GlocalNet

This is the first time I’ve been close to a computer in India - but here I am.  I hope I can finish this blog before I lose a connection - we’ll see.  India has been “less” connected than I expected to be, the IT giant that it is.  For the most part I’ve been with pastors and church planters - later this week I’ll be with political and business leaders. 

Travel is difficult.  I have been on trips that were to last 5 hours that lasted 12, but it’s all good. 

I’ve been blown away by the church planters here.  I’ll have their stories on a flip camera when I come back, but until then here’s a recap.

I’m meeting tons of guys who have started hundreds of churches - dozens is the norm.  They aren’t as large - 40 to 300 in attendance but they add up.  One guy has over 60,000 in his own church planting church - I’ve never seen anything like it.  Most of the pastors have been beaten or faced persecution.  I met some pastors from Orissa where many lost their life this last year . . . tragic stories, but a testimony to Jesus Christ.  They don’t have money, just a lot of Holy Spirit and commitment.  Most of these guys, though poor and uneducated, will do far more than the few thousand mega-church pastors in the US - me included.  They have reached more people and discipled more people than us - we need to sit at their feet and learn. 

There is an abandonment to Christ here that is unparalleled.  They are serious about who they are and what they are doing. I’ve learned a lot, been convicted as to planting more churches, and even growing our own church more.  They went crazy over the stuff I taught on domains and want my books translated in Hindi.  I’ve been asked to come back - but not sure when and for what.  I came because of my friendship with Jossy Chacko - he and I are in a small global community learning from one another. 

Nikki - you can teach all the health and hygiene here to your hearts content!  Jill, the orphans here are massive in number and would break your heart.  Some of the most beautiful children in the world I’ve ever seen.