taxpayer’s money using their power and position while ordinary citizens are struggling to make ends meet has shaken the nation.

Many have already begun to apologise but others have defended their expenses as being within the confines of the rules. There may have been rules, but there is also morality. Surely the MPs would know that what the Commons fees office allowed was not right, especially if these rules were created by themselves.

The Bible is full of scriptures that tell us how God delights in honesty, integrity and righteousness. In fact, justice and righteousness are the foundations of His throne – the very characteristics of His being and His kingdom.

I am reminded of Daniel, who found himself in politics when King Darius appointed him as one of his three administrators. Daniel’s accusers struggled to bring him down because they could find no corruption in him. ‘… he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent in his conduct of government affairs’. (Dan 6:4)

Matthew Ling, who leads the Living Rock Church in Coventry, commented on this subject on Roger Aubrey’s blog:

“The few MPs with genuine integrity, who have not been behaving this way, should begin to rise to prominence as others find their political careers coming to an abrupt end. God is shaking our parliament and those whose lives are built on godly principles will be exalted in the process.”

It’s times like these that the world needs to look at how the church and the elders conduct their finances with transparency. The church offers a real and effective alternative to a secular world that continues to be riddled with greed and corruption.

Proverbs 11:5 The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

By Wan Phing Lim

Update: Wednesday 11th February 2009:

Praise God, North Somerset NHS Trust have now reinstated Caroline Petrie with no disciplinary action and allowed her to return to work – Click here for the full update on this story.

The story of NHS community nurse Caroline Petrie has been in the news quite a bit this week. She has been suspended and faces disciplinary action by offering to pray for someone to be healed. She was quoted as follows on the BBC website:

“My faith got stronger and I realised God was doing amazing things in my life. I saw my patients suffering and as I believe in the power of prayer, I began asking them if they wanted me to pray for them. They are absolutely delighted”

Christians in the UK don’t generally suffer persecution in the same way that our brothers & sisters in other parts of the world do. However, I believe that as we stand for the radical truths and claims of the Gospel, which include healing the sick in the name of Jesus, we will increasingly face opposition and ‘persecution’ of the type that Caroline Petrie is currently facing.

Throughout the pages of the Bible, and throughout history – the good news of the Gospel has always prospered & advanced amongst persecution. The message of the gospel of the Kingdom is increasingly gathering pace in the UK. Yes, that may awaken persecution, trouble and opposition, but we can take great courage from the words of Jesus Christ below in all that we face as we boldly proclaim that Jesus saves, Jesus heals and that Jesus is transforming lives in this nation.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (NIV)

Click here for a good response to this news story in the Daily Telegraph today from Dr Trevor Stammers of the Christian Medical Fellowship.

Mark Lawrence asks whether the current economic climate is a cause of concern for the Christian.

I’m sure like me you’ve noticed that the price of nearly everything you buy has increased dramatically in the last year. You name it – oil, gas, electricity, food and water, you are probably paying more for it today than you did a year ago.

Last week another round of increases in gas and electricity was announced which could see prices rise by another 20%. A recently released report by the Business and Enterprise Committee predicts that “gas and electricity bills for domestic consumers will rise significantly in the near future, over and above the increases already announced this year, with serious consequences for millions of households.”

Over the same period house prices have fallen as confidence and demand ebb away. “For Sale” signs are taking root like trees all over the country as Estate Agents struggle to attract buyers. For the first time on record house prices are falling in all areas of the country. The number of houses sold plummeted to just 62,000 in August, which is the lowest level since records began in 1959 and less than half the figure for a year ago, according to HM Revenue and Customs.

If that wasn’t bad enough the failure of a number of companies across the world has triggered a global financial crisis, with UK and US banks themselves now engulfed, this crisis takes on unprecedented proportions.

The result is perhaps the bleakest financial outlook in our lifetime. Edmund Conway, Economics Editor at The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and telegraph.co.uk writes on his blog:

All eyes are on the financial system, and rightly so. If its collapse continues for much longer the very real risk is that the world faces an economic slump of the likes not seen since the 1930s, with all that entails… … the possibilities are so horrific it is painful even to write them.

Christians maybe recipients of power from on high yet the price of our electricity goes up just like everyone else’s, we are not immune from the effects of this crisis.

The sons of Issachar understood the times in which they lived and knew what Israel should do. So what should we do at this time of financial uncertainty?

Firstly let’s remind ourselves that although we are in the world, we are not of it. Put another way we live on earth but we live from heaven and the good news is that whilst there maybe a global financial crisis on earth, in heaven all is well.

That doesn’t negate the need for common sense or to use a Biblical word, wisdom. If you don’t have a budget, make one. If you do have a budget, review it so that you can quantify the impact of the increased cost of living and account for this in terms of your spending. Companies all over the world are doing this right now. Why? Because they know that balancing what’s going out against what’s coming in is important particularly in times of uncertainty. If budgeting is not something you are used to do doing ask someone to help you.

Remember that you are called to live by faith, faith in a God who provides for all your needs according to his riches. Don’t forget His provision isn’t limited to your pay packet; He is a God of supernatural provision. It’s possible for the people of God to prosper even in times of famine. In Genesis 26 we read the story of Isaac who sowed in a time of famine and reaped a hundredfold in the same year! Believe God to meet all your needs and more so that you can continue to help to meet the needs of others.

Don’t be afraid! Right now millions of people across this nation and the world are being gripped by fear as newspaper editors’ battle for the most sensational headline. Remember that newspapers and TV bulletins do not provide the ultimate commentary on the affairs of men, the Bible does. The Bible clearly shows us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken and this includes all the nations of the world, their financial systems and ideologies. But it also tells us that we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let’s make this practical. There are millions of people across the world that are in fear of losing their job. Believe God that you won’t lose your job and even if you do, believe God that he will provide a better job. If you find that hard to believe read Maybin’s testimony on this website.

Finally, commit yourself to living according Biblical principles in terms of how you handle your money. The Bible tells us that tithing teaches us to fear God (not financial calamity). The man or woman who truly fears God doesn’t fear anything else. As you continue to tithe remind yourself that God is your provider, it is He who gives you the ability to make wealth. And then continue to sow. Sowing and reaping is a universal principle. God provides us with seed to sow and bread to eat. Sow the seed he gives you in faith believing that you will reap supernaturally even in time of famine.

Praise God we know that we have no need to live in fear in a time of recession.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

“The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else” – Oswald Chambers

The news is full of banks losing money on the stock market, house prices falling and general confidence in the financial systems of the world running pretty low. The media have called this a ‘credit crunch’. Things are moving very quickly in the financial markets of the world and we certainly need to pray for wisdom for the leaders of our nations in this time.

However, as a Christian – I know that the news, whether it comes from BBC or CNN, is not the truth and basis by which I live. I live by the truth of the living word of God found in the Bible. I place my life and the finances of my family in the hands of God, in the economy of heaven where there is no credit crunch, no cashflow crisis & no financial meltdown.

Yes, I see my gas & electric bills go up like everyone else. Petrol still costs the same whether you know Jesus Christ or not, but there is a truth and a vision beyond these costs that mean my financial status and foundation is radically different to everyone else who doesn’t know God.

I’ve blogged in the past on the whole issue of tithing. I totally believe in this biblical principle. The following verse in the Old Testament is a key verse to put into practice, especially when things are as they are in the financial dealings of the world around us.

“Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship…..Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God” – Deuteronomy 14:23 (NLT)

When we tithe, we show that we fear God. We place our life in His hands and choose to trust, obey and worship Him in all His glory, majesty and power. Tithing takes us to a place of peace, to a place of trust and to a place of seeing God provide for all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Praise God, there is no credit crunch in the economy of heaven. When we fear God, there is no need to fear anything else, including the financial provision for our lives and families.

My testimony and that of my family is that when you put your life and finances into the hands of God, He will care for you, provide for you and prosper you. He is AMAZING!

Here are the full details for the Outdoor Praise & Mission Week in Oldham

Sun 10th August; Outdoor Praise in Alexandra Park, Oldham, OL8 2BH, 1pm.
Coaches will leave Kings House at 11:15am & 11:30am after the 9:30am meeting or meet in the park from 12noon onwards for a picnic before Outdoor Praise at 1pm. We will be meeting between the bowling green & playing fields in the centre of the Park for the Picnic & the Outdoor Praise Event.

There will only be a 9:30am meeting / video link at Kings House on this date

Monday 11th – Friday 15th August, Mission Week, Oldham Town Centre.
Meet at 12noon at Kings House or 12:45pm in Oldham Town Centre each day to go out onto the streets with the life changing message of the Gospel!

Transport: Use First Bus numbers 82 or 83. You get on one of these on Oldham Street near Piccadilly Gardens.

The mission: We will meet at the Primark (outside Spindles shopping mall) for 12:45, for prayer and be on the street from 1-4pm. If you are driving there is a car park you could use at Sainsbury’s and walk up to the town centre.

When we go on the streets will be telling people that Jesus loves them and helping them to experience his love and have a relationship with him. We will also be praying for those that are sick to be healed or in need of provision.

Friday: After the town centre outreach, we will have two 1 and a half hours sessions (5.30pm – 7pm; 7.30pm-9pm) to meet with those who will be saved, or interested in knowing more about Jesus and us as a church over tea/coffee and nibbles. This will be at the Oldham Library, in the Performance Hall. Please note we will not be having a meal as previously advertised.

Driving Directions:

Outdoor Praise, Alexandra Park OL8 2HB

Drive on A62 Oldham Road. Turn left into A6104 Hollins Road. Turn left into Ashton. Turn right into Honeywell lane. Leave Honeywell lane and head straight onto Alexandra Road. Leave Alexandra Road turn left onto Kings Road. There is parking on Kings Road or you use the park car park on Queens Road.

Mission Outreach

Drive on A62 Oldham Road enter Manchester Street Round about leave at 2nd exit. Stay on Manchester Street and turn onto Union Street.

Contacts: Ezekiel 07738635214 or Andrew 07813136440

More than 120 officers will be focused on tackling gun crime across Greater Manchester after a £6.5m investment.

This news has come following the announcement from Greater Manchester Police that there has been no gang shootings in the last three months.

As a local church we have been praying into this situation at several of our prayer meetings. We believe this is an answer to prayer. We believe that as we pray so we can change our city. This news encourages us to keep on praying for Manchester.

The new investment means the Xcalibre team set up in 2004 to fight gun related crime will get additional help from murder detectives, the armed crime unit and other departments.
All 12 police divisions across Greater Manchester will also have a dedicated team of officers geared to deal with gang-related crime.

The shake-up is intended to build on the recent success of Operation Cougar, which has helped cut the number of gang-related shootings.

In 2005, 75% of all shootings in Greater Manchester were believed to be gang-related. By 2007, this had dropped to 57%.
But according to Xcalibre intelligence, none of the shootings recorded since April 2008 are gang-related.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said Operation Cougar had had a “massive impact” on gang-related shootings.
“We constantly re-evaluate the way in which we handle gun crime and adapt our targets accordingly,” Mr Seabridge added.
“When we set up Xcalibre in 2004, the overall aim was for gun-free streets, and that still remains our aim today.
“To help us achieve this, a large portion of this extra cash will go towards building on the successes we’ve had in cutting the supply of firearms, removing guns from our streets and bringing offenders to justice.”

Let’s continue to pray for gun free streets in our city and for the Kingdom to come in this area of life in Manchester. We believe Manchester is changing and we continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of our city.

For more newsabout the progress and investment being made to cut gun crime, go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7435191.stm

Paul Culatto (A medical student and member of King’s Church shares his concerns about the HFE bill.

So what will happen if the HFE Bill is passed?

The HFE bill presents 3 main threats to the sanctity of life and God’s created order. It will legalise the creation of:

• Animal Human Hybrids – mixing of animal and human DNA within cells, a threat to human dignity and transgression of God’s design. This type of research using embryos is unethical and unnecessary. A better way using (ethical) adult stem research has produced over 70 therapies whilst embryonic stem cell research none.
• Fatherless families – removing the need for a father for IVF treatment. Research shows children with fathers in stable families are healthier, happier and do better in education and employment. It is also the way God intended families to be.
• Saviour siblings – where a child is chosen to be born basis of its genetics e.g. he/she has the same type of tissue needed to cure an older sick sibling who requires a bone marrow transplant. This would commodify children and make them a means to an end. This bill also opens up the 1967 Abortion act for amendment. The UK currently has among the highest prevalence of abortion in Europe, one in four pregnancies currently ends in abortion. Several MPs have laid amendments for the upper limit of abortion (currently 24 weeks) to be reduced and for women to receive thorough counseling beforehand.

How close is this bill to becoming legal?

Very! It has already passed through the House of Lords and two stages at the House of Commons. What is essentially the final vote on ethical issues contained within this bill is Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th May. There will be a final third reading, but all Labour MPs will then be whipped (forced to vote in a particular way) for the bill to be passed, which guarantees the bill will become legal.

What can I do?

Please pray! We need to ask the Lord to show mercy on our nation as we have departed from living under the Lordship of Christ and rebelled against the way God intended for us to live. Please also pray:

• For the voting on Monday and Tuesday (each of the ethically controversial parts are voted on individually) – that the bill would not go through in its current format.
• The abortion law would be tightened, thus reducing the number abortions.
• Labour MPs to bold and vote according to their conscience and not party policy.

If you can e-mail your MP please ask them to vote against this bill next week and also at the third reading. More information on how and what to write can be found here.

This last week I’ve been away with some of my fellow leaders in the church in Harrogate at the New Wine Leaders Conference. Bill Johnson was the main speaker at the event. It was a good time away and we were all blessed by the ministry that we received whilst there. Here are a few things that God personally really blessed me with.

Bill Johnson spoke on different aspects of the Kingdom of God in his four sessions but his main emphasis was on healing & miracles, and signs & wonders. He spoke about how miracles release the glory and manifestation of Christ into a city. Miracles change the whole atmosphere of a city as God moves in this way. Bill spoke from the life of Jesus about how He always brought heaven to earth because that was the world He was most aware of in His life and ministry.

He challenged the 2,000 leaders at the conference to remember that the Holy Spirit in us is not a pond or a lake but a river. He wants to move through us not just fill us. God the Holy Spirit wants to flow from within us with streams of living water that touch the lives of those around us with the presence and life of Jesus Christ.

Bill spoke on many more exciting truths from the life of Jesus. He also led some significant times of ministry with his team where 100’s of people were healed by Jesus Christ.

Bill Johnson has written some excellent books in recent years. So far I’ve read ‘When Heaven Invades Earth’ and ‘The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind’. These are excellent books to read to build your faith and increase your expectation for how God wants to heal the sick, release the oppresed and save the lost through you and through me. These books are available from the church bookstall on Sundays at King’s House.

I am passionate about pursuing this Kingdom Vision in all that I do.