#5 A Full Day of Conference

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Saturday was the first full day of conference starting at 8:30 AM. Brian asked that we all meet together before service to discuss the day’s schedule and objectives. We planned to meet at a café downstairs in front of the hotel. We found that the café was closed down so we went back in the hotel and met in Brian’s room, #406, and ordered room service for breakfast. We had cheese omelet, toast, and coffee. It was surprisingly good. Most everything in India is a little spicy … usually a whole lot spicy! The coffee was kind of a latte. To get just plain coffee you had to order “service coffee” – being interpreted that was a carafe of hot water a dish of instant coffee, another of sugar cubes, and a small container of milk. But, hey at 24.00 rupees that was only about .60 USD. The cheese omelet was less that 2.00 US and the toast another .60. Pretty cheap breakfast in our economy!

Everett preached a tremendous message on the dwelling places of God from the tabernacle, tabernacle of David, Solomon and Herod’s Temple and finally dwelling in our lives. It was a perfect complement for the message I was feeling led to preach, “Built on the Rock.” I continued the theme that God is establishing His church --- the people of God in this world.

We broke service about 1:00 PM and greeted some of the people before lunch. Pastor J.P. introduced us to two pastors from another area. One older gentlemen was a pastor in a remote area of much difficulty. A man that had been an enemy of this pastor and the church drowned in the river. When the pastor heard of it he went and prayed for him and witnessed the man restored from the dead!

Another pastor formerly worked for an airline based in New Delhi and had a very good salary. He resigned his position and returned to his home to start a church. He now pastors 9 churches. There are some incredible men of God among this group!

We went back to the little restaurant near our hotel, “Three Musketiers.” What I ate yesterday seemed to be safe so I ordered it again – actually Pastor J.P. ordered it for me without asking! We talked to Gabriel about coming to CLC. His application is pending approval for an educational visa. Pastor J.P. suggested that he come and prepare himself for future ministry in India. He and his wife, Delin, are prepared to come next semester if they can get their visas approved.

We returned to the hotel for about 45 minutes before the next service. I debated taking a quick nap but I also needed to email my family to let them know I’m still alive. There is a little Cyber café less than a block down the street from the hotel. Email and internet won out over the nap. I removed my shoes at the door (in compliance with the sign posted by the door) and logged on to my assigned computer. They had about eight computers lined in a tiny hot room. Ceiling fans fought furiously against the heat. The connection was slow and the keyboard a little dirty but I was able to log onto Yahoo mail and return four emails in about 20 minutes. I paid out. It cost 10 rupees (about .25 USD). I could get used to living here! … Well, maybe not all the time.

I got back to the hotel and sat down for about five minutes before it was time to go again. Back to church! Pastor J.P. preached on “God’s name.” God is revealed as the “I AM” but He wants to be called by other names. He was called the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Other passages identify Him as the God of Daniel, the three Hebrews, or of Elijah. He is looking for someone to stand in the gap. He wants to be called by your name, the God of YOUR NAME. The “Church of God” is mentioned eight times in the New Testament. All references are to the “body of Christ” not a building or temple. – People responded very well to his message.

Brian Henry preached the “God of water and fire.” He gave an altar invitation for those desiring the Holy Spirit, then for those with other needs. Twenty were filled with the Holy Ghost and about ten experienced healing.