The Tide is Turning in Mumbai   

By Vinu Paul

Mumbai, India

I am grateful to God for the wonderful way he brought the churches in Mumbai to a new place. There is a new sense of excitement, expectation and faith in God. Here are the key changes that we have noticed.

Leaders pray and share:

Our once a month times of prayer and share as leaders has brought us to a new place of openness and togetherness. A key change that God has brought about among the church leaders in Mumbai is a sense of unity and mutual respect for one another and their spiritual gifts. The value of this cannot be overstated especially in the light of the crisis that took place four years ago. The Lord himself has worked this out and we believe has contributed greatly towards the blessing that is now flowing to the churches. Indeed, as the Psalmist says, ‘God commands the blessing when brothers dwell together in unity’ (see Ps. 133:1–3).

Churches @ prayer:

Every church has grown in the area of prayer and fasting, seeking God for help and direction. I see new zeal and passion for prayer in churches. Churches have given themselves to weeks of prayer and fasting.

Evangelism:

This is the other area where we have seen breakthrough. We have seen hundreds of visitors in our special gospel meetings. Over 100 people have responded to the gospel in the last two years and many have testified to being healed. I believe churches are responding to the renewed passion for the lost as we gear up for the first Mumbai Front Edge in December 2006.

Training:

Equipping Leadership Training Programme for emerging leaders, and Phase II for existing senior leaders, is another exciting development that has brought great strength amongst us. Over 25 men and women from Mumbai churches are participating in this multi-track training programme which has received much appreciation already. The first module of Phase II training for church leaders on Hermeneutics was a fantastic four days of learning together.

Work among the poor:

This work has seen a sea of changes in the past few years, but I must say the churches are now doing what they have faith and vision for, and the projects are moving forward as God sovereignly meets their needs.

Unity with the body of Christ in Mumbai:

In the last few years the charismatic and non-charismatic churches in Mumbai have experienced a coming together and a unity in which the Newfrontiers church leaders have played a key role. This has happened mainly through the Prayer Summit, which is a regular four-day gathering for prayer and a time of being filled with the Holy Spirit. During these Prayer Summits, barriers of division have come down and culminated recently in a joint prayer meeting, as part of the global day of prayer, where over 12,000 people gathered from across the churches for a glorious time of proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ over the city of Mumbai.

Terry and Matt Redman’s visit to the city was well received, not only by the Newfrontiers family but by the body of Christ at large. We witnessed a packed auditorium for two sessions of worship and Word. There is already a sense of expectation for Terry's next visit with Rambabu in January 2007.

Apostolic oversight:

This is another area where we have received help in moving forward. While this is still being out-worked, we are very grateful for the relational link with Guy Miller and his team and other brothers in the UK. They have brought invaluable teaching and direction, and an exposure to the leaders as we have related both in India and in the UK. Needless to say, friends from the Newfrontiers family, who have taught us on grace at various church camps, have made a world of difference.

I believe we are on the threshold of something big in GOD for this city and for this great nation of INDIA!