Report of the March 2010

4th and 5th:- Trip to Madurai. Douglas and I went to meet Bro. A.S.John. This brother is a member of the Lord’s church for over 25yrs. We encouraged him all these years in his ministry at Madurai. He was supported by the center church of Christ, along with 5 others (Philomon Raja, K.Bhaskar, C.Moses, Mohan Raj and V.PaulDorai.  Bro. Don Norwood introduced them to the Center Church Elders and they were receiving this support direct. I distributed their cheques only, that’s all. First, the center church stopped Philomon’s support. After some Years or so, the Center Church decreased their sup $10 each month and finally stopped their support completely. When we started our Bangalore Institute of Biblical Studies. We called our senior preachers to join the 2 year programme. Except Philomon Raja other joined the school and graduated.

During their study period we gave our senior preachers Rs.3000 or $65 each of them. When A.S. John’s support stopped he sued me through the Labour court, stating his foreign support was suddenly stopped and P.R. Swamy is responsible and he should get him the compensation, either one house built for the Tsunami Victims or back wages amounts to 6 to 7000 $.

When I received the notice from the Lobour officer, I answered saying evangelism is not an employment and we don’t come under an industrial act and church is not an employment bureau etc.

Immediately I called Philomon and other preachers in that Madurai area and advised them to go and counsel with him to show that a Christian cant take another Christian to court before heathens as per 2Cor 6:1-10.

Philomon, Milton, Kovalan, Samuel Raj, Marshall, Adam, Selvaraj, Ramesh, Suresh. Philip,Kamaraj all were invited for a meeting at Madurai. In that meeting, they all were condemned A.S. John’s action and asked him to repent. He confessed his sins before them. then he came to Bangalore and confessed his wrong before P.R. Swamy and promised to withdraw the case. He expected us to support him. We did not. He did not withdraw the case and went to the political party and Human Rights organization people and pursuing the case. We are defending our side.

Today Douglas called him to the hotel where we stayed and persuaded him not to go to heathens for justice and tried his level best to go second mile. Bro. A.S. John was very adamant, refused to repent. We returned to Bangalore. The court case is going on.

7th:-Sunday worship held at Davis Road church. We gave each one of the member a questionnaire form to fill up and grievenecs or suggestions if any to write and submit.

Eve- Mrs. Franklin called puppy and one of her son, her brother Charles and his son came to visit Saroja. Franklin is no more. They are worshiping in their house. We persuaded them to reconcile with the Davis Road church.

11th:- Discussed bible with Miss. Hede, a Swedish girl a volunteer from Inter culture Diologue Exchange, where Sheela works as Program Coordinator. Given her the tract, “ The one True Church of the Bible, the church that Jesus Christ built” by Louis Rushmore. She is from Lutheran church back ground.

12th:- News came from Chennai, one of my contact, Dr. Kamal Dass, died. He is from C.S.I church back ground. Don Norwood and I shared the gospel several time. He died outside of Christ. I knew him for 20 years. I preached the gospel. But he never obeyed.

13th:- Allotted Tsunami 6 houses to the people in our original list. We are in the process of evacuating the illegal occupants in the 5 houses.

15th:- One Bro. John Wilson was baptized by me in 1971, at Bangalore. He graduated from the Madras school of preaching Kottur Adayar, Chennai. He worked with Bro. Wayne Davis for some years and then he became independent. He went with his family to Toronto, Canada and settled there. He was paralysed for some Years. Now he was dead. His body came in the flight from Canada to Chennai, this morning and was buried there.

21st:- Sunday:- My birthday today. The local church presented a memento and I was felicitated. I am 72yrs old now.

Eve, we went to airport and brought Jeremy, Joey Barrier and Matthew. They are staying with Douglas and Sheela..

22nd -23rd :- 2 days Seminar was conducted at Davis Road church, Bangalore. Jeremy, Joey Barrier and Mathew taught the class, both in the morning session and evening session. 4 wanted to obey the gospel.

Evening, Jerry Bates and his wife, accompanying with one director extension school, Bear Vally Bible college, another elders and his wife, in all 5 arrived from Delhi flight. Brought them from Airport and put them in one Nava Spoorthy Kendre premises, in the Davis Road itself. They discussed with us about starting a Bible school in Bangalore.

23rd:- Morning and evening session. Bro. Jerry Bate and Ralph also spoke along with others. Average 50 attended each day. Today 8 souls were baptized.

24th:- A special session for youth. Jeremy and Joey Barrier and Mathew have encouraged all the youth, with songs and exhortations. 30 people attended. One was baptized. Bro. Jerry Bate and his team left for Coimbatore by flight.

25th:- 2 to 6pm:- Douglas, P.R. Swamy, discussed about Bible school and our ministry etc with Jeremy, Joey.

At 9 P.M Jeremy, Joey, Matthew and I left for Colombo in the Srilanka Airways. Arrived 10.30 P.M at Colombo. Bro. Herold, Liliani’s husband came and took Jeremy, Joey and Mathew. Bro. Sekar who came to India last month to study Bible in our Bangalore Institute of Biblical studies, received me and took me to his brother Yoga’s house. I spent the night there, in Colombo city.

26th:- Conducted home Bible study with Sekar’s brother Yoga’s family. His neighbors also joined us.

Proceeded to up country- 6 hours journey by bus, thro’ the hills among the tea Estates. Most of the inhabitants were from India and came to Srilanka when England ruled this Country. They all are working in the tea Estates even now. They are Tamil speaking people but learnt the State language Sinhalese.

I am staying with Bro. Sekar’s family. It consists of his mother (Widow), (Mother of 7 children) and 3 of his cousins. Their father is, Sekar’s younger brother is a drunkard. So Sekar’s mother taking care of these children. Sekar is unmarried till now (42yrs). He dedicated his life for bringing up this 5 brothers and a sister. One sister is in Quwait, one brother is in Kathar and his 4 brothers are in Srilanka,

Sekar came to Bangalore and underwent 2 months Bible training under B.I.B.S. He invited me to come to Srilanka. That’s why I am here.

27th:- Sekar took me around many Tea Estates in the up country. We conducted personal Bible study with many contacts and group studies in their homes.

There is small stream flowing with water. After bible study, I baptized Bro. Sekar’s younger brother and his wife. Both are Hindus.

Returned to Sekar’s house at Uduppuselawa.

28th:- Bro.Sekar and I went to Navaneethans house and attended the worship (10 am to 12 noon) I shared the God’s message.

Evening, went to Amherst Division. Visited several families and shared God’s word. Evening worship held at Kondekala Estate and I spoke. Returned to Uduppasselaura.

29th:- From Uduppusselaura (Sekar’s house), we went to Nawalapitia by bus. Went to Moses house. Moses and his wife are Tamil Radio contacts. The couple are child less. Reggie Gnanasundaram baptized them in one of Perry Cotham’s meeting in 2005 and they were worshipping with Reggie’s family at Shrubbery garden Colombo Congregation till 2008. Then they moved to Nawalapitia. Both are teachers working in schools. They are worshipping all by themselves on Sundays. I encouraged them to do personal evangelism. They are very fine couple. Night halt at Moses’s house.

30th:-Early morning at 5.30 am, Sekar took me to Hatton by bus and proceeded to Bogawanthala. On the way we got down at Norwood. It is an Estate called by this locality name as Norwood Estate. When I saw the name, I was so excited and shouted, stop, stop. The bus driver stopped the vehicle and the conductor approached me and asked “ gentleman what happened to you”. I said nothing happened, when I saw the sign board “ Norwood”, I was so excited and could not believe my eyes. I took a picture and I wanted to all our Bro. Norwood and ask how in the world you have such a big estate with out our knowledge! Ah ! ah! Proceeded to Tenisin and visited one devasagayam. In my last trip to Srilanka, I visited this man and his family. He is convinced of the truth but not ready for baptism. He is running a motel. He is a denominational man.

31st:- At Uduppasellawa, we went meeting Sekar’s contacts and conducted Bible study in their homes.

Saravana Muthu came. Shared the Bible with him. He has 3 boys and 1 girl. 1 son and 1 girl are not baptized. I persuaded him to teach the truth to his children. Navaneedham came. I taught him about church growth.

Evening went to Amrerst Division, Gordon Estate and conducted Bible study in Mrs. Punitham’s house. 10 people gathered.

April

1st:- Viswanathan came, yesterday I went to his house and conducted the Bible study. We had 2 hours Bible study with this young man. I baptized him in the small stream runs thro’ Sekars’s property. I need to tell you something about this young man.

Viswanathan is a tamilian but Srilankan national. He is an International Marathon Runner. He won many medals. He competed in International Marathon Race-2004 and came second. John Kelvin of Kenya came first. He won many national Marathon Races. He hails from a poor family. He wants me to sponsor him in the next Olympic game. He wants to practice. He needs special Marathan race Kit and shoe etc. he wants to put C.O.C in his banian and win the race.

2nd:- Went to Nuwaraliya and visited Mohan and his family. In my last trip to this Island country, I stayed with him and worked with him. He has been preaching for 20 yrs. Returned to Uduppusselawa.

Conducted bible study for Sekar’s younger brother’s family. Both were baptized.

3rd:- The whole world celebrating “Good Friday” today. Went to Hatton and took a bus to Colombo, city. Night halt at Harold-Liliani’s house.

4th:- Sunday. Attended the worship at Shrubbery garden Colombo city church and spoke. There is a great potential for this congregation’s growth. Evening, went to Dehiwala and visited preacher Suba and his family. Also Sinhalese preacher Chaminda. Bro.Harold-Liliani arranged a taxi.

5th:- I left Colombo city in the morning flight. Reached Bangalore at noon Safely by God’s grace. In this trip 5 precious souls were baptized.

(To be continued)

Dear brethren,

Please pray for us.

Your brother

P.R.Swamy