“count the towers!
”
(Keynote address by R. Stanley in the Silver Jubilee Celebrations
of the Karaikudi Campus Fellowship(1988), which he started in 1963)
L et’s turn to Psalm 48 the first two
verses of which we repeatedly sing as
a chorus whenever we gather to worship the
greatness of God. I believe that the last three
verses of this Psalm give us God’s message
for this significant gathering— “Walk about
Zion, and go all around her. Count her
towers; Mark well her bulwarks; Consider
her palaces; that you may tell it to the
generation following. For this is God, our
God forever and ever; He will be our Guide
even to death” (vv12-14). Let’s use the
Book of Zechariah as our guide to conduct
the tour around Zion and count its towers
one by one. There are ten in all. These
towers are the pillars or the distinctives of
our ministry. The Blessing Youth Mission
has its roots in the small fellowship started
in the Engineering College Campus in
Karaikudi. This experience of counting the
towers is to serve as a reminder, renewal
and rededication. Please keep the Book of
Zechariah open.
1. Revival and Restoration
Zech 1:17, “Thus says the Lord of
Hosts: My cities shall again spread out
through prosperity; the Lord will again
comfort Zion, and will again choose
Jerusalem.”
2:12, “The Lord will take possession
of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy
Land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”
9:12, “Return to the stronghold, you
prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that
I will restore double to you.”
BLESSING / February 2019
This was our starting point. A growing
dissatisfaction over the condition of the
Church and Christendom threw us onto
our knees to cry to God to show His power
again by lifting up His arm as in the days
of old. We used to read the revivals under
Charles Finney, John Wesley and Jonathan
Goforth, and would fall prostrate before
God on the rough, thorny fields around
the college campus. We cried, “Lord, do it
again! Bring back the Church from where
it is to where it should be. The days are so
difficult and crucial that just the spirit of
Elijah won’t suffice. We need the double
portion of it as it came upon Elisha!” When
we drafted the first write-up to introduce
the ministry of Blessing Youth Mission
(formerly FGYMA), this was the primary
objective presented: “Revival among
young men and Evangelism through
young men.” Nothing can be accomp-
lished without Revival power. It is when
God revives us and grants us a free spirit we
can teach sinners His ways (Psa 51:12,13).
Without revival, Mission will
become a machine and missionaries will
become machinery! (Theme of Revivo ’83:
“I will Restore!”)
2. Holiness unto the Lord
Zech 3:3-5, “Now Joshua was clothed
with filthy garments…See I have removed
your iniquity from you, and I will clothe
you with rich robes… Let them put a clean
turban on his head.”
8:3, “The Mountain of the Lord of
Hosts, the Holy Mountain.”
2
 14:20, “In that day HOLINESS-TO-
THE-LORD shall be engraved on the bells
of the horses. The pots in the Lord’s house
shall be like the bowls before the altar.”
Holiness is our watchword. It begins
with the individuals. Joshua is sanctified.
“Rich robes and clean turban!” Pure
heart and clean mind! When individuals
are sanctified, the entire group or the
assembly is holy. “Holy Mountain!” Then
follows the ministry. The bowls of the altar
and the bells of the horses! Worship and
warfare! Holiness in personal, corporate
and ministerial life! Any of our camps
or programmes begins with a message
on holiness leading to a time of self-
examination and cleansing. Blesso ’78 was
exclusively dedicated to study the theme,
“Holiness unto the Lord.” No holiness
means only hollowness. I remember the
scores of self-examination questionnaires
we used to copy from the earlier editions
of Herald of His Coming and use them on
a regular basis, weekly or fortnightly, to
search our hearts with fasting and prayer in
our gatherings. The devil is least bothered
about a ministry which has sacrificed
holiness. The Lord rebuked Satan who was
rejoicing over the filthy garments of Joshua
the high priest (3:1-3). Loss of holiness
leads to hellishness.
3. Anointing of the Holy Spirit
Zech 4:6, “This is the word of the Lord
to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power,
but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
10:1, “Ask the Lord for rain in the
time of the latter rain. The Lord will make
flashing clouds; He will give the showers of
rain, grass in the field for everyone.”
BLESSING / February 2019
With a thirst never quenched, a cry
never silenced, a hunger never satisfied, a
zeal never diminished—FOR REVIVAL—
about 30 of us, mostly college students,
gathered in the Kottaiyur forests of Karaikudi
in October 1970 for three days with fasting
and prayer. The answer from the Lord was
the glorious promise from Ezek 34:26,
“There shall be showers of Blessing!”
So our camps, programmes and magazines
were named after this word, “BLESSING!”
The Lord has been graciously granting us
fresh outpourings of His Spirit. People from
all denominations continue to flock to our
programmes to receive the Baptism with the
Holy Spirit. Over the years we have had the
privilege of leading several thousands into
this glorious experience. Many theological
arrows from anti-charismatic circles were
shot at us but our bow remained in strength
by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob!
The devil laughs at frenzied activities, all
done in fleshly enthusiasm and human
strength. Jesus was conceived by the
Spirit, anointed by the Spirit, led by the
Spirit, raised up by the Spirit, and He gave
us this Spirit from His Father. We have no
other pattern. Any day this ministry must
be clothed with the Spirit’s power. Let’s
not allow this tower to crumble. This is our
distinctive. We shall never grow tired of
singing that promise-cum-prayer hymn —
There shall be showers of blessing;
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
3
4. Joyful Worship and Prayer
Zech 2:7,10, “Up, Zion,… Sing and
rejoice, O daughter of Zion!”
14:17,18, “…Worship the King,
the Lord of hosts … keep the Feast of
Tabernacles.”
12:10, “I will pour on the house of
David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
the Spirit of grace and supplication.”
This ministry did not have its
beginning on pulpits or platforms but in
prayer closets and intercession chambers.
We started on our knees. We realized from
the beginning that the first secret of a
successful ministry is prayer; the second
secret is prayer; and again the third,
prayer. Because we used to gather in the
open-air near bushes, we were sometimes
called bush prayer cells! Yes we got our
vision before bushes, like Moses. After
the afternoon classes were over, we would
be on our knees alone with God from six
to seven and then gather for an hour of
meditation, praise and prayer. This was done
daily, and I rejoice to find this holy custom
being followed after 25 years by the present
batch of students in this Fellowship here in
Karaikudi. Our trousers must be torn at our
knees and not at our seat! Besides this daily
gathering, the hostellers would again gather
at late nights and we had weekly fasting
prayer on Sundays. Let’s beware of ending
in the flesh what was begun in the Spirit!
Away with all formalism! Let’s continue
to be hilarious worshippers, singing and
dancing!
5. Word of God
Zech 4:10, “These seven rejoice to see
the plumbline in the hand of Zerubbabel.
BLESSING / February 2019
These are the eyes of the Lord, which scan
to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
8:3, “Jerusalem shall be called the
City of Truth.”
I believe the plumb line in our hand
is the Holy Bible. The City of Truth is the
Church founded on the Rock of God’s Word.
We are to walk in truth, being constantly
checked and measured by God’s Word. We
have always maintained a balance between
prayer and Bible meditation. From the
beginning the Lord instilled in our hearts a
great love and desire to read and meditate
His Word. I remember my student days
when I always carried a pocket Testament
with me. I had to get my daily bread and
prepare food for others — those who would
assemble for the evening prayer! I was a
student pastor for five years (1963-1968)
in Karaikudi for the fellow students. I did
not start as a leader of a Mission but a
shepherd of a little flock. By the grace of
God I was faithful in my humble calling,
feeding the lambs of God, leading them
to green pastures in God’s Word. Moses
and David were shepherds before their
call to leadership. After me Brother Lionel
took over, and there has been a continuous
succession of leadership till now. Our
Mission among all the other Missions in
India is known for its solid teaching of
God’s Word, and I am proud to say that our
missionaries and lay leaders are provided
with more self-study aids to the Bible than
any other group of missionaries. We give
God the glory for this distinctive. The theme
of Revivo ’78 was, “It is written!”
6. Grace of Christ
Zech 4:7, “Who are you, O great
mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall
4
become a plain! And he shall bring forth
the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace
to it!’ ”
This speaks of the New Testament
blessings through Christ “the Branch!”
(3:8; 6:12,13; 9:9; 13:7). Here is prophecy
concerning Him as the Shepherd, High Priest
and Lord of the Church. One of the truths
we very often meditated in our evening
gatherings was our position in Christ. Dead
with Him! Buried with Him! Resurrected
with Him! Ascended with Him! Seated
with Him! Blessed with Him! ALL spiritual
blessings! Every day we would study a new
aspect of the difference between the Old
Testament and the New. The truth that the
Deity cannot be localized is yet to be learnt
by certain even senior and popular preachers
of today. “Neither on this mountain, nor in
Jerusalem” — This we learnt even in our
infant years. God has made a New Covenant
with us but people still want to embrace
the old and the obsolete. Why do preachers
invite prayer letters to be sent to a “holy”
mountain, so called? Why do evangelists
erect shrines on a “holy” spot, so called?
There is a crack-down on the understanding
of the basic New Testament teaching. Let’s
not try to stitch the top-to-bottom tear in
the veil! And in some quarters there is a
return to “works,” and folks are becoming
foolish Galatians. Beware! Say, “I cannot
come down!” (Blesso ’76). Keep shouting,
Grace! Grace! That’s victory! (The theme
of Revivo ’76: “His Grace”).
7. Spiritual Warfare
The oft-repeated name of our Lord
in the Book of Zechariah is the Lord of
Hosts. Next to the Book of Isaiah we have
the maximum occurrences of this name in
BLESSING / February 2019
this book only. For example, look at verses
3,4,6,12,14,17 of chapter one.
Again and again the Lord reminded
us not to underestimate the power of the
enemy. The experience of Satan is more than
any man or woman who lived at any time
on this planet earth. He is the prince of the
world and the prince of the air. Nothing but
the “whole” armour of God will protect us
from his onslaughts. The wisdom and the
power of the Holy Spirit alone can detect his
evil and subtle plans against God’s people.
When we used to deal with some young
people who had gone to depths of sin, we
had a tough time against the oppressing
forces of Satan. After hours of intercession
for certain individuals to be delivered from
ungodly grips, some of us could not sleep
well at nights. All such experiences led us
to carefully study the strategies of Satan as
revealed to us in God’s Word so we could
be fully armed. Ephesians 6:10-20 was
meditated very often. Young believers were
asked to memorize verses like 1 John 4:4. A
fresh shout of victory would be there while
praying or praising whenever someone in
the gathering addressed the Lord as the
Lord of Hosts! Do you remember this was
the theme we studied in Blesso ’86?
8. Youth Emphasis
Zech 2:4, “Run, speak to this young
man, saying: Jerusalem shall be inhabited
as towns without walls, because of the
multitude of men and livestock in it.”
8:5, “The streets of the city shall be
full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”
9:17, “How great is their goodness
and how great their beauty! Grain shall
make the young men thrive, and new wine
the young women.”
5
 The greatest failure of the Church is
in attracting and challenging young people.
Age is no criterion for God but we cannot
overlook the many examples of youth
singularly used by Him. Joseph, David,
Daniel, Timothy! There is a special place
for young men and young women in
the end time outpouring of God’s Spirit
(Joel 2:28). “Dreams” are for the old, but
“visions” for the young! Solomon the wisest
preacher addressed young people so often in
his writings. John wrote his Epistles when
he was probably over ninety. He did not
fail to address young people specifically (1
Jn 2:13, 14). It is true young people make
mistakes. For that matter who does not?
We praise God that youth and students
constitute the core of this ministry. I
am sorry I am not a teenager, but I am
happy I am 42 years (1988) young! It is
never a waste when we invest our time
and life on young people. Several of you
dear families are joining this Students’
Fellowship for worship and ministry, and
I am glad you accept the leadership of the
youth willingly. By giving this privilege
and opportunity to young people, you are
sending leaders into this world. Lionel
is a senior Engineer in the Government.
Sekar is a building contractor and
part-time pastor. Lakshmanakumar is
a senior technical officer in a Bank.
Ramamoorthy is in the Indian Foreign
Service. Nearly 80 Engineering graduates
have gone out from this college as committed
believers and leaders over these 25 years.
There is a sphere of influence around each of
them in public life. The earth is being filled
with the knowledge of the Lord! (The theme
of Blesso ’72: “Now David!”)
BLESSING / February 2019
9. Team Work
Zech 3:8, “Hear, O Joshua, the high
priest, you and your companions who sit
before you, for they are a wondrous sign.”
7:10, “Let none of you plan evil in his
heart against his brother.”
8:17, “Let none of you think evil in
your heart against your neighbour.”
There is no superstar among us. We
are all companions, comrades, colleagues
or coworkers. Even God calls us coworkers
with Him. And Jesus calls us His brothers.
We are joint-heirs with Him. We were
convinced from the beginning that only
a team work can accomplish things for
God. Daniel and his team! Joshua and
his team! Paul and his team! In 1965 we
needed a name for follow-up purposes. I
do not know how many of you remember
our first name? “Gospel Team!” That’s it.
When we launched out our public ministry
on a wider scale in 1971 we called ourselves
an Association. Now since 1987, to be
more specific we call it a Mission. It’s true
God gives special grace and enablement
to certain individuals for special task but
they should always hide themselves and
project the cause, not their name. This is
how team spirit can be maintained. In the
spiritual circles we see exactly the opposite.
Dear young people, don’t learn that stuff.
We don’t want superstars in Christian
ministries. There will be utter confusion
after them!
10. Evangelistic Outreach
Zech 6:8, “See, those who go toward
the North Country have given rest to My
Spirit in the North Country.”
6:12, “From His place He shall
6
branch out, and He shall build the temple
For Contribution
of the Lord.”
All those who want to send their offerings
8:23, “In those days ten men from to BYM, please note the following
every language of the nations shall grasp accounts’ details. When you transfer
the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, Let us any amount online, do send an email to
go with you, for we have heard that God is hq@bymonline.org stating the purpose.
with you.” Home & NRE donors
9:6, “I will cut off the pride of the Name : Blessing Youth Mission
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9:16, “His people shall be like the Bank: State Bank of India
jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over Branch Name : Siruthozhil,
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over all the earth. In that day it shall be — IFSC No: SBIN0007274
The Lord is one, and His name one!” Overseas Donors
Revival, Holiness, Anointing, Name : Blessing Youth Mission
Worship, Bible, Grace, Warfare, Youth A/c No. 1074703964
Emphasis, Team Spirit – All these nine Bank: Central Bank of India
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tongue confesses that “Jesus is Lord!”—TO A/c Name : T. Prince Stachys Ravindran
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Take this promise with you while you
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have laid the foundation of this temple; His IFSC No : SBIN0007274
hands shall also finish it!” (Zech 4:9). What (You can also use our ONLINE
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1960s. “Who has despised the day of small
Do not miss the revival
things?” (Zech 4:10). Only we should not
forget these towers but keep counting and messages in Tamil that
considering them always “that we may tell we air in the Sathiyam TV
it to the generation following!” Thanks to every Wednesday
Zechariah for conducting this tour for us! 5:30 AM - 6:00 AM.
BLESSING / February 2019 7
 Am I Addicted to my Smartphone?
1. Do you find yourself spending more time on your smartphone than
you realize?
2. Do you find yourself mindlessly passing time on a regular basis by
staring at your smartphone even though there might be better or more
productive things to do?
3. Do you seem to lose track of time when on your cell phone?
4. Do you find yourself spending more time texting, tweeting, or emailing as opposed to
talking to real-time people?
5. Has the amount of time you spend on your cell phone been increasing?
6. Do you secretly wish you could be a little less wired or connected to your cell phone?
7. Do you sleep with your smartphone on or under your pillow or next to your bed
regularly?
8. Do you find yourself viewing and answering texts, tweets, and emails at all hours of
the day and night, even when it means interrupting other things you are doing?
9. Do you text, email, tweet, or surf the internet while driving or doing other similar
activities that require your focused attention and concentration?
10. Do you feel your use of your cell phone actually decreases your productivity at times?
11. Do you feel reluctant to be without your smartphone, even for a short time?
12. When you leave the house, you ALWAYS have your smartphone with you and you
feel ill-at-ease or uncomfortable when you accidentally leave your smartphone in the car
or at home, or you have no service, or it is broken?
13. When you eat meals, is your cell phone always part of the table place setting?
14. When your phone rings, beeps, buzzes, do you feel an intense urge to check for texts,
tweets, or emails, updates, etc.?
15. Do you find yourself mindlessly checking your phone many times a day even when
you know there is likely nothing new or important to see?
This self-assessment will give an indication of how far you have been addicted to
smartphone. If the addiction is strong, (If your answer is ‘yes’ to more than 10 questions)
then the readers are requested to seek spiritual counsel.
- Selected
BLESSING / February 2019 8
 The Responsibility For Revival
Oswald J. Smith
As far back as I can remember my
heart has burned within me whenever I
have heard or read accounts of the mighty
work of God in the great Revivals of past
years. The heroic missionaries of the cross
in foreign lands, and the lonely men of
God in the home field around whom these
gracious Visitations have centered, have
always been a source of untold inspiration to
my life. David Brainerd, Adoniram Judson,
Charles G. Finney, Robert McCheyne –
these and many others have been my bosom
companions and friends. I have watched
them, listened to them, lived with them,
until I have almost felt the spirit of the
atmosphere in which they moved. Their
trials and hardships, their prayers and
tears; their joys and sorrows, their glorious
triumphs and victorious achievements have
thrilled my very soul until I have fallen
down upon my face and exclaimed with
the prophet of old: “Oh, that Thou wouldst
rend the heavens, and that Thou wouldst
come down!”
The Great Awakening of the 18th
century under John Wesley, the stirring
Irish Manifestation of 1859, the glorious
American Visitation in the 19th century
under Charles G. Finney, and in our own
day the mighty Welsh Revival of 1904-
05–Manifestations such as these have been
my meat and drink for years past. I have
heard again the uncontrollable sob and
groan of the convicted, the exceeding bitter
cry of the penitent, and the unspeakable
expressions of joy of the delivered. And I
have sighed within myself for another such
Manifestation of God’s presence and power.
From my boyhood it has been my
delight to read more or less of God’s work
BLESSING / February 2019
along these lines, but lately I have been led
to lay all else aside and to literally devour
everything I could lay hands on regarding
Revival work. And as I studied the lives
of those whom God has used all down
the centuries, especially the labors of the
Puritans, the early Methodists and others of
later years, and saw how wonderfully they
were owned of Him – how they worked
for, expected and got what they sought – I
was compelled to admit that I saw nothing
like it today either in my own ministry or in
the ministry of others. The average church
does not aim at, let alone get, results. Men
preach and never even dream of anything
happening. Oh, how far away we have
drifted! How powerless we have become!
It is reported that there were 7,000
churches that did not win a single soul for
Jesus Christ in an entire year. That means
that 7,000 ministers preached the Gospel for
a whole year without reaching even one lost
soul. Supposing that they preached, putting
it at a low average, on 40 Sundays, not
including extra meetings, that would mean
that these 7,000 ministers preached 560,000
sermons in a single year. Think of the work,
the labor, the money expended in salaries,
etc., to make this possible. And yet 560,000
sermons preached by 7,000 ministers in
7,000 churches to tens of thousands of
hearers during a period of twelve months,
failed to bring a single soul to Christ.
Now, my brethren, there is something
radically wrong somewhere. There is
either something the matter with these
7,000 ministers or else with their 560,000
sermons, or with both.
In reading over the Twelve Rules of
9
the Early Methodist church I was struck
with the fact that they aimed at and looked
upon soul-winning as their supreme task.
Let me quote from one of them: “You have
nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore
spend and be spent in this work. It is not
your business to preach so many times; but
to save as many souls as you can; to bring
as many sinners as you possibly can to
repentance, and with all your power to build
them up in that holiness, without which they
cannot see the Lord.” (From “The Twelve
Rules”– John Wesley).
The practical application of this rule
is demonstrated in the life of Bramwell one
of their most remarkable men. “He was not,
as the words are commonly understood, a
great preacher. But if that man is the best
physician who performs the most cures, that
is the best preacher who is the instrument
of bringing the greatest number of souls to
God; and in this view Mr. Bramwell will
be entitled to rank amongst the greatest
and best Christian ministers” (Memoir of
Bramwell).
John Oxtoby was so used of God that
he was able to say - “I am witnessing daily
the conversion of sinners, I seldom go out
but God gives me some fruit.”
It was said of John Smith, one of
their most wonderfully anointed men and
the spiritual father of thousands, that “he
ceased to estimate all preaching, and indeed
all ministerial labor except as it produced
saving effects. “I am determined by the
grace of God to aim at souls,” he exclaimed.
‘A minister of the Gospel is sent to turn
men from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan to God!’ Of that species of
preaching which only produced intellectual
pleasure, he had a holy abhorrence. Nothing
can be more characteristic of the man than
BLESSING / February 2019
his remark to a friend, on sermons in which
power of intellect or imagination is almost
exclusively predominant - “They achieve
nothing, Sir” (Taken from Life of John
Smith).
“If your hearts be not set on the end of
your labors, and you do not long to see the
conversion and edification of your hearers,
and do not study and preach in hope, you
are not likely to see much fruit of it. It is an
ill sign of a false, self-seeking heart, that
can be content to be still doing, and see no
fruit of their labor” (From the writings of
Richard Baxter).
Then I compared the results of my
ministry with the promises of God. In
Jeremiah 23:29, I read: “Is not My Word like
a Fire, saith the Lord; and like a Hammer
that breaketh the rock in pieces?” And in
Ephesian 6:17, “The Sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God.” But the more I
pondered over it, the more I was convinced
that in my ministry the Word of God was
not a Fire, a Hammer, and a Sword. It did
not burn, break and pierce. There was no
execution. Hebrews 4:12, declares that “the
Word of God is quick and powerful, and
sharper than any two edged sword, piercing
even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is
a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart.”
I had never seen it so. John Wesley saw
it. John Smith was a constant observer of it.
David Brainerd witnessed its sharpness; but
I did not. “So shall My Word be that goeth
forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to
me void, but it shall accomplish that which
I please, and it shall prosper in the thing
whereto I sent it” (Isa 55:11). And I knew
that this wonderful promise had not been
fulfilled in my preaching. I had no evidence
10
such as Paul, Bramwell and Charles G.
Finney that it did not return void many
and many a time. And I had a right to the
evidence. Was it any wonder that I began
to challenge my preaching?
And not only my preaching, but my
prayer life as well. This also had to be
challenged and tested by the outcome. And
I was forced to admit that the confident
assertion of Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto Me,
and I will answer thee, and show thee great
and mighty things, which thou knowest
not,” was not realized in my experience.
The “great and mighty things” were
almost daily witnessed by Evan Roberts,
Jonathan Goforth and others, but not by
me. My prayers were not definitely and
daily answered. Hence, John 14:13-14,
“Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that
will I do,” and “If ye shall ask anything in
My name, I will do it,” was not real in my
case. To me these promises were not vital
since I asked for many things that I did not
receive, and this was not according to the
promise.
Thus I came to realize that there was
something radically wrong with my prayer-
life. And in reading the autobiography of
Charles G. Finney, I found that he, too,
had experienced the same failure. “I was
particularly struck,” he relates, “with the
fact that the prayers that I had listened
to, from week to week, were not, that I
could see, answered. Indeed, I understood
from their utterances in prayer, and from
other remarks in their meetings, that those
who offered them did not regard them as
answered.
“They exhorted each other to wake up
and be engaged, and to pray earnestly for
a revival of religion, asserting that if they
did their duty, prayed for the outpouring
BLESSING / February 2019
of the Spirit, and were in earnest, that the
Spirit of God would be poured out, that they
would have a revival of religion, and that
the impenitent would be converted. But in
their prayers and conference meetings they
would continually confess, substantially,
that they were making no progress in
securing a revival of religion.
This inconsistency, the fact that they
prayed so much and were not answered,
was a sad stumbling block to me. I knew
not what to make of it. It was a question in
my mind whether I was to understand that
these persons were not truly Christians. and
therefore did not prevail with God; or did I
misunderstand the promises and teachings
of the Bible on this subject, or was I to
conclude that the Bible was not true? Here
was something inexplicable to me, and it
seemed, at one time, that it would almost
drive me into scepticism. It seemed to me
that the teachings of the Bible did not at all
accord with the facts which were before
my eyes.
On one occasion, when I was in the
prayer meeting. I was asked if I did not
desire that they should pray for me. I told
them no, because I did not see that God
answered their prayers. I said, ‘I suppose
I need to be prayed for, for I am conscious
that I am a sinner; but I do not see that it
will do any good for you to pray for me; for
you are continually asking, but you do not
receive. You have been praying for a revival
of religion ever since I have been in Adams,
and yet you have it not.’”
When John Wesley concluded his
message he cried to God to “confirm His
Word,” to “set to His Seal,” and to “bear
witness to His Word.” And God did. Sinners
were stricken immediately, and began to cry
for mercy under fearful conviction of sin,
11
and soon after, in a moment they were set
at liberty, and filled with unspeakable joy in
the knowledge of a present Salvation.
Such was also the experience of the
Early Church. “Now when they heard this
they were pricked in their hearts, and said
unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles,
men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts
2:37), “Long time therefore abode they
speaking boldly in the name of the Lord,
which gave testimony unto the Word of His
grace, and granted signs and wonders to
be done by their hands” (Acts 14:3).They
prayed “that signs and wonders” might
“be done” (Acts 4:30). And Paul declared
that the Gospel is “the power of God unto
Salvation” (Rom 1:16). Yet all this was
utterly foreign to my work.
In the Irish Revival of 1859, “signs
and wonders” were seen on every side.
Among the Early Methodists they were of
daily occurrence. But with me the Gospel
was not “the power of God unto Salvation.”
God did not “confirm His Word,” “set to
His seal,” or “bear witness to His Word,”
when I preached. And I knew I had the
right to expect it for Jesus Himself had
given the promise. “The works that I do,”
He declared, “shall ye do also and greater
works than these shall ye do” (John 14:12).
Then one day I read the Acts of the
Apostles to find out if God’s servants in
the Early Church got results wherever they
went. And I found as I read that they aimed
at, worked for, expected, and never failed
to get fruit. Peter preached on the day of
Pentecost and 3,000 responded to that first
appeal. There was a definite Outcome. With
Paul it was the same. Follow him from place
to place, and wherever he goes churches
spring up. See how repeatedly the results
are noted throughout the book. “They were
BLESSING / February 2019
added unto them about 3,000 souls” (2:41),
“Many of them which heard the Word
believed, and turned unto the Lord” (11:2),
“Much people was added unto the Lord”
(11: 24), “A great multitude believed” (11:
1), “Some believed, of the devout Greeks a
great multitude, and of the chief women not
a few” (17:4), “Many believed.” (17:34)
“Some believed” (28:24). And Paul was
able to declare “what things God had
wrought by His Ministry” (21: 19).
Oh, how far short I fell! How fearfully
I had failed! failed in the very thing for
which God had called me into the Ministry.
How seldom I could write after having
preached that “a great number believed and
turned unto the Lord,” or even that “some
believed.” Nor was it possible for me to
declare with Paul “what things God had
wrought by my Ministry.”
God clearly and emphatically states
that it is His will that every servant of His
should bear fruit. “I have chosen you and
ordained you” he affirms, “that ye should
go and bring forth fruit” (John 15:16). Too
long was I content to sow and evangelize,
using the excuse that I left the results with
God, thinking I had then done my duty.
When people are saved and greatly blessed
they will say so, and if they don’t there is
reason to doubt the reality of an outcome.
George Whitefield sometimes received
hundreds of letters after he had preached
telling of blessing and conversions.
“Go into the public assembly with a
design to strike, and persuade some souls
there, into repentance and salvation. Go to
open blind eyes, to unstop deaf ears, to make
the lame walk, to make the foolish wise,
to raise those that are dead in trespasses
and sins to a Heavenly and Divine life, and
to bring guilty rebels to return to the love
12
and obedience of their Maker, by Christ
Jesus the great Reconciler, that they may
be pardoned and saved. Go to diffuse the
saviour of Christ and His gospel through
a whole assembly and to allure souls to
partake of His grace and glory” (From the
writings of Dr. Watts).
There are men who feel they have
special talents for the edification of believers,
and so they give themselves entirely to
building up Christians in the Faith. This
was where I was side-tracked. I felt that I
had special gifts for teaching and speaking
to young Christians on the Deeper Life, and
so I prepared a number of addresses with the
idea of devoting my time to this work, until
God mercifully opened my eyes and showed
me how far I was astray. There is nothing
that will deepen Christian experience, edify
believers and build them up in the Faith
so rapidly and thoroughly as seeing souls
saved. Deep Holy Spirit meetings where
the power of God is working mightily in
the conviction and Salvation of sinners will
do more for Christians than the teaching of
years without it. Such was the experience
of David Brainerd. In writing of the Indians
among whom he labored he says, “Many
of these people have gained more doctrinal
knowledge of Divine truths since I have first
visited them in June last, than could have
been instilled into their minds by the most
diligent use of proper and instructive means
for whole years together, without such a
Divine influence.”
An incident is related of Bramwell:
“Several local preachers,” it states, “had
said that their talents were not to awaken
and arouse careless and impenitent sinners,
but to build up believers in the Faith.
Mr. Bramwell endeavoured to prove that
such reasoning was frequently used as an
apology, for the loss of the life and powers
BLESSING / February 2019
of God. That although some preachers
might have a peculiar talent for comforting
and edifying believers, yet that Christ’s
true servants, those whom He sent into His
vineyard, could do all sorts of work. They
could plough, dig, plant, sow, water, etc.,
and he earnestly entreated the preachers
not to be satisfied without seeing the
fruit of their labors, in the awakening and
conversion of sinners.”
“The building up of believers in their
most Holy Faith was a principal object
of Mr. Smith’s ministry; but he never
considered this species of labor successful,
except as its results were indicated in the
conversions of sinners. He most certainly
and perfectly edifies believers who is most
ardently and scripturally laborious for the
conversion of sinners”(Life of John Smith).
Work among believers of itself will
not suffice. It matters not how spiritual a
church may profess to be, if souls are not
saved something is radically wrong, and
the professed spirituality is simply a false
experience, a delusion of the devil. People
who are satisfied to meet together simply
to have a good time among themselves, are
far away from God. Real spirituality always
has an Outcome. There will be a yearning
and a love for souls. We have gone to places
that have a name of being very deep and
spiritual, and have often found that it was
all in the head, the heart was unmoved;
and there was, not infrequently, hidden sin
somewhere. “Having a form of Godliness
but denying the power thereof.”
Oh, the pathos of it all! Let us then
challenge our spirituality and ask what it
produces; for nothing less than a genuine
Revival in the Body of Christ resulting in
a true Awakening among the unsaved will
ever satisfy the heart of God.
13
 Zimri & Cozbi
A love story
Zimri was his name. His name meant, “my praise”,
“my music”. He was the son of a leader of the tribe
of Simeon. The Israelites were on their way to the
promised land – Canaan. They had just encamped
at Shittim. This new place seemed enchanting for
Zimri. As he started to wander, his eyes fell on Cozbi,
the daughter of a tribal chief of the Midianites.
Zimri forgot that he was an Israelite. He never realised that a Hebrew cannot marry
a non-Hebrew, that he is a holy race and that God will not share His Glory with others.
Zimri was not the only one to falter. Many more were involved. So maybe he thought,
‘Everybody does it. So why not I?’ God’s anger was kindled. The plague had started to
wreak havoc. He was so enthralled by Cozbi that he failed to see the plague that was
sweeping across the camp because of their sin. Lost in love, he walks in with Cozbi, in
the full sight of the mourning assembly. Being children of prominent people, they might
have thought that nobody could question them. So they decided to cross the line. Love
knows no limits!!?? For Zimri and Cozbi, everything seemed perfect for a fairy tale ending.
But, his brazenness was countered by Phinehas’ zeal. Perhaps, Phinehas was driven
by a different kind of love. He was passionate for God’s glory. His spear drove through
both of them, just like we notice in the symbol of contemporary love. The wrath of God
was quenched. The plague stopped! (Num 25)
Dear friends, the devil doesn’t put on a black dress to look scary. He knows our
weakness and uses the right bait. At the forefront, all may seem conducive and so promising
just as it was for Zimri. Good social status, charming, well qualified… Why, even the
society may support you! But, you can never be yoked with an unbeliever (2 Cor 6:14-16).
To put it in plain terms, YOU CANNOT MARRY AN UNBELIEVER. Today people call
themselves as Christians, but being a believer is altogether different.
The Bible has been given to us to teach, rebuke and correct us (2 Tim 3:16). Whenever
we see the love symbol, let us remember Zimri and Cozbi – how they were speared to
death. Let us learn from them. Let us not be carried away by lust and incite God’s wrath
on us. Zimri yielded to the lust of his eyes and the lust of his flesh. This made him lose
what God had kept in store for him.
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And
let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” (Heb 12:1). Let us stay focused
in our track and win the prize. The adage, “All that glitters is not gold”, holds true. Let
us not be distracted, run off-track and miss that which God has kept in store for us. Let
us run to win.
- Jerisha Melbin, Missionary, Chennai
BLESSING / February 2019 14
 Candles In The Night
(Testimonies of Native Missionaries)
Gopi Bagh was born in a remote village in Odisha. He was born
out of second wedlock of his mother. Even before his birth his life took
a miserable turn. His mother was not even given proper food. Many
times, she used to sleep with an empty stomach. One day when Gopi
was still in his mother’s womb, his father beat his mother and kicked
her in the stomach. He left her in the jungles. Miraculously the fetus
survived. Gopi’s mother did not have a choice. She had no one to turn to. She returned
home in spite of all this ill-treatment. She wanted the child and it was her only hope.
Gopi was born in such a tumultuous situation. He wanted to go to school. But poverty
stopped him. He grew up as a child labourer just to make a survival. He was married to
a girl named Subarna Nag at a very young age. Gopi did not have peace of heart and his
life seemed meaningless. So he resorted to drinking. But his mind was restless.
Finally he decided to take his life. He planned to kill himself by hanging on a tree.
On that very particular day, while he was going to kill himself, an old friend of him named
Tularam met him on the way. He was going to a prayer meeting in a particular village.
Tularam encouraged Gopi to come to that meeting. Gopi reluctantly agreed. Once they
reached the village, there was a prayer meeting going on. Missionary M.C. Ponniah was
sharing from God’s Word. He was speaking about life, death, Heaven and Hell. These strange
teachings inspired Gopi. He started to know more about Jesus Christ. Gopi accepted Jesus
as his personal Saviour. He passed on from death to life. Hallelujah!
Later on, his mother also accepted the Lord and they found that the life in Jesus was
a blessed one. In the year 1997, Gopi decided to work for the Lord and tell his friends and
relatives about the Lord Jesus Christ. Missionary Ponnusamy encouraged him and taught
many things from the Bible and about God’s ministry. He started visiting interior villages
along with the other workers like Hiron Khosla and Dhaneshwar Jena. God attested the
ministry of this humble servant by performing signs and miracles. Gopi was blessed with
the gift of healing. Whenever he used to pray for the sick, they were healed. Village after
village, he made inroads so that God’s work was spreading like a wild fire. God honoured
his labour and today there are more than ten churches established because of his ministry.
Since he was a native worker, financial help from the Mission was minimal. But God
who has called him is faithful. He did not even have a proper house to stay but through the
mercies of God, he secured help from the Government Housing Scheme. God has blessed
Gopi with three children. The elder son, Arun studied in the Blessing Children Home at
Ramagiri and finished his Higher Secondary. He is in the God’s work and is married. His
daughter, Martha is also married to a God’s servant. The other girl, Marium is also married.
His mother who had seen the rough side of life died at the age of 80.
Gopi still serves the Lord with minimum facilities. For him, the only job that he knew is
to serve the Lord. Even now, he visits not less than three villages a day. God sometimes takes
him to rare people groups because of his gifts. He also distributes tracts in the market place.
He was once beaten up in a village for preaching the Gospel. But like, Paul, he moves on.
“I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion
at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).
BLESSING / February 2019 15
 FIELD FRAGRANCE!
assam
➢ Christmas programmes were celebrated
in 3 places. A total of 260 people
participated and were blessed.
➢ 17 houses were visited in 4 villages
during Christmas.
andhra pradesh
➢ Christmas was celebrated among the
partners of Guntur, Kurnool, Ongole,
Vizianagram and Visakhapatnam.
➢ More than 500 New Testaments and
Gospel tracts were distributed to tourists
on 11th December by the Vizianagaram
team.
➢ Lay leaders have started a Police
Prayer Fellowship in a city. They meet
for Bible study and pray regularly. They
also initiated the Christmas programme
for Police personnel on 20th December.
Around 700 members from Police
Department attended.
➢ Praise God for the Youth Christmas
programme for non-Christians at a Hostel
where 22 youth were blessed by God’s
Word through missionary Saroj.
➢ Bro.Saroj shared God’s Word at
Hebron Church, CSI London Mission
BLESSING / February 2019
Memorial Church and at the Family Youth
Fellowship of BSI Christmas programme
at Visakhapatnam on 23rd December.
➢ “Ride for Jesus” Vijayawada Gospel
Outreach Programme was arranged on
24th December in which 28 villages were
reached. Gospel tracts, Bibles and blankets
were distributed to the poor & needy. This
programme was coordinated with the
help of 15 volunteers by the Lay State
Coordinator of Andhra, Mr. John Sunand.
SFJ teams of Guntur & Vijayawada
participated enthusiastically.
➢ 25th evening added colors to our
Vizianagaram office campus as neighbors
and slum children gathered to celebrate
Christmas. Around 50 were present. Our
Pondicherry coordinator Mr. Britto and
family participated in this function.
➢ “Blankets for Beggars” drive on
national highway was conducted on
December 24th. It was a blessed day for
the Vizianagaram team driving on the
highways in search of isolated beggars and
the marginalised of the society. We met at
least 40 of them between Vizianagaram to
Visakhapatnam. Shared the love of Christ
with blankets and fruits.
Pray
➢ Pastor Paul Suryanarayana Garu had his
homecall on 21st December. He was called
to ministry from Electricity Department
while working at Machkund, Odisha. He
continued to serve the Lord as the senior
Pastor of Jehovah Shammah Church,
16
Vizianagaram till he breathed his last. He
was a well-wisher of BYM.
chattisgarh
➢ God blessed the Bilaspur Youth team
Christmas programme. 35 young people
and 10 of our well wishers went to Asha
Bhawan, Mother Teresa Mentally Disabled
and Old Age Home. They visited and spent
time with people, shared the Gospel and
distributed 125 towels to them. They also
performed special programmes for them.
➢ Missionary Carol Service was held at
Bhilai. Our partners visited 215 families
on this occasion.
➢ Christmas was celebrated for the first
time in 3 of our village churches. A total of
130 believers were blessed.
➢ 55 New Testaments and Gospel packets
were distributed in a Christmas rally.
➢ 11 were added to His Kingdom.
➢ 2 new tribal children’s education
sponsorships were raised.
➢ Prof. Robinson’s (District Coordinator)
daughter, Sangeet Shikha joined hands in
marriage with Badal on 28th December.
Pray
➢ Pray for the healing of Ganga Laxmi
Prasad (Cancer); Missionary Christodas &
Mrs. Ramana (Blocks in heart valve) and
Padman Bagh(Paralysis).
karnataka
➢ One of our Jamkhandi Church believers
shared the love of Christ by distributing
saris to 12 widows on Christmas occasion.
BLESSING / February 2019
➢ 3 obeyed the Lord.
➢ Missionary Pawar had the opportunity
to share in an Open Christmas Programme
at Bagalkot arranged by Zoe Ministries.
350 heard the gospel.
➢ SFJ boy’s team from Hubli presented
gifts to our believers at Kathur on 18th of
Dec, 150 blessed by the Word of God.
➢ Alnavar SFJ boys shared the love of
Christ to 18 widows by presenting warm
clothes at Saundatti on 26th December.
➢ Christmas Programmes were celebrated
in 45 places in our fields. 7,590 participated
and were blessed.
maharashtra
➢ Christmas programmes were organized
in 10 villages. A total of 2567 people were
blessed.
➢ Christmas outreach was organized in
Vasai beach on 23rd December. A team of
believers walked on the beach, singing and
presenting the Gospel through action songs.
More than 500 tracts were distributed.
Dr. Subhash Waghmare shared God’s
Word.
odisha
➢ Praise God that Christmas programmes
were organized in 158 Churches in which
12,597 received the message of the Gospel.
➢ For the first time Christmas was
organized among Gond tribe in which 550
attended.
17

➢ Christmas function was organized in
the slum area in Rayagada in which 45
children received the Gospel. Even the
remote villages were presented with the
Gospel of Christ.
➢ Family Joy Meet was held at
Visakhapatnam for partner families
of Nabarangpur and Koraput districts.
Missionary couple Ruth and Manivannan
and Pastor Asish Abraham were the
resource persons in which 34 families
participated.
➢ Sarodapalli believers celebrated
Christmas amidst persecution.
➢ Youth Meet at Balimela was a blessing
to 80.
➢ Kedar, Rahas, Shakti, Jogi, Kholi, Ullas
came to the Lord.
Pray
➢ Pray for the bereaved family of Joshna
(35) who entered Glory leaving behind her
husband and 3 children.
➢ Pray for the healing of Rebekka whose
leg is fractured in an accident.
➢ For the healing of Mindu who is in the
last stage of Tuberculosis.
➢ New contacts - Gouri, Bistu, Bisnu,
Bijaya, Ashu, Mulya, Betru, Bursha and
Ratna family.
➢ For the health of our missionaries
Kailash Nag who is suffering from spinal
problem and Abhimonyi Bhatra whose
haemoglobin level is low.
BLESSING / February 2019
punjab
➢ Christmas program was conducted on
14th December for Agriculture University
students in which 14 young people attended
at Ludhiana.
➢ A special Christmas program was
conducted for rickshaw pullers on 27th at
Jalandhar. About 30 rickshaw pullers heard
the Gospel for the first time.
➢ Christmas programme was organized in
a village in which 60 were blessed.
➢ 20 people heard the Good News of
Jesus Christ in a meeting organized by
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar.
rajasthan
➢ Christmas programmes were conducted
in 11 places through which 2380 people
heard the Good News of Christ.
➢ Anil got a suitable life-partner.
➢ God protected our believers Dinesh,
Kissen from accident.
➢ Our believers Akash and Lalchand got
Government jobs.
➢ New contacts - Shivasaran, Santhosh,
Prem, Narendra, Kamla, Rajesh, Shersingh.
18
 ➢ Sohanlal was healed from TB, Nancy
from Pneumonia and Nathulal from piles.
➢ Pangli and Kama were delivered from
the clutches of evil spirit.
➢ 25 were blessed in a Widow’s Meeting.
➢ Ashok from Anguliapada accepted
Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour
Pray
➢ Shanthlal and Komal to be saved.
➢ Umesh to get a good job.
➢ Ajay and Sharmila to be delivered from
evil spirit.
➢ For the sick - Devi (Liver problem);
Anil (Low blood count); Narayan (Cancer);
Santhosh (Bone disease); Eshwar (Renal
colic) and Rasnu (TB).
➢ Sanjiv, Ramesh and Vinod to give up
drinking.
➢ Nirmala to know Christ.
telangana
➢ On 22nd December 2018, Partners’
Christmas was celebrated in Bheemaram.
Pastor Moses shared the Word in which 55
attended.
➢ 15 Erukala tribe people were presented
with the Gospel of Christ.
tamil nadu field
➢ Christmas programmes were organized
in 28 villages in which 5120 people were
blessed.
uttar pradesh
➢ God enabled the missionaries to
BLESSING / February 2019
organize Christmas programme for
“Sehariah” community for the first time.
Praise God for the opening.
➢ They also had 11 small programmes in
which 1175 attended.
➢ On 25th they organized Christmas
programme in a village where 850 people
gathered. And on 27th Christmas was
celebrated in another village in which 500
participated.
Pray
➢ For a church to be built in a village
where the land has been purchased for it.
➢ For temporary worship sheds which we
need in 2 villages.
➢ Guddi to be healed from skin disease.
Also for Gokul to be healed from knee pain
and his wife to be healed from paralysis.
➢ Angoori is childless for 20 years. Pray
for a miracle.
➢ Gendhari, Ananthram and Kamode to
be delivered from evil spirit.
west bengal
➢ The Good News of Jesus Christ was
presented to 647 people in 17 different
villages.
KEY PERSONS FAMILY MEET
VIJAYAWADA 27-28, Dec 2018
48 partners along with 17 children
were blessed at the Key Persons Family
Meet at Vijayawada. For the first time this
was planned with missionary families of
Andhra and Telangana. The messages
were shared by Mr. Vasanth & Mrs.
Praneeta Vasanth from RWB Family
Ministries, Mr. P.G.A. Victor and Mr.
Needhidasan from BYM. The staff from
Scripture Union handled the children’s
session. Thank you for your prayers.
19