<< Nizvid | The People, the Places and the Programs: Vijayawada, Mangalagiri & Hyderabad
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 Andhra Pradesh State on south east coast of India |
 Travel in AP state |
 Travel & Ministry in Hyderabad city |
Mangalagiri: On Sunday, 13th Jan, together with Vijaya and his wife, I left Nuzvid by a car (arranged by Vijaya's in -laws) to another town called Managlagiri near Vijayawada. Reached a large Baptist church by 12 noon, who were waiting for us, singing many songs! Immediately I was asked to preach after a few announcements. I preached in chaste Telugu, the local language, on the obstacles to Maturity. God blessed the message as all enjoyed it thoroughly. Had a special lunch of chapatis in Vijaya's father-in-law's house. Discussed about ministry with the pastors and local leaders and left by evening by bus to Vijayawada.
Vijayawada: The Lord led one believer Chittibabu, working with Railway Protection Force, to meet me at the bus stand. We had good time of fellowship and prayers. And then another believer arrived- Sudhir Lal from Agra, north India, who was on a visit to his wife in this city. We discussed many things about ministry and had dinner together in the bus stand. At about 10pm I took a bus to travel to Hyderabad. The journey was not comfortable as I had to sit on the last seat straight for the whole night-the bus jumping and dancing all the time! Arrived in Hyderabad by 4am next morning.
 My hosts: Vijaya's in-laws and their pastor (next to me on leftside) |
 Othniel preaching in church at Mangalagiri |
 Congregation at Managalagiri |
 Expounding Scripture |
 Attentively listening audience in church |
 Men in the congregation |
 While praying, light is seen on left shoulder? |
 Krishna river flows through vijayawada |
Hyderabad: My nephew Peter received me at
the Hyderabad bus stand at 4am on 14th Jan. and took me to YMCA guest house
near Secunderabad Rly stn. Here I stayed for a week, eating food in the hotels.
Had gone to Peter's house at Malkajgiriyougnman is Jeevaratnam (called a sBujjibabu)about
10 Kms for breakfast andlunch and met some interested friends of Peter and
shared baout the vision to make disciples. Sampath and Chakrapani- a Hindu
convert, showed itnerest whom I met again later. Chakrapani wanted to plan
regular meetings with his friends to learn the Word of God as per Col. 1:28.
Young people and some leaders began meeting me at YMCA guest house. Benjamin
from Tarnaka brought his cousin Tonny who is on fire to teach youth and run
a Bible school at his place Uppal, on south east Hyderabad. Tony runs a small
general and grocery stores there. He located a house and I went one evening
to see that place and also to conduct the first meeting with some young students
in Uppal. If Lord willing, we want to hire that flat on terrace of a building
for ministry use.
Another interested youngman is Jeevaratnam (nickname Bujjibabu) from Kukatpalli,
on far north west of Secunderabad. He is a M.Tech and works for a software
company. After I shared the vision of making disciples, he was excited and
planned a meeting with his colleagues and friends on Saturday evening at his
house. It was encouraging to see two of his friends, Hindu Enginners sitting
and learning God's Word alongwith another new believer who is a professor
in an Engineering college. They were very interested to learn the word of
God and plan to conduct seminars at their place of work to win young people.
Praise the Lord.
 Othniel with Sudhir Lal from Agra |
 With Benjamin and Tonny |
 With Jeevaratnam |
 With Chakrapani, Sampath & Peter |
 Tonny shows the house available for rent |
 First meeting of the youth in Uppal |
 Tea before meeting in Kukatpalli |
 Meeting with Engineers at Kukatpalli |
Another important friend I had met was my old college mate
and close friend in Mumbai who is now the Airport Manager of Hyderabad airport,
Shiekh Meervaali. he took me to his house an dgave me god dinner and we had
recollecte dour old college days, friends etc. I took the opportunity to pray
in his house though he is a moderate muslim and I met his family for the first
time after many years.
Another chat friend I met was Angel Reena who took me round the city. She
is interested in ministry among youth and women and is also trying to find
a place for the ministry. We went to the place called Hebron where bro. Bakht
singh started his ministry in 70's and established an indigenous training
center and church. He was my inspiration from my childhood and I was very
glad to be at this place.
The roads in Hyderabad are so crowded all through
the day it takes long time to travel by road. But the food is sumptous with
so much rice more than one can eat! Everytime I wanted to eat food, Ihad to
look for another to share the meal as it is too much for me! Here people eat
rice a lot. And the life goes on slowly rarely observing punctuality.
As we began looking for a house to stay and continue the ministry here, I
returned to Mumbai on 20th morning, to see mail and be with our church here
for some days.
 At Hussain sagar Lake |
 Busy traffic on Hyderabad roads |
 Sumptous Rice plate- cheap! |
 My old college mate with his family |
 Angel at Hebron, showed me the city |
At Hebron of late bro. Bakht singh |
 The room where Bakht singh lived |
 The room where Bakht singh spent last days |
Observations and Needs to Pray for: Though
there are many Christians in the south India compared to north india, the
faith is very superficial. Due to a lot of social work being done by so many
organizations, people are so used to get help , easy money and free food etc,
hardly anybody is interested to spend anything from his own to learn God'sWord.
Pastors are always asking fo rmoney to arrange meetings and people want free
food and books to attend meetings. Many foreigners visit and provide all these
free and so it has beocme like a tradition or culture in this state. Spiritual
life adn God's work are commercialised. So many, uneducated and less qualified
are in the minsitry and going round asking for money. There is no sound teaching
or disciplemaking happening here. So as I observed closely and interacted
with several leaders, youth and common believers, I came to see the
following needs:
- pure gospel preaching, systematic teaching, caring for the new believers,
equipping with skills for effecitve ministry, motivating young people to reach
their own friends, colleagues etc.
- organising regular fellowship-cell group, meetings for youth at different
areas to offer counsel/ guidance, help develop personal lives, and to become
useful to the Lord, using their own resources God has given them.
- through these youth fellowships to conduct public seminars for youth in
the city, to touch them with God's love and build them on God's Word.
To meet these needs, we plan to hire a place so I can stay and be available to meet people and also go round ministering to the youth as given above. Already search is on for suitable place and we trust the Lord to provide for all the needs to establish a quality disciplemaking ministry in this strategic state in south India that will enable us to do the same in other states too. Your prayers and partnership are highly appreciated. God bless you. A. Othniel
© 2008. A.Othniel. All Rights Reserved.