Another Visit to India (February 2009)

In what has almost become an annual pilgrimage for George Jarvis, he spent another two weeks in India from 13 to 26 February. On this occasion he was accompanied by Henry Pettinger, his fellow elder in Airedale Church, Keighley.

The whole package started way back in July 2008 when they were able to purchase extremely good price tickets, flying Finnair- not “thin air” as some thought. A number of people from the church in Keighley have gone out to India and have been a significant number of major flight delays and hiccups. So there was quite a bit of prayer for a smooth journey – and God responded, hallelujah! A brilliant flight ensued, with all the travelling being on schedule. Even the train journey from Delhi to Agra was on time!

For George, the two weeks was generally a repeat of what he had done previously. This included ministering into the Church in Agra, taking a series of special gospel meetings and ministering to the School of Service students. Henry was involved with ministering into the Church, ministering to men’s group and into a youth event. He also got involved in other practical ways by helping with music lessons and even the grouting of tiles in Ralph’s new bathroom.

God richly blessed the time of ministering, especially in the gospel meetings. In excess of 20 people gave their lives to the Lord and the encouraging feature from Ralph and Renuka’s point of view, was that these people were totally new to the Church. In fact, some of them were a break through into a new strata of society. It was so exciting to see this business man, possibly in his mid - thirty’s – part of the second highest caste in India, greatly rejoicing in the Lord and astounded that he felt baptised in love.

The School of Service provides a two year course and, for George, this year was a totally new batch of students. Four girls and four boys, and they were a great blessing. The time was spent ministering on the subjects of covenant and the book of Romans.

The final night, before flying back home to England, was spent in Delhi and a time was spent with a thriving Church plant out into one of the Punjabi suburbs of the city. Even though this meeting was arranged at very short notice, the meeting hall was full and many were greatly blessed e.g. with receiving impartation and healing from God.

For George this was a different trip, particularly because the Church engaged in a number of event which were new to him. On the day of arrival George and Henry were able to attend the wedding of one of the associate pastors of the Church, Mahesh, whose is married to Babli. This was an interesting time! Then there was on the Sunday the dedication of a new born baby and on the Tuesday following a celebration of this event was held. This was a sort of party with many guests and much food that was preceded by a time of worship and ministry of the word - by guess who? Then in the second week there was the celebration of the 1st birthday of the son of another associate pastor. The 1st birthday apparently is an occasion for great celebration. So once again another party was held. This time with several hundred people present, many of whom were not believers. The pattern once again was a time of worship followed by ministry of the word (again, guess who?) and then lots of food.

The Kingdom of God is increasing in India. It is so encouraging to see the faith of these people and to see progress being made by one another from year to year. One great encouraging feature was to observe the way that some young men from the previous year’s School of Service were now engaged fully into various forms of ministry, including Church planting.

A great blessing was to be present at & perform the official opening of the latest ‘children’s home’ – the Pink House.

This is a rich relationship that God has effected between Airedale Church and the work of Ralph and Renuka in India. There is no sense whatever in which the ministry and blessings are one way. My prayer is that it will long continue and will deepen. We have the privilege of number of people going from the Church here in Keighley out to Agra, and this is being continued this year with a group of young people again going in the summer. It would be absolutely wonderful if these visits could be reciprocated by others of Ralph’s people but there clearly are particular unusual difficulties.

Please pray for this work and please consider the possibility of releasing finance. Ralph desperately needs a new car. His car is clearly an instrument for the Kingdom of God and it is wearing out. If you want to know more about this please contact me or Sally Murcutt at Help International.