Dear Friends,
In January, 2007, I will once again be traveling to Andhra Pradesh, southern India to conduct open-air Gospel meetings and Bible training.
It is an incredible experience to stand before hundreds of Hindus and Muslims in a remote village in southern India. When the singing begins, people begin to flood the crusade grounds even after working all day in the fields. With hungry hearts and great needs they come and listen. They eagerly receive and absorb the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Just the simple message. . . that works best. . . about a God who created everything, who loves them, Who longs for His children to return to Him, about a Book that shows the way, and a Savior Who died for their sins.
When the call is given they come, responding to the Good News they have heard, giving their hearts to Jesus and receiving salvation for their souls. Many are healed. Demons are cast out. This is the real thing. This is the Father's business.
As I look into their faces, they cry out for mercy and grace, I can sense the Father's love for them and see the mighty impact as the Holy Spirit moves. Like the father of the prodigal, our God is running out to meet them. . . and He smiles and the angels rejoice. It is truly an awesome spiritual experience.
Why is Tom Shanklin Ministries returning to India? Because the need is great. Because the people are hungry for spiritual reality and truth. Because the fields are white unto harvest. Jesus said, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few." (Matthew 9:37, KJV)
Ministry in the villages is desperately needed. Many have not heard the Good News of salvation. As we drove into Nachupally (pop. 4000) last December, we saw Hindu shrines to various gods and goddesses, built around the outskirts of the village to ward off evil spirits and to bring prosperity and protection. In the center of town is the Hindu temple, with a loud speaker, issuing forth chants to false gods. We preached the Gospel there and the Christians held a Jesus march through the village as they sang praises and walked to a nearby lake to baptize new believers.
In Nandyal (pop. 1 million), at a little telephone shack where I made a long distance call home one morning, the proprietor was burning incense and making gestures of worship to all the gods on the walls. This nation of 1.1 billion people is full of idolatry and ignorance of the one true and living God. Less than 3 percent of the population are Christian, according to the 2001 census.
In another village, three Muslim teenagers came with bottles of water they wanted blessed. I led all three in a prayer of salvation confessing Jesus as Lord. In that village, children and teenagers asked to be released from school and came pouring into the daytime Bible school classes, hungry to learn more about the one true God and Jesus His Son. About 75 of them were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Bible School students and local young people began to dance as they heard about the goodness of God. "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalms 107:1, KJV)
Our goals on this upcoming trip are to evangelize, win souls, train Bible School students, and encourage the pastors. Tom Shanklin Ministries has been partnering with Calvary Commission India and Dr. Ileeni Benjamin, with financial support for their work of church planting and training pastors. Many of the pastors working with Dr. Benjamin are ministering in 6 or 7 villages on a regular basis, evangelizing, teaching the word of God to new believers and establishing churches.
One of those hard-working laborers is Pastor Francis (pictured here with his devoted wife). Francis has been used mightily by God in signs, wonders and miracles to glorify the Lord in the villages of Andhra Pradesh. Francis told me that he has seen six people raised from the dead. His bother, who works with him, has also seen one person raised from the dead. It's hard for us, with our western, materialistic mind sets to believe such things can happen today, but Jesus did say, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12) I believe the Bible. How about you?
Francis and His wife and daughter live in a small room in the back of a church. The room has a dirt floor and only a couple of benches for seating. No table. No chairs. No bed. Returning one night after midnight from another village where we had held a service, a meal of curry chicken and rice was prepared for us over an open fire in that humble place. Concerning material things, this family has nothing, but their souls are full of love for their Savior and joy in serving Him. When we return in January, we would like to buy a bed for this precious man of God and his wife.
The Lord is sending us and you are an important part of this upcoming mission as well as the ongoing work of Tom Shanklin Ministries here and abroad. Your financial and prayer support is needed and greatly appreciated. Every gift is an investment for the eternal souls of precious men and women, boys and girls all around the world. May God bless you!
Your coworker,
Tom Shanklin
P.S. This month we are offering as a free gift our latest release, The Healing CD. Originally released as "The Healing Tape," this valuable tool has helped many to find divine healing through God's Word. It's not a sermon, but rather a collection of scriptures, confessions and prayers designed to help the sick regain sound health in their spirit, soul and body. As you listen to these powerful scriptures and prayers, your faith will come alive for healing in every area of your life.