Snake in the grass

Today's update came in 3 short messages from Dana...and one from Evangelist Rob Welch's wife Emily...

"Hello friends and prayer partners!

I just spoke with Rob a short time ago, and he asked me to send an update of the ministry in South India.

Overall, there is a very good response to the Gospel at the festivals, though the attendance has been significantly lower than expected. Rob says that on average, half or more of the people in the crowd respond each night to the invitation to receive Christ. Both Rob and Dana have seen upwards of 70% response on various nights! The leadership conferences have gone very well, there have been many people who have received healing in various ways, and one-on-one witnessing opportunities have been very fruitful. He expressed deep gratitude for all of the prayers that have been offered for him, Dana, Randy, and the others who are ministering with them.

That said, there is sad news in that Rob senses a dramatic change in the spiritual climate of these areas he has previously visited. As many of you may know, hostility against Christians on the part of the Hindus has sharply increased in recent months in various regions of India. Rob and his close friend, Pastor Raj, who is ministering with and translating for Rob, sense a high degree of spiritual warfare in the areas of Tamil Nadu they have been working in, and that there is much fear of persecution keeping people from coming out to the festival events.

Hindu community officials are "cracking down" on the churches. They have denied the For His Glory team permission to use the grounds they requested, and instead are sending them to less desirable venues. An auto rickshaw driver whose vehicle displayed one of the advertisement posters for the festivals was run out of town and beaten. Another challenge has been dealing with some of the local pastors involved with the festivals who wanted money from For His Glory in exchange for bringing people to the events.

Rob was quite upbeat on the phone, though, and said he has had much time to seek God in prayer, and is trusting Him with the results of the trip. He asks for lots of prayer for the final two nights of the festivals, that the Lord will break through the spiritual bondage that is trapping the people in darkness. Please pray that the Gospel makes it into many hearts, that many ears will hear and that many lives will be changed for the glory of Jesus in that place! Prayer is an essential part of this battle.

We can't thank you enough for all of your prayers. Rob gets back home to the States on Tuesday, and hopefully we'll get more details then!"

In Christ, Emily Welch

The following messages were sent by Dana who finally had Blackberry service...

(6:32 am CST) "Last night almost everyone Randy and I prayed for was instantly healed. From asthma to backs to knees and eyes. I was so in awe that twice I stopped to ask/tell Randy but couldn't. It turned out that he was seeing the same things. We later learned the host church had been praying two hours a day for the past year in preparation for this crusade. We haven't had Internet to send you updates, but in this town I have my blackberry working. Blessings."

(7:38 am CST) "Ben, here is a little more. There has been great opposition to our meetings. The Hindus are making death threats to the organizers. People are also being warned not to come. All that said, Jesus is doing an incredible work here saving (I would guess) every lost person that comes and healing almost everyone. I have never seen anything like this.

We are healthy and strong. Tomorrow we speak in churches in the morning and then the final meeting tomorrow night. I am particularly praying for a certain deaf girl to receive her hearing and an 18 year old who hasn't gone through puberty yet. Just now, the crusade was interrupted by a snake in the field of our meeting. I hope it isn't poisonous. I will preach in a few minutes from now and then we will pray for the sick."

A couple hours later I received this message from Dana's Blackberry...

(10:28 am CST) "Tonight a deaf lady received her hearing and there were scores of other healings. More than half the crowd responded to alter call."

We're sorry there are no photos of the ministering in India, the team has not had Internet to upload them. We hope to have some posted soon!