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Report from Dr.Altobar and prayer topics
아래의 글은 필리핀의 알토바 선교사님이 보내주신 인도에서 있었던 아시아 지부장 수양회 보고서 입니다. 은혜로우니까 꼭 한 번 읽어보기시고 필리핀 UBF를 위해 기도해주시기 바랍니다. ----------------------------------- INCREDIBLE INDIA By: Dr. William Altobar Philippines I. Diversities in India India is the 7th biggest country in the world. Second worlds most populous (after China) with over 1.2 billion in population. She gained independence from the British on August 15, 1947. India is a union of 25 states and rank among the top ten industrial nation in the world. India is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jaindism and Sikhism. 4th largest Muslim nation in the world. Mahatma Gandhi is considered a revered Father of Modern India with over a million different gods. Diversities plaguing the country with wide varieties of ways. Though India belongs to a third world country with lots of poor people but the rich Indians are really rich living in the palace, castle and riding the most expensive car, using the most sophisticated state of the art warplane and weaponry. While the poor have a wooden vintage yacht and vintage locomotives. Even the weather is somewhat extreme cold and heat. New Delhi is a nice place, when I reached it the time is 2:15 a.m. and the temperature is 9*C. The whole subcontinent of India has one of the most diverse population. Each year the population increased by nearly 15 million. There are plenty of cows roaming in and out of the New Delhi, treated like VIP and even worshipped by many natives. Maybe their expression is “Holy Cow” is as important as where it came from. Monkeys are everywhere, in the conference place, I saw a considerable number of monkeys crossing the fences, climbing the trees, running, acrobatting, fellowshipping with one another. They are self-supporting and living a common life together and even having discipleship. I wonder if they could understand the conference message about the purpose of Jesus’ discipleship training. II. Disciple Maker In spite of strong Hindu background and strong Hindu influence our coworkers there exemplified by Misn. Jimmy H. Lee managed to build up 4 local house churches. It is amazing that there are 3 Korean women who devoted themselves in the service of Christ by marrying 3 Indian natives. Although they came from a well to do family and had graduated in the best university in Korea. Each one of them had their own story to tell to the nation. Like Dr. Joseph’s wife is quite submissive type who is very wiling to support her husband in any which way possible to glorify Jesus. While Christine, wife of Samuel who is a professor in New Delhi University major in English Literature is a great servant of God who always pray and very supportive of the work of God in any which way possible. Their first daughter is a one year and 3 month old Mary who is so cute and quick in learning 3 languages Korean, English and Hindi. On the other hand Mrs. Neil is a jolly woman of God. Her smile reaches up to her ears as if she married the prince of India (Rahul Gandi). Through their life of faith the work of God became possible. There is much more to learn from them. There is abundant word and work of God in India. I believe that through God’s grace India will be a future spiritual giant just like Korea because the work of God had begun and just taking up root. At the proper time it will blossom and yield fruits 30, 60 and even 100 times what was sown. The work of God in India is amazing and simply incredible. The Korean coworkers there decided to humbly obey what pleases God and to take part in God’s redemptive history. There are more to say about Incredible India but it is best seen and experience. In order for us to be part of God’s redemptive history we need to set aside any personal benefits and advantages. Diversity in culture, language and race made India a challenging mission field but through the word of God they became one mind, one heart in Jesus. Amen! III. First Asian Directors Conference About the first historic Asian Directors Conference was attended by 14 out of the 47 Asian countries like Singapore, India, Philippines, Japan, Korea, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, HongKong, Mongolia and USA. Although our key note speakers were Korean, Shep. Mark Yang interpreted it to me in English language. I was so privileged to attend the said conference which coincides with the 12th ASEAN Summit Conference held in the Philippines where 12 South East Asian countries met together. India UBF history will always have a special part in my heart. It is incredible and amazing how the kingdom of God started and grow in the hearts of the indigenous people. It is not surprising that in the near future this once great Hindu predominant region will be a birth place of a New Christian Era whose millions of souls are just waiting to receive the word of God. Korean is the language of the conference but through spiritual senses and kindness of Shep. Mark Yang I was able to grasp the meaning of the “discipleship” which is the theme of the conference. He is the contemporary of Misn. Samuel Lee who became full time shepherd since 1971 up to the present who authored a book about discipleship. Again it is an honor to have a 1:1 bible study with him in spite of his busy schedule. I am looking forward for another series of bible study with him in the future. There are 1001 words to describe discipleship. It only sounds complex and bizarre. But from the point of view of Jesus, discipleship is a hot commodity and a topic that is inevitable to discuss. There are 101 ways to apply it, but Jesus set a milestone and a golden standard of an effective disciple maker. I can still recall the saying “to be a good leader you must be a good follower,” “ good student to be a good teacher.” “Like father like son”. Does these sayings true with discipleship? To pioneer India is not easy because it is the origin of many different ancient religions. But the work of God can be made possible through Jesus’ way of discipleship. According to Mark 3:14-15 says, “He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. ” The phrase “to be with him” signifies a common life together, shepherd and sheep with harmonious personal relationship. Sheep maybe influenced by the good example of the good shepherd by his right attitude, priorities, value system and way of life. Jesus set as a good example on how to be a good disciple maker. It is the right attitude toward the word of God. Listening is the best way to show the right attitude to the word of God. If we know how to listen to the word of God then it is possible to obey the word of God. When we obey the word of God then we can have victorious life. (Consider David when he wrote Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” David found inner joy and strength through the word of God.) Living a common life together with the sheep is Jesus’ way of life. In this time of privacy and selfishness many will not like the idea of discipleship. It is inevitable for a disciple maker to practice common life. The Bible said, “I have compassion on this people for they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus’ compassionate heart leads us to have a shepherd heart toward others who are lost in this world. (Consider Misn. Jimmy H. Lee who decided to stay in the mission field in spite of uncertain future, poor environmental sanitation, even though India is not an ideal place to evangelize and many other differences.) I am wondering why do people suffer a lot? It is because most people have no absolute attitude toward the word of God. Relativism has taken roots in everyone’s heart. On my way back home about an hour after ascending at the highest altitude we came across the highest peak, the summit of Mt. Everest in the Himalayans. It reminded me of Mt. Fuji of Japan and Mt. Mayon of the Philippines. Above all it reminds of Jesus’ mountain moving faith. I want to thank Mother Barry, Dr. John Jun, Misn. Jimmy Lee for granting me to attend the First Asian Director’s Conference. Again, I want to thank you for your unceasing prayer support for the Philippines. Prayer Topics : 1. Raise 12 disciples of Jesus/12 house churches 2. Dr. William to be a disciple maker like Jesus 3. Kingdom of priests and a holy nation 4. Pioneer University Belt and Univ. of the Philippines One Word : Be a disciple maker. |
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