Rev. E. Anderson
ENCOURAGING OTHERS
Throughout life it is not only a choice thing to be blessed and used by God, it is also a glorious thing to bless others by the means of encouragement, especially to the up and coming generation. It is to be a rewarding ministry and exercise. God said to Abraham – ‘you will be a blessing and many will be blessed through you’ – genesis 12: 1-4.
A great character and Christian believer and minister, Barnabas, in the New Testament, became renowned in the earl Church for this particular gift and service. Many were to appreciate the input of his life, words and deeds into their lives. Amongst them was the great apostle Paul, his nephew, Mark, the writer of the second Gospel, the early believers, the church at Antioch, other churches etc.
Having had a long ministry for Christ, one has been enabled by God to serve and inspire others in some way, making a contributing to young men and women aspiring to Christian ministry and service. This has been a lasting blessing, to witness others impacted and inspired by personal love, care and spiritual input. Quite a number are now fulfilling a dynamic testimony for God and it is a pleasure to see them excelling in leadership and work. To know you have had a little part and role to play in their development and progress is gratifying.
It was whilst we were serving the Lord in a new challenging role at the Assemblies of God Bible College in Mattersey Hall that we were able to render some worthwhile service to the students who came from the UK and overseas to be taught and assisted in their divine calling. Well do we remember the day when Lawrence Livesey, a gracious, retired missionary from India brought a student from the place where he had formerly worked for the Lord in India. He was the son of one of his first converts. His name was david Prakasaam. How glad, grateful and rightly proud he was that day to see David enter our College.
His personal request to Joan and I was that we would seek to be parents to him seeing he was so far from home. It was to be a very challenging time for him coping with a new culture, weather conditions and food, plus the Bible course and teaching, and he needed fatherly and motherly care. Into our trust was put this precious life and ministry. A bond was created that has lasted for over thirty years. Investment into him has been worth all the commitment. At the time, little did we realise the latent potential that was to be break forth and become most patent.
His father and mother, Job, and Ruth, pioneered a tremendous number of churches in India. As David returned, he opened a Bible College, orphanages, a leper colony, churches etc., From the College hundreds of students have been trained and sent forth to open up new churches. He is now the director of the whole work and an excellent preacher/teacher. One can safely say he has apostolic vision, mission, passion and ministry that inspires and encourages countless others. His two sons, Chris and Terry are also now involved with him in the task along with a good and great wife, Ketzie.
It has been my privilege to visit India on at least 14 occasions and to relate to David and see the amazing things that God has wrought through him. One of the blessed experiences of my life is to preach with him being as interpreter. Somehow we just click and spiritually connect as we minister God’s Word. When I first went to the main church in Coimbatoire in the 1980’s there were 300 people, now they have a building that accommodates the congregation of over 3,000.
It has been a sheer delight to serve as an encourager to him throughout the years and to know that such has been worth it. There is so much more yet to be manifest through him and his two sons.
Take time out to look beyond yourself and see how best you get alongside someone else and give some positive assistance. You can be responsible in God for igniting, nurturing someone who is going to excel in their service for the Lord. As a consequence, you will have cause to thank God for giving your time, finance etc., in investing in lives and ministries that will advance Christ’s kingdom.
