Dedicating a New Church Building

November 27th, 2011

Circling the Building

The Church Building

Music, laughter and food abound each time a new church building is dedicated and people congregate to worship in it for the first time! The pictures below are of Pastor Samuel’s church building dedication. DJ Bradley, a guest who attended the festivities, shares his photos and the joy of the day below:

Last Friday, November 18th, in the village of Chinnapanapalem in eastern India, about 60 believers came to celebrate the opening of their new church building. As we pulled up to the church, we could hear their songs being sung through the speakers for the whole village to hear the good news.

The First Gathering

The celebration started with the local custom of circling the church three times and singing praises to God. We then gathered around the front of the church and prayed for the new building. Arjuna, director of Vision Nationals, read Psalm 118 and cut the ribbon to open the church!

Ribbon Cutting

Inside, the congregants sang more songs of worship, read scripture and offered prayers that the new building would a blessing for all in the area. Arjuna shared a message reminding everyone that just because there is a church building doesn’t mean all our problems will go away, we still need forgiveness and healing.

Pastor Samuel and the church in Chinnapanapalem are one of many Vision Nationals pastors working in the state of Andhra Pradesh to plant churches and reach the people with the Gospel. If you would like to sponsor a rural church planter for $50 a month you can give online. For more information email Lauren.

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Off to College | Kumari

November 13th, 2011

Kumari

After eleven years at Master’s Home, Kumari began her first year of college this year! She continues to live on campus, and we pack her lunch each day before she takes the bus to school. She is studying to be an accountant.

She has a similar story to many of the children in Master’s Home. Her father died when she was seven years old, and her mother could not support the family. She is the middle child and has two brothers. Her younger brother, Vijay, is also at Master’s Home.

Kumari says she likes living at Master’s Home because she can learn about God. It is here that she learned that Jesus is the only true God, and she loves the early morning prayer time when she gets to read the Bible and sing worship songs.

She and her family are first generation believers.

Kumari is one of a handful of Master’s Home children who are graduating high school and beginning to attend college. It costs $100 a month to send our students to college. If you would like to sponsor a college student like Kumari you can give online or email karla@visionnationals.org for more information.

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Training Servant Leaders

November 12th, 2011

One of the distinctives of Master’s College of Theology is our emphasis on and involvement in practical ministry throughout course of a student’s time with us. Throughout the year our students involve themselves in various ministries in Vizag city, and once a year we send our students on a week long service intensive.

This year, the 34 students divided in four groups. Two of these groups traveled to Kolkata where they ministered in Mother Teresa’s house to mentally challenged men, leprosy patients, and the aging. Another group traveled to Bangalore to work with HIV and AIDS patients. And the last group traveled to Vellore to counsel patients admitted in a Christian Medical College.

Students were stretched to their limits as they served by making beds, washing clothes, feeding the weak, brushing hair and bathing patients.

A third year student, John said, “In my childhood I was scared to see the sick, even my mother when she met with a fire accident – it was hard for me to see. But now in these three years of my theological studies I have learned to love the unwell and serve the sick. In this exposure program I am challenged by these patients when serving them.

In addition to rigorous academics and theological training, Vision Nationals works to increase our students’ ability to be in touch with people and communicate God’s love with people of different faiths. We believe these ministry opportunities prepare our graduates to be compassionate, servant-hearted leaders.

To keep education affordable for our students, Vision Nationals subsidizes each students tuition at $75 a month. If you would like to help us in our endeavor to keep education affordable you can give online.

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Finding Fellowship

November 4th, 2011

Loneliness is epidemic among church planters. But it does not have to be so. One of the greatest blessings our church planters speak of is the fellowship they experience with fellow church planters in our network. Take Pastor Samuel for example.

Pastor Samuel

Pastor Samuel was born into a Hindu family. His family began attending church after an itinerant pastor passing through his village prayed for his bedridden mother and she was healed. Shortly after her healing, Samuel’s mother had a vision in which she was asked “What will you do with your son?” Her response “I will give him to you, Lord.”

The year was 1980, Samuel was nineteen, and he agreed that he would dedicate his life to ministry. However, he was at a loss at where and how to begin. He sought out the pastor that had prayed for his mom so many years before. Aside from this pastor, he had no one to point him in any direction.

Pastor Samuel and Karuna standing in their church doorway.

Fast forward to the year 2000. Samuel moved to a village called Chinnapanapalem with his wife, Karuna. There they established a church which grew to a consistent 35 members. Samuel began visiting a neighboring village and in time planted a church there as well. Ministry is difficult, and Samuel longed for fellowship.

In 2006 Samuel was introduced to Vision Nationals. He began attending regional meetings to fast and pray for the area with fellow pastors. In time, he joined our network. A prayer of his heart for many years was answered. Samuel was overjoyed to have the fellowship of brothers he could learn from and walk with!

Pastor Samuel’s story is shared by many others. There are many planters waiting to join our network. If you would like to sponsor one of these men you may give online or contact lauren@visionnationals.org.

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Beginning a New Legacy

October 13th, 2011

From L to R: Praveen, Narasingh, Amarendra

These three young men pictured above grew up in Master’s Home and recently graduated from an Electrical Technical College.

Praveen and Amarendra both have jobs working for companies. Narasingh (center) was asked to join the Vision Nationals staff in our accounts department and he is now working for us.

From child laborers to certified electricians and accountant, we praise God for the careers he has provided these young men!

We currently have 5 college students in need of sponsors for their college expenses. The cost for one year of college is $1,200 or $100 a month. If you would like to support a young man or woman for one year of college please contact karla@visionnationals.org.

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Taking Training to the Villages

October 6th, 2011

Most of Vision Nationals church planters come from Hindu backgrounds and rural villages where theological training is not available. Because of this, Vision Nationals began holding training programs once a year to ground our planters in Scripture.

Today, these week long conferences happen three times a year. Each March, July and November teachers from the US and India meet our rural church planters on our campus in Vizag city to train our pastors and Master’s College of Theology students.

In addition to these training programs in the city, we are currently training national leaders to take the BILD church-based theological training out to our pastors in the field. This is in conjunction with our vision to plant 10,000 thousand churches in Asia in the next two decades.

Please be in prayer for our training conferences as well as the men being trained to take theological training to the field.

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Road Out of Poverty | India’s Educational System

September 28th, 2011

When they look at their lineage, poverty is all they see. The way out? Education.Vision Nationals takes children born into poverty, educates them from their first year in school until they graduate from College, secure a job, and can provide for themselves. Many have asked how the education system in India works.

He should have been in school two years ago. Instead, he works the Quarry.

There are four educational road markers a child passes through on the way out of poverty. Primary School, High School, Junior College and finally – a Technical College, 4-year College or University.

Primary School extends from a child’s first day in school until their graduation from 7th grade. The journey out of poverty can begin as early three years old! Though most of the children that come to us are older, and we place them according to level.

Studying is a serious matter for our students.

Next comes High School. In India, students graduate from High School after the 10th grade. These High School years are extremely important, as their grades and standardized test scores determine to which Junior College they gain admittance.

After High School graduation, students will join a Junior College for 11th and 12th grades. Junior colleges are career specific, and students will join a college depending on their desired field of study.

In one generation, the cycle of poverty is broken!

Once a student graduates from Junior College, they take another standardized test. Again, their scores determine which Technical College, 4-year College or University they can attend. Once admitted, they begin their final journey on the educational road. Students in a Technical College will learn a trade such as auto mechanics or the electrical trade. Students attending Colleges and Universities will study degree programs such as engineering, nursing or business.

At the end of the journey emerges a college graduate with a degree in hand!

These college graduates have the education and trade skills necessary to secure a good job that will provide for them and their families for years to come. Their children will never work a field or quarry.

Vision Nationals is unique in that we care for and support our children from their first day in school until they graduate from College, secure a job, and can care for themselves. If you would like to give towards the sponsorship of a child or college student please contact karla@visionnationals.org.

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