You can find our latest news here:
http://foursamsons.blogspot.com/
Thank you you for your prayers!
====
Dear Friends,
�
We have just put together a new video. You can view it on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVfyO7T3Ljc. Make sure to watch and download it in HQ (high quality).
=====
February 25, 2009
Please click here for our most recent news.
=====
December 5, 2008
If I had to sum up the past eight weeks or so, only one word would describe them: busy with a capital “B”.
On the 6th of October, Rev Carmen Crockett, his wife Colleen, their daughter Jessica and their church member Elizabeth Baker arrived after a long journey that began in Greenwood Nova Scotia.
Carmen has been a pastor with the PAOC for over 23 years and we were very excited to hold revival meetings with him. I admit we were a little reluctant going into the meetings with all the violence against Christians in Orissia and even right here in Tamil Nadu, but as always God is faithful. We want to thank everyone who prayed for us during the meetings, because God’s hand of protection was upon us and there was a great moving of His Holy Spirit. While the monsoon rains poured down on the second night, God’s Spirit poured out on His people. And we saw several people filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues for the first time.
On the third night we saw people delivered and several set free from pain and healed right before our eyes. As Prasad and Carmen prayed for the last two people, the heavens opened up and the meetings came to an end.
While Carmen was here we were also able to make a visit to our children’s home where we had a small party. I am not sure who had more fun, the adults or the children.As we said goodbye at the airport we gained a new member to our family. My niece Jessica will be staying with us over the next months as a PAOC short term missionary. She will be working in children’s ministry, as well as helping with Hannah and Asha’s home schooling. She will also be helping us with our media.Just a few days later, we welcomed Murray Cornelius and Jim Cantelon, founder of Visionledd and former co host of Crossroad Communications. While they were with us here in Chennai we held a pastors’ seminar. The topic of the seminar was how we as the church can reach people suffering from AIDS, as well as orphans and widows left behind because of AIDS. It was a very eye opening and revealing look into the problem that is raging in India. This was the first conference that Jim had ever held in India.Our next visitor, Janinne Collins from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was with us for two weeks. This was Jannie’s first mission trip and her focus was on women and children’s ministry. Janinne has a very powerful and personal testimony of how God brought her through miscarriage and post partum depression. This spoke in a mighty way to several of our ladies and opened door for us to minister to them. She also spoke to our widows and encouraged them in who they are in Christ. She also blessed all of our ladies with packets of toiletries.We also spent several evenings ministering to the local children in the villages sharing the gospel with them and their parents as well. It was a great blessing to see the children’s faces light up as we sang songs and as Jannine shared the story of the “Good Shepherd”.We want to thank Jannine for taking time to come and minister to so many people here in Chennai. We also want to thank all who donated items for her to bring either to the children’s home, or to our widows and women’s ministries.Also this month we had Carol Perrin with us for a few days, before she left for Andra Pradesh.As we look ahead to the Christmas season and begin our plans for Christmas parties and our widow’s ministry, it can be a bit overwhelming. Every year we have a Christmas dinner for the widows and buy them each a sari and give them a small amount of money so that they can have a joyful Christmas. We also have a special dinner for the children.Please pray that the Lord will provide for these Christmas expenses.We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!———- September 17, 2008Ministry is going well here in Chennai, we continue to see the churches grow and our children’s home is full and over flowing. Last month we moved into a new home, it is just minutes away from the children’s home and churches. We thank God for providing us with the new house.We want to thank everyone who prayed for us during the bomb scares in July. Things have settled down again life has returned to normal (as normal as it gets in India). Recently the Chennai government has started a “Load Sharing Plan”. This means that throughout the city of Chennai there are black outs, so far about three hours every day we have no electricity.WHW “Women Helping Widows” continues to grow and we thank everyone that continues to give. I will have another update telling you about all the great things that have been going on ready to send to you shortly.We are looking at a very busy October and the months there on. Rev Carmen Crockett is coming with a small team and will be with us from 7th till 16th of October. Murray Cornelius (PAOC Missions Director) is coming with a small team and we are planning a pastor’s seminar on HIV/AIDS in mid October. We are also expecting a lady specializing in children and women’s
ministry towards the end of October. Please pray that seeds will be sown in good soil and we will harvest many souls.We visited the children’s home on Saturday and took a few pictures, as you can see it has grown. We now have total of 40 children! Several of our children need sponsors, please contact the “Child Care Plus” department of the PAOC or us directly if you would like to sponsor a child in our children’s home. Please specify Chennai India.This month I felt led instead of our usual update to share with you a story of one of our children in the children’s home. His name is Selvam and his story is all too familiar to us. He is a handsome little boy.Selvam and his brother Mani (pronounced Money) came to us over two years ago, scared and timid they sat beside their mother while she filled out forms to have them admitted to the home. With tears in her eyes she explained how her husband had been injured in a traffic accident and was no longer able to work. His back had been broken in the accident and had left him disabled. They had tried to keep the family together but could not provide for the children.With in a few weeks the timidity and shyness seemed to melt away. Both Selvam and Mani began to open up and began playing and laughing with the other children.I will never forget the day during devotions we asked if anyone had a testimony that they would like to share. Selvam stood up. He boldly said “I thank God that I live in the Children’s home. That I have lots to eat and can play with my friends. But most of all I am thankful that I can go to school and don’t have to work anymore in the factory.” Out of desperation, trying to keep the family together Selvam’s parents made the decision to take all the children out of school. They all then went to work in a factory where their job was to spend the day splitting open green chilies with their hands. Many nights they would come home tired and hungry with blisters on their fingers from the hot chilies. There was no time for school or play and they were paid only pennies a day.Because of your prayer and financial support we were able to open our children’s home “Hope for the Children”, where children like Selvam are able to attend school. Most children are from Hindu families and they are now attending church where they learn about Jesus and his love.
On behalf of Selvam and Mani and all the other children like them, we thank you for your love and support. Without you none of this would be possible.Matthew 25: 40 ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’August 1, 2008Update:Prasad and I want to thank you for your prayer support. Yesterday the headlines in the local newspaper said that the police had discovered a plan to plant at least three bombs in the Chennai area. Two trains and the American Embassy had been targeted. The people plotting the bombings were discovered and arrested before they were able to put their plans into action. Praise God!Please continue to keep us and the nation of India in your prayers,
———— Many of you are aware of the terrorist attacks that have been going on in India. Today I received this message on my cell phone. Although I can not confirm the validity of the message we ask you to pray for our safety over the next few days.Govt. has requested that people avoid going to public places tomorrow as red alert is declared all over Chennai following the serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmadabad. It’s been guessed that they’re following the word BACK
B-Bangalore
A-Ahmedbad
C-Chennai
K-Kolkata
Thank you so much for your prayer support
June 2008 As always things have been busy around here and full of twists and turns. Late in February we were thrilled to have Rev Marie Miller with us. The one night meeting was much larger than we had ever imagined. People are so thirsty for the word of God. Although she was with us for only one night it certainly was a powerful one. People were touched, encouraged and strengthened by the great word that she shared.In April we had our friend Tony Dewan (KRT Brampton) visiting with us. He blessed the ministry with 10 new sewing machines so that we can start tailoring classes. This will give young people an opportunity to learn a trade and help better themselves. At the same time we plan to hold Bible studies during the classes and give the students an option to attend. Our prayer is that many of our students will hear the Gospel and except Christ as their savior. Please pray with us that we will be able to find a teacher so that we will be able to start the classes as soon as possible.In May we had one week of DVBS (Daily Vacation Bible School). This was the first time many of the churches had ever held DVBS. It was an excellent outreach not only to the children but to the parents as well. The majority of children that attended DVBS were from Hindu back-grounds and had never been to church before.The Children’s home is taking on a different look. The compound wall has been completed and we are now completing a dining hall and plastering the building. Five new children were brought to us over the past few weeks this brings us to 37 children. The home is now full and over flowing and we will have to look into building the second story of our home. Please pray that God will provide funds so that we can see the second story completed.This is busy time at the children’s home – it is back to school for everyone. That means new books, uniforms and pencils. Several of our children are now part of the CCP (Child Care Plus) program. If you are interested in supporting a child you can go to the PAOC website. Please specify Chennai, India if you would like to support one of our children.Please continue to keep our family in your prayers. Hannah and Asha continue in their home schooling and are doing well.Recently we found a full time pastor for one of our church plants. Please pray for Pastor Justin and his wife Rebecca as they begin their work with our ministry.April 14, 2008We would like to ask everyone to keep our children’s home “Hope for the Children” in your prayers. Recently there have been several snakes found on the property, including a cobra. This has been a problem in the past and is now back again. The Hindus in village where the home is located, worship snakes and consider it a privilege to have a snake on their property. Please pray that God will protect the children and keep them safe. Also pray that there will be a hedge of protection around the home.Thank you so much