Together On A Mission in India

By Indrajeet Pawar

Mumbai, India

A page in our history in India was turned at the Together On A Mission (TOAM) Conference from 27-30 October 2008 as God spoke to us powerfully about ‘being scattered across the nations’. We were meeting as leaders after a gap of many years and that in itself was historic and refreshing. The Lord’s agenda was clear as He challenged us through the ministries of David Devenish and John Kpikpi to embrace this ‘page-turning’ moment in our history.

An all India event

Over 400 leaders and wives gathered at this memorable event held in Mumbai. Leaders from 26 Newfrontiers churches in India travelled long distances to get here – those from the North East travelling in a train for over three days! Throughout the event the joyful buzz of conversation between meetings and the many meaningful conversations over meals renewed friendships. David Fernandes (Living Word Church, Mumbai) commented, ‘How refreshing to be together again as one family after a break of six years.’

Additionally we had leaders from other church streams looking in. A pastor from Andhra Pradesh, one of India’s largest states, was invited by the elders of the Tamil-speaking Kirubai Devalayam (Grace Church) in Bangalore. This pastor leads a network of seven churches and testified to enjoying the presence of God as well as the friendliness of people.

Other leaders from Assam and Uttar Pradesh were also with us. Ranjit Rodrigues (Good News Church, Goa) had invited a couple of brothers from Orissa, one being a pastor who had had to go into hiding when the Hindu fundamentalist persecutions broke out there last year.

A mission event

The theme of mission was evident everywhere, in worship, sessions and conversations over meals.

A powerful prophetic word about scattering to the nation (brought by David Lockyer from Winchester, UK) stole David Devenish’s thunder as he too had sensed strongly that this was what the Lord wanted to say and do amongst us.
David Devenish (Bedford, UK) took us on a missional journey of the Old and New Testaments in his main sessions and helped us to understand oral cultures and how to engage with them, urging us to see God’s heart for mission and how He wants us to be caught up in it.

John Kpikpi (Accra, Ghana) forcefully and passionately challenged us to join ‘Joshua’s army’. Against the backdrop of God’s promise to Joshua that every place he stepped on would be given to him, John urged us to believe God for the nation and take steps to ‘inherit’ it.

The conference was opened by Vinu Paul (elder at Living Hope Church, Mumbai) as he reminded us that it is with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that we can be His witnesses across the nation. Reflecting on the conference Vinu says, ‘TOAM was about taking new steps and doing things in the Spirit.

Throughout the event I sensed an expectation and faith for bigger things. People from different parts of India gave a new look to Newfrontiers India and this is a prophetic shape of things to come! I am thankful to God for the wonderful team-work and administration behind this event.’

A worship and training event

Worship leaders and an excellent band served us superbly throughout the event, striking the right notes, and building a platform for worship and the prophetic. We were also served brilliantly by Samir Deokuliar (Mumbai), Sydney Nevis (Nasik), Arun Philip (Kochi), Malcolm Kayes (Woking, UK), Guy & Heather Miller (Bournemouth, UK), David & Lynn Fernandes and John Groves (Winchester, UK) in the various seminar tracks, all of which helped us to understand various issues related to mission. And yet the programme was designed in a way that left enough time in the evenings to linger over dinner. That, according to many, was an added bonus!

Those who came with their children were brilliantly served by a team led by Angie Moses (Nasik). They too were caught up in this missional journey in the full day children’s programme. Rebekah, aged nine, said of this time, ‘I learnt that the Holy Spirit comes on you and we are the light of the world.’ Many gave their lives to Jesus and were filled with the Spirit. An eleven-year-old said, ‘This was the most exciting time of our holiday.’

An effective event

The true test of any event is in what happens after it. During the conference Nigel Pereira and Samir Deokuliar had met with the leaders from Uttar Pradesh. Out of that emerged a small regional leaders’ training event which took place in February where over 40 leaders were gathered. One of the pastors who attended is very keen to join our family of churches together on
a mission.

Nigel, elder at Harvest of Grace Church in Mumbai, who has led a few mission trips to Uttar Pradesh says of TOAM, ‘The Conference has been life-changing and one that has redefined us in India to be a missional movement to India and beyond. God’s presence was manifestly evident among us with a refreshing touch of Indian-style worship, outstanding words preached and the prophetic challenge of “scattering to the nations”.’ Colin D’Cruz, leader of Word of Grace Church in Pune, echoes Nigel adding, ‘Seeing the rich diversity of languages and people-groups represented from all over the subcontinent was amazing.’

Another possible opportunity of relationship with a church in Assam is being pursued by Franco Lonappan of Tree of Life Church, Mumbai. In December Vinu Paul led a small team to Andhra Pradesh where two churches’ leaders, who had been with us at TOAM, are looking to relate to us. Discussions among Newfrontiers leaders regarding leadership training have led to starting three new training bases in Goa, Kerala and Bangalore as we believe that God spoke to us about multiplying leadership training programmes. In these new bases, as well as in the existing ones in Mumbai and Meghalaya, we’re expecting to train about 175 men and women this year.

Many months ago the Lord spoke to a gathering of leaders that He was going to open ‘gates of opportunity’. TOAM pushed those gates further for us as we press into the mission that God has for us in this nation. Pray please that we will remain faithful to this call.