Each day keeps getting better and better here in India. We're finally caught up on sleep, and the relationships are really coming together with our new friends here. So much happened today. We discussed some very practical incarnational ministry models with the students. They did a great job of mapping out the signs of hope and signs of need in their communities.
No fancy powerpoint presentations are needed. Everyone is really grasping on to the information. We'll see how they do on their test tomorrow. Julie is feeling much better today. In fact, several of the ladies painted her nails during one of the breaks.
During the next session we talked about the layers of the urban jungle, and how the city is a much different place during the day and during the night. Effective urban ministries are able to connect with people at all layers of the urban jungle both at night and during the day. The students designed a decentralized ministry wheel aimed at reaching cities through incarnational leadership.
Always the neighborhood mom, Julie found a way to keep Muthu's kids occupied during the break.
In the afternoon, everyone dug into the Word of God to learn more about how Nehemiah is a great example of incarnational urban ministry. Check out how many different forms of incarnational leadership the group learned simply from the story of Nehemiah.
I've enjoyed teaching in bare feet all week. It's taken some getting used to, but I really like it now. I may have to start communicating from the stage at North Way East End in bare feet from now on... not sure if that would fly in Pittsburgh, though. We have also been enjoying drinking water straight from coconuts.
This evening I was invited to perform my first international baptism at a local church. I had the great privilege of baptizing my new friend, Samuel. Check out the baptism pool. Awesome!
I think we need to carve out a baptism pool just like that at the North Way East End ministry center. Seriously, it was such a special evening at that local church. We really enjoyed the time we got to spend with the local pastors.
We watched a beautiful sunset, and then we ate dinner at our friend Muthu's house once again.
All in all, we are having a transformational experience here in India. We have been so blessed by the leaders who have come from all over India and Sri Lanka. They are hungry to learn, and we are building many new friendships. It's hard to believe that nearly a week has gone by. All I can say is thank you so much to the people who have supported us all along in this journey to India. This has been an amazing trip.
No fancy powerpoint presentations are needed. Everyone is really grasping on to the information. We'll see how they do on their test tomorrow. Julie is feeling much better today. In fact, several of the ladies painted her nails during one of the breaks.
During the next session we talked about the layers of the urban jungle, and how the city is a much different place during the day and during the night. Effective urban ministries are able to connect with people at all layers of the urban jungle both at night and during the day. The students designed a decentralized ministry wheel aimed at reaching cities through incarnational leadership.
Always the neighborhood mom, Julie found a way to keep Muthu's kids occupied during the break.
In the afternoon, everyone dug into the Word of God to learn more about how Nehemiah is a great example of incarnational urban ministry. Check out how many different forms of incarnational leadership the group learned simply from the story of Nehemiah.
I've enjoyed teaching in bare feet all week. It's taken some getting used to, but I really like it now. I may have to start communicating from the stage at North Way East End in bare feet from now on... not sure if that would fly in Pittsburgh, though. We have also been enjoying drinking water straight from coconuts.
This evening I was invited to perform my first international baptism at a local church. I had the great privilege of baptizing my new friend, Samuel. Check out the baptism pool. Awesome!
I think we need to carve out a baptism pool just like that at the North Way East End ministry center. Seriously, it was such a special evening at that local church. We really enjoyed the time we got to spend with the local pastors.
We watched a beautiful sunset, and then we ate dinner at our friend Muthu's house once again.
All in all, we are having a transformational experience here in India. We have been so blessed by the leaders who have come from all over India and Sri Lanka. They are hungry to learn, and we are building many new friendships. It's hard to believe that nearly a week has gone by. All I can say is thank you so much to the people who have supported us all along in this journey to India. This has been an amazing trip.
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