BasicAug2006

We will also soon be starting an explanation of the "Church Year" to help remember what that teaching tool is all about.

Noting a 300 year anniversary...
"India's Coral Strand"
1706-2006

Our Present Work in India

Church of the Lutheran Confession of India

It was thirty-eight years ago that V.S. Benjamin started this church. Over the years there have been more than 12,000 baptisms indicating the abundant work for His abundant grace. Our beginning with this sister church was much later. The CLC Board of Missions received a letter from John Rohrbach, a member of Zion, Ipswich, S.Dak. dated December 10, 1981. In it he wrote, "This past summer I went to Sri Lanka and India...While there (in India) I became sick and was hospitalized for ten days. During my stay at the hospital a schoolmaster and his wife came to me with three pastors. They were looking for a Lutheran body to belong to." When John communicated this to his brethren in the CLC, there was joy aplenty, which then led to action.

Jointly, we carry on orphan work through Project Kinship and its committee under the Mission Board. Land has been purchased and a Christian school is envisaged. Over the years in this work as in general to assist the CLCI we have: bought a house enlarging it and adding small parcels of land to the original, built two seminary classrooms and a worship chapel, most recently built a hostel to house orphan boys and seminary students, purchased seven acres of rice paddy for food production.

The CLCI is aggressive in its outreach, going to various tribal areas where the people are very backward and require much patience to work with. In the new Indian state of Chattisgarh there is a nucleus of 700 souls being served by the CLCI, and these congregations are basically self-supporting. Throughout Andhra Pradesh state the CLCI considers where it can carry on more evangelism efforts.

Twenty-five years ago some may have wondered if we in the CLC really could undertake work in India with this church body. 'Could we do it?' is not the question. Rather, 'does God want us to do it?' Yes. Even ten years ago we could not have envisioned the size of our efforts. God knew. A Kinship report of ten years ago had it right and has it right, "The fields are white unto harvest and the hour is late. Doors are opening to the gospel...and we are the workers. Any question or difficulty concerning the work is first of all a call to come to our knees before our heavenly Father in prayer...Please pray with us...that we all would clearly know His will...and then in faith to step ahead and do."

Bharath Evangelical Lutheran Church

Twenty-five years ago Pastor Mohan Bas began this church body. Many changes have occurred, though the Word is the same and our loving God is the same. In Jan. 2002 we saw that a fellowship rupture with Pastor Bas was unavoidable. Despite the separation from him, we still had the vast majority of his pastors and members who chose to remain with us. And since then the opportunities have abounded. Here we have found a wide door for effective work (1 Cor. 16:9).

The goal of the BELC is to go where the Gospel is not preached or where there is not much of a witness. Above all, Hindu converts are sought. You may wonder where the workers can be found to do this task. The men of the BELC want to start a training school and have at least fifteen young men who are eager to study to be pastors. In this 300th anniversary year of the arrival of Ziegenbalg and Pluetschau, what a joy to see men of India willing to work with their own people, and this is at times at a hazard for there are adversaries. Together we are busy at: Bible distribution (1425 in 2004), catechism printing and distribution, translation work in Tamil and Telegu, pastoral training, self-help assistance to pastors and simply put 'expansion'.

Beyond Expectations

In 2002, the year of the fellowship rupture, we anticipated more pastors and members joining because of so many pastors who were going through classes. From 2236 souls served by 36 pastors, it rose to 4034 souls served by 97 pastors. At the close of 2004 there were 5865 souls served by 135 pastors. At the close of 2006 there will be 193 pastors serving 8591 souls at least. To God alone belongs the glory, that He adds daily to His church.

The CLC is truly blessed to be able to participate in this harvest. We can label all this "God's Work with Gideon's Band", for we are so few but
He is so great. In humility we must admit that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before. They blazed the trail. We still learn from them and they are examples for us.

(This finishes the series)

--Missionary David Koenig

Thumbnail Sketches – I John
While John does not have his name in the letter, there is no mistaking who wrote it, the apostle of love. The wording is unmistakable. The three letters of John were written around 90. Though John is an old man by then, but the power of the Spirit the Word still speaks vibrantly to our heart. Love is the theme of the epistle as love should be the theme of life itself. The love of God for us is clearly stated, "…the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1:7 But this love of God is not just for us but for all, "and He is the expiation for our sins, and not only for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." 2:2 In contrast to this John warns of, "…all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life…" 2:16 The epistle states that God is love (4:8) and that this perfect love of God casts out fear. 4:18 What a wonderful life we have under Him!

I Introduction – 1:1-4
II Assurance and Walking in the Light – 1:5-2:29
III Assurance and Abiding in Love – 3:1-4:21
IV Faith and Certainty – 5:1-12
V Conclusion – 5:13-21

Pastor David Koenig

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER # 82

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

REPORT ON THE INDIA PASTORAL CONFERENCE OF CLCI AND BELC - Sept. 27-29, 2006

Fifty eight of our India brothers gathered for study in the Word and fellowship in Guntur. Reports were given on the work of the Lord in the BELC by D. Paul, Moses and Victor and in the CLCI by Jyothi and Nireekshana. The CLCI seminary has 32 students, while it is prayed the BELC can start a two year school in 2007. Nireekshana chaired the meeting, while next year D. Paul will chair it. It was approved to hold the next conference in Nellore. This is now our sixth conference. Nineteen essays were given by fifteen essayists. A communion service conducted by V. S. Benjamin concluded our time together.

A power point presentation was given on the "Book of Revelation" by Jyothi with illustrations to help in getting an idea of the various visions in that book and their meaning. There were essays of a practical nature such as: The Da Vinci Code/V.S. Benjamin, How to Stay Young/Nireekshana, Why Do the Righteous Suffer? - Job/D. Devasahayam, How to Make a Worship Center/V. Vemoori. In the Da Vinci Code essay it was stated, "The Da Vinci Code is filled with much anti-Christian content, seeks to turn people against Christianity and the Church and leaves the reader or viewer with the impression that God is some sort of a powerless has been, a liar and an imposter." Another essay of a practical Indian nature was "Various Questions about Marriage" by Jyothi. India had and has the caste system. Questions about who to marry and when are important in this regard as in others. We heard that in "an opinion poll of 18-21 year olds, 84% declared they would prefer marrying within their own community. (India Today, 27 Sept. 1999)"

From the essay "How to Stay Young" here are some quotes. From an unknown poet, "You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your...confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair." The following is from a Telugu Christian poet, Count your blessings instead of your crosses; count your gains instead of your losses; count your joys instead of your woes; count your friends instead of your foes; count your smiles instead of your tears; count your courage instead of your fears; count your full years instead of your lean...Count on God instead of yourself." In a series of five points the essayist quoted a Jewish proverb," For

the ignorant, old age is as winter; for the learned, it is a harvest!" In considering how to serve God and people actively and joyfully the essayist said,"I read somewhere that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, traveled 250 miles a day for 40 years; preached 40,000 sermons; produced 400 books; knew 10 languages. At 83 he was annoyed that he could not write more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes. At 86 he was ashamed he could not preach more than twice a day. He complained in his diary that there was an increasing tendency to lie in bed until 5:30 in the morning!"

Another point in staying young is to enjoy the fellowship of the church. "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear FRUIT in old age; they shall be FRESH and FLOURISHING" Ps. 92:13-14 " Caleb at 85 referring to an incident that happened forty-five years before testified, 'I am as strong this day as I was on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in' (Josh. 14:11)" We all pray for this from God. The essay was concluded with a quote from an unknown poet, "I shall not mind the whiteness of my hair, Or that slow steps falter on the stair, Or that young friends hurry as they pass, Or what strange image greets me in the glass--If I can feel as the roots feel in the sod, That I am growing old to bloom before the face of God!"

Prayer naturally received attention as so important to lay all on the Lord and to not neglect to praise Him. Two on this were: When We Pray/A. Isaiah, Prayer Gives Victory/D. Digal. The other essays were as follows: Philippians-The Secret of Rejoicing/Jyothi, Jeremiah-the Weeping Prophet/M. Barnabas, The Judgment/D. VIjay Paul, The Gospel/P. Ankineedu, The Lamb of God/D. Paul, The Truth of God/ B. Bhasker, The Joy of God/T. Sampath, God's Divine Nature/M. Raghu, Grace/Rajamini, Privileges We Have Through Jesus/D. Paul, The Three Year Ministry of our Lord/Koenig.

In the Lamb of God essay we heard, "We live in a world filled with sorrow, heaviness, agony and fear. We are worried by a different problem each day. We are always pressed by the burdens of life, day after day, leaving tears in our eyes and fear in our minds. The mental agony experienced by us today has already been experienced by Jesus Christ." The essayist pointed us to John the baptizer's words, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," as the solution to all of this.

Let us continue to remember each other in prayer. Among our India brethren there have been serious problems with the chicken flu/fever. In Africa malaria as well as other diseases are a problem for many of our men. Though we are separate from each other by many miles, yet we are one with God and each other in our fellowship. By all means pray for one another that God would give release from these diseases that we might better serve the Lord. And pray that through these diseases we are reminded of Him who died for us that he will bring us through with an increased faith in Him.

The shortest letter of the New Testament was written to "the elect lady and her children" (v.1) which would seem to be to a congregation and its members. It has both great teachings of the Word: Law and Gospel. And it gives us insight into church life how responsible leaders do their best to counteract ruinous false teaching.

The second shortest letter of the New Testament was written to an individual, Gaius. We don’t know if this is the same man or not as found in: Acts 19:29, 20:4, Rom. 16:23, I Cor. 1:14. What we do know is that Gaius is a leader in the church and this letter supports and encourages him in his work.

Jude is another half-brother of our Lord, like James. Jude’s attack is against the false teachers who would pull down to destruction with them those who follow them. Whether on earth with Korah, and Sodom and Gomorrah or in heaven with the devil, rebellion brings in its wake judgment. Apostasy(falling away) is faithlessness and without faith the shield is gone and punishment follows. Our task is to try to "…Convince some, who doubt; save some, by snatching them out of the fire; on some have mercy with fear hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Vv. 22-23