Festival of Joy

Relief blew in with the warm breeze and setting sun from Mumbai's sweltering heat. This somehow reflected the joy and peace that emanated this holy ground as nearly eight hundred believers from around Mumbai, gathered together in praise, dance and worship. What a relief from the engulfing darkness that embraces this people and land in bondage to gods of gold, silver and metal hammered by man and rejoiced over by the prince of  darkness who's only aim is to kill, steal, and destroy.

You loved us so much that you gave us your only Son that we might be free, there seemed to be a shift in the atmosphere as the believers sang of the love of their Saviour!

Curios spectators questioned if they should join in with the festive joy they saw and perhaps felt. And indeed many did! Two "5+1", transgender prostitutes that form a dangerous gang around India and feared by locals, joined in with the singing and dancing!

Pastor Deva preaching

Following worship, there was a special prayer for healing. Bishop Benjamin shared with conviction his personal testimony of how he commanded a paralysed man to stand up in Jesus Name. The man did just that and went home healed! Bishop Benjamin prayed in the same manner with Jesus' power and authority over all the sick and demon oppressed. Heaven will testify to the mighty acts that came from this prayer of faith.

Michael singing for special offering

The three nights progressed with a renowned eastern classical singer who sang special music in his native Telegu language. Pastor Deva completed each night with an hour long gospel message.

We rejoice with heaven that many people came to salvation in Jesus. 

Chamila, Chinda and Guddi

Pastor Deva challenged the believers  on the first night to bring their unbelieving friends and family the following two evenings, "The church must be present and involved in evangelism festivals" Pastor Deva said. One elderly lady took this challenge to heart and invited her Hindu neighbours, Chamila, Chinda and Guddi. They traveled no little distance of three hours to attend this festival. Before this evening these three women had never heard the message of Jesus. They all came forward with hands lifted, to receive salvation. They shared, "I experienced new peace and joy tonight."

Pastor Deva said, "we do not just want to see numbers of salvation, but true disciples and follow-up happen. This is the reason we have the new believers fill out the information cards. We will send them material about Jesus as well as have the local pastors follow-up with them."

Many other believers shared how this festival encouraged them to receive the joy that comes from repentance. One brother said, "I have not heard a gospel message like this. I am so thankful!"

Remembering brother Dan Owen's

This three day festival of joy was made possible and sponsored by Dan Owens who founded Eternity Minded Ministry (EMM). He toiled for what truly counts: souls saved. This past March 22, 2015 Dan Owens passed from this short life into an eternity of unending joy. Pastor Deva honoured his life by remembering and sharing his legacy to live for what truly counts. Let us emulate Dan's life, and cast all we have, like a pebble into the ocean of eternity and see the effect as it ripples onto the shore of unending glory and step into "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Hebrews 12:22-24

Honouring brother Dan Owen's life

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