An enemy of the Cross became a disciple of Christ/A native missionary on deathbed restored to life/Martyred for Christ in Maharashtra/Tribal children eating the crumbs alongwith dogs

MIRACLES IN INDIAN MISSION FIELDS

MIRACLES OF FEEDING HIS CHILDREN BY THE GOD OF ELIJAH

One Apostle P.G.Vargis was serving the Lord in a town called Katra in the Jammu & Kashmir State of India. Below are some of his testimonies showing that the God of Elijah was feeding him and his family by miracles.

Let us read what Mrs.Vargis tells us about the miracles of kerosene oil and of mangoes.

In our kitchen, I noticed that the stock of kerosene oil used for the stove was depleting. I informed my husband P.G.Vargis about this. He at once prayed and drained the remaining quantity of kerosene oil from the barrel, poured it in a bottle and gave it to me. Like this, for 13 days, to our great surprise, he daily gave me one bottle of kerosene oil. On the 13^th day, we received a money order for Rs.25/-. As usual, after a prayer, I tried to drain the kerosene oil from the barrel. However, to our surprise, there was not a drop of kerosene oil in the barrel. At that time, the Lord spoke to us, “I have sent you the money for buying the kerosene oil. You can now but it.”

One day, I took my children to the market for buying some provisions for our kitchen. On seeing the fragrant mangoes in a fruit shop, my younger son expressed his desire for eating one mango. Since I had no money, I had to shed tears in my secret chambers.

After two weeks, a friend of my husband working in Kuwait requested my husband to buy 3 boxes, each containing 5 kilograms of mangoes, so that, he, on his return from the vacation in the State of Kerala, South India, could visit us and collect the mango boxes for taking them to Kuwait. One kilogram of such mangoes cost Rs.18/-. What happened? As usual, my husband’s friend visited us on his way back to Kuwait. He informed us that since the Govt. of Kuwait had imposed certain restrictions on the import of food-grains, etc, owing to the outbreak of Cholera in Kuwait, he was not in a position to take these boxes to Kuwait. As such, he gifted these three boxes of Mangoes to us. My son wanted to eat one mango but the Lord gave him three boxes of mangoes.

Let us read what Mr.Vargis tells us about the miracle of feeding his family

One day, we had no enough food to eat. Next day also, we had no food. We could not bear the pangs of hunger. I fell on the ground and cried unto the Lord. I shed tears, wondering as to why we should suffer hunger, despite the fact that I was serving Him sincerely. Next day, some people of God visited our house at 11.00 a.m. There were 11 persons including us. We were left with only 200 grams of rice. However, the people of God had brought two kilograms of meat. On that day, we all had a sumptuous meal. We praised God for that miracle.

The above are the testimonies of a couple who dedicated their lives to the propagation of the gospel in the places unreached by the gospel in the North India. Today God has blessed this couple with a great apostolic ministry in India. You can read the latest message of Dr.P.G.Vargis below.

Please visit their website at http://www.pgv.com and http://ietmissions.org

Dear friends,

Greetings in the sweet and matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ who said: “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27).

When I was in the school, I acted in dramas and I enjoyed it. When I stepped out of the Army uniform into a world of uncertainties to be a full time minister in October 1972, I was frightened, but I put on a front and acted as if I was not afraid.

Walking by faith

Though this was not easy, at the same time I also enjoyed the thrill of making experiments with God. I selected Katra, as our promise land. I went there to rent a house before I took Lilly, my wife, and Aby, our 10 month old son. I walked up and down town looking for a room. Rooms were plenty but no one wanted to give it to a Christian, because they are regarded as outcasts. After hours of walking up and down I was standing by the roadside with a blanket in one hand and a bundle of Christian literature in the other hand. I was sad and said: “Lord, this morning when I left home, You told me that You are going ahead of me. If You were here, You would not walk like this. You would go straight to the room which could be rented. Where is that room You have found for me? Show it to me so that poor Vargis does not have to walk.”

Then a man from the other side of the street asked me, “Sir, do you need a room?” I could not believe my ears. I had walked for hours on every high way and byway of that small town and no one gave me a room. Now here was a man asking me if I wanted a room from the other side of the road. He took me to a restaurant, bought me a glass of hot milk and went away. He came back later saying that he had found two rooms and I could select one. Now I had a choice - but only when God intervened.

My ministry from that day on was and is a series of unbelievable miracles. His provisions are just like the stories from the book of Exodus. One thing I know - He walked with me from that day and I am quite sure He still walks with me. IET is the proof that Jesus is alive and He is with us - every day - to provide all our needs.

A few years later, we did not have food in our home. We did not have a mission or a church to back us. So we decided to communicate with our mission HQ in heaven. There was no provision that day. Next morning, when I opened the door, I saw Mr. Joseph sitting on our doorstep with his bedding. He told me that he too had resigned from the Army and had come to join me in the ministry. I explained, as we sat on a wooden box - we did not have any furniture - that I did not have even a cup of tea to offer. I suggested that he can join some other organization, which could give him regular support. Joseph said, “When you will have a chapatti (Indian pancake like bread) you can give half to me.” I took his hand in my hand and made a promise. That is the policy of IET even today. What ever we have is divided equally. More men came, a few to start with but then our Timothy's came .

IET Today

Now we are a mission with 1136 full time workers. People wonder and I wonder. How did IET became such a large mission organization? It is one big mission organization with twelve or more smaller mission organizations within it.

What is the secret of IET's success?

Prayer Partners

Let me say it in a few simple words - YOU - Our prayer partners. We have people who tell us that they pray for us even if they forget to pray for their own children. There are Christians in Saudi Arabia who kneel down to pray when the Muslims kneel to pray - five times a day, wherever they are. There are churches and families who keep the map of India or our family picture or the photo of a worker of their choice and pray faithfully. Let me say a big THANK YOU for your prayer support.

Finances

The finances came from the people of God. We are non-denominational, but full gospel in doctrine. But our supporters are people from every denomination. Some gifts are very small - four 25 APIs coins a women gave me at Kottayam. She ran a village tea stall. Her gift was the price of four cups of tea. A cent given by a child in the US after I spoke in the children's church. Rs 2 a widow gave me when she could not afford a square meal. I recall the golden necklace a sister gave me which was a gift from her mother. Some were small and sacrificial. Some large gifts from people with large hearts. Large or small - it all came from God through His people.

Encouragement

Those who encouraged me - with words or letters. Only heaven can declare how important they were to me. I felt like quitting when the opposition was unbearable, criticism and false rumours piercing and hurting - the needs many and no solution visible. But at that time I got a telephone call, a letter, some kind of communication, or a prophecy - it lifted my spirit, gave me the strength and the assurance that I could make it. It came from people like you. Leadership Team

There are 18 Senior and 30 Junior leaders in my mission. I am a man, who is totally captivated by the vision to REACH THE UNREACHED AT ANY COST. I have several leaders who are possessed by the same vision for the whole nation or their God-given area. They move so fast that it is very difficult to keep up with them. You will see these visionaries, my heroes, in the pages to come. I am what I am and IET is what IET is, because of these leaders.

Co-Labourers

God gave me very dedicated and hard working co-labourers. I am not the only one working - they are the real workers. I motivate them, stand with them and raise the money for them. That is all I do. But they work and because of their hard work, IET has grown to the become the largest church planting mission in India. IET ministers in the field do not sleep in their homes for many days but travel with the gospel on foot, bicycles or on the roof of trucks.

Sister Organizations

My co-workers, Sister organizations. I am blessed to have the support and blessings from sister organizations within the nation and abroad. They came and taught my co-workers, stood with me and gave me total co-operation whenever I asked for it, irrespective of denominational or organizational differences. My friends.

To GOD be the glory

Finally, the important most factor - GOD. He stood with me and it is because of Him that all the above factors put together are possible. It simply pleased the Lord to use IET and me. Do not look for charisma or secret in us. The verse I have quoted in the opening paragraph says - God did it and NO ONE else - absolutely no one gets any credit for it. So we give all the glory to Him and HIM ALONE.

A very small beginning - I landed at Katra on October 30. Lilly and Aby joined me on November 6th , 1972. Today there are 1136 missionaries almost all over India including the Andamans Islands and two neighbouring countries, Nepal and the Bhutan border. We thank God. We thank you. We request you to stand with us in the days to come to reach our dream - 2000 churches by AD 2000.

Our intention is to see a Christian in every village where there are no Christians. We will do all we can do to see this dream fulfilled. We will pay any price, necessary. Stand with us, please. Together we can see India reached with the gospel. It can be done and we can do it together.

Yours to count on to see that India is evangelized,

Brother P. G. Vargis

Dr Vargis's Personal Testimony

My salvation is a miracle. I have no idea why God saved me? In the army camp of Kashmir where I was stationed, there were thousands of soldiers and I was one of the ten worst characters there. There were better individuals than I - more religious, from better families - with greater abilities.

I was a Havildar (Sergeant) but I never commanded even a small group. I never spoke in public or wrote. I was good just at drinking, smoking, gambling, fighting and my clerical job, but it pleased the Lord to save me.

Mary's Example

I know I am like Mary on the way to the tomb of Jesus in the dark. (John 20) There are several reasons why she should not go out to the tomb.

1. It is dark.

2. The tomb is far away and outside the city. It is not safe for a woman to go at that hour.

3. There are no men with her.

4. The disciples are not going? If the disciples, who had the moral responsibility to go, are not going, why should she ?

5. They are going to a burial place. Asians are afraid of burial grounds and spirits even during the day. Is she not afraid? She could be?

6. The burial ground is guarded by Roman soldiers. Soldiers anywhere in the world do not respect women. It is not safe for the women .

7. She could have gone in the morning. It was a matter of a few hours. But she is in a hurry to go to the body of Jesus.

8. If someone will see her going in the dark there could be a scandal and affect her future (maybe her marriage prospects) and her family reputation. Yet she risked every thing and she went.

9. There was a stone at the mouth of the tomb. Who would roll the stone away? It looked impossible because the stone had a Roman seal over it.

10. She ran back from the tomb to the disciples when she found that the body of Jesus was stolen. In the days of Jesus an unmarried girl did not run through the street. She ran the whole distance - which is difficult because of the steep climb and on the return, the steep descent and the rough road. Two of the disciples ran to the tomb and she followed - running?

Why did she ran like that? If you had asked her she would have shrugged her shoulders and said: "Why? I just love Him."

GOD's Love Constraineth me - the reason WHY

People ask me the same question ever since I was saved. (October 1, 1971)

Within three months people saw me in my Army uniform in front of my army unit, in the nearby army barracks, streets, the cinema halls, bus stops, hospitals and everywhere, with bags full of tracts and gospels in various Indian languages. When I was distributing literature and preaching on the street, risking my career and inviting trouble, people asked me why. Why was I visiting other military camps, hospitals and nearby villages distributing Christians literature after work?

After one year, when I applied for discharge from the Army, the officers were angry. Why was I leaving a well paid job with security and a bright future? If I would wait for three years I would get life-long pension from the Government. Why did I want to leave the service so soon? Was I going to get better pay and facilities?

When my father decided to divide our family inheritance among my brothers and leave me nothing, I smiled and said that whatever I had earned in my twelve years of Army service was at his disposal and I asked him to divide that among my brothers. He asked why I was not interested in the wealth of this world?

I had a small plot of land in my village and because my village did not have a church I gave it to a Christian organization to construct a church there. When I asked my father's permission to do so he was upset and angry. He asked, “Suppose you die today, what will happen to your wife and child? Where will they go? Why do you act like a fool?”

When I left the Army, I got a considerable amount and people advised me to invest it for the future of my son. I did not want to do so because I wanted to live a life by faith. My pastor suggested that we buy some land in our mission station with that money. I did not want to do so because one day my kids or I may boast or claim that the foundation is money. I gave away all the service benefits I got by writing cheques to various Christian ministries in one evening.

Katra

We ventured to our first mission station, Katra, a Hindu pilgrim centre. There were no Christians there and we had no money in our pockets. In one year we baptised 100 new converts, becoming the largest evangelical church of that state. In three years we had over twelve daughter churches. In five years we purchased some land and had the money for a building.

Pathankot

Then I felt in my Spirit to move to another pioneer station, Pathankot, to expand the work and start a Bible school. When I left the flourishing church and property, people asked me, why?

At Pathankot we were growing fast. We planted churches like mushrooms. We trained new believers for the ministry and sent them two by two to places where there was no church. God gave us four acres of land, a large Bible school with all the facilities and a good living accommodation, a vehicle, and the respect of the town. When I walked through the street, aged people would stand up and come to me. When the MLA saw me on the street, he came out and touched my feet - a way of giving reverence in the Indian tradition.

Delhi

Again I felt the cloud moving and I followed. I came to Delhi to live in a onerous building. People asked, "Why?" Rev John Osteen helped us to buy the four acres of land at Pathankot. He insisted that it must be purchased for Lilly and kids, because it was a personal gift from his family to us. I did not want property for me or my family. Even if I will have a house, it will be after I will leave the position of the President of the mission. When people hear that, they ask: "WHY?"

Rev John Osteen gave us the money to construct a house in Delhi for our living accommodation. I gave to that beautiful building to the mission. Again the people asked, "WHY?"

Even today, I have no insurance or savings for me or my family, no property and no house. The Lord has given billions of rupees in my hands in the past 25 years. Many times it was for my family but always I put it in the mission fund. People sent money to the mission and designated money partially to my family. We very seldom took any money from it. We invested it in the ministry. Only the money sent to Lilly, clearly stating that it is for our family, went in to our family account. I never gave anything to my relatives. I did not keep any thing for me or my kids. I spent every thing in God's work all over North India.

When I needed money, I never took money from the mission. Never. My daughter got admission in a medical college in Latur and she was asked to pay Rs 1,40,000 fees (Non Resident Indian quota) lump sum for the first year. It was a tempting offer but I did not take money from the mission. I did not write to our supporters.

I have always believed in prosperity, yet I also believe in a simple living. That is what I see in Jesus . I slept on the floor on a plastic mat till we were given a bed. Then a sister sent a double bed to our home. Till then I used my hands for a pillow. We did not have a dining table. I cut my own hair (no one in India does it) to save a few rupees so that I could buy two new testaments with the money.

Once while travelling in second-class ordinary compartment in the train, my bank manager travelling in the first-class air conditioned coach, asked me why I was travelling in the overcrowded and filthy second class coach. I said, because there is no third class. I am happy to ride a motor scooter in Delhi. People ask me why I do not buy a car? Why such a simple life? Why this sacrificial life? WHY? When we were living in poverty, my child cried for an egg, my wife wore torn clothes - we received an invitation from a middle east country to take over a church with about 1000 Pakistani Christians. A house, a car, visa was all included. I did not even pray over it. I tore that letter into small pieces, and scattered it in the air. Why?

Yes, I answer like Mary. There is only one reason - I love Him. I love Him so much that His passion is my passion, His ministry is my ministry and the fulfilment of His compassion is my desire and joy. In that I forget every other thing. I sleep in my home for less than 90 days a year. This year it will be less than 60 days. I know that it is not good for me or my family, but when someone invites me to preach the gospel, to talk about India, how can I say that I want to be with my family and so I cannot come. I love Him and feel his pulse for the souls.

But see how good He is to me and my family. I am not educated. I have passed 10th grade. I joined a technical school (Poly Technic) but ran away. I did not go to a Bible school to study. I left my home at the age of nineteen, and joined the army. I speak Hindi and have lost touch with my mother tongue Malayalam.

English

When I became a Christian, I could not speak English well. One day I went to hear an American preacher and I did not understand anything he said. I prayed to Jesus to teach me English - not to go to a Western country but to go all over India and tell the people that Jesus is a good God. In India if one can speak in English he can preach anywhere in this large country with over 200 languages with the help of an interpreter. I promised, “Lord if you will help me to speak in English I will go all over India.” I further promised that I would not go abroad till I have visited 12 states of India.

The Lord blessed me. He taught me English. I kept my promise. I went to twelve states of India and preached the gospel before I went to Singapore in 1984. The Lord blessed me further. I have been to many other countries- thirty three so far - preached in churches - large and small and conducted small and large crusades. I have had the privilege to share the platform with great men of God like John Osteen, Kenneth Hagin, T.L Osborn, R. W. Schambach, K.P Yohannan, Paul Yongi Cho, Peter Yengren, Hal Oxley, Peter Morrow, Alan Vincent, D. G. S. Dhinakaran....

A Writer

Once I found the verse where it is written, “Son of man, write.” I dared to believe Him and wrote. I wrote one book. Then another and now I have written many books. Most of them are best sellers in India. And several of them have been translated into several languages. I started to publish quality magazines in several languages of India and English. The Lord graciously gave me two awards one for publishing quality books and the second or influencing the generation through literature. As of today I have been to thirty three countries preaching the gospel. I have had the privilege to sit with Kings, presidents of the countries and great men of God. How did it ever become possible? Faith Publications

We started a publication wing in the late 1990s. We have published books by great men of God including Derek Prince, John Osteen and Paul Yongi Cho into several Indian languages. The Lord encouraged me to publish magazines to share the truth He is revealing to His children all over to the word to the Christians in India. I took this challenge and now we are publishing quality magazines in four languages -Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu and English.

IET - Church Planting Mission

Indian Evangelical Team is today the largest church- planting mission in India with 1136 missionaries, having planted 886 Churches in North India. People ask me how this has become possible. I cannot explain it. Let me simply say - the Lord did it. As I worked, filled with irresistible love, He smiled at me and all this became a reality. I give all the glory to God.

My salvation is a miracle. My Christian life is a miracle. But Jesus is the miracle worker. Above all He gave me a wonderful family who stand with me to see my dream and vision is fulfilled. Their lives are a series of miracles and you may rejoice reading their testimonies in the following pages. I rededicate my life today - the day I am completing 25 years in the ministry, to serve Him with the same zeal and faithfulness with only one aim - reach the unreached at any cost. I am today 55 years old. I am asking God to give me long life - to serve Him planting churches where there is no church, training young men and women for the pioneer work, to write books which will outlive me, bringing glory to my Saviour. I also ask Him good health as long as I live, so I will be able to travel to the unreached villages, and people groups as I have done in the past 25 years. I also ask Him to give me money needed for my ministry to preach, publish books, train men, plant churches.

My Prayer

"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek : that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock." Ps 27:4,5.

My Desire

That I may live a full Christian life as an example for the coming generation. When I die let others say, as was said about David in Acts 2.

Brother P. G. Vargis

An enemy of the Cross became a disciple of Christ

Roben of Ratephpur village was practicing witchcraft for the past 30 years. When three families accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior, he hated them and even planned to beat up our missionaries. Last month, he had an attack of Malaria fever which left him terribly weak. He tried all kinds of black magic and witchcraft to get rid of this disease. But he could not get any relief. He also invited the witch doctors living in the nearby villages and sought their help to heal him. But they were of no help. Consequently his health became worse and his kidneys failed. So he was taken to the hospital and the doctors gave up all their hope. Finally, he called our believers one night and asked them to pray for him. Within four hours of the prayer, he began to realize that his kidneys started functioning. With faith on Jesus, he requested the believers again to pray for his healing. When they did so, he was completely healed. Having been touched by this miracle, he accepted the Lord and confessed his faith along with his family on 21^st January, 2004.

(Courtesy: Friends Focus – April 2004)

A native missionary on deathbed, abandoned by doctors, restored to life!

John Dev Singh, a native missionary of Indian Missionary Society, serving the Lord in Dhanora, Maharashtra State, India, had an attack of stroke which resulted in paralysis of one side of his body and he was admitted to a hospital in a town called Brahmapuri. The doctors diagnosed his illness as brain hemorrhage, gave up their hope of saving his life and predicted his imminent death. The doctors also told the people of God who brought him to the hospital that even surgery would not save his life and advised his immediate transport to his village on the ground that transport of his “dead” body would cost them more than that of his live body. So they decided to shift him to his village much before he died. Then they brought a vehicle, and committed him into the hands of God through prayers. After they brought him home, a miracle happened. John Dev Singh recovered from brain hemorrhage and started walking. Let us praise God for this miracle in the life of His servant.

(Courtesy: The Missionary Intelligencer – December 2004)

Martyred for Christ in Maharashtra, India

James Madavi was an ardent believer. He was pestered by some people of a Hindu fundamentalist group for giving a donation to their gods. But he refused to give money to them for the purpose. On 7-10-2004, James Madavi participated in a cottage prayer meeting conducted by the missionaries of Indian Missionary Society in his house. The enemies of the Cross came there and created a ruckus. One of them hit James Madavi on his head with a stick. James Malavi fell unconscious. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital. Since the treatment in the nearby hospital failed, he was rushed to a big hospital in Nagpur where he succumbed to his injuries. Let us pray for the salvation of those who killed James Madavi.

(Courtesy: The Missionary Intelligencer – December 2004)

Tribal children eating the crumbs along with dogs - A vision becomes a mission in Indi mission field, Karantaka

During 1979, Rev.N.Christy Chakravarthi of Indian Missionary Society was on the way in a bus to a village in the Indi Mission field, Karnataka. State. When the bus stopped at a particular place for allowing the passengers to take their breakfast in a restaurant, he also alighted the bus and took his breakfast in that restaurant. Near the restaurant’s dustbin where the uneaten wastages of the food used to be thrown away, he saw some dogs eating the same. In the midst of these dogs, to his surprise, he saw some hungry children belonging to a native tribe vying with the dogs to eat the crumbs. Upset on seeing this ghastly scene, Rev.Chakravathi shared this message in a church at Bangalore city. One of the church members came forward to donate funds for the establishment of a hostel for these children. Accordingly, a hostel was built for the purpose. Many people of God came forward to sponsor these children with their donations. Today, 50 tribal children are accommodated in the hostel. Let us praise God for the vision of Rev.Chakravarthi at the restaurant in 1979.

(Courtesy: The Missionary Intelligencer – December 2004)