December 2009 – Family and Ministry Update
Dear prayer partners,
We Wish All Our Prayer Partners A Blessed, Productive and Prosperous New Year
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and your mails whole of the year 2009. We trust to move forward with His grace and guidance.
Writers’ Vision Workshop
God enabled us to conduct one more Writers’ Vision Workshop to challenge, motivate and mobilize people to write. Ramanathan was resource person along with me.
Christ and New Generation Youth
God was gracious to remove all road blocks and the book is in the printing press. It would be available for distribution in the first week of January 2010.
National Prayer Network (NPN)
NPN leaders from many states in India gathered together to share what God is doing in various parts of this country and also to plan for next three years.
Christmas programmes
Lord enabled me to open opportunities for me to share the Christmas message in various places. I shared in the Mission Educational Books (MEB), Christian Assembly, Operation Harvest Hindi Outreach in two places and in Aasharaya Christmas celebration.
Highlights of 2009
1. God enabled us to complete 25 years of ministry. God also helped us to book a home and office flat in an upcoming building project in suburb Chennai.
2. School of leadership was conducted in Chandigarh, Chennai, Kolar Gold Fields, Chikaldara, Oddanchatram and Akola
3. Writers’ Vision Workshop is a new ministry that has been pioneered with Ramanathan.
4. Chennai Insights: God enabled Rajkumar, Ramanathan and myself to launch a new Christian urban monthly magazine from October 2009.
5. Christ and Missional Leaders: My book was translated into Tamil and Hindi; printed and distributed among Christian leaders.
6. Hindi ministries in Chennai: God pioneered this innovative ministry in September 2008, now many organizations and churches has taken this challenge and there are over 20 worship groups in Chennai city.
7. Christ and New Generation Youth: God enabled me to write the fourth major book that is being printed and would be released in the first week of January 2010.
8. Rosy was able to visit US and Canada along with me.
9. Hosanna had health set back, but God has healed her and she will go in January first week to Belarus to continue her study. She had an opportunity to go to Singapore for the South Asia Connection conference.
10. Thambos visited US in April, preparing for his school final exam in 2010. He is at cross roads to discern God’s will for his future career.
11. God gave me the privilege to travel to US, Canada and Columbia to minister in various capacities.
12. There were many articles that were published in various magazines, web publications and books.
Partners
We need committed leaders to be our partners in the ministry. We need volunteers to help us in our research, managing website and helping in preparation of study materials. Volunteers need not be located in Chennai, they could be from any part of the world. We also need donors and supporters for sustain our family and ministry.
Please pray for our family finances. Our support for the past seven years has remained the same, while the cost of living has raised much; with inflation. We request you to pray and also support us regularly. Also recommend our ministries to friends who could be our prayer partners and sponsors.
You can send your contribution to any one of the accounts: J.N. Manokaran, HDFC Bank, Madipakkam Branch, Chennai: Account No: 011110000 30570 Or Rosia Selvi, ICICI Bank, Kilpauk, Chennai: Account Number: 027801 500223 Or mail cheque in the name of one of the names to: J.N. Manokaran, 6B1 Doshi Flats, 59 Chetty street, Ayanavaram, Chennai 600023, India
Please visit the website: http://glocalleadersnetwork.com/main/
Yours in His Vineyard,
J.N. Manokaran
Upcoming schedule
2010
3 January New India Christian Assembly, Chennai
4 -6 January Andaman visit with Saji Lukos
9 January CBSI, Chennai
11-15 January CARE Counseling Institute, Secunderabad
13 January Secunderabad Writers’ Vision Workshop
16 January National Prayer Network Board Meeting
23 January Missionary Conference, Jubilee Memorial Bible College
24 January Writers’ Vision Workshop, Ayanavaram, Chennai
26, 27 January Hyderabad, IMA Vision City
30 January Bangalore Writers’ Vision Workshop
1 February Power2Change, Chennai
2-5 February Nasik School of Leadership
5,6 February Nasik Professionals meet
7 February Nasik Writers’ Vision Workshop?
12 February Urban India Ministries, Bangalore
17 February Ash Wednesday
19 February Plainsboro bible study
21 February Tamil Gospel church, New Jersey
24 February Church of Holy Spirit, Illinois
27 February Writers’ Vision Workshop, Chicago
4-11 April London, Living Word Missionary Church
10-13 April CFCC, Bangalore, Contemporary Missions
26-29 April National Prayer Network conference, Theni
5-7 May Colombo, GLOMOS
13-15 May Kolkata, GLOMOS
17-19 May Kalimpong, GLOMOS
24-28 May Summer School of Leadership, Chennai
12-14 August CFCC, Bangalore
4-8 October National – City leaders training, Chennai/Hyderabad
14-16 October IBL, 60th anniversary, National Conference
16-25 Oct Third Lausanne Congress, Cape Town, South Africa
12 Nov Mission India Board meeting, Nagpur
29 Nov-
5 December Centre For Contemporary Christianity, M.Th. Classes
Wonder, Worship and Witness
J.N. Manokaran
Christmas season is one of the great celebrations in the planet earth. It is celebration around the world in various countries, cultures, languages, and races. Sadly, a majority of the world population celebrate a ‘secular Christmas’; where Lord Jesus Christ is not the reason or centre. For children Santa Claus is the centre of attraction. For environmentalist tree is the centre of attraction. For gluttons, it is the cake and goodies the major aspect for Christmas. For musicians the carol is the thrilling aspect of Christmas. For young adventurous, carol rounds in the cold night is ‘cool’. Let me share what I think of Christmas. I would sum it up in three words: Wonder, Worship and Witness.
It is WONDER
I am awe struck to learn that God the Father sent his Son Jesus Christ to be born in an insignificant place – manger, in a cowshed, in a small town called Bethlehem (Luke 2:12). God could have planned it well, allowing the incarnation to happen in some luxurious palace, in a great city. But, the place was deliberately chosen so that even the marginalized humanity be comfortable to come to the Saviour. A luxurious place would have turned off many poor and under-privileged people.
Mary (Luke 1:29) and Joseph wondered too, how they were chosen. A teen age girl became the vehicle of incarnation. Not well educated, poor girl was chosen. I also wonder how I was chosen to become child of God. Do I deserve it? His grace compelled the Son of God to be born in Bethlehem. Christians are from all the spectrum, from least to greatest. Foolish by world standards but wise by God’s standards (I Cor 1:20-22).
For shepherds, it was a wonder to see an angel delivering a great message (Luke 2:10,11). Shepherds were considered as low in the social hierarchy and their profession is not highly rated. God visits people irrespective of their social or economic or political status. God intervened when they were doing their secular profession. He speaks to us in our own work contexts. God spoke when the shepherds were doing their night shift. Society forgets those who serve in the nights: watchmen, security personnel, drivers of trucks, trains, aeroplanes etc., nurses, doctors, BPO employees…etc.
I get my self-worth by His love that He came in search of me.
Call for WORSHIP
The response to Christmas or the birth of Christ is worship. The shepherds heard the message from the angel. They discussed among themselves and said, ‘let us go’ (Luke 2:15). They went and worshiped him. The Angel had said the child is: the Saviour, the Christ and the Lord (Luke 2:11). The child was one day old baby but Son of God, Lamb of God who will die on the cross of Calvary for the sin of humanity and rise again. So, He is the Saviour. The Jews were looking for the Messiah – the anointed one. In the Old Testament priests, prophets and kings were anointed. But, here is the Messiah who is greater than priests or prophets or kings. As creator God, the Son of God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is sovereign ruler of the universe. When we worship we acknowledge his sovereignty over our lives. The Wise men from the East also worshiped the new born king (Matthew 2:1).
Christmas is a call for me to acknowledge His Lordship and worship him. That means my whole life becomes worship. Whether I eat or drink, I have to do for the Glory of God.
Worship is my life priority and life style.
Mandate to WITNESS
After the shepherds worshipped, they spread the word (Luke 2:17). People, who heard their testimony, were amazed (Luke 2:18). It was spontaneous reaction to their Christmas experience. They were not trained or not motivated by reward, but they responded enthusiastically by spreading the word. The Christmas message of joy and peace was not just for the small audience of shepherds but for the whole humanity. So, they should not keep it to themselves, they have explode the message. That is what they did precisely.
I have my job description, to be witness and to make disciples of all nations. I am not supposed to keep silent. I cannot demarcate boundaries, for the message has to break all cultural, national, class, race, gender, race, age, economic, social barriers and spread the whole world. I have to become channel of that blessing.
Witness is my only life purpose.
Challenge
This Christmas makes me wonder again and again to understand how God loves me. It demands re-organization of my life – lifestyle of worship. Christmas gives me mandate to witness and take the gospel to the uttermost part of this earth.
