Good morning, church family! It is so good to see all of you. Some of you are new faces, and many of you know us well, but it is truly a joy to be back with you, cool off a bit, and share in sweet fellowship. God is good—all the time! He has been so faithful to us as a family, as a church community, and to each of us individually.
We were not originally planning to visit this summer, as we had intended to come during Thanksgiving. However, our children called us up and insisted that we come for a family gathering, so we made this short trip. Just last weekend, our family gathered together to worship and praise the Lord. My grandfather had five children, and the third child was my father, Thomas. Out of his six children, five of us are alive today. Last Sunday, forty of us—siblings, twelve grandchildren, and twenty-one great-grandchildren—gathered in our home to give glory to God.
As the pastor prayed over the generations earlier today, my heart rejoiced. I was reminded of being a five-year-old boy watching my grandfather come to church with his big Bible. Every single week, he shared the exact same testimony, declaring the truth found in Scripture:
"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread." — Psalm 37:25 (NASB 1995)
He was prophesying over his descendants, and today, that promise stands firm across our family. His great-great-great-granddaughter, Talia, is the 21st great-grandchild in that line, and our family continues to walk with the Lord. From generation to generation, God keeps His word.
What God Is Doing in the Field
It has been nearly two years since we last stood with you in your old church building in 2024, and so much has happened in that time. The past two years have been a meaningful season of milestone anniversaries across all three avenues of our ministry:
School Ministry: In April 2024, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our school. This year, we have 725 children enrolled.
Church Ministry: In May, we marked 20 years of church ministry, gathering with 300 to 350 people to praise God. Today, we have 15 evangelists and pastors serving in various villages, ministering to home fellowships ranging from 5 to 60 members.
Hospital Ministry: On July 14th, we complete 25 years of hospital ministry. Operating 24/7, our hospital provides medical care while sharing the Gospel with everyone who steps through our doors.
Looking back on ourselves, we know we are not experts, nor do we possess great wisdom on our own. We were like fools jumping into the water, learning step by step as God led us. Yet, by His grace, all three ministry avenues are going well.
We continuously see Him do what seems impossible. Last year, a lady was discharged from Velamal Hospital—one of the largest hospitals in Madurai—and sent home because the medical team believed she was going to die. Her family brought her to our hospital just seeking end-of-life care, expecting to take back her dead body. We explained that our facilities were limited compared to a large medical center, but our Christian doctors took her in and cared for her with great love. God performed a miracle! Within a week, she walked out of the hospital alive. She later returned to give an offering, knowing that Jesus is the One who heals and gives life. What is impossible with man is fully possible with God. Even when we are unfaithful, He remains forever faithful.
When Life Does Not Make Sense
As I prepared for this Sunday, I had an entire message ready. But yesterday morning, the Holy Spirit unexpectedly placed a completely different text on my heart. My wife asked me on the drive over what I would preach, and I told her: Isaiah 53.
Usually, Isaiah 53 is read during Holy Communion:
"Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should honor Him." — Isaiah 53:1–2 (NASB 1995)
I wondered why the Lord gave me this specific scripture. But as I look out today, I realize that while many faces are smiling on the outside, there may be deep pain, unanswered questions, doubts, and heavy burdens on the inside.
Last August, I received a phone call regarding a young nurse in our ministry. Her father had been the very first person baptized through our ministry after God miraculously extended his life following kidney failure. This young woman had grown up in faith, excelled in her studies, and completed her nursing degree with our hospital's support. Yet, due to heavy cultural pressures and difficult family circumstances, her life ended in severe heartbreak and tragic loss.
I still carry the weight of that loss in my heart. I prayed, "Lord, why did this happen? We brought this family to faith, supported them, and saw Your provision—why ?" Many times, life feels deeply unfair. We look at our world today and see immense turmoil. In Middle Eastern nations, families are fleeing from missiles and facing uncertain futures. In Northern India, while we gather in freedom, many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are imprisoned or unable to worship freely.
In the middle of all this brokenness, we must ask: Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ still good news?
The Hope of the Cross and a New Humanity
When the Prophet Isaiah wrote these passages, Israel was experiencing deep suffering, loss, and captivity. They had lost their kingdom, their temple, and their identity, questioning if there was any hope left.
Yet, God gave them a message of profound hope in Isaiah 52:7 (NASB 1995):
"How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'"
Yes! The Gospel of Jesus Christ—His suffering, redemption, healing, and restoration—is the only true good news for a broken world. We do not need to be discouraged as we share this faith through our words and our lives. He reigns, He lives, and He is risen!
You may ask, "Why must I suffer ?" Scripture reveals that Christ took the Father's will upon Himself and was crushed for our redemption. When the disciples asked Jesus in John 9 whether a man was born blind because of his sin or his parents' sin, Jesus answered that it was so the works of God might be displayed. Suffering is not God tormenting us, but rather the space where His redeeming grace and power are made known.
If you are struggling with doubt today, remember the apostle Thomas. He walked with Jesus for three and a half years and saw incredible miracles, yet he still struggled with doubt after the resurrection. Jesus did not reject him; He showed Thomas His wounded hands and side. It is okay to ask questions and bring your honest doubts to the Lord. Look at His wounds—He bore our sins, transgressions, and grief on the cross.
Isaiah 52:10 (NASB 1995) declares:
"The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God."
The world constantly tries to divide people and create hostility. But the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:14–16 (NASB 1995) that Christ broke down those barriers:
"For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity... so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross."
Standing Firm as a Tender Shoot
Jesus came into this world like a tender shoot growing out of dry ground—unimpressive to human eyes, yet carrying the ultimate power to transform humanity. Today, the Church may sometimes feel like that fragile shoot in a dry land. People ask, "Does the Gospel still have an impact in our world ?" Yes! A Church that faithfully follows the cross of Christ remains the world's ultimate source of hope. When we go through suffering, we share in the participation of His suffering for His glory and purpose.
The cross makes all the difference, and its message remains fully relevant today. We are only here because of the cross and the One who gave His life upon it. Let us fix our heart on His sacrifice, meditates on His goodness, and carry this glorious news to a waiting world. May God bless you all, and thank you for your ongoing love, support, and prayers!