I'm back from India and without a scratch thank you very much. We survived two different mobs, one while I was trapped in a car, and another that came to the compound where we were staying. I was able to get through 2 out of the 3 sermons I had prepared. The first was on the promise of what God is doing today through small business and developing countries. I used the text from Genesis 15 where God makes a covenant with Abram about what he is going to do with the land of Israel. I believe that God is doing a new thing with the church and helping fund the mission of the kingdom through small business development. The second message was on the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz (Book of Ruth). I believe that God is raising up people like Boaz who will help and care for the Ruth's and Naomi's of the world until they are raised up and standing on their own two feet.
I have worked with Bishop Jacob from GTSSS www.gtsss.org (website down temporarily) and we have a plan to start 25 businesses in the remote areas of India for the pastors who are serving there. We are praying for 500-600 businesses in the next 2-3 years that would help bring the ratio of funding to an equal footing with interantional donations. Right now the funding is 90% from foreign aid and 10% from local sources. Our goal in GROWTH is to change that percentage slowly down from 90% to perhaps 50/50 split in the next coming years. We have much work to do, but if God is calling you to support a business there, don't be afraid to contact us at info@growth4africa.com
Here are some great videos of the trip:
