December
20, 2005
Our family, now just the two of us, had the
privilege of hosting four church planters from India in late October through mid November. Prior to their
arrival, we were informed that many previous hosts of international guests had
developed deep friendships with those who stayed in their homes. This became
our experience as well.
During our
time together we learned that at this time in history, after decades of being
unreceptive to the gospel, Indian people are coming to faith in unprecedented
numbers. These men have witnessed the Spirit of God changing lives through
miracles of healing, signs, and wonders. And they have observed that after an
individual comes to faith, it is not uncommon for entire families (and at times
an entire village) to come to faith as a result of God's miraculous work. Their
vision and passion for churches and leaders to multiply and become strong made
a deep impression on us.
Concurrent
with the BILD leaders' conference, we benefited from the Sunday morning
teaching series entitled Seek the Welfare of the City. It was
significant that while being taught from the Word regarding this matter, we
learned how these principles are being implemented on a daily basis in India. Our guests described how a church
planted in a local Indian village begins praying for the welfare of their city,
petitioning God for electricity, roads, and modern sewer and water systems to
be brought to the community. When God provides these, the lives of the
citizens are significantly enhanced.
For many
years we viewed the "church" primarily as our own local, traditional,
autonomous church family. Our understanding of the church
universal was limited at best. Through our experiences and the teaching we've
received at Oakwood Road Church these past three years, our
interaction with the internationals here in Ames
for the conference, and discussions we had with our four men regarding the
formation of house churches in India, our
understanding of the church has surely been transformed. Now we better
comprehend the implications of the "extended family" of believers around the world and how they are
interrelated. When a church on the other side of the world needs help or is
hurting, we have a responsibility to pray for, assist, and give to their needs.
The New Testament example of Paul collecting gifts for the Jerusalem church is not just "history," but
what we are to be about today.
Adding four
men to our home for four weeks was not simple nor was it easy. None had
international driver's licenses, and we are twenty minutes from BILD/ ORC, thus
it was necessary to transport them to and from Ames each morning and evening. Nevertheless, our lives were
immeasurably blessed. We observed in each an amazing faith, a profoundly deep
confidence and belief in God's provision and promises, a joy in an intimate
relationship with the living and risen Christ, a love for others, a passion to
reach the lost in India, a genuine desire to seek the welfare of the cities in
which they are working, and a determined perseverance in the midst of physical
and emotional persecution. Our time together was further enhanced by their
senses of humor, a fair share of teasing, and their interest in learning about
our country and families. We must add that we observed their human frailties in
the experience of typical life frustrations, issues, and emotions! And it was
both insightful and encouraging to realize they struggle in the same ways we
do, while observing that their faith and passionate prayer life accompany these
challenges.
As a result
of our fall hosting experience, we have been strengthened and built up. We were
impacted by the way these men live with Christ in a profoundly real and
practical way, trusting that He is sovereign and will undertake for them in all
areas of their own families and churches. The bond which has been formed with
these dear brothers in Christ is deep. As our lives have been blessed and
enriched, we look forward with anticipation to seeing them again, either in America or when we travel some day to India.
John and Mary Haila
