From Ryder Kumar:

Here is a brief news from India as I just got an opportunity and access for internet.

Hyderabad Seminar went extremely well. People were more receptive than before. Both David and I enjoyed teaching. We enabled the participants to ask questions and there were many. The power went off only twice for a very short time. Interpretations were good. David and I preached at different churches. I preached at Ravi’s place. There was commotion at the Hyderabad airport because of a misinformation from the check in counter about the cancellation of connecting flight from Delhi to Lucknow on the 24th. So we got our tickets canceled, bought fresh tickets for Delhi – Lucknow. We stayed at Abraham’s home in Delhi instead of hotel (saved lot of money!) and at 3 a.m. we got ready to leave for Delhi Airport. We chose this schedule in order to be at the seminar by 8 a.m. on the 25th. The flight to Lucknow was good.

Unfortunately, the exchange rate went down. It was Rs 41 at our arrival in Delhi. But I managed to get more in Hyderabad. I went with Ravi to my old place and got @ Rs 44.20. This was a bit of relief as the prices of Hyderabad Conference went bit high.

Lucknow seminar is going on. There are 32 participants. The enthusiasm, interest and cooperation from the participants has been encouraging. Please pray as David got suddenly sick since yesterday. He rested at the hotel the whole day. But as he still felt unwell, I advised him to continue rest. Mindy suggested if we should get a doctor. I am working on that right now. Meanwhile by this noon David began to feel better from his throat, fever etc. I am glad that I administered the right medication. He should be able to teach from 4 p.m. sessions.

Meanwhile all the sessions are going on well. We are pouring out our hearts in teaching passionately and with burden.

This seminar Oct 2010 was very well appreciated and each participant has shown much interest in every class. As the seminar was mainly focused on the preacher and his messages, each session was interesting.  Bro.David and Bro.Ryder made practical insights into preparing Biblical messages.

When the time came for preaching messages to a particular group in which they were divided, everyone came forward with enthusiasm when their turn came.  The main focus was on the introduction, main theme, body content and conclusion, which everyone adhered to with great care. They knew that this would help them as they go back to shepherd their flocks. When the time for airing their doubts was given, many wanted their doubts clarified, and Bro.David and Bro.Ryder each came out with biblical answers to the questions raised.

Conduction of funerals was one of the interesting things that David enlightened with a few of his personal experiences, and shared that this was one of the important occasions of reaching out with the Gospel to the unsaved.  The words “Funerals and memorial service are for the living but not for the dead” was one of the important paraphrase which highlighted the session.

Also a practical marriage was arranged to give the first hand procedure to conduct marriages. (Here I would like to add that it was a surprise for me to be called to the conference hall and my DAD RYDER leading me through the aisles to my bridegroom, Ravi. It was full of fun as Pastor G. Yohanu conducted our marriage again. Attached a few pictures). In this context, most of the participants queried about the marriage between a believer and a non-believer, and Bro.David was emphatic enough to suggest that a God fearing pastor should not conduct such marriage.

Counseling was one of the topics which was a new subject, hitherto unknown to the participants, as most of them come from rural background. David emphasized that this was a most important job a pastor has to do with the foundation based on God’s word, who is our good counselor.

We just got a report in from one of our conference attendees who was blessed and encouraged by the teaching of the Word during this month’s conference. He sent us the following photos: [slideshow]