GCOD Program and Comments of Participants

The Programme: Began daily at 7.30 am with breakfast. At 8 am devotions with singing and sharing, followed by the teaching session at 8.30am. At 10am tea break and then again session upto 12.30. Then lunch and rest upto 2pm. Afternoon group discussions at 2.30pm after sometime of singing. Then at 3.30pm session of teaching. Free-time after tea break at 5pm. Again evening session at 6.30 to 7.45pm, followed by dinner at 8pm. Videofilmshow at 9pm.
Maintaining time and discipline was part of the training.
I taught in Telugu and bro. Santosh translated into Hindi.
The teaching focussed on: how to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus. The Discipling Patterns of Jesus and Paul. How to Make disciples (stages). How to Prepare and preach a Message (Homiletics). Workshop on How to write and share personal testimony. Self-examination. How to face challenges in life (for youth) and also group discussions on evangelism and discipling.
Night videofilmshows were on "A Thief in the Night"(about the second coming) and "A Candle in the Dark" (on William Carey).

The Participants: Although planned for pastors, elders and other leaders, many youth, students and believers attended as they were hungry for the Word of God. Altogether there about 75 participants. Some of them could not even pay the reg.fees as they were very poor.They came from different churches and different villages, walking, or cycling and by buses. Some are illiterate and some were qualified with BA, MA and BD, MDiv, etc. Some were in secular jobs, and others in full-time ministry. Most of them spoke Telugu, some spoke Hindi and others Marathi. All enjoyed the three-days program as this was the first such program to bring them all together and to help them learn so many truths. All testified how they were blessed by the teaching at this conf.
Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to Bros. David, Anil, Santosh, Alex and other brothers who were instrumental in arranging this program.
Here are some of the comments of the participants

"By listening to God's Word, I got good practice of how to share the gospel and teach others. I liked most the Biblestudy on how to be Victorious in life. I have decided to tell others about Jesus and also make them disciples." (Hindi)

"The program is good because we learned how to be disciples of the Lord as well as how to make others His disciples. Earlier, I was not knowing how to serve the Lord, but in these 3 days meetings, I have learned to become His disciples and make disciples too." (Telugu)

"These three days have been wonderful, as I have learned so many things: how to prepare and preach a message which I was not knowing, how to share gospel and make disciples. Esp. I have decided to use the notes given to teach others and serve the Lord in whatever way I can."(Marathi)

"Before this, nobody ever taught me on how to be a disciple! During these three days what I have learned to about becoming and making disciples, is very useful to me in the ministry I am doing. I have to become a disciple and also make others disciples. So far in these areas, nobody taught us these truths. But you have taught us so many truths." (Telugu)

"I liked the teaching on Jesus and Paul's pattern of making disciples. On the whole the program was conducted very well. We enjoyed the three days and have been edified much by the Word. I got a desire to make more disciples for the Lord." (A Telugu Evangelist)

"Here I liked the word of God much, and learned how to make disciples, and how to prepare and preach a message. Also, the teaching for the youth. In future, I want to do according to God's Word, and practice all these teachings. I enjoyed the three days fellowship with people from different churches and places. I like to maintain the same love in future too." (Hindi)

"The Word of God was taught very well. I was very glad to hear the teachings from the Word of God. In future, I'll learn the truths and do God's work. I have decided to live according to God's Word. From the videofilms, I have understood that the time is short and I have burden on my heart to do God's work." (Marathi)

Go to see the Photos here
This is how many have been blessed by these meetings. From these meetings, it is clear that the need is so great to prepare the workers with right training and send them into the harvest fields. As the church grows in the remote villages, each one has to be discipled to improve their quality of life and effectiveness in ministry, as per Colossians 1:28-29. Let us pray and do whatever we can to share in the end-time harvest.
Thank you so much for your partnership in making disciples of all nations.

Together with you,
A.Othniel