BULLETIN FOR NOVEMBER/DEC 2016

Article 1
Welcome!
Good morning to all. We are so glad that you are here today and believe that you will know God’s incredible love
for you and His desire to do you good.

What a month of blessing & favour! House groups continue to go from strength to strength with news of dinners
and picnics coming in. Friendships have grown and a new maturity in the word seems visible just hearing the
reports of exciting bible discussions in each group. So get planted in a house group quickly, just in case you do not
belong to any as yet.

The special offering totalled Rs 4,57,462/-. WELL DONE church! We have already been able to give to Regions
Beyond, Asha and the U.P. work besides keeping aside an amount for help within the church. And do not forget
the vision given to Emmanuel, that two treasure ships are on the way to us. Expect blessing now, and continue to
live as a giving person.

There’s also a buzz amongst the youth – they frequently gather on Sundays to play football at Manori. Another
encouraging regular occurrence is two see two groups giving themselves to study the Word with Stephan and
Nanhe. Besides, it’s wonderful to see many more young people being released on Sundays as well.

The happiest place on earth is the church! So bring your friends and family along!

Article 2
CULTIVATE THE ENVIRONMENT within YOUR BOUNDARIES… Donald
God places man within specific geographical boundaries

As we’ve been going through Genesis, the Lord drew my mind to the verse in Genesis 2:8 – The Lord
planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. The Lord planted
and placed man in a very specific location.

At this point a question popped into my mind: God had given man a mandate to rule the world and
subdue it. Then why was God placing man within the confines of a specific boundary?

Reflecting on this, I believe God has shown me things that will help us.

God reaches the world – by enlarging our borders

Jabez prayed, “Oh that You would bless me and enlarge my borders!”

I realized that as we strengthen the borders within which we live God blesses us and enlarges our
borders to yield a greater sphere of influence & fulfil His mandate to affect all nations. This seems to
be God’s way you change and grow and as you do so you will become a blessing to many & as your
borders grow, so God’s kingdom expands.

Called to “cultivate” & strengthen the “environment” of our geographic boundaries

We saw earlier that Eden was a place of God’s blessing; the environment demonstrated the favour and
presence of God and its overflow.
The geographic boundary in which God places us is not the issue – we need to cultivate the favour and
Presence of God into the environment of where we are placed. After man sinned the environment
changed with disorder of every kind.

In order to see an “Eden-like” or “kingdom of God” atmosphere we need to recognize certain

boundaries the environment of which we must strengthen… (1) the Spiritual (2) the Relational and (3)
The Physical. And we must cultivate these environments.

You will have noticed that in Eden, God placed man into a specific location but to be in relationship
with Him, which implies that all our life’s boundaries whatever they may be are in relation to him.

God Himself has no limits or boundaries as Acts 17:24–28 says. But God has put us in boundaries as Acts
17:26 says – “And he has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the
earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.”

But why has God put us in these boundaries. Verse 27 says- “So that they should seek the LORD (men,
women and Children will find God within the boundaries we & they live. So what we do within our
boundaries is very critical. Let’s look at how we should handle our borders.

1. Spiritual Boundaries/Environment

The first and foremost aspect of any boundary is Spiritual i.e. we are to live spiritual lives devoted
and subjected to the Lordship of Jesus. We are to live out God’s purposes for our lives according to
His will, plan and commands.

 (1) Connecting with God is a border that must be in place. Genesis shows that Adam walked
with God daily. Without this Adam could not function. God beckons us to encounter Him through
prayer & worship and hearing Him speak from His word. Too often Christians ignore the most
vital part of their lives – their relationship with God. And their borders are stuck. They cannot
pray like Jabez “O that You would enlarge my borders!”

 (2) Handling difficult circumstances – We cannot live lives blaming our circumstances. We see
suffering as an opportunity to hold fast to God and rise above the situation. This is why James
tells us to “consider it pure joy whenever we face sufferings and trials of many kinds.”

We are not like those who do not have God. So we must know “if God be for us then who or
what can be against us?” God needs us to handle this spiritual boundary well i.e. get to the
place where you can rejoice through your suffering and endure hardship and realize that it is an
opportunity from God to work a great issue of character and faith in your life.

 (3) Sin & keeping commandments – Too often Christians use the “grace” card to fool around
with sin because they say they are under grace. But on the contrary the bible tells us in Tit 2:11-
12 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say
"No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in
this present age…”
This is another spiritual border that we must take heed of. Let’s be men and women who
demonstrate that we have indeed received the grace of God by putting sin away.

 (4) Promises – Do not ignore the promises of God that He has given you and what He has given
the church to which you belong. Paul tells this to Timothy in 1Ti 1:18,19 “Timothy, my son, I am
giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by
 recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which
some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”
Promises is a vital border to tend to. Always keep them burning in your heart.

2. Relational Boundaries/Environment

Boundaries have a relational aspect. And in Genesis we see God did not place Adam alone in the
Garden of Eden but he gave him a companion and a plurality by placing Eve alongside him. Our lives
cannot be lived out alone and in solitude but must be lived out together along with those God puts
alongside us. Our job therefore is to work together in harmony to help nurture and cultivate one
another. We are to do this with love and mutual respect, recognizing no matter what we think of
one another we all belong to God and each one is accountable for the other. Like Cain, We cannot
say: “Am I my brothers’ keeper?” because we are our brothers’ keeper!

Keep your relational boundaries well - Your Spouse, Children, parents, church people, your
Neighbours… Becaue of the vritual world, God-given relationship boundaries given to us for our
mutual protection and well-being are fast becoming non-existent.

Relationships must be within God-given boundaries, not live-in relationships that avoid the pain of
commitment in marriage. Younger gen, respect the older folk. Older gen, don’t control the younger
enthusiasm around.

Nobody should play around with unforgiveness & bitterness. Put your relational border in place.

3. Physical Boundaries/Environment

Let’s recognize we also live in a physical world with very real and physical boundaries which we
must learn to “work and cultivate” because this is God’s will for us. Genesis2:15 – Then the Lord
God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend (work) and cultivate it.

It is God’s intent that we live fruitful and purposeful lives but He places a part of that responsibility
on us. We are to work and cultivate all that God gives us. We do not sit waiting for fruit to drop into
our laps because God promised it.

We are given physical environments to work at in office… home… neighbourhoods… school/college …

church…

How do we do this?

1. Learn to be faithful in the things God expects you to do in each of these spheres e.g. Doing
house work, keeping you home clean & presentable. Being faithful at work working better than
anyone else because you’re not working for the boss alone, but for God. Your Church – BE
PLANTED - look to serve in Church, not just be a Sunday Church goer

2. Touching on WORK… don’t sit at home because jobs are offering salaries below your
expectation. Work because God wants you to and God will take care of your needs.

CONCLUSION – “All promises are subject” to how we work our environments

It is time to restore EDEN (the Kingdom of God) in our lives & on the earth as well. Jesus came saying
“The Kingdom of God is at hand” and many lives were changed.
If you commit to work on your boundaries and the environment in these areas, then God will enlarge
your borders, and the earth will be affected.

And God will hear your prayer like that of Jabez “O that You will bless me and enlarge my borders!”
and you will know like the psalmist of Psalm 16 - My boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places”

Article 3 – Debbie testimony

TESTIMONY
“When God speaks, don’t expect your life to be the same” says Debbie.

Things were very difficult for me on many fronts including having to produce a huge amount for a financial
commitment. Coping on my own without support from anyone was very burdensome. I felt alone and unloved.

One evening on my way back from work I was feeling very low & extremely broken. How much more could I
take? Putting my head in my hands in the auto whilst returning, I asked God, “Why does no one love me?” It was
then I actually heard the Lord speak to me and it left me in tears filled with God’s love for me.

He said, “But I do love you Debbie! From your mother’s womb I have loved you. I wiped your slate clean &
remember your sins no more. You belong to me. In your darkest moments, when you thought you were alone, I
walked with you and held your hand. That’s how much I love you. You are special to me!”

I cannot describe what fully happened to me then. Hearing God’s voice like this after such a long time, took but
a moment to totally change me. I felt so loved and tears welled up. Something unlocked within me and my heart
was so softened.

While I was weeping, He gently beckoned me to forgive a lady who had cheated me very badly, hurt me and
broke my trust, even though I went to such great lengths to help her. In that moment I forgave her and it was so
effortless. Even I was amazed that I could do this and I felt so free.

Further the Lord told me, “I am already answering your prayers, which you prayed each evening with your
mother on behalf of many people... you have been praying for your friend Sonia who could not conceive for
years… I have blessed her and she has conceived, but do not stop praying for her. You will get the news by the
end of this month.”

The next day I met my friend Sonia and she told me that she was pregnant, I was overjoyed and said, “Indeed
Lord you are God!”

I needed Rs. 1.25 lakhs to pay a court fee. I struggled for so long & was overcome with concern as to how I could
raise this money. But the moment I forgave this lady, God released this amount to me too.

Indeed our God is a great God! I want to say this to all of you “God really loves you!”

Article 4
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY 13th November
Children's Day is celebrated across India on November 14 to increase the awareness towards the rights,
care and education of children.
In view of this, we will be celebrating Sunday 13th as a SPECIAL SUNDAY for our children. Besides
serving us, some children will share testimonies along with parents, and will participate in song and
dance. So come prepared to celebrate our kids.
Paul Barratt will be speaking to us on “children having a special place in the church”. May it be a
Sunday that helps us to notice and engage with our children more often, and may it enable us to give a
greater place to our young ones as Jesus exhorted his disciples in Mat 19:14 when he said, "Let the little
children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

The Kingdom Champs teachers along with the Creche volunteers will be helping the children for this
Sunday.

Article 5
Homes Needed on Sundays for hospitality
Act 2:46-47 Every day they continued to meet… they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and
sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily
those who were being saved.

The early church had great effect in seeing people saved, but you will notice that much of it happened
in the homes of the believers as they practised hospitality.

The Lord has been sending us people every Sunday who are searching for answers to the hope we have.
Here is an opportunity for us as a church to invite visitors to our homes on Sunday for lunch, so that we
can share with them and answer some of their questions besides being able to pray for them.

We encourage you to volunteer your home on a Sunday to serve our visitors and be involved in the
gospel harvest. Each month you could commit either for a single Sunday or more to take in visitors for
lunch.

We would like to start serving in this area as soon as possible, so we would appreciate if you could
quickly give your names to Yogesh if you are Hindi speaking & to Ajay if you are English speaking.

Article 6
Paul Barratt & Team with us 13th to 20th Nov
What a joy to have Paul Barratt once again visiting us with his team including Jaz, Nicki, and Martin.
They will be spending time with us as a church on the above dates and will serve us on various fronts.
As a church leadership, we want to encourage you to get connected in and be equipped…

 YOUTH @ 19 Nov at 6pm at Donald’s home. An exciting time with Jaz and Nicki is planned. Please
give your names to Neil & Velina.

 Start of the PROPHETIC SERIES @ Sunday 13th Nov at Bethel 3rd floor from 5pm to 7.30pm This
will be the first of a series on understanding the prophetic and being used in the local church
prophetically. We encourage all those who want to serve us prophetically to sign in. You will not
regret it. It will be taken by Nicki and Desiree. Please sign up with Nanhe.

 The DAY OF DOCTRINE @ Sat 19th Nov from 9.30am to 5pm at Bethel – with Paul Barratt - cost Rs
250/- including lunch and notes. Urwin is collecting all the names and registration fees.

Article 7
U.P. Mission
Nigel, Donald & Nanhe will be visiting U.P. from 2nd to 9th December. While Nanhe will be visiting the
Pratapgarh churches, Donald & Nigel will spend time with Akshay & Sadhu in Varanasi helping further
establish their leadership team. Nanhe will then join Donald & Nigel later to spend time with a
gathering of the U.P leaders for two days. Then they will go to Ghazipur to help a church there led by
Pradeep & his wife_________. Please pray for safe travels, good health, and effectiveness in helping
build the church leadership teams there.

Article 8

PRAY for INDIA Conference 2016

BE EQUIPPED & Make a Difference

It is a wonderful opportunity to be equipped

in moving in the power of God bringing
deliverance to many.

Dr. Maldonado’s desire is that the whole body

of Christ gets equipped worldwide and for this
reason he is coming in faith to activate the
church in Mumbai in this realm.

Article 9 OTHER DIARY EVENTS

House Groups: Wednesdays – Malwani Church; Thursdays – Ekta Nagar;
Fridays – Orlem, Mithchowkhi & Evershine HG, Malwani 2,
Malwani 6; Saturdays – Jan Kalyan HG (Neil)

Tues 22nd to Thu 24th – Church Prayer & Fasting (7pm at Bethel everyday)

Sun 18th Dec – Kids Christmas Party (organized by youth) – 5pm to 8pm

Sat 24th Dec – Church Christmas Meeting – 9pm to 12pm (Ryan School)

Sat 31st Dec – New Year Eve Meeting – Bringing in the New Year with
Thanksgiving & prayer – 9pm to 12pm
Article 10

SERVING ROTA
Prayer @ 7.20am : Nov 6 – Ajay/Nigel’s; Nov 13 – Nanhe/Alex HG;
in House Groups Nov 20 – Chetan/Nanhe HG; Nov 27 – Urwin HG;
Dec 04 – Neil’s HG; Dec 11 – Ajay/Nigel’s HG
Dec 18 – Nanhe/Alex

Serving Team (B) : Pankaj, Rakesh, Dhanesh, Raja Babu, Umesh

Emmanuel, Alex, Dev

Serving team (G) : Maria, Pooja, Harsha, Rita, Bali, Esther, Deepali

Welcome : Nov 06 – Andrew/Valerie & Anthony/Meena

Nov 13 – Ajay/Amrita & Sunderlal/Meena
Nov 20 – Richard/Rekha & John/Sashikanta
Nov 27 – Priscilla/Renju & Nathu/Vanmala
Dec 04 – AnthonyJixcy & Thomas/Mareka
Dec 11 – Urwin/Mony & Yeshwant/Kantabhai
Dec 18 – Andrew/Valerie & Anthony/Meena
Dec 24 – Ajay/Amrita & Sunderlal/Meena
Dec 31 – Tony/Felicia & John/Sashikanta

DLP operating : Nov 06 & 13 – Dhanesh; Nov 20 – Maria;

Nov 27 – Emmanuel; Dec 04 – Maria;
Dec 11 – Emmanuel ; Dec 18 – Dhanesh
Dec 24 – Maria; Dec 31 - Dhanesh

Flowers : November – Mony; December - Jill

Making Coffee : Nov 6 & 13 – Evershine Nagar HG

Nov 20 & 27 – Orlem HG
Dec 4 & 11 – Neil’s HG
Dec 18 & 24 – Thomas’ HG
Dec 31 & Jan 6 – Nanhe’s HG

B&W Servers : Nov 6 – Ajay’s HG; Nov 20 – Nanhe/Alex’s HG

Count Offering : Nov – Edna/Maria; Dec – Felicia/Julie

 The Glorious Church
Conference of REGIONS BEYOND India Churches

Steve Oliver along with other preachers and other Article 11

leaders will be joining us from across the nations

God’s Church is emerging to take the

nations
Be part of it

Dates: Thu 26th to Sat 28th Jan 2017

Please keep this weekend free

Costs will be given shortly