Opportunities in Visakhapatnam, India
Dear Brethren in Christ,
We hope this message finds you all doing well. We are thankful to God that the intense summer heat has finally begun to subside. It was an extremely difficult season, with temperatures that were almost unbearable. We appreciate your prayers for us during those challenging days.
The product of hard work and commitment never goes unnoticed. The graduates of Visakha Valley Bible College are doing a tremendous work among the tribal communities, helping people understand and follow the biblical pattern of marriage and family life. Their efforts are bringing lasting change, not only spiritually but also in the way people live their daily lives.
In many tribal areas, marriage customs are based primarily on local traditions and cultural practices rather than on biblical principles. As a result, there is often little emphasis on the lifelong commitment that God intended for marriage. Many simply follow the customs of their community instead of God's design for the family.
In these circumstances, our graduates are faithfully teaching God's plan for marriage. They help people understand that marriage is a sacred institution established by God and intended to be a lifelong covenant between one husband and one wife. They teach the importance of building strong Christian homes, raising faithful children, living modest and responsible lives, caring for one another, and being actively involved in the life of the church.
Recently, I was invited by several of these preachers to solemnize a wedding among the tribal people. This provided a wonderful opportunity not only to unite a young couple in holy matrimony but also to explain God's purpose in designing and establishing marriage. Before an audience of more than 300 people, I was able to teach about God's plan for marriage and the blessings that come from following His will.
It was a joyful occasion and an encouraging reminder of the impact that faithful preaching and teaching can have on entire communities. We thank God for the dedication of these graduates and for the opportunities He has given them to influence lives for Christ.
As people witness the transformation that Christ brings to the lives of believers, we pray they will come to understand God's great love, demonstrated through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for their salvation. May they believe the Gospel, embrace Christ as their Savior, and make Him the center of their lives, homes, and communities.
Please continue to pray for this wonderful group of preachers and for many others who are faithfully serving among the tribal communities. Pray that God will continue to use them to rescue souls, bring lasting spiritual change, and establish biblical principles as a way of life for future generations.
Gratitude
On behalf of all the students and faculty, I express our heartfelt gratitude. We are especially thankful to the elders of the Strickland Church of Christ for overseeing this ministry of training men to become faithful evangelists.
We have been greatly encouraged by what the Lord is accomplishing through this partnership in preparing Gospel preachers. We are also deeply grateful for the generous support of the brethren at the Lake Houston and Farmersville Churches of Christ. Their faithful partnership enables these evangelists to continue serving the Lord and sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard the truth.
Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement, and partnership in this wonderful work of the Lord. Through your commitment and the faithful labors of these preachers, souls are being won, congregations are being strengthened, and lives are being transformed by the power of the Gospel. It is our joy to share this encouraging news with you.
May God richly bless each one of you.
in Christ,
John Dean Muppidi