"we read about love, but love like this we've never seen before."

Come hear our St. Matthew team share our stories on April 15th, 7pm in Walled Lake room 304.

People of the Book Ministries gave us permission to share this article from their most recent Minaret Newsletter.

Way to go my brothers and sisters from St. Matthew!!!

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April 12 Minaret People of the Book Ministries

Michigan Churches, MOST Ministries and POBLO
team together to Expand Vision for North India
 
From March 8-19, 2012 8 people from four Michigan congregations went to North India on a mission trip that provided lots of hands-on ministry, including hosting an eyeglass clinic, teaching indigenous pastors, and purchasing motorcycles for area missionaries.  The team was led by Rev. Rob Nelson of St. Matthew in Walled Lake, Sandy Hardies of MOST Ministries, and Rev. Dr. Gary Rohwer of POBLO.  The host was Rev. Daniel Masih of Everlasting Life Lutheran Church, Dasuya Punjab State. This dynamic Lutheran ministry, which is already strong in human care outreach, was taken to a new level of awareness and respect within the region.  The eyeglass team, trained through MOST Ministries, tested and fitted nearly 600 individuals for eyeglasses.  The clinic was held over 4 days.   
On opening day, prominent leaders of the Dasuya community attended the event, taking part in a ribbon cutting ceremony.  They gave their highest level of approval and encouraged the church to continue such services.  
Pastor Daniel Masih remarked concerning the spiritual fruit resulting from the clinic, “Everyone in Dasuya now knows about Everlasting Life Lutheran Church.  Because of this service event, the name of Christ, and Christ’s church now has twice the respect it had before.”  A prominent Hindu business man who brought his wife for eyeglasses commented, “In the history books concerning religion we read about love but, love like this we’ve never seen before.”  As part of the ongoing ministry of Pastor Daniel Masih in loving people and teaching the Gospel to the community, which is less than 1 % Christian, 12 adults received Christian Baptism in a beautiful service held on March 15th.  The mission team led two songs in the service, and Rev. Nelson and Rev. Rohwer helped serve communion.  The 12 people who were baptized were formerly Hindus or Sikhs.  The worship service was attended by 300 Indian believers. This mission trip was the first joint trip through POBLO and MOST Ministries.
 
     Pastor Daniel Masih (on right)
                                 
        Community Leaders take part in a                                                                Clinic Team is honored with  flower lays
             ribbon cutting Ceremony
 
The others who went included Chris Neinhuis of Family of Christ Church in Grand Rapids and Kathy Chrzanowski,  Karie Azzopardi, Scott Maloney, and Anna Pulis-Vickers of St. Matthew in Walled Lake. The vision team worked long days, but did so side by side with 25 local Christian men and women.  Together, they helped bring a lot of joy to the people of the community.  And, with an immediate impact:  through the 587 people receiving eyeglasses, 12 new non-Christian families came for the March 15 worship service.  
 
                                     
 Rev. Robert Nelson preaches                                                             Rev. Gary Rohwer of POBLO with Rev. Rob & Sonnu
      at worship service                                                      pictured with new motorcycle for missionaries                                                                                                         
                                                    
Members of St. Matthew donated money for the purchase of motorcycles for two missionaries.  While there, Rob Nelson went with Daniel Masih to purchase the cycles at a local Honda dealer.  The cycles were presented to the two missionaries the same day.  Their Gospel witness and church planting efforts over very bad roads will be greatly enhanced through these gifts.  
 
Pastor Nelson commented, “We had an unparalleled time of Christian fellowship with Pastor Daniel, his wife and children, and with the other Christian leaders. We were greatly moved by the sacrifices they all make to follow Christ in North India, and I’m sure it was clear to everyone that God is moving powerfully through this ministry to reach lost people. Several of the team from my church immediately declared that they’re coming back next year.”  Sandy Hardies stated that “Out of the 25 MOST teams I’ve led, this was one of the best.”  “The hospitality was Indian style (out of this world).  The food was absolutely wonderful.  We all felt the Spirit of the Lord was in this place.”  
 
If your church would like to think about joining a future trip to North India through POBLO and MOST please contact Rev. Dr. Gary Rohwer at (313) 563-2051 or Debby Suchyta (734) 994-7909.