Photos at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14158&id=100000109972221&op=6

In recent months, herds of wild elephants started storming villages home to some of the worst persecutors. In one village where in 2008 August rioters looted and then destroyed Christians’ homes, while Christians fled for their lives, now, exactly one year later, at the same time of day, a herd of wild elephants emerged from surrounding jungle, and the persecutors now ran for their lives.

The elephants kicked off festivities by first smashing up a rock-crushing machine owned by a persecution leader. Then, in a kind of progressive dinner, then destroyed his house and farms. This felt so good that, not wanting to stop while they were ahead, they demolished other non-Christian homes and gardens, leaving Christian homes untouched.

People ran to the police station to report. Policemen in a jeep trying to drive the herd away were attacked and the police barely escaped.

The elephants have, as of 2009 September, destroyed more than 700 houses in 30 villages, killed five people. Nobody in this area ever saw or imagined a wild elephant herd doing this. These elephants behave unusually: smaller elephants enter a village first, scout the community, rejoin the larger herd, then larger elephants follow and do the heavy work.

Restoration India Mission says, ‘We think that it might have something to do with avenging the blood of martyrs. In fact, the fear of God has fallen on the local people, who have labeled these elephants, “Christian elephants”.’

Morale: ‘Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

The “Race to the Top” fund is one of the largest federal investments in school reform in US history, Obama said on a trip to Wisconsin Wednesday. It is being financed with money made available through the economic stimulus plan enacted in February.

“We’re putting over $4 billion on the table … but we’re not just handing it out to states because they want it,” Obama told an audience at a Wisconsin public charter school making it clear that the grants will go to only those “committed to real change in the way you educate your kids.”

“So, a race to the top has begun in our schools, but the real competition will begin when states apply for the actual Race to the Top grants,” he said outlining four key reform measures that will be used to help determine a state’s eligibility for grant money.

“The first measure is whether a state is committed to setting higher standards and better assessments that prepare our children to succeed in the 21st century,” Obama said noting that 48 US states are now working to develop internationally competitive standards.

“…Internationally competitive standards because these young people are going to be growing up in an international environment where they’re competing not just against kids in Chicago or Los Angeles for jobs, but they’re competing against folks in Beijing and Bangalore,” he said.

Second, the state will need to demonstrate a commitment to policies designed to encourage the recruitment and retention of effective teachers and principals. Conversely, teachers that fail to adequately perform need to be removed, he said.

Third, it will need to design systems to measure student success. Finally, federal officials will examine whether a state is taking steps to overhaul its lowest-performing schools.

“We’ll look at whether they’re willing to remake a school from top to bottom, with new leaders and a new way of teaching,” Obama said. The process of doing so may include replacing a school’s staff or even closing a school and sending its students to a better one nearby, he noted.

Bush legacy remains Obama’s biggest problem

A year after his historic election, President Barack Obama sought to remind Americans on Wednesday the biggest problems he is grappling with — from the economy to the war in Afghanistan — are the legacy of his predecessor, George W. Bush.

With his approval ratings down from once-lofty levels and Tuesday’s Democratic election losses raising questions about his political clout, Obama held no special ceremony to mark the anniversary of his election as America’s first black president.

He instead traveled to Wisconsin to appear before a friendly audience in a school gymnasium and promote education as a pillar of his economic recovery efforts.

Promise of sweeping change

Obama was elected on a promise of sweeping change after eight years under Bush, but many Americans are increasingly expressing impatience that his pledge has yet to bear fruit.

He used the preamble of his speech to insist his administration had indeed had important successes and also to remind Americans of the litany of daunting challenges he inherited when he took office in January.

“One year ago, Americans all across this country went to the polls and cast ballots for the future they wanted to see,” Obama said.

But he said his administration was also confronted with a “financial crisis that threatened to plunge our economy into a Great Depression, the worst that we’ve seen in generations.”

“We had record deficits, two wars, frayed alliances around the world,” Obama added.

He said his administration had acted swiftly to save the economy from “imminent collapse.”

“While we still have a long way to go, we have made meaningful progress toward achieving that goal,” he said.

Is he over playing the blame card?

Nine months into his term, Obama’s Republican critics have accused him of overplaying the “blame card” against Bush, a Republican who left office with one of the lowest poll ratings of any modern president.

Obama has seen his own approval numbers fall to the 50 percent range from above 70 percent as he struggles to push through a healthcare overhaul, reverse massive job losses and decide whether to send more troops to an increasingly unpopular war in Afghanistan.

He took another hit to his political standing on Tuesday when voters elected Republicans in state governors’ races in Virginia and New Jersey despite his personal campaigning for the Democratic candidates. The White House denied the election losses were in any way a referendum on the president.

Agencies

INDIA, Orissa
India, Mizoram and Kerala
India, Andhra Pradesh
NEPAL
Report on Nepal crusade
INDIA, Uttar Pradesh State, Varanasi
INDIA, Orissa: Praise Report and Prayer Request:

Praise God that:
evangelism in Orissa, India, is spreading good news to more and more people. New Hindu people are coming to church services. For instance, a Hindu lady attending one church is asking the congregation to pray for her ill daughter.

Another example: a Brahmin named Suryakanta Mohapatra is testifying about his leg being healed when he was prayed for in Jesus name.

And now some people in Koraput District want baptism in Jesus name.

These reports come from Samir Bardhan, Scism Christian Institute student and a pastor/evangelist in Orissa.

All this is happening in a state where Christians have been killed, raped, looted, sent to survival camps, had their homes destroyed, threatened not to return. Still people are attracted to Jesus Christ.

Pray that more and more people will come from idolatry to Jesus Christ, be baptized in his name, filled with his Spirit.
India, Mizoram and Kerala: Top The UPC of NE India and the UPC of S India had their conferences in the last two weeks of April. Lynden Shalm spoke at the NE India conference, Tom Foster at the S India conference.

God has moved in both units before. Please pray that both units will see changes in administrative methods that will allow the Holy Spirit to move free from excessive regulation and over-organization, and also free from hidebound habit and wish to keep doing things in traditional ways.
India, Andhra Pradesh: Top Over 100 pastors attended a seminar in which they heard about Jesus name baptism and Spirit baptism. Many have telephoned saying they want to hear more. We need evangelists and teachers to follow up this ministry which has outstanding potential!
NEPAL: Top Bro Muthu of Malaysia spoke at the Nepal crusade. Here’s his report:

Revival Fire in Nepal 2009 Mission
In Pokhara Head and Heart Conference the power of God fell from the first day service ,with the children being filled as young as 2 years old and spread the adults in the congregation bringing them all into speaking with tongues and utterance of the spirit .Many were touch and healed by the Lord of Asthma,Migrane,Bone Disease,and Eye problems Arthirities and many other diseases .Its was simply magnificient to have the Spirit of God flow in deep current during these services and prophecy were given concerning the church in Nepal that God will go forward and build His church.

Among which one trinitarian Pastor who was filled with the Spirit exclaimed this was the first time experience He ever had in his 13 years of ministry and nothing like it.Oh what a Joy!!!

Among many healing the God performed 2 ladies voice was opened up to speak for the first time,one man who could only breath through one nostril for a long time was healed completely and able to breath normally with both nostril many disabled were healed.A pastor’s wife was in critical condition in the emergency wad with life support ,as we visited and prayed for her, God power touch her and she was raised and attended the next morning service.In total in this two nations(Bangladesh/Nepal) 464 reported of being healed and 471 were filled with the Holy Spirit:Click Here to see Photo Slide Show Supplementary report on Nepal crusade: Top by Bobby Adhikari, general secretary

11th April 2009 Pokhara
In the meeting many locals came and the power of God fell on the people. The Holy Spirit baptized children 2 years old, then spread to the adults. Many were filled and a prophecy said, ‘I will build my church’.
A) 45 received the Holy Spirit.
B) 14 healings of asthma, gastric troubles, eye problems and bone disease.
C) Attendance =80
14th April 2009 Nabalparasi Dt, Gairi Village
A) 10 people received the Holy Spirit
B) 10 people are ready to be baptized in Jesus name; six were baptized then and there
C) 12 people were healed of many diseasse and a pastor came to our service,was filled with the Spirit and testified that this happened for the first time in his life–during his 13 years of ministry, this is his first expereince to speak in unknown languages.
D) Attendance =150

15th April 2009 in Bhairawa
A) 8 people received the Holy spirit
B) 2 were baptized
C) 17 were healed ( one lady who had not been able to speak for a long time was healed and spoke)
D) Attendance =90

16th April 2009 Tulsipur, Uttar Kariya Village
A) 51 received the Holy Spirit.
B) 20 people are ready to be baptized in Jesus name and ten were baptized then and there
C) 7 people were healed. One who could not hear previously is now healed.
D) Attendance =200

17th Dang
A) 57 received the Holy Ghost
B) 34 were healed for several diseases.
C) Attendance =150

Total received the Holy Ghost = 171
Total healings = 84
Total baptized in Jesus Name= 32

In this trip, traveling with Brother and Sister Muthu were Bobby Adhikari, SCI graduates Khadga (who is a district pastor) and Kamsya (a local pastor) and Gopal Rai (a home missionary). INDIA, Uttar Pradesh State, Varanasi: Top report by Ajinbou Chatmai:

January and February 09 : 4 people received the Holy Spirit

March and April 09: Stanley Scism and Bro Eli Hermandaz visit to Varanasi on 19 March and we have service together. Bro Eli Hermandaz deliver a sermon and 14 people received th Holy Spirit.

Attached is the photo of when 18 people were baptized in Jesus name on Easter Sunday 12 April 09 at Varanasi in the Ganga (Ganges) River: 6 were people rebaptized this time in Jesus name, the other 12 peoples were newly baptized, also in Jesus name according to Acts 2:38.

Please pray for three Hindu women who want to get baptized but their husbands won’t allow them. Their husbands never attend church and mind their businesses only. Pray each man may open his minds, come to Christ and get baptized as his wife wishes for his salvation.

The harvest field is so huge that I want to reach out every corner of this city so do please continue to pray for us so that everyone may take responsibility to spread the good news that Jesus is Alive for you and me. Rise up and see that the Lord is good!

God bless.

Top

Ronald Knox, wit, priest, detective-story writer and translator of the Bible, wrote:
There was a young man who said, “God
Must think it exceedingly odd
If he finds that this tree
Continues to be
When there’s no one about in the Quad.”

The anonymous answer came:
“Dear Sir, Your astonishment’s odd:
I am always about in the Quad,
And that’s why the tree
Will continue to be,
Since observed by Yours faithfully, God.”