+ REPORT FROM AND ABOUT THE CLCI (CLC E-news post by Missionary David Koenig, February 25, 2002; we leave the report of Pastor Benjamin largely unedited)
This is taken from Pastor Jyothi Benjamin’s Dec. 31, 2001 letter.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. . . . I take this opportunity to thank all the respected brothers and families of CLC. . . US Mission, for standing with us all these years in our ministry . . .
We are encouraged that God is raising many second-line and third-line leader, pastors and evangelists in the CLCI . . . The prayer meetings in the newly started CLCI congregation at Sangamjagarlmoodi, Oct. 26-28, were an unforgettable event. All pastors and seminary staff, students are primarily involved. . . .
‘Farewell to 2001’ in December was a real hit. 200 boys attended this one-day camp in Nidubrolu. It was thrilling when 25 youngsters came forward to commit to fulltime ministry, and to join our CLCI seminary for Bible training. Similar programmes in Mudinepalli, Kakinada drew several hundreds of boys. . . . Discipleship Camps served as a follow-up. The VBS-2001 was quite fruitful . . . The Sound Doctrine Catechism Seminar, November 3-7, in Nidubrolu, was a rich experience for the pastors and a few interested members also.
More than 40 pastors and delegates have written the catechism tests conducted by the Pastor V.S. Benjamin and learnt main (sic) to interpret the Bible and escape floods of false doctrine. Pastor V.S. Benjamin and Pastor Ruben ministered in the Bible Seminar in Hindi for Madya Pradesh Hindi Christians in November last week. The theme was, Ready for the Spiritual War . . .
Despite unfavorable political climate across the nation, cross-cultural evangelism leading to church planting had been quite successful . . . Many new villages were visited for the first time and numerous churches established in virgin soils . . . Sangupalemkoduru (Guntur District). There was a good response among the Hindus and Muslims in this Koduru area.
We received great response for the Jesus Telugu film . . . 65 seekers . . . were counseled . . . Poondla (Prakasam District). Around 75 villagers were reached through Jesus Telegu film. . . .13 villages for first time. . . . Three Sunday schools were conducted for children. Around 30 children attended regularly. . . .
Kondabalivaripalem. . . . 64 other religious people like Hindus and Muslims were followed-up. A big worship group have come up in this village. . . . Outreach camps were conducted in backward areas of surrounding villages. . . Alooru. . . . 58 people were newly reached. . . . worship shed was erected. Over 30 children are in contact through Sunday school.
The overwhelming response from the Lambadi tribe . . . people has angered Gospel opponents. Nearly 20 men and women are ready to be baptized. The upper cast people repeatedly threatened the CLCI pastors and students in this area. . . . Yajali (Karlapalem area) . . . Regular outreach was done in 10 villages . . . Annavaram area . . . film was showed in 13 villages for about 1100 people. Five new preaching stations have been established. Over 125 children were taught Bible stories. . . .
We can say with our brethren in the CLCI, Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised for His work among the heathen. Pray for our brethren in India to continue in this most important work on the face of the earth.