Dear brother Mark, Greetings from India and Vikasitha family!

You haven’t heard from me in a while. Vikasitha family has been praying for you, Cindy, Andrew and Aslan’s Army ministry.

From second week of February till 8th of this month we all have been very much busy with different ministry activities, lot of travels and gospel camps. Right now we are in the mid summer. 110 - 121 F. degrees heat, 100% humidity, day and night sweating and indefinite power cuts.

As I mentioned in my last e-mails,

1) February 25 - 26, 2009 - pastors seminar in Titupathi city. 143 pastors and evangelists participated. Pictures attached (# 1 - 3 pictures). Following 3 days in 3 different places with 3 of our Vikasitha pastors. In 2 places I gave water baptisms to 6 new believers (3 in each place). These are the first fruits of our pastors’ hard labor for the Lord. We traveled about 1300 kilometers. God gave us safe journey mercies. # 4 and 5 pictures.

2) March 6th and 7th - we had very good gospel meetings in one of our Vikasitha pastor’s place.

3) On March 10th early morning 16 members team (5 faculty and 11 students) left for second pastors seminar and traveled about 13 hours.

For this 2 days seminar (11th and 12th) in Adoni, 209 evangelists and pastors participated. Out of 209 delegates 22 were from Karnataka state.

Also we conducted gospel meetings on 3 nights. We came back to Vijayawada on Saturday,14th. # 6 and 7 pictures.

4) We have started our Third Ladies Self Help Center in Khammam, about 80 miles distance, on 28th of March. One of our Bible College graduate and trained in vocational courses was very much enthusiastic to help ladies in this regard and lead them to Christ. At present 19 are enrolled. # 8 and 9 pictures.

In Huzurnagar and Khammam centers we find 30% Muslim and 60% Hindu and 10% Christian ladies. All these are eager to learn any vocational skills which help them to earn for their future livelihood.

5) On April 12, we closed Bible College for summer vacation and prepared students for mission fields and summer gospel camps. Also 2 special prayer teams who constantly seek Lord’s help for missions work, protection and needs.
6) This year we are able to send 9 mission teams. Each team consists 2 persons. 4 men’s, 4 ladies and 1 married couple teams. Ladies teams for 2 months and rest for 6 months ministry.

7) We have prepared 25 teachers from our Bible school students for summer children ministry (vacation Bible school). They were able to reach some hundreds of children for the Lord in the last week of April and first week of May.

I encouraged 3 of our faculty to study for Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program. Along with them I too prepared and wrote examinations from April 20th - 25th. We should be able to finish this program by April 2010.

9) We went for gospel camp to several distant places (mountain and tribal areas) from April 26 to May 05. We took our mini bus with 12 member team and traveled 1324 km. We had very fruitful time there. In the past 2 years we gave training to 5 tribal young men in our Bible school. Now they are ministering in tribal areas.
In first 3 days every day we walked at the least 5 to 6 miles in the mountains from one Tribal village to another, met tribal people, shared the Word and encouraged them. # 10 and 11 pictures.

Next 5 days every day we conducted 2 meetings (forenoon and night) where our Vikasitha pastors are working. # 12 and 13 pictures.
1st of May I gave water baptisms to 7 converts. # 14 and 15 pictures.

10) Only 5 buds are with us now and rest went for 5 weeks summer vacation. Buds will be back on June 5th and their school reopens on June 8th.

Mark, I bought teak wood, hard wear goods (tower bolts, hinges, stoppers etc.), glasses and paints for window shutters in the last week of March. Because of hot summer and lack of workers carpenters are demanding so much of labor charges, almost 3 times more than normal wages. The one who worked for our buildings was very good Christian and he went to be with the Lord in early March. Another carpenter promised us to come at the end of this month.

Thank you for your continued prayers of us as well as your financial partnership. We know that everyone has been affected by present economy but we are thankful that you have faithfully answered God’s call to invest in His work. We are very thankful and humbled by your generosity and partnership. We believe that God will provide for our needs despite the economy!
Mark, how our donors are contributing?

I want to call and talk to you on your Tuesday evening 4:00 - 5:00. or Wednesday morning 7:30 - 8:30.

Loving greetings to Cindy and Andrew.

In Him and for His glory,

Steeven Veerapaneni