Welcoming Prayer Meeting

Friday Evening: Welcoming Prayer Meeting for John and I at the Church

At the Church next to the Bible College we went to a welcoming Prayer meeting for John and I where we got our first glimpse of what worship in these India Churches

John Speaks with Shibu translating

 Is like. First of all, everybody wears sandals and leaves them at the front door and goes in barefooted. The men sit on one side and the women on the other with the young people sitting on the floor in the front – Girls on one side and boys on the other. We were instructed to sit up front in chairs behind the podium and facing towards the congregation. The time started with some singing lead by one of the students, Solomon, who played guitar. Then we were greeted with a traditional wreath ceremony, which entailed having John, and I to stand up front while representatives from four of the groups that were praying for us came up and put wreaths around our necks. Apparently from the time we told them we were coming we have had all these people praying for us! All the students and faculty, All the children from the Children’s home, and all the Church Plants in Kerala which are quite a few!  It was very touching and encouraging! Then after a few people spoke in the local language which we didn’t understand I was asked to give a “greeting” from AABC . It was a chance to see what it will be like to speak using a translator! Then John brought some words of encouragement and he got his first chance to speak using an interpreter. Then after some prayer we had some refreshments outside and enjoyed talking to many there. We talked to one pastor who wanted us to convey his thanks to Ed Phelps whom he had never met, but whom had been instrumental in providing a motorcycle that he could use in his ministry. Then we went back to the house and shortly went to bed exhausted and encouraged by all the wonderful people we met.