THE CHRISTIAN
FROM ONLINE BIBLE
Evangelism Through
Journalism
Vol. 6, No. 4
‘In every wilderness journey, there’s a well of provision’
BY ROBIN SAM
AGNES OLUBUNMI AMOS
had everything going her way.
She had a good job as the director
of marketing and events for the
Society for Biomolecular
Sciences.
In a career spanning nearly 20
years she had seen highs and lows
as a business professional in the
field of events/marketing. Agnes,
who holds an executive MBA
from the University of Hull,
United Kingdom, currently lives
in the United States.
However, a gnawing thought in
her kept telling her that her life
had not been a testimony at least
as far as her job search was
concerned. She had hopped from
one job to another with the ease
of a trapeze artist never really
knowing that Jesus Christ, savior
and Lord of her life, wanted to
be taken into confidence on that
Retail
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aspect of her life, too. She had
been praying for a break, she
wanted to move on to another job,
a possible hop up the corporate
ladder with a decent pay hike to
boot.
It wasn’t easy though; it took
Agnes 15 months, over 1,000
resumes and six failed interviews
to land another job. For 13
months, she looked around for a
job while still holding on to her
position at the Society for
Biomolecular Sciences. When
nothing materialized she quit in
sheer desperation in October,
2008. A week after her
resignation, the stock market in
the US crashed leaving both
employers and job seekers in a
state of panic. Potential job offers
were frozen.
But our God is the God of the
impossible, and nothing that that
happens here on earth limits what
He can do from his throne in
BOOK FAIR
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OM Books
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BIBLES & BOOKS
AUGUST, 2009
Agnes Amos, author of
‘The Journey of a
Christian Job Seeker’
heaven. Crashing world markets
and economic turmoil mean
nothing to Him, because He is the
same, yesterday, today, and
forever (Hebrews 13:8). Agnes
had learned that lesson. In
February, 2009 she joined the
National Tour Association
management team in the US as
senior vice president.
THEOLOGICAL DEGREES
‘The Journey of a Christian Job
Seeker’ written by Agnes Amos
is the result of a remarkable
discovery about God, life and
herself. THE CHRISTIAN
MESSENGER spoke to her.
Excerpts from an exclusive
interview:
Your job search, you say in
the book, began in Sept, 2007
with a belief that God placed in
your heart that you were to
change jobs. Tell us how you
responded to the belief initially
and what prophetic messages
you received that confirmed the
belief as truly from God.
A pastor friend of mine in
Germany was praying for me over
the phone one late evening in the
fall of 2005 (though I had been
silently praying to the Lord to
change my job and promote me)
and he shared with me that I will
get another job soon – however,
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I will not stay too long in this job
because a greater opportunity
awaits me. A week later, I did get
a new job with Society for
Biomolecular Sciences as their
Director of Meetings and Events.
I was overjoyed and embarked on
this new exciting role. I started
with this company in December
of 2005 and in the summer of
2007, the Lord reminded me of
the prophetic message given to
me in 2005 “You will not stay too
long in this job because greater
opportunity awaits you.” With
this reminder, there was a force
in me driving me to seek
greatness, but I can’t quite explain
it now. My friends and family
thought I was crazy, because I had
a good job and they didn’t
understand why I should look
further. After careful thought, I
launched my job search in faith
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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‘A curse without cause shall not alight’ THE CHRISTIAN

BY SATYARTHI SAHU &
SARAH SAHU
A woman wrote: “My
husband died a long time ago. I
stay alone in the property that
belonged to my late husband.
For more than a year now, some
strange things have been
happening in my house. I hear
knocks on the door; when I open
it I do not find anyone.
Sometimes, I feel as if someone
is in the room. There are loud
noises as the glass panes break
on their own and come crashing
down to the floor. At other times,
small toys of cars, aeroplanes
and stones come hurtling in the
air. All the things in my house get
tossed around as if a hurricane
had passed through the rooms. I
have asked many pastors to come
home and pray for me. They have
prayed and sprinkled holy water
and applied prayer oil in my
house to rid the evil spirits.
Though the attacks stopped for
a while, from the past one month,
they have started all over again.
I am a believer. Can you help me
please?”
STRANGE as this may sound,
these things which are happening
to you are not caused by any
human element but the result of
witchcraft. The things you have
described are done by evil spirits
and demons which have been
sent to your house on assignment.
They may have been dispatched
to strike fear into you so that you
leave the place and go.
Proverbs 26:2 says: “Like a
flitting sparrow, like a flying
swallow, so a curse without cause
shall not alight.” Therefore, you
need to look within yourself and
see if there is any cause for these
attacks to continue. Please check
if there are any doorways open
in your life through which these
evil spirits are coming home to
trouble you.
These could be from your
childhood, when you may have
inherited curses through the sins
of your father, or any sexual sins
or involvement with the occult.
If you think there is a reason, then
do the following:
1) Recommit your life to Jesus
and ask Him to close all
doorways through which demons
enter.
2) Forgive all people who have
wronged you from your
childhood onwards. If there had
been any sexual sins or
involvement with the occult, ask
for God’s forgiveness. (Matthew
6:14-15)
3) Confess, renounce all sins
and be washed in the blood of
Jesus (1John1: 9,7)
4) Fill yourself with the Word
daily.
‘When you get right
with God and put on
the armor and take
hold of the Word, there
is nothing demonic
forces and the power of
witchcraft can do.’
Put on the whole armor of God
daily. Ephesians 6:10-17 reads:
“Finally my brethren, be strong
in the Lord and in the power of
His might. Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be
able to stand against the wiles of
the devil.
“For we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness
of this age, against spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly
places. Therefore take the whole
armor of God, that you may be
able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded
your waist with truth, having put
on the breastplate of
righteousness, and having shod
your feet with the preparation of
the gospel of peace; above all,
taking the shield of faith with
which you will be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked
one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God.”
In Luke 10:19 Jesus said:
“Behold, I give you the authority
to trample on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power
of the enemy, and nothing shall
by any means hurt you.” This
verse is significant as Jesus has
given us authority over all
demonic powers and nothing will
harm us when we believe.
Hebrews 4:12 says: “For the
word of God is living and
powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even
to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow, and is
a discerner of thoughts and
intents of the heart.”
When you get right with God
and put on the armor and take
hold of the Word, there is nothing
demonic forces and the power of
witchcraft can do. Numbers
23:23 says: “For there is no
sorcery against Jacob, nor is there
any divination against Israel.” So
when you have done what is
required of you – no power on
earth can touch you and these
attacks will cease altogether.
You will continue to stay in
your house and your property is
going to be secure.
For counselling
appointments, call
Satyarthi Sahu & Sarah
Sahu at 044-26150605.
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‘In every wilderness journey, there’s a well of provision’ BOOK EXCERPTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
September 10, 2007. Because I
up the phone and calling up
your former boss with an offer
truly believe He spoke. I was
convinced that I would get the
to withdraw your resignation
then?
The thought of getting my job
first job I interviewed for - but I
back certainly crossed my mind.
was wrong.
However, in God’s own divine
plan I did not go through with it
You say you sent out over a
because He wanted me to use my
thousand resumes during the
“waiting period”, as I call it, to
15 months that you hunted for
trust Him for my provision and
a job. Did you actually send out
write this journal. If I had gotten
that many resumes or is it just
back my job, this journal would
a fancy number?
not have been published.
This was not a fancy number
at all. America was entering into
When rejection became
a recession and the job market
routine did you ever think you
was beginning to slow down. For
had perhaps reached the end of
the most part I never even got any
your career and may never land
responses back from these
another job?
resumes and the employers who
I knew I would get some sort
responded were just exploring
of a job – but doubt certainly set
and did not really have any job
in that I would never land that
openings.
promotion and greater
opportunity that the Lord had
What kept you going through
promised.
the ordeal of sending those
resumes?
Were you willing to take a
The grace of God, hope and
pay cut when you realized the
trust that God is not a man that
global meltdown was real and
He should lie, and the support of
here to stay for some time?
my families as well as my former
Yes, I was willing to take a pay
boss whom I confided in about
cut and, in fact, at one point I was
my job search.
willing to take any job out of
desperation and self doubt.
A week after you resigned
I convinced myself that God
from your previous company,
would not come through for me
the US stock market crashed.
– so I need to settle. Wrong
Did you ever feel like picking
mindset!
What should be the
Christian’s response to the all-
pervasive gloom and despair?
Hope. Someone once describe
hope as a built-in compass to help
us get to where we desire. I also
believe that in every wilderness
journey there is a well of
provision.
What advice would you give
those who lost their jobs around
the world in the recent
economic turmoil?
Never give up in the heat of
battle because that is when your
miracle is about to happen. We
serve a God who specializes in
impossible situations; nothing
that happens here on earth limits
what God can do from His throne
in heaven. Crashing world
markets and economic turmoil
mean nothing to Him.
What important lesson do
you think God taught you in all
this?
God has taught me patience
through this journey. I am
naturally not a patient person. I
want things to happen and happen
now. However, God has made it
clear through all the
disappointment I have endured in
the job search that, He will walk
with me at His own timetable, not
mine.
The Journey of a
Christian Job Seeker
September 10, 2007
Today I officially launched my
job search, triggered by a passion
that I now believe the Lord laid
on my heart. There is a force in
me driving me to seek greatness,
but I can’t explain it. My friends
and family think I am crazy,
because I have a good job and
they don’t understand why I
should look further. Lord, You are
the only one who understands my
restlessness.
I intend to keep my job while
searching for a new one, and my
strategy will be to use my
vacation time to interview. Father,
faith is taking You at Your word,
and I am choosing to have faith
even though I am not sure how
this search will end. The Bible
says in Hebrews 11:6, “And
without faith it is impossible to
please God, because anyone who
comes to him must believe that
he exists and that he rewards
those who earnestly seek him.”
I sent out a few résumés today
to some executive-level jobs.
Lord, how great it would be to get
a call!
Let Us Reason Together
As Christians, is it unrealistic
or wrong for us to be ambitious
and seek greatness in any area of
life?
Drink from the Fountain
Did you know that everything
you own is a gift from God and
that He wants you to invest it for
Him? When you invest what He
has given you into His work, your
life is bound to be full of increase.
Meditate on 2 Corinthians
9:10: “Now he who supplies seed
to the sower and bread for food
will also supply and increase your
store of seed and will enlarge the
harvest of your righteousness.”
As you confess the following
affirmation, you will experience
your heart’s desire.
Affirmation
My life will yield increase!

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Page 4 | August, 2009
August 1: Pray for Vani and
Veena, conjoined twins aged five
years. They are joined at the head.
They have separate brains but have
one common blood vessel.
Neurosurgeon Dr Keith Yu-Ching
Goh from Singapore, who will
operate on them this month, has
given them only a 60% chance of
survival. There’s a 30% chance of
death or disability post-surgery, he
has warned. Pray for the successful
conduct of the operation.
August 2: Fakes are taking over
the originals. Fake spare parts
including automobile as well as for
electrical and electronics goods
spares are available at cheap prices
in Chennai. According to police,
fake spares worth at least Rs 60 lakh
were seized in Tamil Nadu in the last
six months. Pray that the menace of
the counterfeit ends soon.
August 3: Pray for Chad today.
The landlocked country in central
Africa is referred to as the ‘Dead
Heart of Africa’ due to its desert
climate. The 1993 census found that
54% of Chadians were Muslim, 20%
Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant,
10% animist, and 3% atheist. Pray
the Word of God is preached to
Chadians and there’s a great revival
in the country.
August 4: China is planning to
establish the country’s first sex
themed park. The park with naked
human sculptures and giant replica
of human genitals is due to open in
October, 2009 in Chongqing, the
city on the Yangtze River. Pray that
wisdom prevails on the authorities
to prevent such a thing from
happening.
August 5: Researchers from
Rajasthan university recently found
a high level of organo-chlorine
pesticides in lactating women in
Anupgarh town of that state. Experts
attribute extensive tinkering with
nature to produce more food grains
and cereals as the reason for this.
August 6: Pray for Sailee (11)
and Gaurav (6), children of 38-year-
old Rachana Ghag, a terminally ill
cancer patient on her death bed in
Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai.
Her husband died a few years ago.
She’s worried about her children’s
future after her. Pray that God will
raise support for the children’s
education and support.
August 7: With the new
government resolving to provide 25
kg of rice or wheat at Rs.3 every
month to those below poverty line,
pray that poverty becomes a thing
of the past in our country. Pray that
the government’s resolve turns into
concrete action on ground.
August 8: Pray for The Christian
Messenger media ministry. We bring
out faith-building Christian
literature in English, Hindi and
Tamil among other languages. Pray
for more volunteers who can help us
in news gathering, translation work,
distribution of literature.
August 9: Pray for 24-year-old
JT. A juvenile diabetic patient, the
young man is underweight and has
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
Swine flu: Pray for God’s
protection over our families
Swine flu is the new pandemic that’s sweeping across the
world. As of July 27, as many as 475 people in India were
tested positive to the influenza A (H1N1). WHO said 816
swine flu deaths world over had been reported till July 2009.
As many as 160 countries had been hit by the new virus.
Pray for the Lord’s protection over your family. Pray that no
‘terror, wasting disease and fever shall consume us and cause
sorrow of heart’ (Leviticus 26:16).
bouts of vomiting and stomach pain.
Doctors have stated there’s no
medical remedy. Claim Isaiah 53:5
for the young man.
August 10: Even as Pakistan
government continues to dither over
the arrest and release of terrorist and
leader of Laskar-e-Toiba Hafiz
Mohammed Sayeed, who
masterminded the Mumbai terror
attacks, pray that the perpetrators of
the attacks are brought to justice.
August 11: Pray for the Indian
student community in Australia.
Several Indian students were
attacked in racial attacks that have
left the world shocked. Pray that the
Australian government gets its act
together in tackling the perpetrators
of violence.
August 12: Cyclonic storms have
been on the rise in India since 1995,
according to the Indian
Meteorological Department. An
effect of global warming, this has
been cited as the reason for
increasing flood and drought
conditions in India. Our God is still
in command. He controls the wind
and the oceans (Mark 4:39)
August 13: Pray for young boys
indoctrinated by the Taliban in
Pakistan. In July ’09, as many as 200
boys, some as young as six years,
were rescued by Pakistani security
forces from Taliban camps in the
lawless Swat valley. Reports said
they were trained to become suicide
bombers.
August 14: According to an
estimate, one woman is raped in
India every 30 minutes. Commit
those women you know into the
Lord’s hands. Ask Lord Jesus to
cover them with His blood.
August 15: Pray for India. As the
nation celebrates Independence day
today, pray that the country
experiences true freedom in Jesus
Christ.
According to 2001 census,
Christians constitute only 2.3% of
the population. Pray ‘the Lord of
harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest.’ (Matthew 9:38).
August 16: Pray for SJ. The 47-
year-old man working abroad is
addicted liquor.
Pray that our Lord who makes all
things new (Rev. 21:5), turns him
also into a new creature in Christ
according to his Word found in 2
Corinthians 5:17.
August 17: Pray for your church.
Pray for the pastor, the worship
leaders or the choir, the Sunday
school teachers and the ushers. Pray
that the Lord will add new believers
to the church as it happened in Acts
2:47.
August 18: Pray for your pastor.
That God will give him more grace
(James 4:6), spiritual revelation
through the Holy Spirit (John
14:26), anointing (Isaiah 10:27) and
holiness (1 Peter 1:15,16).
August 19: Pray for KB. This
widow is fighting a court case over
her land in Kerala. An envious
neighbor is intent on creating a
pathway through her land even
though he has an approach road to
his field. Pray to the One who sits
on the throne judging in
righteousness (Psalm 9:4).
August 20: According to a Child
Rights and You (CRY) study, India
is home to the largest number of
child laborers in the world. An
estimated 17 million children are
employed in some form of work or
the other. Eighty-five percent of
these children work in unorganized
sector, while 19% work as domestic
help. Pray for their deliverance.
August 21: Pray for Kannada
actress Maria Susairaj accused in the
Neeraj Grover murder case. She is
now lodged in a Mumbai jail. At the
jail, she is said to have turned a new
leaf. A Catholic earlier, she now is
said to have had a salvific
experience. Pray that she remains
and grows in the Lord.
August 22: Pray for India’s peace
with her neighbors especially China,
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan has started blaming India
for unrest in Balochistan and wants
the international community to act
against the country. Pray that their
evil designs do not bear fruit.
August 23: August 23:
Archbishop of Orissa, Raphael
Cheenath has made a call to observe
this day as ‘Peace Day’. This day
marks the murder of Swami
Laxmananda Saraswati and the
ensuing violence that targeted the
Christian community in Orissa. Pray
that fundamentalist forces put the
past behind and work to build a
harmonious society.
August 24: Prayer for JK. A
retired bank employee, his heart’s
desire is to build a house on a piece
Website: www.christianmessenger.in
of land. He has been claiming a
promise given to him by God that
he will indeed build his own
house.Pray that God opens doors for
him this year.
August 25: Pray for BI and her
family. She has a 23-year-old son
who has discontinued studies and
sits idle at home. BI and her husband
struggle hard to make both ends
meet and give their children (a son
and daughter) a bright future. Pray
that the family members accept the
Lord as their savior this year and
experience peace and prosperity.
August 26: Pray for the
institution of marriage between man
and woman. It was instituted by God
Himself. Pray for live-in couples,
homosexuals and lesbians who try
to distort the holiness associated
with marriage.
August 27: A recent Maoist attack
on a police outpost in Kandhamal
has triggered tension. Orissa Chief
Minister Naveen Patnaik has already
demanded that central forces be
deployed in the state till September
30. Pray that violence does not rock
the state again.
August 28: Pray for the half
million people displaced from their
homes in the recent monsoon rains
in Assam. Pray their needs for food,
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drinking water or purifying agents,
animal fodder, tarpaulins, safe water
storage vessels, hygiene kits,
temporary toilets and mosquito nets
are met.
August 29: Technology has
invaded the pulpit. Webcasting of
Sunday services, blogs by pastors
and tweets to the congregation are
increasingly becoming popular with
the Net-savvy in the church. Pray
that these innovations do not mar the
sanctity of worship and preaching.
August 30: Pray for Nigeria. In a
recent spate of violence, churches
and government buildings have been
torched by groups of militants
dubbed as Nigeria’s Taliban. The
current death toll, according to
reports, has exceeded 150 as of July
29. Pray peace prevails in that
country.
August 31: An exhibition in
Glasgow, UK, where an open Bible
was kept witnessed intolerance of
the LGBT community. Several
derogatory and obscene remarks
were found scribbled on the Bible
kept for display at the gallery of
modern art. Pray that the Word of
God speaks to those behind the
defiling of the Bible.
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Page 5 | August, 2009
What we feel is
not what we are!
Soul Care
OUR
emotional
lives move
up and
d o w n
constantly.
Sometimes,
we ex-
perience
great mood: swings from
excitement to depression, from
joy to sorrow, from inner harmony
to inner chaos. A little event, a
word from someone, a
disappointment in work, many
things can trigger such mood
swings. Mostly we have little
control over these changes. It
seems that they happen to us
rather than being created by us.
Thus it is important to know
that our emotional life is not the
same as our spiritual life. Our
spiritual life is the life of the Spirit
of God within us. As we feel our
emotions shift we must connect
our spirits with the Spirit of God
and remind ourselves that what
we feel is not who we are. We are
and remain, whatever our moods,
God's beloved children.
Courtesy: Henri Nouwen (1932-
1996), Internationally renowned
Catholic priest and author of 40
books on spiritual life.
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THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER Website: www.christianmessenger.in
Presidency has made
Obama ‘pray all the time’ CHRISTIANHOLYMATRIMONY
US President Barack Obama recently said he
prayed all the time. In fact, he begins his day with a
devotional that the director of his Faith-Based and
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Int
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Page 6 | August, 2009
Six steps to survive financial storms
BY THOMAS LINDBERG
DURING the last six months,
I’ve lost count of the number of
people who have called, e-mailed,
taken me to lunch, or met me at
the altar and asked, “Would you
please pray about the financial
mess I’m in right now? I need
God’s help.”
A small-business owner called.
“I’ve lost money for the last six
months,” he said. “Please pray.”
A set of parents came to see me:
“We’re having trouble paying our
kids’ tuition. Please pray.”
A retired friend told me, “My
retirement account has lost about
30 percent of its value. Please
pray.”
That’s just a sample of what
I’ve heard recently.
The world is in a financial
storm. Alan Greenspan, former
Federal Reserve chairman, has
said that we are facing a financial
tsunami.
Is there a word from the Lord
during this financial storm? I’m
glad I can say yes!
In 1 Kings 17, a terrible famine
had affected the entire nation.
Riverbeds were dry, and the soil
was parched and cracked. Food
supply was a genuine problem.
Elijah the prophet traveled far
north to a city called Zarephath
(right near the Lebanon border).
He asked a widow for a cup of
water and a slice of bread (vv.
10,11). The woman responded
that she and her son were about
to make their last meal, and then
prepare to die (v. 12). I suspect
that none of our financial storms
have us in that desperate a
position.
Listen to how Elijah responded
to her: “Don’t be afraid. Go home
and do as you have said. But first
make a small cake of bread for
me from what you have and bring
it to me, and then make something
for yourself and your son. For this
is what the Lord, the God of
Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will
not be used up and the jug of oil
will not run dry until the day the
Lord gives rain on the land’ ” (vv.
13,14, NIV).
The widow did as the prophet
asked, and God was faithful to
provide for her and her son and
Elijah as well.
Since God does not change,
and since He cares for you as
much as He did for that woman,
it makes total sense to believe that
the same God who supplied for
her when she had nothing will see
you through your financial storm.
What’s the key? Consider these
divinely inspired and time-tested
principles for surviving financial
storms.
• First, stay focused on God.
The Bible says, “Trust in your
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
‘One of the greatest problems among God’s
people today is not unanswered prayer; it’s
unoffered prayer. You ought to pray often, and
include in your praying the financial situations
you face. Remember, there are some things in
your life that only God can fix and solve.’
money and down you go! But the
godly flourish like leaves in
spring” (Proverbs 11:28, NLT).
What’s God telling us? He’s
saying don’t be deceived. Money
is not the bottom line of life.
Don’t make money and things
your main focus. Stay focused on
God. He provides for His own.
I find there are three groups of
people in the world today: Those
who are afraid; those who don’t
know enough to be afraid; and
those who know God and trust the
Bible. I want to be in the last
group. Want to join me?
• Second, work hard. The Bible
teaches, “Lazy people are soon
poor; hard workers get rich”
(Proverbs 10:4). How clear! God
has little sympathy for people
who are lazy and won’t work.
Hear me, I cannot do what God
does and He will not do what I’m
responsible to do. Hard work is
both my responsibility and a
noble calling. Let’s learn that
divine principle and work hard
during financial storms.
• Third, pray often. The Bible
says, “Commit your actions to the
Lord, and your plans will
succeed” (Proverbs 16:3). The
word “commit” in that verse
means give to God in prayer.
Then the verse has a promise —
if you do, your plans will succeed.
One of the greatest problems
among God’s people today is not
unanswered prayer; it’s unoffered
prayer. You ought to pray often,
and include in your praying the
financial situations you face.
Remember, there are some things
in your life that only God can fix
and solve.
Last month I had lunch with a
contractor. He told me of a job
on which he had won the bid. This
contractor had figured his costs
accurately, but as he began the job
he discovered he was losing
money every month.
“You know what I did?” he
asked me. “One afternoon I came
to our church building. I went to
the altar and laid the entire mess
before God. I spent about 30
minutes praying. The next week
things turned around. I made
money on that project from that
prayer meeting on.”
Remember, God does business
with people who mean business.
• Fourth, don’t gamble. The
Bible says, “Greedy people try to
get rich quick but don’t realize
they’re headed for poverty”
(Proverbs 28:22).
During financial storms, there
will always be that slick
investment offer, that get-rich-
quick scheme. Don’t buy it!
Remember what you learned as a
kid: If it sounds too good to be
true, it probably is. God gave you
brains. Then He gave you the
Holy Spirit who provides
wisdom. And God gives
sanctified common sense.
• Fifth, avoid debt. The Bible
teaches, “Just as the rich rule the
poor, so the borrower is servant
to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).
You could summarize that verse
in two simple words: Avoid debt.
That’s easy to say, but how do you
do it?
Consider this true story. Some
years ago a great man of God
came to America from an
underdeveloped country. In his
homeland this man leads
thousands of believers as their
pastor. A friend of mine picked
him up at the airport and took him
to a huge shopping mall.
After having lunch and walking
around for an hour, my friend
asked, “Well, what do you think
of an American mall?”
The man of God replied, “I saw
a lot of things I don’t need.”
During this financial storm
Website: www.christianmessenger.in
HBI launches
Doctorate in
we’re in, ask God for wisdom.
“Lord, show me the difference
Ministry
between what I need and what I THE Hindustan Bible Institute
want.” You can be sure God will (HBI), based in Chennai,
answer a prayer like that. organised a pastoral seminar in
• Finally, give first. The Bible Nagaland where church leaders
says, “Honor the Lord with your were trained on subjects relating
wealth, with the firstfruits of all to mission on July 24.
your crops; then your barns will The seminar was titled
be filled to overflowing, and your ‘Growing a Great Commission
vats will brim over with new Church’. As many as 50 church
wine” (Proverbs 3:9,10, NIV). leaders, mission directors and
Various money magazines will pastors attended the seminar at
tell you to put yourself first or the Indigenous Cultural Society
your family first. The Bible Centre in Dimapur.
teaches you to put God first. You Rev Dr Bobby Gupta,
have a choice: Which are you president and director of HBI
going to believe? Whom are you Ministries of India, spoke about
going to trust? What are you tackling the challenges that
going to do? confront mission leaders in India.
On the occasion, HBI,
Let me talk to you personally.
During financial storms, the devil Dimpaur branch also launched
tempts me to cut back on my the Doctor of Ministry, a ministry
giving to God. Satan whispers, leadership and skills development
“Look at the money you’ll save programme. The programme will
if you don’t give.” You know what seek to provide comprehensive
I do? I increase my giving, and understanding of Biblical
I’ll tell you why. Because I theology, church history,
believe what the Bible says in philosophy and religion.
Proverbs 3:9,10.
On Fifth Avenue in New York
AP High Court
City at the main entrance to stays funding of
Rockefeller Plaza is a statue of
Atlas, a Titan of Greek Christian pilgrims
mythology. He strains to support IT was a programme that was
the world on his shoulders. launched with much fanfare but
Across the street is St. Patrick’s now it has run into rough weather.
Cathedral. One of its stained- Government-allocated travel
glass windows depicts the Boy subsidy for Christian pilgrims to
Jesus effortlessly holding the Israel was halted by the High
world in the palm of His hand. Court in that State on July 22.
That’s the choice you have The Andhra Pradesh HC
today. You can carry the weight directed a stay on the GO that
of the world as you strain to get provided partial funding for
yourself through this financial Christian pilgrims yearning to
storm, or you can say, “Lord, help visit biblical sites associated with
me. I don’t want to go alone.” the life of Jesus Christ. A division
Which will it be for you? Trust bench headed by Chief Justice A
Him — He will never fail you. R Dave ruled that the government
The Pentecostal Evangel. (The couldn’t spend public money for
writer is the pastor of First any pilgrimage tours. The first
Assembly of God of Memphis batch of 51 pilgrims had visited
in Cordova, Tennesse, US. ) Israel last November.
Maoist couple surrender, say they
killed Swami Laxmananda Saraswati
CLAIMING that they murdered VHP leader Swami Laxmananda
Saraswati, a young Maoist couple surrendered before the police in
Orissa on July 22.
Superintendent of Police AK Singh told media that a rebel couple
identified as Surendra Vekwara (19) and his wife Ruby (18) from
Rayagada district surrendered before the police after divulging that
they murdered Saraswati last year.
The 84-year-old Hindu monk and four of his aides were allegedly
murdered by the Maoists at Jaleshpata Ashram in Kandhamal August
23, 2008. Despite Christian groups condemning the murder of Swami
and sternly denying any involvement in the slaying, Hindu extremists
accused Christians and indulged in barbarous violence against the
community.
The couple after their surrender told the police that they have given
up violence and wants to lead a normal life, responding to the state
government call urging naxalites to ‘lay down arms and join the
mainstream.’ Surendra and Ruby belong to the Bansadhara division
of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist).
The rebel couple has also admitted their involvement in various
other naxal attacks in the southern region of the state.
Page 7 | August, 2009 THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER Website: www.christianmessenger.in

Get your free soul food @ JC’s café

BY SHEBA DEVARAJ Salami Sandwich for Rs.120.
Combo meals (lunch and dinner)
WHEN God calls you to
come with a choice of soups,
spread the Gospel, you never
fresh juice and ice cream.
know how He will start using
you. It could be in
Which item is the toast of
unconventional albeit creative
your customers?
ways. After all, our God the
The most popular item is the
creator is the Father of all
Chicken Lasagna that costs just
creativity. JC’s Café and
Rs.130. Another popular item on
Bookstore (JC for Jesus Christ),
the menu is the Chicken Steak
is one such innovative initiative.
which is chicken breast grilled in
The café, tucked in a nice little
English herbs with brown sauce
nook in Nungambakkam in
accompanied by Hash brown
Chennai, provides sumptuous
potato and Garlic bread for
food to chew on and loads of
Rs.180. We also have a wide
God’s Word to watch, read, and
range for cold coffees, iced teas,
share. T HE C HRISTIAN
ice-creams, brownies, milk
M ESSENGER met up Philip
shakes, fruit sundaes along with
Vaseekaran, who runs the coffee
South Indian coffee and flavored
house, to get the story behind the
teas.
initiative. Excerpts from a
freewheeling chat:
So, how much does a typical
meal for two cost?
What is JC’s Café?
It will cost about Rs.360.
It’s a coffee house with a
difference. You get good food to
eat and take away soul food for
Land room, the Creation room,
and the Billy Graham room. The
Quick Bytes and family crowd comes here.
Though the food is the main
How appealing is JC’s café
to the youth?
free. What’s special about this
Holy Land room, as the name attraction here, we’re happy that We have customers of all age
coffee house is that it has good
suggests, has pictures of the Holy Meal for two: Rs.360. it brings them to tasting God’s groups. But we do have many
quality and tasty food and as you
Land and is usually taken up by Most popular items: Word as a supplement. In youngsters visiting us with their
can see, there are so many ways
fellowship groups from IT Chicken Lasagna addition, many IT companies friends. The ambience is cozy
God’s Word gets sown here.
companies. You can’t miss the (Rs.130) have their fellowship groups and peaceful so they tend to chat
There’s Southern Gospel music
Creation room: it is the first room here. away for a long time while they
playing softly in the background, Chicken Steak (chicken
as you enter the café. It has fact enjoy their meal. We have youth
loads of books including picture
sheets on the evidence of
breast grilled in English How’s the business doing? groups from different churches
Bibles and other news herbs with brown sauce
creation. And the smaller room I wouldn’t say it’s great, but often visiting us. Apart from the
magazines, and tracts spread out. accompanied by Hash brown
with the comfortable couches is God has been sustaining us. We themed-rooms that attract
As people sit waiting for their
the Billy Graham room, potato and garlic bread) need more Christians to support youngsters, we have lined up a
food, they pick up these books
to read while others listen and
dedicated to the great evangelist (Rs.180) us by visiting our café. We need series of programming on
of our times. to keep this going. It’s our Intelligent Design that will be
notice the lyrics of the songs that
responsibility to keep the flame launched soon. We hope that
we play on the TV. We sow the a very interesting mix of Bibles,
There are picture Bibles on on. It’s a lot of money, time, and these initiatives will bring in
Word of God, in every way CDs, books, and imported tracts.
every table. What’s the idea? effort and we hope that people more young crowd.
possible through these means. How often have you
These picture Bibles are will spread the word about the
That’s our motive – to sow the witnessed the power God’s
printed in our own publication café and bring in more people. How many staff does JC’s
seeds of God’s Word. Word as a miracle in your café?
called Emmaus Publishing. We The more people we get, the Café have? Who are the chefs?
started the publishing house in Everyday! It happens every better is the opportunity to sow Our main chef is Mr. Paul
How did JC’s Café come day in some way. For instance,
2005, basically to print these God’s Word. I’m also planning Gomes. He has two assistant
about? once we held a small marketing
picture Bibles. It’s a set of 5 to talk to pastors and encourage chefs to help him.
I was a skeptic myself. Though presentation here with a few of
books and covers all the stories their congregation to visit us and
born in a Christian family and my friends. It was a product
of the Bible in pictures. With support us. Do you entertain customers
brought up with good Christian presentation and had nothing to
sharing the gospel and making to hold events/parties at JC’s?
values, I always wondered about with God. A Hindu friend,
the Bible available to all as the Tell us about the menu. Sure we do. We have a special
the authenticity of the Bible. seemed quite caught up with
main goals, the picture Bible We have a whole range of food event room that holds up to 25
Quite often, I would argue and something behind me even while
really worked wonders. We’ve so from pastas, steaks, Chinese people, where you can host small
question the Biblical facts. Then, the discussion was on. He was
far given away free picture Bibles combo meals, to spicy, curly meetings and birthday parties.
I researched and found for myself glued to a song that was played
to 3,000 people. I keep a few fries, French fries, chicken The cost of hiring would vary
that every word in the Bible is on the TV behind me - a Southern
Bibles even at my office and give nuggets, cheese chilly toast, based on the food ordered.
true. It was during a sermon, on Gospel with sub-titles. Reading
them away when people ask for soups, and beverages. We have JC’s Café is located at New
the blood of Christ, that I realized that, he stopped us mid-way and
them. interesting combo meals like the No.10, Jaganathan Street (Off
I was lost trying to find the asked me if the blood of Jesus
It’s amazing how people come ‘Power Breakfast’ priced at Jaganathan Road near
meaning and facts to validate would cover his future sins. A
to know of free Bibles and come Rs.140, ‘Short and Simple Signoraa Sarees and opposite
God’s love for us. It was then that seed had been sowed. Similarly,
all the way to take them from me. Breakfast’ combo for Rs.110, the Lister Labs), Nungambakkam,
I had the conviction to do I’ve had arguments with many on
Some of them are very sick, poor, Chinese vegetarian combo at Chennai 600034. The café is
something for God. I had an urge the factual authenticity of the
and old. Those that we leave on Rs.150, and non-vegetarian for open from 11 am to 11 pm from
to take the Gospel to everyone in Bible. I’ve always felt that the
the food tables can be taken away Rs.180. We also have a special Monday to Saturday and from
some way and thought of a café. best way to take the Gospel is to
for free by non-Christians, while Stuffed Swiss omelet for Rs.50. 9 am to 11 pm on Sundays.
That was a concept that Chennai talk about the Bible. I know for
we encourage the Christians to Our range of burgers and Phone:044-64610767. Email:
wasn’t used to, then. JC’s café sure that they’ll come back to
pay a small donation to buy them. sandwiches come with French pvaseeka@sify.com
was launched in 2008 after know more about Jesus.
Apart from picture Bibles, we fries & vegetables and range
crossing over a few hurdles. GET NOTICED!
have materials on hell, from Rs.70 for the vegetarian
testimonies, interesting ‘quick- Do non-Christians come to burger and Rs.120 for the Do you know a business
Tell us about the themes that the cafe? run on Biblical principles
read’ tracts and books on facts Chicken Club Sandwich. Our
you’ve given the rooms. Yes they do. Almost 50 percent that can be featured here?
versus Biblical truth. And for popular sandwiches are the
The café has three rooms with of the visitors are non-Christians. Tell us about it
those who are interested in Grilled Chicken Sandwich for
three different themes; the Holy A fairly good mix of young, old, editor@christianmessenger.in
buying stuff, our bookstore sells Rs.100 and the Sausage or
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER Registrar of Newspapers in India No. TNBIL/2004/15307
Website: www.christianmessenger.in Postal Registration No. TN/CCN/271/07-09
Page 8 | August, 2009 | Published on 2nd / 3rd of every month Licensed to Post Without Pre-payment WPP No. TN/PMG (CCR)/WPP-77/08-10

I’d love to sing for Jesus’ glory in India: Stacie Ruth

BY ROBIN SAM
AS a child Stacie Ruth
Stoelting was a precocious girl.
At 15 she wrote her first book,
‘Still Holding Hands’, ‘a romance
and faith-filled story of courage,
faith, and hope in the face of
Alzheimer’s that had afflicted her
grandfather whom she fondly
called ‘Papa Ray’. The book still
sells and is being used as a
ministry tool to provide hope to
families that face Alzheimer’s.
Stacie is also a singer of repute
in the US. A first soprano, she is
trained to sing multiple styles of
music. She has sung for former
US president George W Bush and
recently released a worship
album, ‘Heavenly’, which was
recorded with and produced by
Grammy Award winners.
Along with her sister, Carrie
Beth Stoelting, 25-year-old Stacie
runs Bright Light Ministry in
Iowa, US. THE CHRISTIAN
MESSENGER spoke to Stacie
recently. Excerpts from an
exclusive interview:
You seem to have had a very
tough childhood. You talk
about going through a rough
patch in your life at a young
age. What kept you going
through all the trials?
One fact: Although life
changes, God remains
unchanging. I learned to rely on
faith – not feelings. I submit to
Him – not my emotions. He loves
me. He loves you. He will make
things right in the end. I trust Him
– not my five senses alone. Jesus
still reigns on the throne.
Tell us something about how
you came about to write ‘Still
Holding Hands’.
I wrote Still Holding Hands in
response to my family’s heartache
over Alzheimer’s disease, which
tormented my grandpa whom I
fondly called, ‘Papa Ray.’ I wrote
the book in a novel-like style: It
is not a journal. Rather, it is a
romance and faith-filled story of
courage, faith, and hope in the
face of Alzheimer’s. It captures a
Christian romance, my
grandparents’ life adventures, and
unstoppable hope in Jesus. Yes,
it was cathartic for me. But, at
fifteen, I felt it was important to
reach out to other families and
help them feel less alone, feel
comforted by Jesus Christ, and
share tips on how to cope and
hope in the face of Alzheimer’s.
So I simply obeyed what I felt
God called me to do. Today, Still
Stacie Ruth Stoelting,
founder, Bright Light
Ministry, USA
Holding Hands continues to sell
and help families. It is a ministry
tool that includes tips for
caregivers and families, a brief
medical description of
Alzheimer’s, and ways to hope
again.
You have sung before a US
President, First Lady, Senate
Majority Leader and other
dignitaries. What did you really
feel like when you were asked
to sing before these mighty
people?
I felt surprised! I also felt
enormous gratitude to share Jesus
in such a way. I knelt before the
Lord and praised Him for
opportunities to give Him glory
and share His story. My personal
mission statement for such
situations is this: I desire to give
Him glory and share His story.
Tell us a little about your
family.
My family, though small,
possesses large amounts of love!
My immediate family includes
my grandma, my aunt, my
parents, and my sister. That’s all.
But that’s a lot because of our
closeness and love!
What message do you have
for the people of India?
My message for India beams
great hope, love, and joy! Why?
It’s a message that Jesus truly
loves each and every human
being living in India. Jesus loves
the poorest people and the richest
people. He loves everyone
equally. To condense it, Jesus
loves you. Please listen and
accept Him while you are able to
do so. Life is short…unless you
know Jesus. Will you ask Him to
rule your life, fill your heart, and
give you a spot in Heaven? He
will. Remember: “Jesus Christ
remains the same yesterday,
today, and forever.” (Hebrews
13:8.) The same Healer, hope
Giver, and loving Lord described
in the Bible speaks to each soul
in India as He did in Mark 5:36:
‘Don't be afraid; just believe.’
This message is also conveyed
throughout our CD, Heavenly.
Grammy-winners believed in our
mission to share Jesus’ love and
hope with the world. Therefore,
they recorded with us. The album
contains a lot of hope, joy, love,
and peace thru Jesus. We
worshipped and desired listeners
to worship Jesus along with us.
He is so loving, kind, and true!
He is the one, true God. He alone
deserves our praise.
Any plans to perform for the
Christian community in India?
Yes! Yes, I would love to sing,
share Jesus’ love, and enjoy being
with my brothers and sisters in
India. I hope the Lord opens
doors for this to happen. Don’t
hesitate to contact my website
www.brightlightministry.com.
The Christian Messenger readers
can also send their prayer requests
and our ministry will pray.
Read the full text of this
interview on our website

Christian film-makers in India can make a difference: Carrie Beth

BY ROBIN SAM
IT takes enormous grit to
surmount challenges and
difficulties thrown at one by life
and still emerge unscathed. While
most wilt under testing
conditions, some blossom and
spread hope and cheer around.
Carrie Beth Stoelting faced
several family heartaches
including depression,
Alzheimer’s and severe illnesses.
However, she understood early in
life that she is an ambassador of
Christ on earth. No matter how
difficult life is, she says, faith in
God ‘drives us to work hard and
make a difference.’
As a child, she was aghast at
the rot that Hollywood films
offered. At 16, she began her fight
to improve the quality of content
in Hollywood films. She founded
United for Movie Action and
contacted the Senate Judiciary
Committee about forming a bill
to allow people to buy movies
where obscene content is edited
out. She won a major battle, when
in April 2005 former US
President George W Bush signed
the Family Entertainment and
Owned and published by Elsy Robin from 329/4, Poonga Apartments, HIG Flats, II Avenue, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040.
Printed by L Cyril Sagayaraj at VS Printograph Pvt Ltd., 1, Narasinghapuram Extn.., 1st Lane, Maduvankarai, Guindy, Chennai 600 032. Editor: Elsy Robin
Copyright Act. Carrie, who’s
almost 23, continues to work hard
to help people become aware of
how they can make a difference
in Hollywood. She, along with
Stacie Ruth Stoelting runs Bright
Light Ministry in Iowa, US. THE
CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
spoke to Carrie recently. Excerpts
from an exclusive interview:
The Stoelting kids seem to be
early achievers. At 16, you
began the fight to improve the
quality of Hollywood films
while your sister wrote a book
when she was only 15. Where
does all this passion to do things
come from?
First of all, thank you for your
nice compliment and question.
Stacie and I understand the
brevity of life. Life is like a vapor.
So, while we are here on earth, I
believe that we should live life to
the fullest for Christ. We are
ambassadors for the Lord and that
is what drives us to work hard and
make a difference.
Without Jesus, nothing would
be meaningful. In essence, it is
our faith in Jesus that encourages
Stacie and me to be active in our
Carrie Beth Stoelting,
founder, United for Movie
Action, USA
pursuits to help others.
How effective has been your
battle against the bad guys in
Hollywood? How much of a
‘cleansing’ of films has
happened as a result of United
for Movie Action’s efforts?
That’s a great question! United
for Movie Action has definitely
made a difference in Hollywood.
It encourages others to take action
in Hollywood to make the
industry products more family
friendly. United for Movie Action
has had direct contact with movie
makers and encourages them to
produce better films. One
monumental achievement was
when former (US) President
George W Bush signed the
Family Entertainment and
Copyright Act. That proved to us
that, yes, it is possible to make a
difference in Hollywood!
There’s a general feeling
among people that ‘clean films’
are ‘boring films’. How do you
convince scriptwriters,
directors and producers that
clean entertainment indeed
means good business?
It puzzles me that people have
the impression that clean films are
boring. Many of America’s most
loved movies are both clean and
entertaining such as ‘The Sound
of Music’, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’,
‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Mr. Smith
Goes to Washington’,
‘Casablanca’, the John Wayne
films, and so many more. Let me
add here that John Wayne is still
one of America’s top stars. In
addition, modern clean movies
usually do very well at the box
office. Disney’s Pixar films (i.e
‘Up’) are clean, entertaining, and
very popular. FoxFaith is also
making clean films such as
‘Amazing Grace’ – another
excellent, clean film. When clean,
quality movies are released,
people flock to theaters.
The Indian film industry,
particularly Bollywood (Hindi
cinema), is one of the largest in
the world. How do you think
Christian brethren in India can
replicate your attempts at
cleaning up the industry?
I am a person who believes that
‘where there’s a will, there’s a
way.’ I believe that Christian film
makers in India can replicate
American attempts to make
cleaner films. Without question,
it will be a difficult, uphill battle,
but it can be done. Perseverance
and trust in the Lord are key
elements to make an impact.
Read the full text of this
interview on our website