Urban Leadership Foundation
A hub for leadership training in cities and among the world's 1.4 billion slum-dwellers
I fasted and prayed, in three days of community fasting. Then came a vision and purpose to plant the church. We took a special time of prayer. Then went there. We are not going alone, but we prayed to the Lord, "You are the third person coming with us".
The place is a cemetery, half Muslims, some Telegu, some Hindi. We started visiting houses. We found some of the people needed prayer, because of Alcohol. The husband never used to bring the money there. More than 10-15 houses, where children went without food and clothing. After finishing one house, then a lady is waiting for us. "My 18 year old is not going to school because she is sick" Some of the old people are sick and no-one is taking them there to the hospital, so we prayed.
Every Friday, we went. The priest is there, asking why we were there. Why don't you come to preach. We have no sound system. Whatever offering you are gathering, we will give to you.
We started a street meeting, singing a song, and more than 50-60 people came. We made a simple sermon, our testimony how we had been saved. Plus we gave an altar call. In that first meeting, I received 35-40 rupees. I used this for the PA system. The meeting grew there each week.
I was assisted by a pastor who has a film ministry. During his leave, he came with films and distributed literature.
After 6-8 months, then people are ready for baptism, 30 members came to the main church, more than 35 Km.
We put up a small centre. A steady growth in that church. Still the services, but for the communion service they used to come to the main church.
A lady died. The people wanted to bury her according to Hindu custom. But the believers wanted a Christian burial. The community people smashed the center and its lights.
After the burial, we took a prayer meeting on the 16th day, so we all gathered with the Christians and non-Christians, and the Hindus took the morning, and the Christians took the afternoon. Some came to the Lord.
But the basic problem we are not staying there. 40 have come to the Lord, but 180 have not come. Some are gong back to drinking, some are gambling. But after six months, they will not come back.
Some of the neighbours in other slums come because of their relatives, So now we come to six churches.
Now we have made pastors there for each church. The pastors stop their people going to the collective meetings. Why? the reason is they have no theology. They preach with noise but there is no phone.
Twice a year, I do a free medical camp. More than 20 people have benefited from free glasses. During the tsunami, I helped them because they were victims. We gave to Hindus, Muslims.
How long we have been there, but there is no growth in the church.
We will fast and pray and then hire a house and live there.
Main problem is the pastors are not cooperating, but just earning from the church.
A pastor got into sin, left the church, and it was closed. So he looked to buy it. The pastor had put the church in his wife's name. But it is common ground.
There are so many problems. My wife is suffering.