Archive for June, 2010
Greetings unto each of you in the Holy name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. May His Grace and His Peace be upon each of you who read this report? Truly God is Just and He is Faithful unto those who love and serve Him. Be ever mindful of the Lord whom we pray unto daily and in who each of us seek to find His Grace.
We begin this Report from Erode, India where we had journeyed to renew our relationship with a man we had sought to find in 2002, with Disciple Vimal Jaitley and Disciple K.K. Kapoor. Disciple Jaitley had brought him into the work and introduced him to the Word of the Lord. We had received little communication from this man, and when we traveled here in 2002, we were unable to locate him. This time we were successful and spent some time with gentleman and discussed his relationship unto the Lord and his efforts within the Lord’s Work. We spent several days laboring with him and reviewing the Scriptures with the man and also trying to help him in every way to expand his understanding of serving our Lord Jesus Christ as a fellow Christian. Not everything done in the missionary field always comes out as we would desire; and the man has chosen himself to serve the things of man, rather than the Lord. At his request, and his desire, we prayed with him and hope that one day he will come to a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian, other than simply having the name. We departed Erode and headed back for Chennai, India and our last few days in the south of India on the evening of the 13th of June.
The next few days, before our departure to New Delhi, India; we spent laboring among the Christians in the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message. We met in the open air under a tarp and taught and preached unto the believers and those whom were interested in the Word of God. Our Brother Abraham translated for us as we taught and the people were filled and the Spirit of God was strong. Every day and every night many came unto us for prayer and needs. These good Christian folks had needs that only God could fulfill and through prayer and faith, these needs were met and clearly the folks felt the blessings of God received through deep and sincere prayer offered up on their behalf.
Most people only see photographs of India and have little understanding of the difficult conditions our brothers and sisters labor under. India has many, many wonderful people, yet very deep poverty and travel is to say the least difficult. In Chennai there is water rationing (one day per week they can get drinking water). Elsewhere in India, power blackouts are the norm, and not the exception. Sanitation is a constant problem and taking care of basic needs is no simple matter. In spite of all of these factors, our brothers and sisters remain joyful, pleasant, and always gracious unto those who come to share in the Word of God among them.
On Monday the 14th of June, we were blessed to ordain and Evangelist, also named Abraham into the ministry and he had traveled several days to move here and meet with us before our return to New Delhi. He is a wonderful young man of thirty-seven years who is engaged to be married soon. He has a warm and friendly spirit and certainly will be a blessing and help to the work in Chennai. We also prayed for many families and individuals this night who were in need of healing and God provided such for all that came forward. I thank God for all that He provides (as each of us know it is Him who heals and not man), and it is always a joy and a blessing to witness the Power and Grace of God at work.
On the 15th of June, as we were preparing to depart for New Delhi, a fine young couple came for prayer, requesting the Lord provide a child for their marriage of ten years. We were honored to pray for them and will continue to do so in the days to come. We then met with Abraham and his family to bid them farewell, as we departed for our train and the two and half day ride to New Delhi, India.
The ride was uneventful and somewhat relaxing, as the train was air conditioned and that was a pleasant surprise! I caught up on some paper work and also sent some needful messages to the Brothers in Africa, concerning a soon to be trip for our disciples to Rwanda. They will be traveling to that nation to help Disciple Alexander with the efforts in that great nation. I am thankful for the quality of the men who make up the ministry among the nations of this world. Men and women, who hazard their lives, their health, and do it so unselfishly, devote themselves unto the people with the love of God. Some may not understand the depth of those words, however; God full well knows the courage and love of these Disciples who serve him willingly and always in humility.
Arriving in New Delhi on the 17th of June, in the early morning hours; we could still feel the heat as we left the train and rode to Disciple Jaitley’s home. Our brother has so graciously traveled with us and sought in every way to care for us and along with Disciple Kapoor, have made our journey a blessed time in India. The average temperature in India has stayed in the high 90’s and 100’s, but today was special as the temperature reached 120 degrees! It set a new record of New Delhi in June and for us it was also a new high.
On Sunday we taught on the Church Foundation at the Disciple’s request and would do so again on Monday the 19th of June. Being taught is a relatively new experience for the people in India who usually listen to preaching. Teaching gives them an opportunity to ask questions, make comments, and truly understand the things they have accepted and believe. Pastor and Disciple Jai-singh, expressed his deep gratitude for the teaching. He said in India a lot of people come and need to be taught, but as a whole, they have not participated in any real teachings concerning the Doctrine of Christ or His Church. It leaves them desperately needful of some solid grounding in the foundation of their belief and their relationship unto Christ Jesus. The people also voiced their gratitude for the teaching and were enthusiastic about the things they learned and received. It was a real joy to witness the acceptance and understanding of the Word of the Lord among God’s people. The New Delhi is about forty members in number and sometimes 50 with guests. They are very well served with several elders, some disciples and a sweet spirit of love throughout the Local. On Monday night we ordained Sita Ram Arya to the responsibility of Elder and he is an excellent man who labors in the secular world as a Policeman, in charge of security for state functions.
On the 22nd of June we traveled to the home of Disciple Jai-singh and he and his lovely wife prepared us an American meal and we studied well into the night on the Tribulation and the Church’s teaching concerning the tribulation and the views of some churches concerning the rapture. We also covered the Lord’s Supper and properly serving of it and conducting the service in general. It was a blessed evening and we were able to share in many good things. The following evening we traveled to the Jitender Raj, where we were taught on Baptism and answered many questions they had concerning the subject. This wonderful couple, has a son, and are members of the Church, and are a real blessing to know and fellowship with.
On the 24th we went to lunch with the pastor Jai-singh and his wife and Brother Kapoor and Brother Vimal. We finished our packing and prepared to depart this night for the Philippines. We would arrive at 2:30 in the afternoon of the 25th to begin the work in the Philippines.
We were blessed with many wonderful visits and services in India and we shall be eternally grateful for all the fine Brothers and Sisters who made our time in India success and a joy. In spite of the heat (which every day was over 100 degrees) it was good to labor among the people and share in the Word of the Lord with precious souls who love the Lord and desire to have a closer walk in Christ. We continue to thank those who have kept us in your prayers and thoughts. At times, the work has not been easy, and at times we have known hardships, but through your prayers and support we have also known the blessings of God in our journey and have shared in the healings and miracles He has performed. May God Bless each of you as you read this report and may you understand a bit more about your fellow members in other nations and the workings of the Holy Spirit within those areas. I close in the Joy and Peace of the Lord. I will write again from the Philippines.
You’re Brother in Christ,
Apostle Norman D. Lyles
Just an update, today we mail books to several places in India, and England. We also sent other things to several other people in Kenya and the United States. The word is going out to the people, thank to the Lord for that.
“ What have I done?
This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. I write to you this day with love in my heart and the desire to serve the Lord. I tell myself that every day. Then I ask myself. What have I done to get the word of God to the people? We read and study the word of God but we keep it among ourselves. That is not what God commanded us to do. He said to take His word to the World.
Matt.28:18 & 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
He called us to take His gospel to the world, to our friends and neighbors, to every soul. We pray for the return of the Messenger but what have we done with what we have?
Msg. 83:17. This is the Midnight Cry. Come, join ye to the rest and peace the Lord can give. Go ye to meet the Lord-in service to the people. Your reward shall be sure.
Msg. 22:18. Oh man, that profess the name of the Lord, remember the eyes of the Lord are upon you: you cannot continue in your unrighteous ways before the Lord your who has created thee. He is long suffering and full of mercy, but He will reward thee as thy works will be.
Msg. 81:9. Add to your faith knowledge, wisdom and obedience in all things, hope in eternal salvation,
Msg. 46:8. This is a day of haste when my work must be done. Those that will heed and obey I will bless, those that will not will loose in the end. Some have grieved me because of man’s traditions, hardness of heart and sin, causing my work to suffer. Some will yet repent while others will go to destruction. Those that do not defend this cause have no part in this work. Let them know they must repent to do my will. Be watchful for it is my voice they oppose, and my design they deny. In their hearts they have rejected the message I have brought from time to time and they are not willing to be directed by mine angel I have sent.
Msg. 81:30. Let the work continue everywhere, far and near. Let all take courage for the Lord has sent me. I am your fellow servant. I bring the warning of Christ coming and instructions of His will to the Church.
Msg. 46:10. “Blessed are the meek and all those that consecrate themselves unto Me. I will be with them, saith your Lord, and stand you in holy places, protecting you when the great indignation cometh. You shall be called mine when I make up my jewels.”
Please read that verse again very slow and listen to what the Lord is saying to us. There is a warning and there is a promises and if we are not doing His will we will loose. Let us move this day for the Lord. Remember the Lord said that no man know the day or the hour the Lord will come. When will you draw your last berth?
Msg. 46:9. Yea behold, I forgive those that repent and walk humbly before me. Yea, my sheep know my voice and they will hear when I call upon them. How is it that some say they love me, yet deny and oppose my design? Know ye not that I know your thoughts and intents of your heart? Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things I say? Verily, I say not all such shall enter my rest: for in their traditions they have gone astray. They shall not have voice or vote in my work of the Church of Christ.
Msg. 81:12. Fear not what man may say of you and your work. There are those when they hear will go all the way with you and the Message I bring.
Msg. 82:17. Peace like a river of pure waters will flow to all the faithful that heed and obey. Give to them the words I bring. Let gladness and peace in God be in your hearts and the oppressors will fade away. 18. Seek to save. Seek to remove the doubts, lest it destroy the doubter.
Msg. 88:36. Satan knows his time is short and he will work to destroy all that he can. He will work to hinder and deceive and lay stumbling blocks for mankind to fall over. He will puff up in pride and he will discourage in hope, and hinder the faith of many if you do not watch and pray. Have faith in the words of the prophets and the Lord and what I bring and he will not have power over you. 37. Therefore come against him, break his yoke by true belief and study the word-obey the Lord’s Spirit and make ready.
Msg. 88:25. Be glad and rejoice ye wise men, ye that claim to be leaders, obey and your work will come higher in greatness if you heed what I have to say.
Msg. 113: 3&4. This Message is to the appointed and anointed ones of this work to be taken to all the world. All that hear and obey will find peace to their souls. My message is one of love to all that obey it. (4.) The Lord Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the Savior, Redeemer and King of all mankind. All that hear and obey have right to the Tree of Life and Eternity. His Glory shall overshadow them.
Msg.105:13. To My servants, saith the Lord, come together in love, open the way, hear the Words I send by My Messenger, Obey them and it will be well with you.
We can walk around with a million dollars in our pockets and if we don’t use it to help other people what good is it? Now you just think of what God has put in our pockets. Are we going to give it to the people, or keep it in our pockets? What are we going to do? Give and live or keep it and die. Its our choice, God want force us. But He said that He would require it of us.
May the spirit of Christ touch each heart and cause an awaking to Gods commands.
What have I done?
Yours in Christ,
Apostle Larry T. Gosier Williams.
Beginning this report, let me firmly state that the Work of God in Africa has been a blessing to me and a time of rejoicing in the Power and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we finished our final meetings on this journey with our brothers and sisters and the Disciples and Vice Bishops; very few had dry eyes. In my heart were an ache and already a longing to continue the work in Africa and among those whom mean so much to me. The Disciples and Vice Bishops and Women have labored so tirelessly and unselfishly to help the Work of the Lord to prosper and grow. These who have hazarded their very lives for the Work and Word of God. It humbles my very soul to have the honor to labor among them and call them my brothers and sisters. I presented some of my brothers with Bibles I had purchased for them and yet it seemed like so little to me to give in return for the effort and work they do daily.
We traveled to Nairobi Kenya on the 12th of May and our last few days in Kenya for this journey. The ride took five an half hours and I found myself wanting to simply turn around and spend a few more months laboring in this wonderful country, however Christ has work for us yet to do in India. The next few days just flew by in a flash, as Brother Ron and Sister Linda hosted us and tried to do everything needful for us as we prepared to depart. Sister Gillian helped her Sister Linda and Brother in law Ron to make our time of leaving a bit less complicated and not nearly so stressful. We cannot begin to express how wonderful these souls are who struggle to care for us and our needs so unselfishly. Thank you Lord for the love and dedication of these whom you have made unto us such a blessing and a Joy.
We boarded the plane bound for India on the 15rh of May and arrived in India on the 16th. Our Journey was uneventful and we arrived on the 16th of May. Air India the following day on the same flight crashed killing all aboard, except six souls while attempting a landing during a thunder storm.
After a three hour rest, we arose and attended services in New Delhi. I preached and taught as did Brother Larry. The temperature in India was a record high for May at 115 degrees during the day and cooling at night to a temperature of 98 degrees. Disciple Vimal Jaitley was a gracious and wonderful host, blessing us with looking to our every need; while his wife also blessed us with good food and trying to help us in every way. Sister Jaitley is a true handmaiden of the Lord and a very patient woman. After Church we traveled to the home of Rajesh for lunch that he and his wife had prepared and we once again were blessed to be in his home after an eight year absence.
We then met with Disciple Vimal and Disciple KK Kapoor to go over the schedule and discovered we needed very much to make some changes to the original schedule which really didn’t leave enough time in New Delhi to do the work needful. We made the changes and rescheduled the travel arrangements and then checked with Philippine Embassy for Larry’s Visa to that nation, as he was unable to obtain it before our departure from America. We then did some repacking for our journey to south India and the Chennia and Sivagangai and Erode areas. We emptied our suitcases and put what was needful in our packs and showered, did laundry and tried to rest before our departure on the 19th of May for Chennia.
The two and half day train ride to Chennia India was interesting, as our locomotive, broke down and it delayed us by a day. Then we had to be rerouted due to flooding in the Chennia area. On the 21st of May we arrived in Chennia India. It was extremely hot there also (in fact schools had canceled for two weeks due to the extreme heat). The entire city of Chennia, home to over 5million people was on total water rationing: all homes receive any form of water only on Sundays. This condition creates many difficulties to the poor people who need water to sustain life. We could buy bottled water, but the people lack the funds to do so and are limited to what they can store as they hand pump all they can save on Sunday to last them through the week.
We arrived in the afternoon and then studied with our Disciple Abraham through the night until about 11pm, before retiring to rest. We are staying within Disciple Abraham again this journey and his wife Stella and their two daughter’s do all they can to make us comfortable. We are humbled to be treated so very well. We shall always be grateful to Sister Stella for all she does to make our life easier.
Larry and I purchased some cots to sleep upon and a fan to blow the hot air around at night to keep the mosquito at bay. Then we would travel each night to visit members in their homes for home study. On Sunday the 23rd of May we traveled by bus to the Church and preached and taught to those gathered to worship the Lord; whom we had baptized and set up eight years ago. It was a joy to meet with them once again and share in the Word of God. We continued the home visits during the week and then on the 26th traveled to Kurahipadi, a village some miles north of Chennia. (About 5 and a half hours north) Kurahipadi is a farming village and small city in comparison to Chennia. We met near a refugee camp and there we taught the Word of God to interested souls and shared in the love of God with all who were gathered. Then we traveled back to Chennai, arriving at 3am and walked the two and half miles back to Abraham’s home.
I was blessed to spend my Birthday on the 28th preaching and teaching and also attending a wedding. We were blessed to teach many good souls following the wedding and then traveled back to Abraham’s home and packed for our journey to the city of Sivagangai, which is seven and half hours journey south of Chennia.
On Sunday we were blessed once again to be in the Church we had set up eight years ago. The local church is progressing and being blessed by the Evangelist who is faithfully serving the flock. The Evangelist is named D. Dayanithi and has been a faithful and indeed a wonderful Servant of Christ and His Church. He has built his flock up from a core group of five souls to almost forty souls and although not all are baptized; all are seeking the Lord and hearing the Word of the Lord and not the teachings of man. During our weeks stay in Sivagangai. We were blessed to have two Sunday’s here and every night we held services and taught the people. The only other Christian churches here are the church of south India and the Catholic Church. On our journey here in 2002 we baptized five souls: D. Dayanithi, S.S. Rajkumar, D. Jeevanantham, D. Maria Selvam, and K. Nathiya Nahomi; on December 1, 2002. We were blessed on June 6, 2010 to baptize three more precious souls and the Spirit of God called D. Dayanithi to the responsibility of Disciple and he was ordained this same day to Disciple of India.
Every night, the members had us over for a dinner they had specially prepared for us and blessed us with their fellowship and love. Our Brothers and Sisters here are not wealthy in money; however they are rich in the Spirit of God! It touches our very souls to find such Christian love and charity and I am reminded in truth of the words of the Apostle Paul in second Corinthians 8:1-6, wherein he said, “How that in great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave themselves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God.” In spite of the hardship and deep poverty here, they sought to care for us and to listen with joyful hearts to the Word of God. Each night they came with a hunger and thirst for the Word of God and indeed the Spirit of God provided and all were filled. Truly God is great and His Mercy has no bounds. On the sixth of June, 2010 of our Lord we baptized three precious souls unto the lord. Victor Rajakumar, Elizabeth, and Esther were baptized near Sivagangai and the Spirit and Power of the Lord bore witness to their conversion and their faith. It was a blessed time for all and we give glory and honor unto God.
In the evening Brother Larry, K. K. Kapoor, Vimal Jaitley and Myself preached one final time before the flock gathered in Sivagangai and Disciple Dayanithi completed our words with his and his appreciation for our coming to Sivagangai. He then took us to the train station for our trip back to Chennia and onto Erode on the following day.
It is my deepest prayer that those who read these words will rejoice and find within them the Spirit and Blessings of God. We send them to edify and bless each of you who read them and to give honor and glory unto God who is the author and creator of all good things in this life. The trials, afflictions, and problems of this life melt away in His Grace and in His Love. We have known His Blessings and His Protection upon our journey. We have felt His Spirit in our meetings and we have shared in the Healings He has provided for the people who love Him and seek Him. We appreciate the prayers and support each of you has provided to make all of this possible. We shall write more from our journey before we depart India. May God Bless and keep each of you and May you rejoice in all that God Has Provided and done during this time. May His Peace be unto each of you and may each of you stand steadfast in His Word and in His Will.
Your Brother in Christ, Apostle Norman D. Lyles
Construction work on the East African Headquarters
Missionary work in Kenya
Missionary work in Africa
Today Brothers as we are preparing ourselves and our last details before we depart Sivagangai, we traveled to one of our members place of work. They are a husband and wife team who labor as teachers for the developmentally disabled children. They labor for a private school (an unusual thing in India) which was started two years ago to help the children with serious learning disabilities. We prayed for the students, teachers, and school. They take care of over 85 students and we certainly were blessed to be invited to speak to the teachers and students and pray for them. These are the children society has forgotten pretty much in India, however these Christian people have not. We certainly appreciated the opportunity to pray and speak with them. We gave them (the teachers ) our names and addresses and did all we could to encourage them.
Today in the afternoon after lunch it is 1pm, we shall counsel with the pastor and new Disciple Dayanithi and then email you one last time from here with the details concerning the certificates (I have Larry putting them on the blanks and then we will email them to you. We thank you for your prayers, your support and your love. Truly nothing could be accomplished without your faithfulness to support and help the Lord’s Work. May God richly bless you for all you do. Today as or before we depart, we will send the necessary forms for the certificates. God Bless you.
Your Brother in Christ, Norm
Received a quick e-mail from India today. Things are going well. Baptized several new members and ordained a new Disciple in the last few days. The Lord has blessed over the last few months and years.
