Pastor Tom’s Report of India Mission Trip – April 1-17, 2013

Dear Friends:

Here is an exciting report from Pastor Tom and his recent mission to India. We love to hear stories of the African Church and it’s leaders ministering around the world. My the church rise up. Blessings Samuel.

The India mission trip began at the India High Commission in Kenya where I applied for visa and received it about one week later after spending a lot of money and after being thoroughly interrogated by the India High Commission.  The mission trip was mainly sponsored and organized by Renewal Fellowship Ministries from Australia. We were supposed to board the plane on 1^st April 2013 at 1:00p.m at Nairobi.  We had problems with our air tickets and we boarded the plane to India  on 3^rd April 2013 at 1:00p.m when the airline sorted out the problem since it was their problem and not ours.  We slept at the airport for those two days which was very expensive for us since the airline refused to pay.  That was the FIRST STUMBLING BLOCK to our India mission trip.    Kenya team comprised four Ministers of the Gospel namely Apostle Elias Nyandika, Pastor Matthew Nyang’au, Pastor Benedict Simiyu and myself(Pastor Tom Opiyo). We went through the airports of Qatar (Doha), then we entered India via New Delhi airport(Indira Gandhi International airport) in the morning on 4^th April 2013.  We delayed by two days. Upon arrival in Delhi India, we were warmly welcome by Pastor G. Venugopalan and his wife plus his daughter. Sister Anita Femiano from Australia (the President of Renewal Fellowship Ministries), sister Devena Robert  and pastor Roberts had already arrived in India by the time we arrived there.  They actually met us at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.  The AFTERNOON OF 4TH APRIL 2013, we spent time at the Beatitudes Mission Centre run by pastor Venugopalan.  The Centre assists poor Muslim children to know Christ and some of the children’s needs are also met at the centre.  Sister Davena shared a powerful gospel message with the children using puppets.

POOR CHILDREN AT THE BEATITUDES MISSION CENTRE IN NARELA NEW DELHI LISTENING TO THE GOSPEL

INDIA

India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. See Wikipedia

RELIGIOUS CULTURE IN INDIA: India is the birthplace of some of the world’s major religious traditions; namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. But many Christians are undergoing persecution and many have been killed by Hindu fundamentalists in many parts of India but mainly in Orissa.  CHRISTIANS MUST INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN EVERY WAY IN INDIA TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL AND ESPECIALLY BY EMPOWERING INDIAN CHURCH LEADERS AND MEMBERS.

ON 5TH —7TH APRIL 2013, Myself and sister Anita traveled to the strongest Hindu  state in the world called Orissa.  We were received at Biju Patnaik Airport Bhubaneswar by pastor Sanjay Limma who took us to Puri area near the Sea Of Bengal. He left us in the safe hands of his brother pastor Omega who runs a pentecostal church there.  We had powerful prayer meetings in the church fellowship, preaching and prayers in houses and on the street. We also had Sunday worship service plus holy communion.  The people gave us a wonderful welcome and they fed us and paid part of our taxi services.  God healed people in the  community through prayers and many people in the community were asking us to come into their houses to pray for them. The fishing community in the area gave us fish and they were changed by the Lord Jesus Christ.   Christians are only less than 1% of the population in the Orissa State and they suffer persecution and death several times.  The saints here are strong and conduct powerful prayers.   One of our Indian pastor friend was killed in this area in the year 2012 for preaching to Hindus.

8TH—10TH APRIL 2013: PASTOR TOM OPIYO AND  MISSION IN WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT–PALAKOLLU

First(Monday 8^th April 2013:) I, Pastor Tom Opiyo, Anita and Devana  flew to Hyderabad airport then to Rajahmundry airport from Orissa.  We were warmly and heartily received by Bishop David Livingstone.  He took the three of us to Palakollu, in West Godavari district, about two hours drive from Rajahmundry airport.   We had a powerful preaching session that evening conducted by sister Anita and sister Devana.  Several people gave their lives to the Lord during the revival meeting in the night.  Many people attended the revival meeting.  Sister Anita and sister Devana left the place that night for another place within Godavari area but was far.  The following day was to be a national strike of all workers and public transport would not be available.  Pastor Tom was left alone at Palakollu.

Secondly(Tuesday 9th April 2013):  Pastor Tom had stomach problems due to Indian spicy  food.  But God graciously enabled him to teach in the Church from 11:00a.m till 4:00p.m. Then pastor Tom preached in a Holy Spirit power-packed revival meeting that night in the same church.  Healing, deliverance, manifestations of the Holy Spirit and people accepting Christ were experienced.  God moved in amazing ways.  Many lives were changed for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thirdly(Wednesday 10^th April 2013):  I was still at the church with Bishop Livingstone but on that day, I ministered at their branch village church.  I was welcome in that branch church with coconut drink.  I had a teaching session from 11:00a.m—4:00p.m.

I had another night of preaching in a revival meeting which was attended by hundreds of people.  People gave their lives to Christ and God healed/delivered many.

PASTOR TOM ADMINISTERING PRAYERS IN PALAKOLLU IN GODAVARI APRIL 2013

Thursday 11^th April 2013: Pastor Tom had a glorious send off by the Church of Bishop Livingstone from Palakollu to Rajahmundry airport.  Bishop Livingstone was very instrumental in taking care of the missionaries and he was active in helping and supporting the mission in any way possible.  He was also a great preaching interpreter.  On the 11^th April 2013, we arrived at Hyderabad.  We were welcome there by pastor Joshua Oradi of New Grace Tabernacle Ministries.  It was a refreshing time to see the other missionaries of our team again, who were also ministering in different parts of India and to meet all the different Indian pastors from many different parts of India.

PASTOR TOM (SEATED LEFT) AND BISHOP DAVID LIVINGSTONE(SEATED RIGHT), ENJOY COCONUT DRINK WELCOME IN VILLAGE CHURCH.

12^th –14^th April 2013:  PASTORS CONFERENCE

Some of our missionaries in our team plus India pastors arrived on 12^th in the morning.  The conference began in the morning on 12^th April 2013.  All the missionaries had teaching sessions allocated to them on different topics including prayer, the power of the Cross,  witnessing in warfare, etc.  I, pastor Tom, had teaching session on, The Role of a pastor.  Many pastors traveled from far and they truly enjoyed the pastors conference which united them and enabled them to know one another.  About 50 leaders attended the conference.

On Sunday 14^th , most of our missionary team members were tired and worshiped at the church where we had the conference.  But I, pastor Tom, worshiped at Indian Pentecostal Church of God in Hyderabad Hyderguda.  It was a wonderful church which was founded by Pastor Philip Abraham in 1955.  The current pastor of the church, John Sunderao,  gave me a wonderful welcome and they asked me to come back again and preach.

15^th April 2013:  Our missionary team left very early in the morning for New Delhi.  We flew from Hyderabad to New Delhi where we were welcome by Rev.G. Venugopalan and his family.  We had some little shopping experience and then had a special house fellowship in a rich Hindu family.  It was just about 3 hours before we went to New Delhi airport,  that the whole family of eight people gave their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.  The family has a High school Principal, bank Director and other senior people.  A  Woman who had a disease called migraines in that family was healed immediately.  The family gave us their own car to take all of our missionary team to the New Delhi airport.  God is awesome!!!!

PASTOR TOM (TEACHING LEFT) AT THE PASTORS CONFERENCE IN INDIA  HYDERABAD IN APRIL 2013.

16^th April 2013 : We arrived at the New Delhi airport at 2:00a.m and we stayed there till 9:20a.m is when the Kenya team boarded a plane to Doha Qatar.  We boarded another plane at Doha at 1:30a.m on 17^th April 2013 and arrived safely in Nairobi Kenya at 6:30a.m on the same day.  I was welcome at the airport by a great Canadian friend who refreshed me in his house before I boarded another public service vehicle later that day to Narok, about three hours drive from Nairobi.  My family were very happy to see me again and I was blessed to meet them again.  The Church was very happy to welcome me back.  The church was constantly in prayers for me while I was away.

APPRECIATION/OBSERVATIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Thanks to the President of Renewal Ministries Fellowship Sister Anita Femiano for organizing and sponsoring the India mission as the main participant.  Such mission trips should be done regularly in different countries.
2. Thanks to all the Renewal Fellowship Ministries missionary team that went  to India and served God in very tough and unfavorable conditions.
3. Thanks to all who supported me (pastor Tom) in many ways and for your prayers that made the India mission a success.  We had many stumbling blocks but your support and prayers gave us victory.
4. Thanks to Indian Church leaders and Church members for their accommodation, food,   and care.  I appreciate the Christian organizations, churches and ministries  that are doing their work in India and especially those that we met personally.
5. I observed that many Church leaders in India need Christian training and international mission exposures.  Many leaders lack the true Biblical foundation.
6. I observed that the Church in India is growing fast and they are united in serious fellowships and yet they are not deeply rooted in God’s Word.
7. I observed that the saints in India fear to do aggressive witnessing because they are afraid of Hindu people.  The culture is unique and diverse.
8. I recommend that Bibles, and Christian discipleship material be availed to Indian believers and leaders.  Leadership seminars, Bible schools, training centres, are needed.  Most Christians need income generating activities.
9. I recommend short-term and long-term missionaries be sent to India.  We are willing to work with any groups that want to work in any way with Indian saints and leaders.  Indian saints should also be trained, sent and supported as missionaries to their nation and to other nations.

NOTE: MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE AT YOUR REQUEST.MAY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST RECEIVE ALL THE GLORY IN ALL THAT WE DID AND WHAT GOD IS DOING IN INDIA.

 

REPORT WRITTEN BY: PASTOR TOM OPIYO,

• P.F.J.M,
• P.O. BOX 1008, NAROK,
• 20500, KENYA.
• Email: kingdomvisionprtom@yahoo.com
• DATE: 27TH APRIL 2013.