Dear brother Mark and Cindy,

Greetings!

Thank you very much for your e-mail. Friday night we came back home after a week of gospel tour. Thank you very much for all what you are doing regarding Vikasitha ministry. I am sending News Update and pictures. Some pictures you have seen before and others are not. I am e-mailing the same News Update and pictures to all the e-mail IDs I have.

5th early morning I am taking a 15 members team to visit 5 of our Vikasitha pastors. In one place Church dedication and gospel meetings. In another 4 places Baptisms and gospel meetings. We are going to travel more than 1100 miles this time and come back on 20th. Please do pray for the programs. Surekha also joining with us.

In Him who called us to serve,

Steeven

p.s.: News Update.

Dear beloved brothers and sisters,

Loving greetings from Vikasitha family, India!

The Lord is so good and gracious and has been helping us to carry on all types of ministries He entrusted to us though sometimes we find difficult situations regarding finances. Visibly we see lot of growth in each area of Vikasitha ministries. We greatly appreciate all of you who have supported us financially and in prayer.

I would like to update what the Lord has done since August.

1) August 03 – 06 Pastors’ seminar in Vijayawada : It is a milestone in our ministry. 322 pastors from all 23 districts of our state, Andhra Pradesh participated and it was beyond our expectations. Bringing pastors from all 23 districts and introducing to each other and having fellowship was a great adventurous one. A team from Mosaic, L.A. and our Bible school faculty shared the Word. Results are so powerful. After this event number of pastors’ fellowships from different areas invited us to come to their places and strengthen their pastors. (Find Pictures # 1 – 5)

2) Vanitha (ladies) Self Help Center Ministry is expanding. On September 17th we started our 4th center in Dharmapuri about 560 kilometers from Vijayawada (picture # 6). We bought 2 sewing machines and necessary equipment. Our Bible school alumni couple are in charge of this center. These centers are great resources to reach many for the Lord. In August 3 – 5 Mosaic team gave special training in designing and tie and dye in Huzurnagar center. It was a great investment in that area (Pictures # 7 – 9).

3) Vikasitha (Blossoming Buds) Children Home : This year we have 35 buds (20 girls and 15 boys) and it is really amazing to watch how they blossom physically, mentally. morally and spiritually. They are so good in studies ( picture # 10, 11).

4) Bible School Ministry : Right now we have 50 students in training. Due to financial problems we thought of postpone this year( 7th batch) graduation to next year. This year graduates are already in the field working for the Lord in different areas (Picture # 12).

5) We are able to support and bless 39 widows on regular monthly basis and all of them stay in their own places and homes. In the month of January 2011 we want to buy for them new Sarees (dress) to present.

6) Pastors and Church ministry : 28 pastors are ministering in 13 different districts (Counties). We see Lord’s mighty hand on their efforts and there is qualitative as well as quantitative growth. Some are able to buy small piece of land and construct prayer houses by their own efforts which is a good sign. Pictures # 13, 14.

7) Living Water Health Care Center (our Medical Clinic): Through this medical ministry we are able to serve our buds, Bible school students as well as local community. Mosaic team brought lot of medicine in August. Pictures # 15, 16.

Personally I would like to thank you all for your partnership and want you to know just because of your support we are able to do so much for the Lord. Please do continue to stand alongside of us. I request you all to consider the following special needs and ask the Lord to make an end-of-year donation or on regular basis for monthly maintenance to operate on going ministries. All donations are tax deductable.

Special Needs:

1) Christmas dress for all 35 blossoming Buds. Costs about $ 830 USD

2) Sarees (dress) for 39 widows. Costs $ 400 USD

3) Yearly (Christmas) gift to teaching and non-teaching staff to encourage them. We need $750 USD to meet this need.

4) Bible School building 3rd floor tiles flooring. Almost for the last 5 years we are using it without tiles and now we see high for damage to slab if we leave for long time without tiles. It is a major project. Almost 5,000 Square ft. tiles and costs $ 9,200 USD. including fixing charges. (Floor pictures # 17 and 18).

If you would like to make a donation, you may write a check to “Aslan’s Army” and at memo write gift to Vikasitha and send it to:

Mark Smith, Aslan’s Army, 3510 Fairmont Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA. 92886 www: aslansarmy.com

If you use Skype, my Id.: steeven.v.india You can give me your Skype ID.

or search on Facebook: steeven.v.india@gmail.com

With much love and prayers,

Merry Christmas!

Your Indian brother Steeven Veerapaneni

We always acknowledge and thankful for your continued prayers of us as well as your financial partnership. It will bring a great joy and blessing to you to know what the Lord is accomplishing through your partnership.

Vikasitha Buds (Children) Home: In June we accepted few more orphan Children and now have 35 Buds with us (21girls and 14 boys). Their school year for 2009 – ’10 started on June 8th. They are very excellent in all aspects. Growing in the Lord and discipline, very creative and achieving top ranks in their studies (except 3 all get A and A++).

Bible College (training harvesters): Right now we have 68 young men and women (39 in1st yr., 19 in 2nd yr. and 10 in 3rd year training program). They have come from 14 different districts of our state Andhra Pradesh. We started Current school year on June 12th and ends on 10th of April, 2010. We are providing quality and holistic training to them. Every year we are able to send about 30 harvesters into the needy fields. 9 faculty members are teaching them.
On September 30th we held Graduation Ceremony for 5th and 6th batch graduates. It was a great blessing to see 65 graduates receiving their certificates. Around 600 people (graduates relatives, friends and pastors) attended. It rained heavily that evening but because of our huge Malori Aslan’s Place facility program was not disturbed. Thank God for the MAP building! See Graduation Pictures # 1 – 6.

Vikasitha Pastors: Now we are supporting 27 pastors who are ministering in 12 districts. Except 2 all are married and have children. On September 30th after graduation ceremony we ordained 10 of our pastors as full pledged ministers who proved themselves well and been working with us since 2002. It is another milestone in Vikasitha ministries. Pastor’s Ordination pictures # 1 & 2. In the last 6 months 5 new house Churches are newly planted.

Highlights of some of the miracles in our pastors’ ministry:
• The Lord wonderfully healed 2 HIV / AIDS patients in 2 places. One, husband and wife suffering from HIV started to come to Church. After few weeks husband died but wife’s faith was so strong. Pastor and whole Church took it as a challenge and prayed earnestly. Now she is healed. Lost hair started to grow again on her head and now she carries vegetable basket on head, goes on to streets selling for her and children’s living. She took baptism and faithful to the Lord and gives witness wherever she goes.
• Second, another lady who had AIDS in another place was healed, works very hard and I am the eyewitness to this miracle.
• Persons who were possessed by devils are delivered now. A girl who suffered with blisters and boils for more than 5 years. After weeks of prayer devil clearly explained the cause and left the girl and now she is totally healed. Another man who used to get up from bed after midnight, wander in the streets and suffered sleepless night for some years received deliverance just because of fervent prayers. Barren women who conceived children. One is after 19 years and another 22 years of their marriage. The Lord visited them as He promised and now they are so thankful to the Lord and come to churches regularly as living witnesses. All these miracles happened after doctors gave up the hope. A building mason who experienced phenomenal healing. One day at work his shoulder was dislocated and faced serious nervous problems. Suffered more than 3 years and visited famous corporate hospitals and doctors. No healing, no professional work and all his money gone. He heard about Jesus and came to our Vikasitha pastor. Pastor and Church members fasted and prayed for seven consecutive weeks with immovable faith. The Lord touched him and he is completely healed. Now, a man who was totally disable to work for more than 3 years constructed a Church when our Vikasitha pastor wanted to build nearby his village and I am going with a team to that area for 3 days and dedicate that Church on 6th of November. Praise the Lord!
Drought and Floods: This year is the year of natural calamities to our state which has very bad results on our finances. One, drought due to lack of monsoon rains in the months of June, July and August. Second, heavy floods and no one has seen these terrible floods in the past 106 years of history. About hundred people died, thousands of houses and crops in millions of acres were damaged. In Vijayawada some of our OUDHARYAM( old age and widows support program) beneficiaries homes were under water for 4 days and they lost almost every thing. Houses are in very bad condition. We want to help them possible way. Pastor Moshe’s Church is on bank of Krishna river and all of his believers families live there. These families suffered from flood. We promised them to give provisions for a week. We estimated these extra expenses as around $ 2000 USD. We need your helping hand in this regard. See flood pictures # 1 – 3.

Living Water Health Care Center: Our long term goal is to enlighten our community (society) with the Gospel. We have been praying for many years to reach the unreached with the health care wing in our ministries. In the first week of August when a team from Mosaic, LA came to help us in the ministry, with the encouragement and prayers of that team we started ‘Living Water Health Care Center’. We are getting different doctors who want to help us voluntarily. It is a great blessing to our buds (orphan children) and Bible college students. Living Water Pictures # 1 & 2 Team took First Aid and Health Care classes.

Mosaic Team also worked with Vanitha (Ladies) Self Help Centers. Ladies learned many creative ways to develop their skills and products. Ex. Quilting . See Quilt picture. Team taught many spiritual lessons and imputed missions spirit into students lives.
Other Ministry Activities: I gave water Baptism to 11 persons from local Church ministry. Baptisms Picture attached. Every month we are supporting 36 widows. Ladies Self Help Centers are great assets to reach the unreached groups with gospel.

Dear brothers and sisters, I humbly request you to strengthen us continuously in our ministry. Through your prayers and financial partnership we together can bring a great difference in many people’s lives here in India. The dear Lord will fill your hearts with His joy as you allow Him to use your lives to extend His kingdom.
When the Lord leads you to send financial support write a check on Aslan’s Army and make a note that this is for vikasitha minstries.
Mail it to: Aslan’s Army, 3510 Fairmont Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA. 92886.
Aslan’s Army will provide you a U.S. tax receipt for any donations. Any information contact brother Mark Smith. E-mail Id : mark@aslansarmy.com
In Him and for His glory, Your Indian brother Steeven Veerapaneni for all

]]> http://www.aslansarmy.com/2009/10/27/india-update-oct-2009/feed/ 3 http://www.aslansarmy.com/2009/05/17/india-update-may-2009/ http://www.aslansarmy.com/2009/05/17/india-update-may-2009/#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 15:54:41 +0000 markhsmith http://www.aslansarmy.com/?p=46

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

• On December 4^th and 5^th 2007, we had sports and games for Vijayawada area Bible colleges and seminars. There are 7 colleges and our college got team championship. Our students received many awards. Those were wonderful moments.
• 22 fourth batch graduating students have received their certificates. In last four batches 87 students (15 three yr. and 72 two yr. training program) have completed in our Bible school and went into the mission field. Almost all of them are in the full time ministry.By April first week, 2008 another 31 students will complete their training and go for 6 months practical ministry.

• For first time we tried to gather all of our old students (graduates). 62 were able to come and share their ministry experiences. It was a great blessing to all, especially to present students. All our pastors (22) were here on 11^th and 12^th. 16 of them came with their wives. I placed their group picture in December greeting card which we sent to you. After much prayer and consideration in December we accepted two more pastors into Vikasitha fellowship from our Bible school alumni. They have been seeking our fellowship and encouragement for about a year. So now we have 24 pastors working with Vikasitha.

• February 8, 2008 – With a team I went to Nellore city where one of our Vikasitha pastor and alumni of our Bible school started working there for about 4 years. 2 years back gave baptisms for 4 converts and now 7 new converts took Baptisms.

• February 9^th … Church dedication and Baptized 7 new converts. Our Pastor’s parents gave him a house as his inheritance and he turned that into a Church facility. We dedicated that for the glory of God.

• Feb. 17^th night we left Vijayawada, traveled 12 hours and reached Pamidi town in Ananthapur district. 18^th and 19^th night we had gospel crusade. Some hundereds have heard the gospel. Attached picture.

• 19^th and 20^th 2 full days we conducted seminar for pastors. 296 pastors attended and 9 of our Bible school alumni. Plus our 17 member team. Since 2002 we conducted 21 seminars in different districts and the highest number in previous years was 122 pastors. But where as this one, more than 300 hundred pastors attended. Great experience for us as well blessing. Attached picture.

• 21^st and 22^nd another pastors seminar in Kalwakurty, Mahaboobnagar district. There 113 pastors participated and 14 more lay men.

• 23^rd morning we got back to Vijayawada. In total we traveled about 1200 kms. The Lord gave us safe journey mercies. We acknowledge your prayers on our behalf.

For these 2 seminars we spent $ 4100 USD. We are asking the Lord to provide that amount. We are praying the Lord to bring some sponsors who can sponsor so that we can encourage more pastors. We already planned for one more seminar in May 5-7 in Kurnool district. There are 2 open doors in 2 large cities in our neighboring state KARNATAKA for us to conduct pastors seminars. It is a great opportunity for us to go.

Please continue your prayers.

Greetings to Cindy and Andrew.

In Him,

Steeven.

[vimeo 641609]

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“7-7-07 was a great day for us in the Vikasitha ministry. Me and my youngest brother, we gave baptisms to 21 young men and women in Krishna river. Thank the Lord with us for His good work.”   – Steeven Veerapaneni

Aslan’s Army led a missions trip to Mexico City in June 2007 with The River Vineyard and Victorious Christian Harvesters. The teams saw 1,272 salvations that will be linked up with VCH churches in the Mexico City area. Click on the picture below to see a 4-minute highlight video. Or click here to watch the 16-minute version.

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