The Schaefer Family Journal 
April 2010
Dear praying friends,
Thanks so much for your love and your prayers for us.
You are in our hearts, and each of you is on the daily prayer list.
We got back to India from Singapore, finally!
So far, it appears that the government of India would continue to hold
over our heads the two-months-out rule, but we’re trusting the Lord to allow
us to conduct our ministry in India just the same, though our travel plans in
and out of India may have to be adjusted a little bit from now on.
During the past eight weeks in India, the Lord has given me some wonderful
opportunities in the Gospel. In two
teaching trips to Pune, I’ve been allowed to take a batch of students through
the Old Testament Historical Books, as well as several hours through John’s
Gospel.
One of my closest pastor friends in Secunderabad took me with him to rural
Telangana (the part of Andhra Pradesh where there has recently been some violent
agitation for bifurcation of the state), where up to 150 or more people listened
to me, very eagerly it appeared, as I spoke to them about the Life of Jesus
Christ, and, the next night, spoke to them about where Christ is now, and what
He’s doing now and up through His Second Coming.
I also taught them about the Holy Spirit of God, and then, at a
dedication for a church building, about the true meaning of ekklesia, from the
Book of Ephesians.
Immediately after that trip, with almost no time to rest, I flew off to coastal
Vizag for a couple of days, in which I gave six hours of teaching on a Saturday,
mostly to married couples, concerning Christian Family life.
That was in the afternoon sessions. In
the morning I spoke on Justification and Sanctification.
On a couple of Sundays, I had the privilege of preaching in one local church
here in Secunderabad from Leviticus One, on our lives as whole burnt offerings
to the Lord, and from Luke 16, on the Judgment of God.
In our own assembly in Kukatpally, near the university, I gave both of
these messages, and among others also messages from two of my favourite
Scriptures: The Transfiguration of
Christ (Luke 9) and an exposition of II Corinthians 3 (from which I taught about
being transformed into Christ’s moral image by the Spirit’s work in us as we
rightly read the Scriptures—my favourite chapter in the Bible, by the way).
Please Pray:
- That
the Lord would give us a big batch of young men to train up as
church-planters right away. Our
Indian co-worker, Gilbert, is responsible for the ministry in several places
and really needs helpers. Two
men, specifically, should be joining us during the next week or so.
Gilbert has a couple dozen of other contacts to interview and decide
about. The Lord is answering
your prayers! Please keep on
praying.
- Previously,
I’ve mentioned a non-christian named S________, and asked you to pray for
his salvation. This man is an
atheist, he says, and he hates Christians.
Well, his daughter became a Christian, and may very soon reveal this
to her father. Please pray that
his reaction would not be violent, but would rather be one in which he wants
to know more about Christ our Redeemer.
Chit-chat:
Briefly, this time. . .
Ruth (and Stephanie) left me alone in India in mid-February so as to be
with our daughter Mary in Chattanooga, TN. They’ve
spent much of their time there assisting her, as she’s now a brand new mom.
She, and her husband Andrew, are now the happy first-time parents of
little Emmanuel Justice Ward. I
can’t wait to hold my little grandsons, myself.
Stephanie has been attempting to complete this year’s home education
while living out of a suitcase. Thankfully,
only a few lessons remain.
Now I have joined Ruth and Stephanie in the USA, and we’d continue here
through the months of April and May, to depart for India on June 7th.
In addition to family visits, we would be making missionary reports in
about a dozen churches during these weeks in the USA.
I’m
more excited about the ministry in India than ever, now, as it appears our Lord
would now be giving my co-worker Gilbert and me a number of young men to train
as church-planters. Praise God!
Kids’ Korner:
Stephanie:
“I can’t believe that, at my tender age of 13 years, I’m already an
auntie to three nephews!.”
Blessings and Affection,
The
Stephen Schaefer Family
John
14.23
All financial support for us should be designated
for the Schaefers, and sent through Independent Gospel Missions.
“Serving
with the Independent Gospel Missions”
990 Calkins Road,
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone:
585-334-9048