December 04, 2011
Scripture: Colossians 3 verses 16-17
Scripture verse for this year ministry
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Llord Jesus, giving thanks to Ggod the father through him. – (Colossians 3 verses 16-17)
Dear family of Christ Jesus,
We hope this letter finds you all healthy and well spiritually and physically in the lord Jesus Christ. It has been written, that a healthy body and mind go hand in hand. I have so much to tell you, so I am going to get right to it.
While standing on a long bamboo swinging bridge above a river in Manipur, a young fellow age 27 came to me. He said sir, can you remember me. I responded, by saying no, please forgive me. He told me that when he was a small boy, I gave a bible to him and his brother. He said I saw you on this bridge and I wanted to say thank you! He told me that he was going to school to be a pastor, and that he was studying to be a lecturer in theology. He then told me, that his brother was now in the remote regions of Tripura as a missionary among the down trodden people. The young fellow asked me to pray with him and for his brother as they both serve the lord. We Prayed together on the bridge above the river and then said our good-byes, (until we meet again).
When I think of that moment, my spirit is deeply moved. Still, I am wondering, how many others who have received God’s holy and inspired word, have given their heart to Jesus, and are now touching the hearts of others with that same word of god. I hope by this testimony, you can see how important the distribution of God’s word is. Thank you so much for all of your hard work, prayers, and finances, that make the Distribution of God’s word possible. Imagine how many souls will live in the kingdom of God for eternity, because of this ministry and distribution of god’s holy and inspired word. Praise be to the lord!
Bibles: this year we purchased 1,079 bibles in 3 different languages. Thank you, lord,, God’s word is his love letter to each and every one of us. Personally, this is one of the greatest honors of my life, to deliver that love letter to every man, woman, and child who will receive it. Thank you, partners, in Christ Jesus for helping me to deliver God’s word of love to India. We will continue to bring and distribute God’s word. We are praying and hoping to bring 2,000 more bibles into north-east, India this year 2012. More than 50,000 bibles distributed so far. Praise God!
Our orphanage: This year we were able to put all of our 19 orphan girls in school. We fully covered the cost of all tuition fees, school books, supplies, and school uniforms. We put brand new shoes and socks on the feet of each girl. Seeing the smiles and the happiness on each child’s face made it all worthwhile. Taking these girls to the tailor to get measured up for school uniforms, was an event to be remembered. Imagine 19 kids in a Hindu tailor shop singing Christian songs of praise, it was a ministry of its own. The Hindu people who owned the shop, loved the songs the children sang in the Meitei language. After each girl was measured for their clothing, the Hindu people of the shop cut the cost of the clothing by more than $100.00 dollars in rupees. We purchased – 38 uniforms, 2 – for each girl, at a total cost of $425.00. (amazing). The school tuition fees were cut by 10,000 rupees, or $250.00 U.S. Dollars. God is so good. The highlight was a big birthday party that we had for these kids. For many of them, it was their first birthday party ever. We made a cake for the occasion, nothing was left over. We spent more than $4,600.00 U.S. Dollars on helping to take care of these girls in 2011. This year we have a committee of dedicated people raising money for these children at hope home Imphal. We have printed brochures, and a picture booklet with all the background information of each child. If you are interested in the information and sponsoring a needy child, please let me know by calling our phone number printed at the end of this newsletter. To all of you, I want to say in behalf of the kids thank you for your kindness and generosity in supporting our orphan girls.
Our pastors: As in many years past, our pastors struggle to survive. This year is again, one of those years. As many of you know from my writings over the past 16 years, Manipur of north-east India is a troubled state. Terrorism is at an all-time high. Insurgents, underground militant outfits are destroying the economy and every fabric of family life. Fighting and hostility in Manipur makes it almost impossible to trade goods, purchase food, and fuel etc. Road block aids in the mountains keep people from moving to and from, and also keeps petrol from getting into villages. The result is high cost of food and goods. The cost of gas per gallon, is between 8 & 12 U.S. dollars. Almost no one can afford to purchase anything. The consequences of this unstable environment have made it very difficult for ministry. Yet our pastors and evangelists press on, surviving by living hand to mouth as they continue to bring God’s word to the people. I love these men and women so much. They count their struggles a blessing, and they are deeply honored to be working for the king of glory. They sacrifice their lives so that others can know the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are bold, standing on the front lines to further God’s kingdom. Praise be to the lord!
Our two churches: This past year the church of Kangvai was inaugurated. It was 5 years in the making, 15 years since our first open air program in one of the staunchest Hindu groups ever. This church is built in the middle of underground territory. It only took a few Christians with courage, faith, and boldness to grow into more then 50 believers, who are now worshipping together. How god works his wonders, totally blows my mind. Our church in the village of Kinoue is struggling. 2 – years ago it went through a painful split. This church was the one we built over a six-year period, a place where no church existed. Many wonderful miracles have happened in this growing church. The Kinoue church is going through all the struggles of growing very fast. Now the roots of this body of believers are taking hold. The church is growing stronger, yet the believers are still in their teen age years so to speak. I guess it could be said that this is not an easy time for this church. Please keep this church in your prayers. They are a young church needing guidance.
The persecuted church in Orissa: this year I went deep into the heart of remote Orissa, the most dangerous of all places for a Christian to live. More then
500 Christians have been beaten brutally to death. In the last year more than 15,000 thousand Christians lost their homes, possessions, animals, and businesses. The Hindus
Of this region are with-out conscience, filled with every kind of evil. They are demon possessed. I went to a village where 80 children have become orphans because of them
Fathers, mothers, and grandparents loved Jesus and were killed. These kids if you can fathom this, live in a 600 square foot building with dirt floors. No furniture, the children lay side by side – head to toe on the dirt mud floor. 80 kids sleeping in a small garage one could say. At night we throw blankets over them as they sleep in the dirt. I spent one full week with these people searching for these tribes in the mountain jungles because these Christians had to flee into the mountains and jungles to escape the death and persecution. I went into this place, not to proclaim the name of Jesus to the lost, but to encourage those Christians who have endured the most horrific events one can imagine. I am concerned for the children. They are the poorest of the poor. They eat only a few times in a week. I will take extensive pictures this year.
Quick story! One wicked Hindu village went to a Christian village one night, smashed the church to rubble, killed almost every Christian in the village, and burned all the houses etc. Etc. 6 months later a band of wild elephants ran that wicked Hindu village over killing nearly everyone in that village. The matriarch elephant picked up the ringleader of these Hindu killers, and slammed his body again and again into the ground. Then the elephant threw his body through the air, and dragged his dead body to the middle of the village and left it there for all to see. Our God can do everything. God punished those people by using the elephants he created to destroy them. Amazing! Praise God!
I will be traveling back into Orissa this year, and hope to bring some relief to these Christians who have lost everything. Last year I left $ 1,100.00 U.S. Dollars with some Of the pastors so that they could use the money as they saw fit for the incredible need. Thank you for praying for me and the others traveling with me into this dangerous place. Please pray that this year wonderful things will happen for these people who have been so oppressed.
Conclusion: lastly, let me say this. An hour sermon in 2 minutes of reading.
Are you thankful for everything? Do you have a spirit of gratitude, and gratefulness? Our almighty God has given us everything. We have been so blessed. We must have a spirit of thanksgiving. We must praise God and give him all the glory and honor due his name. This is why he created us. We all need to have prayers of thanksgiving. Do you have that kind of prayer in your heart? To have a relationship with God, we must do this.
This is what we receive when we have a thankful heart. God gives us power and strength to triumph and have victory over the enemy. I challenge you to read Colossians chapter 1, 2, & 3. Paul has a lot to say about prayer and thanksgiving. God has given us everything, he gave us life, that pretty much says it all. So please take an inventory of your life, get a clear perspective. Even if we have nothing on this earth, we still have everything in Jesus.
God bless you! Have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year in Jesus name.
Please pray for me as I travel to India. I will be traveling from January 16, 2012 thru March 05, 2012. My wife Elizabeth and son Mark will be staying here in the U.S.A. For the winter. Our daughter Esther is now working in Chicago. Please feel free to call my wife and check the progress of our mission work while I am overseas in India.
In the service of our risen savior Jesus,
Steven l. Rozema
The Word of God for Asia, a non-profit organization 501 (c) – 3
Tax id. # 38-3364751
For more information call: 231-547-2855
P.s. I am hoping to announce a web-site for the Word of God for Asia, when I return from India. Please note the brochure I am enclosing in this mailer regarding our orphans in north-east India.