As we launched into the session I was instantly made to know that God was in total control…I know we say this stuff a lot, but it was an incredible moment during worship…singing words I didn’t understand but God transcends all languages and speaks love to his children. In that moment I knew all would be cool. Pastors seemed to totally dig the material and seemed really engaged as we shared ideas and examples of developing a children/youth ministry.

Now I have to tell you that it is common for these people to say yes while shaking there head no…so I had to point that out to a few of them including Doddy (who is our leader). Doddy and I have really developed a great relationship. He is a very fun guy but I’m not sure that I have ever met a more respected guy in his community. He truly is a man of God with a vision to see all people come to Jesus and Pastors to have the best training possible.

Foggy... just like being home in Fresno

While teaching on day one, a guy who works with Youth for Christ spoke out and grabbed his chest…allot of confusion took place as he kept speaking out in his language and eventually went limp…Seriously, this guy like passed out while I was teaching…4 guys like picked him up and carried him out…I was totally trippin’ out. I looked at my translator and told him we should pray…He ended up coming back in after about 10 minutes. The story goes that he has a heart problem and he knew this…instead of resting he chose to come to this conference because he felt like he needed the training. He was praying to God to keep him healthy…and as I’m typing this blog on day 2 of the conference, I am looking at his face smiling and nodding while Eddie is teaching…He must be ok!!! Thanks God that the guy didn’t die during my teaching time because that would’ve been “awkward”. (C’mon guys, you know I’m kidding…. ; ) )

Doddy has shared with us multiple times that he is excited that 6 Pastors from the Anglican church that are here. It is not typical that these guys come to a conference that is outside of their own people. One guy is a “big shot” in the Church and is a super respected guy…he is in the front row and loving the conference. This is a big step here in Kolkata.

Now most of you know I’m not fond of curry…everything you eat here in India is curry…curry chicken, curry potatoes, white rice with curry sauce…I’m like jeesh, can we get creative!?!?! So I asked Doddy if tonight we can go eat at the Oberoi Hotel where we can get American food…What a baby I am…I know…but none of my team members are complaining about my request. Seriously, we are fed big here…though I don’t totally did it, I brought my own stuff to snack on…I think Eddie is eyeballin’ my chocolate Poptarts back in our room…If he returns with a black eye, you will know why.

Before lunch today we finished up on our Childrens/Youth Ministry teaching and now we have begun Core Class 201. After Eddie opened it up very well we talked it over at lunch and decided to really make this a class with intentional interaction and these people are really involved. It is so cool to see them enjoy talking about quiet times, and Bible reading…they are sharing how they do it and people are really loving it. I may just let Eddie finish all this up and go sit by the pool….(Oh wait, there is no pool here at the BMS)…guess I teach the closing session as planned Saturday morning.

I think the girls are going shopping with Padma (sp?) which is Doddy’s sister for a bit this afternoon…I’m sure they will love it. Kim and Keri have been great team members…Eddie snores and blames me…which is ridiculous.  Pastor Steve can back me up on this…I sleep like a purring cat…

We still have a lot to accomplish while we are here in Kolkata…Much more teaching to do…preaching on Sunday, teaching at a seminary on Monday and we will be in the Slums Sunday afternoon. Please keep us in your prayers…we need to stay healthy and sharp. Listen up…God is good!!! Pass the word on in everything you do and say. Love you all.

Pastor Kevin

So today we met up with Soumen and spent the day at the childrens home. All I can say is WOW! I love this place!! 34 children who are either orphans or partial orphans…ages 5-13yrs old. It was so incredible to see how they have grown over the last year. Of course they remember me (cause who could forget this incredibly scary face!). Eddie and I played our first ever Cricket game….It was a blast. Watching the kids dance and sing was also such a highlight…One of the girls, Kabita, who is 13 (the oldest) really caught my eye this trip. She is truly maturing into an incredible girl of God. She is beautiful, very sweet and so willing to serve. She was the first of the children to come up to me and ask me to “please come back” which made me get all emotional. God is doing such a great thing in the lives of the children here. The staff of ladies there are so sweet and welcoming to us.

I’ve spoke before about driving in Kolkata. It is a circus!!! I will try to upload a small video here soon so you can se it from our perspective in the car…it’s wild.

Tomorrow (Thursday – we are 13 ½ hours ahead of you guys back home in California) we will start the Pastors conference. 140+ Pastors will be here learning and being challenged in their thought process and methods of ministry. Pastor Eddie and I will be talking on the why’s and how’s to develop a children and youth ministry. Both of us came from very small Church backgrounds and will be pulling from that experience as well as NorthPointe’s own story…going from small beginnings at Malloch with Steve carrying all the load to now seeing 2,000+ people a weekend come to worship, and the many ministries and staff members we now have. Please be praying for our ability to communicate clearly…for us to “gel” with our translators…and each Pastor to be challenged.

Thanks so much for sending us to Kolkata. NorthPointe is a real blessing to many people here.

Thanks,

Kevin

The sights and sounds of this place will forever be sketched in my heart. Will I ever come back here, I don’t know that answer. If it was left up to the Pastors we have met, Steve and I could stay here forever and teach God’s Word to hungry people. The streets are full of people…the cars are everywhere…the horns never cease from honking…the curious looks haven’t stopped either. We visited Mother Teresa’s’ burial sight, a very special opportunity. What an amazing women she was, and her heart still lives on through the people here. Steve and I finished a long day of preaching…Steve spoke at Bethel Church this morning as he described it to be a very spirit filled church. Then tonight he taught at a Assembly of God Church in there “Hindi” service.

I was at a Baptist Church in the morning and a youth service at the AG Church tonight.  I was asked to teach on sexual purity and boy was it a fun time. Pastor Jacob asked our team to come forward at the alter up front and pray with anyone who came forward. I know I spoke with two people with huge stories of sexual sin…we can only pray for their healing in this area. Tomorrow is a new day, with plans of a childrens home ran by our buddy Souman. He’s a pretty cool guy…I call him my body guard and he likes that…Oh yea, they don’t make shirts in India to fit me…and when I found a pair of jeans I liked they were going to charge me twice as much as they would’ve charged Todd…sounds like discrimination against big guys to me. All this rambling to say this…My heart is overjoyed that I came to India. The people have proved to be very special, rich or poor, young or old we have been blessed by all we have come in contact with. The needs here are a bit overwhelming, but with God all things are possible. (as I type, firecrackers are exploding outside my window) crazy people…)

NorthPointe family, be in prayer that our next several days here go smooth. Pray for hearts to be touched with the Love of Jesus. Ask for strength for each team member by name. Pray that we will continue to lift up Jesus.

Steve did a great job teaching during the pastors conference. 125
pastors/wives and volunteers. He is pumping out tons of  material to
all in attendance.

I did a youth ministry break-out session that was attended by 31
people of all ages. One guy was 65 years old and he is on fire to
reach youth for Jesus. I may pack in my bags and bring him home with
me to work in the wherehouse.

I took pictures of all in attendance and wrote their names down to
that our wherehouse team can be praying for fellow youth workers in
Kolkata.

Over all, we are very humbled… Feeling blessed that God would use 9
of us to share hope with the hopeless and encourage those who are
discouraged…God’s kingdom is so huge! Pray for us as we want to be a
star shining bright in a dark place.

Much more to come.

Keep praying…

Our team is tough, resilient and prepared for such a time as this. I awoke this morning by hearing on a loud speaker outside at 5am Muslim prayers. It was very disturbing to think they awake that early to pray…did you even pray today? Faithfulness isn’t convient. Todd, Melanie, Chenicua, Stace, Kim, Tina and Rupee headed out this morning for the slums to teach and share God. After they left I stepped outside our compound to see the streets for myself. All I can say is WOW! People, cars, bikes and even naked kids walking around… It’s loud, horns honking, birds going crazy, people whistling…WOW! Steve and I are teaching at the Pastors Conference. Steve is tearing it up right now as I type this (hope he doesn’t get mad at me for not paying attention but I have to do something to get my mind off the fact that I have a speaker pointing At my head and giving me a headache). In about an hour I will be taking the youth pastors and workers out for a session. Pray for a bonding to take place with all of us.

Pray for our team’s physical and spiritual health.

We will update you all as often as possible.

Keep praying!

Much Love,

Kevin