Ministry updates – January 2008.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings and best wishes in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Thank you once again for your kind and loving prayers for the ministry over here in India. It is a great encouragement for all of us. There is a wonderful growth in the ministry, and it resulted in the months of January and February. I witnessed the following ministry of our Lord in Rajahmundry area Churches of Christ during the month of January'2008.

1. New Meeting place: The members of Korukonda Agraharam Church of Christ are came forward and provided a small thatched shed of a member for Sunday Worship, where Bro. G. Kiran Kumar is the Preacher. A new birth is reported from this congregation.
2. Inauguration of meeting place: We have constructed a new meeting place for Ratnampeta Church of Christ and is Inaugurated during this month, where Bro. P.V.Ratnam(myself) is the Preacher.
3. New Births in different Congregations: The first Sunday of every month, the congregations around Korukonda are meeting together at Korukonda for worship and having fellowship meals after worship for encourage each other and strengthening the congregations. For every such meeting I am attending to that meeting at Korukonda. On 06.01.2008, I was attended worship at Korukonda, this is the 1^st Sunday worship in the new year. I was speaking about new thoughts and new mind and the need of New Birth in to Christ. I have concluded my message with question "If Jesus comes right now, would how many of you be ready to go to heaven with Him to stay forever in His presence? Do you believe that you would be saved?" Bro. Moses Babu gave call by inviting for new births. There are 8 persons came forward to get Baptism. Then we all happily bring them for Baptism. Bro. Moses Babu conducted Baptisms. After we returned back from Baptisms ceremony and we announced this joyous occasion with congregation and given some instructions to the newborn brothers and sisters and we announced to go to have the common dinner. At that time 5 more members (3 sisters and 2 brothers) came forward to get Baptism. The entire congregation felt very happy and they stopped their lunch and went to the baptistery, and participated in the joyous occasion. I have got the opportunity to conduct the Baptisms for these 5 members. Bro. Moses reported 2 baptisms on 27^th January. We have conducted Gospel Meeting and Bible Classes for youth and children in January. There are 6 members born again from Ratnampeta Congregation in the Gospel meeting. I have conducted Baptisms. In the Bible classes 2 persons got Baptisms. The total Baptisms are 23 during the month of January'2008. All the Preachers are enjoying encouraged by these New Baptisms. Village wise Baptisms are as follows:

a. Ratnampeta - 06.

b. Korukonda - 04.

c. Jambupatnam - 04.

d. Gadala - 02.

e. Agraharam - 02.

f. Butchimpeta - 01

g. Rayudupakalu - 01

h. Kanupuru - 01

i. Purushothapatnam - 01

j. Vangalapudi - 01

1. Gospel Meeting: We conducted Gospel Meeting on 24^th January for Ratnampeta, Gadala and Rayudupakalu in 3 sessions. There 200 people attended for this meeting. All my co preachers are also attended for this meeting with their families to stay for 2 days as we have conducted Bible class on 25^th. Bro. Moses, Bro. Ratna Raju, Bro.P.Sundar Rao, Bro.G.Kiran Kumar, Bro. K.Prem Kishore, Bro. K.Solmon Raju, Bro.T.Samuel Raju, Bro.G.Yacobu, Bro. Y.Nageswara Rao, Bro.M.Gopi, Bro.T.Benzemen, Bro.K.Raju, Bro.T.Sundar Babu, Bro. Ch.Chinni, Bro. M.Ramesh, attended to this meeting. In the night session, 6 persons came forward to born again. I have conducted Baptism.
2. Bible Classes: we have conducted one day Bible classes on 25^th January for youth at Ratnampeta in 3 sessions. There are nearly 250 youth and children and members were attended. There are two persons got Baptisms in these classes.
3. Ladies Bible Class: Mrs. Sujnana Kumari (my wife) and Mrs. Lilly Cornelius are conducting Ladies Bible classes in Ratnampeta, Korukonda Congregations, as well as in the other congregations like Purushothapatnam, Vangalapudi, Gadala, Kanupuru, Jambupatnam and Rayudupakalu with the help of Mrs. Shoba Solomon, Mrs. Mercy Moses. They are doing a wonderful job among women.
4. Benevolence: We have conducted new clothes (Blankets) distribution to the old aged poor and destitutes in the rural villages named Nidigatla, Dosakayalapalli, Gadala during this month. We have distributed 160 blankets in the presence of concerned village elders. Bro. Moses, K.Solmon Raju, Bro.K.Raju, Bro.T.Sundar Babu and my elder son P. Rajiv Kumar are helped and participated in this programmes. By this benevolence work, many non Christians are asking how the Bible saying about these Benevolence and Charity, they attracting and paying interest on the Gospel of Christ.
5. Rally to Mandal executive Magistrate: In the recent days there are several attacks made against Christians in our district as well as in our state and country. Some govt. officials and hindu communities are threatening Christians in our area. So we have participated in a rally conducted in Korukonda Taluk and given memorandum to Tahsildar(Mandal Executive Magitrate) on certain demands like threats on Christians, allotment of sites for construction of Church buildings, disputes created by hindu religious people on Church building sites etc.

We are doing good work for His ministry and we believe that many people will join in His Body, many congregations will planted in this area during this new year. We are encouraging all the remaining Preachers in our team, to become active to spread the Gospel of Christ in every corner of our area. We are encouraging the youth in these congregations (nearly 30 youth) to dedicate themselves to preach the Good news of the Gospel in this area. We may get some good Servants of God to our team from the youth during this New Year.

I have enclosed some ministry pictures of the updates of January 2008 below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21661435@N03/sets/72157603836903411/

I have created a web page in Multiply with our ministry of Rajahmundry area Churches of Christ. I have uploaded Baptisms video and ministry pictures in to it:

http://ratnampv.multiply.com/video

Convey our greetings to your family members as well as the congregation at your place.

Thanking you very much brother,

Yours brother in Christ,

P.V.Ratnam

For the Preachers and the Elders

Rajahmundry area Churches of Christ.

INDIA.