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Roy, Ponna and Ricky Sebastian - serving God in India |
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History of SEMI |
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Dear reader,
We are aware that this is a long page, but there is such a lot to tell about the challenge before us. We pray that as you read this story of SEMI you will see that the hand of God is directing this work and that we are just making ourselves available to Him. We ask most importantly that you earnestly pray for SEMI, but we also do need the practical support which will enable us to progress as well. We pray that God will touch your hearts for India.
But before writing about SEMI, we feel it would be helpful for you to have a picture of the situation in India, a people which we love and which we know that God loves.
INDEX:
What country has 1000 million people, 1652 languages, 500,000 villages and 1500 people groups whom have not been reached with the gospel as yet? It comprises nearly 16% of the world's population living in 2.4% of the world's land surface. This means that one person in every six in the world is an Indian. India falls within the 10/40 window, which encompasses the region from 10 degrees to 40 degrees north of the equator: from Africa to Asia. In this region live 97% of the world's least evangelised people. People living in this region are most resistant to the Gospel. Spiritual darkness looms over India. The only hope for the people of India is Christ the Saviour. One of the difficulties is a closed door.
In the northern part of India an anti-conversion bill has been in force in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat States. South India was quite open to the Gospel. However, the Tamil Nadu state assembly has recently passed an anti-conversion bill. Most of the north Indian states are also planning to enforce a law which does not permit foreign missionaries visiting India to preach the Bible. There is much resistance even to national missionaries witnessing in India. However, we praise the Lord that the Gospel of Christ is preached now more than before. All these circumstances have actually advanced the spread of the Gospel. In the eyes of the people of India, national missionaries don't represent a foreign country or a strange religion.
SEMI faces the enormous task of reaching millions in these villages of India that have never heard the Gospel. There are great challenges
The harvest is plenteous and the labourers are few. We are praying that God will raise up people with a willing heart to know Christ and make Him known to the world around them. We are committed to the task of equipping a new generation of godly men and women for significant ministry in the 21st century through quality Bible based discipleship. Every disciple is required to be involved in daily and weekly outreach programs.
We got the vision for a Christian Missionary training centre when we were attending several mission challenging sessions on Duolos (O.M. ship). After leaving the Duolos this great ambition was in our mind, but we had no idea how to organise it. During our second year studies at the Gospel for Asia Seminary (GFA), while we were praying and fasting to pay our fees, suddenly Bro. Gareth's picture came into our mind. Even though we had no contact with him, by trusting God, we wrote to O.M. Germany. The letter reached Bro. Gareth and he gave a positive response by helping us financially through AMEN.
It was at that time the Principal of our seminary requested us to train a group of ten girls. We prayed to God and took it as a challenge. We successfully gave training to them and they are very useful in the mission field today. After that while we were working in GFA as Bible Tutors, during one midnight when I was kneeling before God I heard as if God was speaking to me “Train those who have burden for souls and send them for the church planting”. Then we left GFA by faith and came to Trivandrum and waited upon the Lord for further directions. During that time God blessed us with a little boy, named him Ricky. Soon after his birth we believe that God sent Gareth and Malou plus Brother Chris Chatfield to us. We explained our vision and plans to them and they very much encouraged and motivated us with prayer and AMEN support. So we have started our first training with 10 people from various local churches in a very small and unsatisfactory building. Now they are ready to move for church planting as soon as they have some financial support and we have a great need to move into a more suitable location.
After leaving the previous house where they encountered much persecution, we looked at many properties. We looked at about 50 houses and buildings, fasting and praying also with SEMI students. We just stopped because they could not find any that was good enough and that was affordable. In desperation we were making the final arrangement to buy the two-room building that we were currently renting, at the same time realising that this was too small.
We were praying that the owner will lower the price that they asked for but then the day came for the deal to be finalised and the owner refused to lower the price. We were crying to God that He could do better than this, that He could provide a better place for His work. Some believers also discouraged us by telling us that we would go away from our faith; it was difficult for us and God was silent. We really felt in the depths of despair.
When we went to church, someone told us that a house was on sale and we went to see it. Roy and Ponna felt that this seem to be the right building it did not look like a house - it looked like a training centre.
There are 2 levels, each having 3 rooms and 1 bathroom/toilet. The roof top can accommodate 200 people.
It has a garage and a surroundings with 40+ coconut trees some with fruits ready for eating. The walls around are concrete. It is located in an area of high ground. This house has been constructed 6 years ago and is in perfect condition. The owner was selling it for 30 lakhs (approx £40,000) but that was more than we had available. The man refused to reduce the price, but called us after 3 days, saying that he could not sleep for 3 nights and that he thought that God wanted us to have the building for God’s work. So he reduced the price significantly to what could be afforded. We just wept in joy as we saw God do a miracle for us.
We
love God more through this whole experience, our faith has really been tested
and now we desire to encourage others who are being persecuted too.
We moved to this new building
which we have called Moriah, (The Lord will provide) on the 20th of
Sept 2005
On 26th of September 2005 Moriah was officially opened as SEMI a simple ceremony took place where Gareth cut the ribbon to officially open SEMI in Moriah. It was a moving time of reflection and thanksgiving, giving the glory to God for all He has done.
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