India Trip

I believe the Lord has opened a door for me to go on a missions trip to New Delhi, India for two weeks. I will be helping a dear brother in the work of teaching men the glorious person and work of Jesus Christ. But first, I would like to introduce you to this dear brother, Theo Shimray.

I first met Theo 3 years ago in a class at Grace School of Theology and Ministry. Theo as I found out was a missionary pastor from India. He left his village in Manipur to find biblical training in the United States and the Lord led him to arrive in the city of Vallejo where he met the leaders of Community Bible Church, eventually enrolling at GSTM. It was during those times in the classroom and through fellowships gatherings that I got to know Theo and his strong faith and deep passion to spread the Gospel to his people in India. While attending classes during the day, he remained faithful in serving at CBC in a variety of ministries, spanning all age groups. By God’s grace, Theo graduated in the summer of 2004 beginning the work that God has called him to do in New Delhi. God has blessed his labors there where he has planted a church in New Delhi called Manipur Christian Fellowship Delhi and begun a school known as Sola Gratia Ministries. It is in this work that Theo has asked me to help him.

Lord willing, on Dec 2, I will be teaching a two-week course on the subject of Jesus Christ, formally known as Christology. This is a class that I’ve previously taken at GSTM and has been one of my favorite classes impacting my life and ministry in a variety of ways. During my stay there, Theo has also asked me to teach at evening bible study groups and various evangelism meetings.

As I read what I have written so far, I tremble at what I will be held accountable in doing. My zeal and excitement is quickly curbed by the fear of God. However, that fear of God is one in which I pray God will bless. When Abraham was about to offer his only son Isaac, the Angel of the LORD stopped him and said:

“Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me.” (Gen 22:12)

What is the fear of God? In this text it says, not withholding anything from the Lord. I pray that there would be nothing so precious that I would withhold it from Him, my time, my pleasures, my money, my motives, my heart – I want the Lord to have it all and use it for His purpose.

“Who am I to go to such a place and do such a work,” I ask myself. I’m nothing but a self-righteous sinner who once sought the merit of God through his own works until the day the Lord showed me to be a lost sinner in need of The Savior. More and more I am overwhelmed at the thought that God did not send His Son so I would follow His example, nor that I can understand morality, or even so that I could change my life. He sent and revealed His only begotten Son out of His love so that He could kill Him in order to redeem a sinner like me! It is that work, that truth, that glorious Gospel reality that I wish to share with the people in India. So please pray for me and join me in this work.

Specifically, I ask that you pray for the following:

• Relationships – I will be spending 2 weeks with 14 students for approximately 6 hours a day. I want to know these men and minister to them in any way I’m able.
• Strength – I am used to teaching on a weekly basis, but never have I taught on a daily basis.
• Clarity – I am not sure how much of a language-barrier there will be so pray that God would allow clarity in our times together
• Health – As Theo reminds me, “you’re not good to us if you’re sick.”
• Salvation – There are evening bible studies and Sunday services where I pray unbelievers will come and the Gospel would pierce hard hearts and bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ.
• Confidence – I ask for godly confidence that God would give me boldness and freedom in all the teaching
• Lisa and the girls – Pray for my beloved family that while I’m gone, the kids don’t overwhelm Lisa. Also pray for Lisa that the “evening sicknesses” would subside and for her and the baby’s health.

I thank God for the Lighthouse family who has graciously provided the financial costs of this trip. However if you feel led to give financially, the moneys given will be used to purchases a variety of resources for Sola Gratia’s teaching ministry in the form of books, bibles, and computers. Please make the check out to Lighthouse Bible Fellowship and don’t forget to place a note “India Missions trip” indicating this special gift.

In the Lord’s grip,
Patrick