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Dying for an Answer: An Attempted Theodicy to the Problem of Evil

It is perhaps one of the greatest intellectual stumbling blocks in all of religious thought. As much as any soul would like to avoid the topic all together, sooner or later each person will be forced to grapple with the seemingly incongruous realties resulting from the simultaneous existence of both a sovereign God and the prevalence of evil in the world. To some, the disconcerting existential trauma of suffering in their lives and in the lives of those around them is enough to make one come down in the negative in their answer to the God question. However, upon deeper reflection one is forced to realize that --- though still mind boggling --- it is not necessarily inconsistent for both evil and the Biblical conception of God to exist at the same time.

In the hopes of gaining just a bit of perspective into such an overwhelming universal mystery, it is probably best to start out by formulating the problem in a summarized written form. Norman Geisler in “Introduction To Philosophy: A Christian Perspective” states the problem in the following manner: “(1) If God is all-powerful, He could destroy evil. (2) If God is all-good, He would destroy evil. (3) But evil exists. (4) Therefore, there is no such God (Geisler, 274).” To establish a credible defense to these charges, the Christian must show that evil does not necessarily upset the divinely appointed applecart and is allowed to exist because of the purpose it serves in subordination to higher, more important realities even if these do not always make sense to finite human sensibilities.

At the heart of this debate is a discussion as to both the nature of God and the nature of evil. As to the ethical nature of God, Matthew 5:48 instructs the reader, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect.” However, that goodness is not like unto that of a saintly grandmother, though kind and loving in all of her intentions, who is helpless to prevent the world from deteriorating all around her.

In the spirit of the Rooseveltian axiom of speaking softly and carrying a big stick, God has the power necessary to carry through implementing how He thinks things ought to be. Colossians 1:17 says, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” This is further elaborated and extended in Acts 17:28 which reads, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being...”

Pretty much nothing happens without God knowing about it and at least allowing it to happen by not intervening to prevent it even if He himself does not endorse the action, behavior, or event in question. Evil, by its very nature on the other hand, is a thought or deed violating God's nature of absolute goodness as expressed in the form of His natural and special revelation to those who inhabit the universe He created.

Yet, if God really does have the whole world in His hands as the old spiritual suggests, there needs to be a bit of explanation on the part of the apologist or theologian. For if God really is in sovereign control, one must show how this fits together with passages such as I John 1:5 which says, "This then is the message we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

The first step in eliminating the apparent contradiction arising between the existence of both God and evil is to show how evil might serve some purpose or be allowed to exist as the unfortunate byproduct of some more comprehensive good. Perhaps the best response Christian thinkers have provided thus far over the centuries is probably the so-called "Free Will Defense".

The underlying assumption of the Free Will Defense posits that the fault and consequences for evil in the world lies solely on the shoulders of those who commit moral transgressions and exhibit ethical shortcomings rather than upon a God imposing them upon the world from the outside. Scripture bears much of this idea out in passages such as Romans 5:12 which reads, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned..." Thus, it is pretty much our own fault as a species as a whole for the misery rampaging across the face of the earth and in individual lives.

While such a theory might help account for things such as crime, war, and even sickness since none of us have escaped the stain of sin, by itself it does not provide enough explanation to account for the tragedy arising from natural disasters (often referred to as so-called “acts of God”) or why God does not normally intervene to prevent ne’er-do-wells from inflicting pain and suffering upon their victims innocent in terms of instigating these particular acts of malice. Both of these quandaries find their answer in what Ronald Nash calls the “Natural Law Theodicy” or what John Frame refers to as the “Stable Environment Defense”.

Frame notes in “Apologetics To The Glory Of God” that a stable environment is fundamental to human existence (164). Ronald Nash writes in “Faith & Reason: Searching For A Rational Faith”, “Free rational action requires a world of natural objects governed by natural laws (200).”

C.S. Lewis adds to this perspective in “The Problem Of Pain” , “But if matter is to serve as a neutral field it must have a fixed nature of its own ... if you were introduced into a world which thus varied at my every whim, you would be quite unable to act in it and would lose the exercise of your free will (19).” Lewis continues in the following paragraph, “Again, if matter has a fixed nature and obeys constant laws, not all states of matter will be equally agreeable to a given soul, nor beneficial for that matter which he calls his body (20).”

Thus in essence, the same system of reasonably stable natural laws that allows man to survive and even thrive in an otherwise hostile universe can also end up allowing the very same components of nature that man requires for his very existence to be turned on him and to inflict harm upon him. Lewis points out how fire can either warm the flesh or burn it.

This is wrought with consequences as to why both nature and man seem capable of raining down misery with impunity. As to the issue of natural disasters, Romans 8:20-22 explains, "For the creation was subjected to frustration not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it... We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (NIV)." Thus, the very physical setting of creation is under the curse not unlike that imposed upon humanity for the fall of the species into sin.

Though the providence of God no doubt often spares certain individuals from befalling the ferocity of a world out of control, the system of physical laws through which the natural world is governed is usually left in place for the overall benefit of finite kind. For we would be unable to adjust in our current condition to a constantly changing and fluctuating cosmos. This principle readily applies to those bent on using physical matter to inflict their own corrupt wills upon secondary by-standing parties.

For example, one can use a baseball bat to enjoy an afternoon of leisurely recreation or to work someone over during an armed robbery. While we would all like God to intervene to prevent physical matter and natural forces from wreaking havoc upon us, in all likelihood doing so would inflict even greater harm upon the human species and the world in their current condition than simply allowing these contingent entities to continue on until the so-called end of history and the beginning of eternity.

Much of this theodicy is focused upon the preeminence of freedom in the relationships established under the terms of the divine economy. But some might argue that it is at this point of imbuing the actors in the universal drama with their own sense of freedom that God erred in His drafting of the cosmic screenplay. However, it is because of His absolute goodness that God has seen fit to grant some degree of say-so to those He loves the most.

It is because of the overwhelming sense of importance placed upon love that freedom must take precedence over order and control though freedom and love take place within the boundaries established by this order and control. For as any lovesick high school student turned down for the prom eventually realizes, love must be given freely or it is not true love.

The Scripture says in Joshua 24:15, "....choose you this day whom ye will serve." The text does not say that the decision will be thrust upon you. The Lord will hear enough whining on the Day of Judgment. He does not need to make His task more difficult by assigning the responsibility for our eternal fates and destinies to any party other than ourselves.

For centuries, skeptics used the problem of evil to chip away at the foundations of theism. However, the fact that the objection can be raised at all points towards the affirmative in its conclusion to the God question.

Human beings recoil in horror as they do to the pain and unfairness of the world since it is such a shocking affront to the way things were originally intended to be. Atheism uses this reaction deep within the soul to make its case for a totally naturalistic universe. But if evil, pain, and suffering are simply a part of the natural order, on what grounds are we justified in railing against it, and for that matter, how are we even capable of determining something has gone awry in the first place?

If evil is nothing more than part of the backdrop against which life plays itself out, man should barely notice it. For example, most normal people do not lie awake at night wondering why there is oxygen in the world or work themselves up into having an anxiety attack despairing as to why they will have to eat breakfast in the morning. The ability to complain about and speak out against evil points to the reality of some transcendent standard existing above the fray by which to justify this innate tendency towards making judgments.

One might counter that these standards simply exist within the individual as personal conscience. Yet both the daily news and the pages of history are replete with examples of how competing interpretations of these principles differ considerably and the conflicts that often arise without appeal to a yet higher arbitrating authority.

Thus, some external standard must exist in order to tell the difference between right and wrong. The only sufficient basis for this criteria is found in God. Alister McGrath provides the following proof in “Intellectuals Don’t Need God & Other Modern Myths“: “(A). Unless there is a God, there cannot be objectively binding moral obligations. (B). Objectively binding moral obligations exist. (C). Therefore, there is a God (40).”

At this point, the Christian thinker ought to take the problem of evil, invert it, and turn it against the critics of faith. John MacArthur writes in "Terrorism, Jihad & The Bible", his response to the September 2001 terrorist attack upon the United States, “The question we ought to ask is not why disasters happen sometimes. What we ought to ask is why don’t disasters happen all of the time (65).”

The problem really is not so much the problem of evil but rather the problem of pleasure. For human beings have done such a superb job messing up the world, that if God did not exist, how does any pleasure exist at all? And if God does exist, why does He continue to bless mankind despite the rebellion, animus, and contempt characteristically displayed on the part of the species to its benevolent Creator?

James 1:7 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” No matter how wretched life can get, somewhere along the way most people can recall at least a single moment of fleeting kindness in their lives and usually more.

Even if the Christian takes the time to carefully delineate the case that God is not responsible for the existence of evil in the world and how the existence of phenomena morally classified as such does not contradict His nature of absolute holiness, this is often still not enough to satisfy some of the more rigorous skeptics. These voices will counter that, even though the above theistic assertion might be true, God is still the bad guy in this story. In their eyes, He has not done enough to use His immense power to rectify the situation.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. God has been far from passive in solving this problem He did not create.

Kenneth Boa and Robert Bowman write in "An Unchanging Faith In A Changing World: Understanding & Responding To Critical Issues Christians Face Today", "God has embraced this in the most intimate way possible through the abusive treatment His Son received when he was tortured and crucified (81)." These apologists continue, "Thus, the real problem of evil --- ...whether anything can be done to overcome it and bring good out of it --- has been answered (81)." In essence, the problem has already been solved. The thing is that we are so mired in the flow of time that we are not yet able to fully enjoy the effects of this resolution.

God did not run away from the problem, but instead tackled its resolution head on in the most enthusiastic manner imaginable by allowing pain and evil to be visited upon Himself and in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. Nor did God gloss over the reality of evil in the attempt to buttress His position by spinning the matter in His favor by downplaying our pain.

God comes at the issue in such a straightforward manner that His blunt forthrightness would make plain-spoken newsman Bill O'Reilly blush. Job 14:1 declares, "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble."

God could very well quote the following from that old country song when we grow weary of the troubles inherent to life in this world: "I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden." He does, however, promise to do away with them in the next world where He will wipe away every tear according to Revelation 21:4. If God really was little more than a fairy tale, would the authors of Scripture include those texts that do little to sooth the troubled soul about the bleakness this side of Heaven and instead force the individual to confront some rather starting realities?

The problem of evil has plagued the mind of man at least since the day the first parents were expelled from the Garden of Eden for disobedience. However, the problem is not so much that God is a messed-up illogical being but rather that man is so limited in his capacity for reason that he is unable to ascend to the level of understanding necessary to comprehend the operational totality of the universe at the level of cosmic completeness.

God let's a whining Job have it in Job 38:3-4 and beyond when the Lord inquires, "Gird up now thy loins like a man [translated as "brace yourself' in the NIV]; for I will demand of then an answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare if you hast understanding."

And while man can theodicize until he is blue in the face, such answers provide only a modicum of comfort when one befalls ill health, when a family member passes away, or when religious fanatics fly airplanes into skyscrapers. During such trials, the best one can hope for are the reassurances found in Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purposes."

Bibliography:

Boa, Kenneth and Bowman Robert. "An Unchanging Faith in a Changing World: Understanding and Responding to Critical Issues That Face Christians Today." Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1997.

Frame, John. "Apologetics To The Glory Of God: An Introduction." Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishers, 1994.

Geisler, Norman & Feinberg, Paul. "Introduction To Philosophy: An Introduction." Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1980.

Lewis, C.S. "The Problem Of Pain." New York, New York: MacMillian Publishing, Eighteenth Printing, 1973.

MacArthur, John. "Terrorism, Jihad & The Bible: A Response To The Terrorist Attacks.: Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2001.

McGrath, Allister. "Intellectuals Don't Need God & Other Modern Myths: Building Bridges To Faith Through Apologetics." Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1993.

by Frederick Meekins

Frederick Meekins Jun 4, 07:12AM

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10 Ways To Include God In Your Daily Routine

All of us struggle at times with finding time to read our Bibles, pray or have quiet time with the Lord during our busy schedules. The purpose of this lesson is to list 10 Ways To Include God In Your Daily Routine.

#1 Create A Rolling Library: When I was in college, my marketing professor told us that he used his car as a library. He explained that as he drove his car, he listened to tapes of books and other helpful materials. Why not take this idea and use your car's CD player, Bluetooth or MP3 player to make your commute a daily soul enriching journey. This would be a great way to listen to the entire Bible throughout the course of a year or meditate deeper on last Sunday's message from the pulpit. There is a great variety of Bible lessons you can choose from. And most churches record sermons. Take full advantage of the advances we have in technology.

#2 Use Spiritual Screen Savers: If you work constantly in front of a computer, create your own screen savers that display a passage of Scripture when the computer is idle. When you come back from breaks or meetings, your screen will display a passage which can get you re-focused on the Lord or give you encouragement.

#3 Make Your Cell Phone A Bible: If you have a smart phone, download one of the free Bible applications available. These apps give you the Bible at your fingertips. Some of these apps will even read the Bible to you. The app I have on my phone is searchable as well and makes finding passages easy. While you are enjoying lunch, completing chores or exercising, you can read or listen to the Bible from your cellular.

#4 Subscribe to a Bible Study RSS feed: By subscribing via RSS feed you receive lessons directly to your E-mail or cell phone. This could be a great way for you to have a daily devotional thought.

#5 Hallelujah Alarm Clock: Set your alarm clock to play your favorite gospel Christian or Gospel station when the alarm goes off each morning. This could be a good way to get your mind immediate on the Lord in the morning.

#6 Use Sticky Notes: Leave a sticky note with a Bible verse on your lunch box. During lunch you will see the note when you grab your lunch box. If you are not good at leaving sticky notes, write a favorite Bible passage on your lunch box with a permanent marker.

#7 Pray Before Each Meal: This sounds simple. But many do not prayer before they eat. Take a minute or less and thank God for providing the sustenance you need.

#8 Always Have a Newspaper: I remember a co-worker from a previous job who never came to work without a newspaper. He would always walk in with a newspaper stuck in the strap of his lunch box. The point is to have something spiritual to read with you during the day. It can be a church bulletin from Sunday or a Christian magazine.

#9 Keep a Journal: Keep a journal about your spiritual walk with God. Journals can be kept to also write down your thoughts on particular passages of Scripture.

#10 Dedicate Your Coffee to God: Buy a coffee mug or cup with a Scriptural message on it. The cup can be a daily reminder of your relationship with God.

I pray that these 10 Ways to Include God helps you draw closer to God. Can you come up with other ideas or ways to help fellow Christians connect with God throughout the day?

Robert Randolph Mar 28, 08:02PM · Tags: bible, god, 10 ways, top 10, time

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Mission in India

B. Esudas, Evangelist

Tallurinagar

Narasaraoept-522601

Guntur-Dist, A.P. India

Email; beasudas@gmail.com

I would first like to share few words about my family and myself. . My given name is Esudas and my sirname is Bontha, I married a good Christian girl Vijaya Kumari in 1988 and we are blessed with 3 children and all of them are christians . My son is assiting me in the work. his name is Bharath Bhushan. We started several congregations and trained several people and they are working in theire congregations. and I am currently taking care of 52 orphaned poor negleted children. We run a Christian School, The name of the school is Indian Christian School. Recently we got accreditation for the school. Now we Have 138 students. We are taking care aged widows, I have been serving the Lord for the last 25 years in the state of Andhra Pradesh, South India. I am working in 3 districts and started many congregations. At present I am working for 8 congregations. Following are a few words about me and the work of Lord through me. My parents and grand parents were preachers. My son is the 4 genration preacher.

About India

We have 28 states and 7 union territories, these are divided on the basis of its language speaking people. We have 6 religions and many denominations, like Roman Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, etc. We have a population of 120 million in India. As per the census we have 80.5% Hindus. In our Government all of the denominations are referred to as Christians. As per their statistics the denominations account for 2.3% of the population. There is less than .5% Christians in India.

Challenges we are facing

1. Challenges from the Government

2. Challenges from the Hindu’s Hindu organizations

3. Challenges from the Denominations

4. Challenges from our brotherhood.

1.Challenges from the Government:--India is a Hindu dominated country. You can see it in the statistics. The population is 80.5% Hindus. Most of the leaders are Hindus and rule the government. They pass Government Orders requiring Hindus to get the votes in their elections. You can see the pictures of Hindu Gods in all of the Govt offices. The leaders go to Hindu Temples and give offerings to Hindu Gods. It is usually published in all the leading newspapers in India. Because of that all of the Hindus know that their leader favors Hinduism. Every 5 years we have elections. At that time they promise to take care of all the people. And they said they don't care about casts or religions. These promises will change from location to location. They will speak what the area people want to hear. If they are in Hindu areas they will pretend to prefer the Hindus. They tell the people We are Indians and we have to protect our religion and we have to abolish all of the other religions..

... more

Esudas Bontha Jul 29 '12, 08:49PM · Rate: 5 · Tags: india, missions

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Baptism

There is a man of about 45 years who has visited our congregation for a couple of months but has been refusing to baptize, for the reason that he has already baptized in a denominational church where he belongs to. But Yesterday, after I preached about “the character of a new man” based on Colossians 3: 12-17, the man accepted to be baptized into the Lord’s Church and so immediately after the worship, I arranged for some of the brethren to go and baptize him. And so we need to rejoice about the new babe in Christ. His name is called Ebenezer Ampah.

Joshua.

Joshua Aidoo Jul 9 '12, 11:33AM · Comments: 1

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Churches of Christ looking for preachers and preachers looking fo...

I have added a forum for congregations of the Lord's church to post job openings for ministers associated with mainstream churches of Christ, and for ministers to post information about their search for a new congregation. This preacher and congregational search forum also allows missionaries to post information about their mission efforts as they search for funds. Visit church of Christ resources for this "church of Christ preacher search service."

For a fairly comprehensive list of "churches of Christ searching for preachers" and "preaching jobs for ministers," you may also find the information at my "church of Christ preaching jobs" page.

May God richly bless your efforts to serve Him!

Brad
www.abiblecommentary.com

Brad Price May 19 '12, 09:27AM · Tags: church of christ preaching jobs, church of christ job openings, church of christ job listings, ministry jobs church of christ

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Conflict Resolution Pledge -- By Neville Buchanan

A couple of years ago I was asked by the University President and Hospital CEO to write a conflict resolution pledge for their organizations. This is what I came up with:

Whether you are part of a Church, College, School or Hospital Staff, maintaining a HIGH MORAL is the key to your future development. However, a successful organization’s HIGH MORAL swiftly evaporates under the weight of interpersonal conflict. Only 1 negative step backwards will undo 100 positive strides forward. Negative steps in a leadership staff occur via one of three Conflict Engendering Items (CEI):

1.Gossiping, whispering, backbiting, offenses, abusive speech, or slander.

2.Complaining (falls into two categories):

a.Grumbling (emotional complaining)

b.Disputing (intellectual complaining)

3.Accusations against a colleague, supervisor, or board member/s.

Because conflict acts in, an ever expanding circle, it must be dealt with swiftly. Therefore, everybody must buy-into a simple, easy to understand THREE STEP procedure:

1.ASAP, go privately to the person you suspect is the cause of one of the above 3 Conflict Engendering Items (CEI). [This occurs after the first meeting, or run-in, where the CEI occurred].

a. The purpose of this meeting is reconciliation. It is not to rehash history. It is to clear up a misunderstanding or the CEI.

b. If a CEI is present, then the best scenario is for your Colleague to say: “You are right, please forgive me”. At this point, the only appropriate response from you would be – “I forgive you”.

i. Both Colleagues move forward as if the offense never occurred and the organization’s HIGH MORAL wins.

c. What cannot happen, and is totally inappropriate behavior, is for the offended individual to go to anyone else with this problem. You are not allowed to confess someone else’s mistakes/sins. In that situation, the person, you are GOSSIPING TO should say: “What this person did/said may or may not be true, but you talking to me about this is gossip.” Even if you don’t use the person’s name, the result will still be the same – you are damaging the HIGH MORAL of the organization – you are spreading the discontent.

2.If you cannot resolve the conflict by following STEP ONE, choose an impartial “counselor” to go with you. (Often the reason for not resolving the conflict is the person does not want the initial meeting with you). The counselor should help the individuals to negotiate a resolution. The counselor must not be informed of the facts prior to the meeting. This would make him/her biased to the individual explaining the “facts”. The counselor is not there for either individual but for Maintaining the HIGH MORAL of the organization.

a. If the counselor cannot achieve a resolution he/she becomes a witness who gathers facts for STEP THREE.

3.If neither STEP ONE nor TWO resolves the conflict, all three individuals appear before the CONFLICT RESOLUTION BOARD. This board must have the authority to discipline the individual/s through whatever steps are appropriate, including termination of association with the organization. Their duty would be to listen to both sides, excuse the two individuals so that they can deliberate with the “counselor”, and determine the proper action.

It is recommended that everyone in the organizations initials each of the THREE CONFLICT RESOLUTION STEPS, dates, and signs the Pledge.

Some additional advice:

1.If the problem will go away, without employing any of the above steps, members of the organization should let it. The only time to address a problem is if it will not go away.

2.You don’t have to “take offense”. Just leave the “bait” on the trap (The Bait of Satan: Living Free from the Deadly Trap of Offense by John Bevere).

3. General rule of thumb: If it stinks, don’t stir it.

4. Everybody can have an off day. If somebody “gossips” to you, he/she may just be venting. Don’t repeat what you heard to anyone. Instead, go to them the next day, and ask them if they still feel this way about their colleague/supervisor. If they do not then let it go – forget it ever happened and do not repeat what you heard. However, if they do still feel offended, explain to them that they have two options, either to go to the person who offended them, or you are going to set up a private meeting for just the two of them. Everybody in the organization must be responsible for protecting its’ HIGH MORAL.

5.Try to work this “Conflict Resolution Pledge” into everyone’s Employment Contracts. It should help free your organization from CEI’s, Slander suits, and will help weed out individuals determined to harm the HIGH MORAL of the organization. It will also make Borger, TX a much better place to live.

6.This material is original with Jesus (Gleaned from Matthew 18:15-20). Feel free to customize it for your organization and to share with other MANAGERS/LEADERS/CEO’s in Borger. I would feel honored to explain this to any focus group you choose. Since I gleaned this from Jesus you don’t have to footnote or give me credit for any of the above you should choose to use.

Neville Buchanan Apr 23 '12, 10:23AM · Rate: 5 · Comments: 1 · Tags: resolution, management, counseling, conflict

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Work report of November 2011 to January 2012

Dear Friends

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21.

We are thankful for your kind prayers and financial help for my family and especially for the work we are doing in India. Please find the work report and progress of the months November 2011 to January 2012. It is possible for me to continue the Lord’s work with your help and prayers.

Statistics:

1. Baptisms 3

2. Responses 8

3. Lead worship in 6 congregations.

4. Had Bible classes 3 congregations.

5. Had 178 private bible studies.

6. Conducted 11 family prayers.

7. Visited the 13 sic.

8. Worked in 3 districts.

9. Indian Christian School and Home.

10. Aged , widowed and infirmed feeding.

11. Taking care of an diabetic 5+ years girl and also a cancer boy.

12. Preached in the burial program of Pullaiah.

13. Providing Typhoid Vaccine.

14. Church building opening celebration.

15. Gospel meetings 8

16. Visited 8 new villages.

17. Preacher’s training class.

18. Funeral meeting of Manda Isreal and Guntur Funeral program, Kopparapapalem funeral.

19. Attended for 2 baby shower program.

20. Conducting Sunday School.

21. Church building anniversary.

22. Conducted a gratitude prayer in the house of Subbarao.

23. Solemnized marriage of Mutluri Mahesh.

24. Conducting kids Bible class.

25. Helped the widows in Makkenavaripalem.

26. Special thanks giving program on 1st January 2012.

27. Birthday program.

28. Generator for Indian Christian school and Home.

29. Distributed Uniforms and shoes for all of the students of our school.

30. Helping with education fesses for 4 Intermediate students.

I. Sowing seed:-

We continue to preach in 6 congregations. 3 ladies baptized in to Christ. These 3 are the main leaders wife’s of sudra community. It is the results of 8 years continues teaching publicly like worship services and several other Gospel programs and also private Bible study. It is very hard to convert the people here in India. Many denominations and other religions strongly working against the truth. So we have to work more and more and have spend more time with the bible study. I believe it is possible to bent the twig easily. I and my family trying to teach the kids also. We try teach them how to pray, how to study the bible, and how to sing. We used to encourage the kids to by heart (memory verses) the scriptures. We have 3 mic phones(loud spakers) in 3 congregations, we use them in the services. It will help us to make listen the sermons and songs who are on the streets and also who are in homes on the cots. I feel through the listening of truth some day they will lead to the church building or to the preacher for more bible study. In some special times we encourage the kids songs competition and used to give gifts. At that time I saw the parents happy faces for their kids to see that their kids are growing in spirit glorify the God Almighty.

Preached in 8 Gospel meetings.- .1 Gospel meeting in Vadlamudivaripalem village, 2. Gospel meeting in Thangedumalli village, 3. Gospel meeting in Kopparam village, 4. Gospel meeting in Thurimella sc colony, 5. Gospel meeting in Kakani village, 6. Gospel meeting in the Village Rhythunagar, 7.Village Indra Giri(Near Munamaka Railway station) 8.Ikkurthi St colony. Specially In the village Vadlamudivaripalem and village Thurimella SC Colony.

We have been had many personnel bible studies in these two villages. It seems in these two villages time is very near to reap the fruit. I belive Private bible study is works more than Public teaching. It is possible to touch the hearts very easily if attend the private Bible study. I had also had few private Bible studies in Thangedumalli village and Mallayapalem sangam. I have been facing the question of on Baptism. Because they are in denominations and dipped in to the water and they thought that it is Baptism. I am trying to teach The meaning of the Baptism. Where you lead through the Baptism, who is the head of the church ? Some people still believe in miracle healing. Because they are making big programs and selling tons of Coconut Oil as Christ blood to get healing. Indians are religious and they saw many Hindu God’s false healing. And we have many tv channels who owned denominations. They dance like rock and roll and several other types of steps to involve in that programs. It attracts many innocent people and also the people who like freedom in the religion. We are facing all of these things.

I had private bible study with the above villagers, village leaders, denominational pastors. Some of them believe that all denominations are part of the church. Some of them are believe in denominations and some believe in false Hindu Gods and Goddess. I hope some of them will be baptized in to Christ at the nearest day.

In India we have several opportunities to preach the truth. Every member looking for preacher’s visit to his or her home. And we use to preach the truth at the time of Birtday programs, memorial gatherings, weddings, Funerals, in thanks giving prayers and the time they started carry a baby etc. All of these things make us busy and gives opportunities to sow the seed.

My son Bharath Bhushan is a great help to me in the work and shows much interest in winning the souls for Christ. He baptized by me and serving the Lord and people like eloquent sound speakers. He is like that. He has heart of compassion and love. I am really appreciate him. Because I saw many young people used to smoke, taking alcohol and romance with girls etc. Young people thought that those are the great things and destroy the temple of God. I believe if they grow in the word from their childhood they will not depart from it.

We celebrated Ramanjaneyapuram church building opening celebration on 21st of January. We had a good program on that day. Several people from other villages and other countries also attended for the program.

II. Training Class and Preacher’s gathering:-

We continue to conduct preachers training class on every Saturday. We conduct the class one Saturday in my home and goes to the new village with them and some other preachers conducting private bible study, small gospel meetings, making new contacts to get the bible study. These people are good helpers in the work to find new fields to sow the seed. The other preachers who trained by me are working in their congregations started by me.

III. Benevolence:-

1. Now we continue to arrange one mealy every day for 13 aged , widows and infirmed in Subbaiahpalem church of Christ. They are very thankful for you. And we wish to start this feeding program in Makkenavaripalem congregation 25 aged, widowed and infirmed. We need your prayers and financial help to do it.

2. We continue to take care of 5+ years old diabetic girl in Makkenavaripalem with the needed food and insulin and test equipment’s. We have small refrigerator to preserve the medicine.I think you remember it.

3. We continue to take care of 50 orphans, poor and neglected kids who are in my home.

4. We are providing Bus facility to come to our Indian Christian school for 65 children from the surrounding villages. We have some students from this city also. Totally now we have 131 students in our school. Many are contacting to get admissions in the school and some are asking to get admission in to the home. I know they are in need.

5. We are paying the college fees for 4 children who the children of the members of Ramanjaneyapuram congregation. Two them are the children of a widow . Her husband was died with AIDS in the past.

6. And also I am helping for one girl and one boy from the Ramanjaneyapuram congregation who are the children of AIDS. Their father too was died. I trying to help these kids when I have money in my hand.

7. And also I used to help for medicines for widows of Makkenavripalem when they are in need and when I have money in my hand.

8. And also helping a cancer boy for his treatment .

Indian Christian School and Home(A place to prepare soldiers for Christ) :-Indian Christian School which run by us is in good. They learning how to pray and how to study the bible and they lerning some memory verses. Every day they are all praying for you. Now we have 4 teachers in the school and my wife teaches in moral class. I too teach when I have time. We are still working on school accreditation. The district educational officer asked some more certificates. I am trying get it. We conducted a special program on 21st of January. We provided Typhoid Vaccine for all of our school students and staff of the school. It was published in 3 regional News papers and also local TV channel. Bro.John Shaffer , Bro.Dudly Morton their interpreters and area doctor also participated in this program.

And we are planning to conduct 3rd Anniversary of our Indian Christian School. Pray for the success of the program.

We provided Clothing(Uniform) shoes and belts and ties for all of the kids.

You all know that we run the school in my home. We need to move the school to the permanent place . I need your prayers and encouragement to do this very big work. We need to buy land first. If we buy land it will become firm to use for His cause. Please know that it is training land to prepare the soldiers for Christ.

You know that all of the 131 kids are in our home for classes and 50 are in our home. Kids use much water. We don’t have drainages for the waste water . Some times little bit of water will come out of the house will be on the road. My neighbor angry on me and came with rough words. Bad thing is he has no Children. My friends it needs big heart to bear the kids and kids playing and kids activities. At the time of playing hour they shout loudly. It is very sweet for my ears but …….. My wife and me feel happy when they eat much food and playing with good health. Recently Onions cost was fall down verily. I brouth two big bags of Onions and prepared special curry for them along with eggs. It looks great when we saw them to eat tastefully with good comments. And it is common every day some kids used to pass the urine. My wife having a big job at that time. Lol.

Prayer request:

1. We need your prayers and help to start the aged, informed widowed feeding in some other congregations.

2. We need your prayers and help to continue take care of these needed children. To meet their regular needs.

3. We need your prayers for Bus gas and bus monthly payment regularly.

4. We need your prayers and help to get the land for the school to make it as permanent one.

5. We need your prayers for my family.

6. We need your prayers and encouragement to continue the Lord’s work.

7. We need your prayerful help for our Flight tickets to comet to usa on 12th July.

Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Colossians 3:17) We need your prayers and financial help to continue all of these works of Lord.

Please send your support to Granby church of Christ. http://www.churchofchristindia.com/support.html And mention it Granby church of Christ India Mission fund.

Granby church of Christ
516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844

We conducted special prayer meetings on 1st January and give thanks to God Almighty remember all of world and you and your families specially.

All of my family and the children who are in our care are convey their hearty thanks to you all for your kind prayers and encouragement and financial help. You are in our in daily prayers and Children are praying for you and all of your family members. Please feel free to ask any question if you have.

We pray my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. Amen.

In the Love of the Lord

Yours Brother in Christ

B.Esudas,

www.churchofchristindia.com

www.beasudas.preachersfiles.com

Esudas Bontha Feb 8 '12, 11:37AM · Rate: 5 · Comments: 1