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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #36
September 1, 2004

I Cor. 16:9  'for a wide door for effective work has opened to me,  and there
are many adversaries.'

MISSIONS IS OUTREACH
As you our overseas brethren know, we stress reaching out above all to those
not in the faith.  Think of Paul's work of three successive mission trips that
went ever farther afield.  In Rom. 15:20 and 2 Cor. 10:16 we see also Paul's
and the Word's stress in going to those not yet reached in fields beyond our
work now.  Paul had a goal to reach even Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea.
As we reach out we base what we teach and do on the solid basis of Scripture
and look also for examples from historic Lutheran theological practices.

We are in a worldwide struggle and contention of the truth of God against all
kinds of errors which are spread by the devil both without and within the
Christian church.  It is the kingdom of light against the kingdom of darkness.
Jesus has stated clearly that those who are not with Him are against Him.  There
is no middle ground, only movement toward the Christ or away from Him.  We
labor to convert the opponents of Christ.  We seek conversion of our enemies.
Think of how Saul the persecutor of the Christ became Paul the proclaimer of
the Christ.  Read I Cor. 9:19-23 to remember how we seek to do all to win those
outside the faith.

This requires us to think outside the 'box', so to speak.  It is not hard to do
things always the same way and not try new approaches. "That is the way we did it, 
so that is the way we will do it," is an example of this limited thinking.  We
can use new methods to bring the same clear Word of God that does not change.
We must think of those not of our group as ones for whom Christ also died and
desires under His gracious rule.  It is so often a matter of us going beyond our
'comfort zone', which means to sacrifice, to labor as Paul did.  This approach
is expensive in time, money, effort and even lives.  Paul sets the tone though
when he says, 'I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.' I Cor. 12:5

Some examples of the stress of reaching out to those not in the faith follow.  In 
Togo there are still many animists worshipping their ancestors spirits, so that
there we seek to reach them.  In the north of Nigeria the Muslims are massed.
We seek to send our first missionary to the north, having been trained for five
years.  Tanzania has the Masai tribe of whom only one in ten is a Christian. 
Because of this rather unevangelized tribe, we are trying to reach them.  In
India we seek to establish congregations gathering about the Word in villages
where above all there is no other Christian church.  Our desire is for the
conversion of Hindu and Muslim and it is more than a desire as we reach out.

While we reach out, we do not neglect to teach the whole counsel of God going from
house to house reaching man, woman and child.  This we learn is our approach from 
Paul's report in Acts 20:19-20.  In true Bible and Lutheran practice we see
growth in knowledge and faith among the converted.  Jesus tells us that His
disciples "continue in the Word". Jn 8:31-32  Our approach is not superficial, 
but seeks depth of knowledge in the Word and of faith in Jesus.  To this end we
assist you our brethren in Bible distribution.  So far in India we have purchased
900 Bibles in Tamil and Telegu.  As all of you know, we have been working to see
that the Lutheran catechism, 'the little Bible', is in the hands and minds and
hearts of your pastors and then out to your people.  We have printed and will
continue to print these excellent tools in the language of each of your groups.

As at Pentecost, each heard in his own language the wonderful works of God, so
we want that for all your people also.  Acts 2:11  And we want your people to be 
able to read the Word on their own as the faithful Berean learners did.  We also
are working with you to use the gifts you have to translate the catechism and
other materials so your pastors and people may be taught the Word in its truth
and purity to feed them properly.

For your people to be taught well, we need the pastors to learn well.  This has
been a chief goal.  We pray that all of your pastors study on their own in depth.
And we assist you when the missionary or other volunteers are present to help
teach your pastors.  In many areas we have monthly meetings where our pastors 
study.  This should be an ongoing activity until our dying day.  We can always
learn more in the Word.  The Word is like a stream a child can wade in and like
a river an elephant can swim in.  Ongoing pastoral training and improvement will
show among the people as time passes.  We seek also to provide as many materials
as possible for your pastors to study on their own also.

All of our activity centers on the Christ, our Lord.  As the whole of Scripture
centers in Him, so do our lives and our work.  2 Cor. 1:20  Our life is hid with
Christ. Gal. 2:20 His great victory on Calvary is the focus of our labor now.
It is finished. Jn. 19:30  The whole work of salvation, of being punished for our
sin that we might live forever is done in Christ.  The empty tomb is the reminder
that the living Christ is ours.  I Cor. 15:14

In the Word is the Christ. By His Word we have our path lighted to see clearly
how and where to go.  God bless your work in Him, for Him and through Him.

NEWS FROM THE BELC
A new district will be formed in the BELC with 12 pastors and 585 members.
Meetings were held in Vaniyambadi since last November and these have so far
indicated agreement with us on Scripture.  New meetings have just started in the 
large city of Chennai (pop. 6+ million).  Twenty-one pastors came to
investigate our teachings.  Pray that many will agree and join with us to reach
out.  Phil. 2:2

In Him,  Pastor Koenig

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #37
September 17, 2004

Prov. 25:25  Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far
country.

HERE IS GOOD NEWS FROM OUR BRETHREN IN INDIA.

Update on CLCI Bible Correspondence Course
Pastor Jyothi Benjamin reports the following,  "This year 25 individuals are
taking the course.  As you know there has been a lot of opposition to the public
Gospel proclamation (in India).  We should not be discouraged about the
situation.  Studying the Bible is the most important thing in a person's life
and we are thrilled and excited to inform you that many have believed in Jesus
by taking this course.  Through this Bible correspondence course,  many of
the non-Christians have been learning more about who they are, where they came
from, why they are here, and where they are going, and finally that Jesus is
their only Savior.  We send the lessons and questions and go through and answer
and correct their answers to these lessons, finally giving them a certificate
of completion.  We are happy to tell you that many Hindu and Muslim friends
are also taking this Bible correspondence course from us...The Holy Spirit has 
been working in them through this 'invisible way'...The cost is free.  Till
now totally 350 students have taken the course since 1993..." Furthermore,
three students who competed this course have now enrolled in the seminary
training at Nidubrolu, Guntur District, India.  Two are Hindu converts and one
is a man of Muslim background.  His Word does its work.   Praise God!

CLCI SEMINARY
Last June five men were graduated from the three year course.  This year there
are six in the final year, five in the second year and 12 in the first year.
This is the largest enrollment in the six years of operation.

JOINT ENGLISH BELC/CLCI PASTORAL CONFERENCE was held for three days at Guntur,
India.  Fifty men attended. BELC men gave 9 essays and CLCI men gave 5 essays.
Six reports were given on the work of the Lord in these synods.  These
conferences are for our pastors to continue to study to help one another to
bolster in the faith.  We have wonderful fellowship in His Word and love.

TRANSLATION WORK
All fourteen pamphlets we would like all of our sister church bodies to
translate have been completed by Pastor D. Paul in Tamil.  One has been
completed by Pastor Moses in Telegu.  In one month Pastor Nireekshana will
begin the translation of the other 13.  Pastor Jyothi has completed Mueller's
"My Church and Others" in Telegu  and is now being printed for all Telegu-
speaking pastors.  I encourage all in our sister synods to continue to work on
translation.  Pastor Muzakuza in Congo has sent me a copy of their translation
of the Swahili catechism.  We will be praying that we can have the money to print
it for distribution.  Work continues in other fields under His gracious hand.

GOSPEL MEETINGS IN THE CLCI '04
Nireekshana has three of these a year and would like to increase to five.  We
can learn from what our brethren are doing and also pray for their work.  Pastor
Nireekshana reports the following.

l. Machavaram meetings were held from Apt. 17-19 with speakers - VS Benjamin,
Jyothi Benjamin, Nireekshana and other local senior pastors.
--Time of Meetings (the same for the three sites)
Morning - 8-9 Prayers, Afternoon - 11-12 lunch, 12-3 Two Messages, 4-5:30
Procession and Special Prayers at houses along the way.  Evening 6-7 Prayers,
7-8 dinner, 8-11:30 1 or 2 Messages, Active Songs, Witnesses and Special Prayer
Requests.
--Nearly 500 members attended every meeting and received the Word and blessings.
Tracts and pamphlets were distributed.  Bibles were sold at subsidized rates.
Sunday School children performed the songs and gave a play on birth of Jesus.
Some of the Hindu people came and purchased Bibles and song books.  At the
third meeting the Jesus Telegu movie was shown to a huge gathering.
--Highlights  -  An electrican arranged a 20 foot Jesus posture in colored lights
in front of the meetings for nominal charges.  This attracted many villagers.
Five Hindu women and their children received Jesus as Savior.  During the
Procession through Hindu populated areas, many came out and watched.  One
hundred participants were in the Procession.  The meetings also helped to 
strengthen the faith of members.

2. Sita Nagaram meetings were conducted May 4-6 with speakers - VS Benjamin,
Jyothi, Nireekshana, Pastor Isaiah and some other senior pastors.
--At each site tarps, loudspeakers, chairs, tables, generator and other items
are rented for outside presentation.
--Nearly 700 attended these meetings and most of them were tribal people and
Hindus.  Materials were distributed and Bibles sold.
--Highlights - Nearly ten families of Tribals have received Christ.  A special
Procession was made in the tribal areas of the village.  Some said they would
come to church regularly.  An old woman witnessed that her son came to the
meetings and was impressed.  A Hindu woman employee received Jesus and decided
to help the pastor of the church every month with financial support.

3. Vatticherukuru meetings were held May 20-22 with many of the same speakers
and Pastor Israel.
--Nearly 1000 attended and most were Muslim and Hindus.
--Highlights - Almost all the village was covered by our 500 members in
Procession.  Prayers were offered for people with problems.  Some came to
understand the importance of our doctrine and became interested in the Lutheran
catechism.  Some of the Muslim and Hindu people attending began to help in the
meeting, giving vegetables, rice, milk, etc. for meals.

May God continue to bless His Word in these Gospel Meetings.

In Him,
Pastor Koenig