The symposium in Guntur has begun. I don’t have an exact number, but looking into the crowd it seemed to be about 300 in attendance. Most are pastors and elders of area churches.
Each day begins with an Indian form of Matins. And each day ends with a form of Indian Vespers. And the music of both are the most upbeat version of these orders of worship I’ve heard!
In the evening, following dinner, I gathered with a handful of men to discuss how to create a new, residential seminary. The current model has worked as a bandaid, and has developed around 40 or so pastors, but it is unsustainable as it is for a number of reasons. The conversation was excellent and fruitful, and it CAN be done!
So, who wants to help start a seminary in India?!
While we are in Guntur, we’re staying in rooms at the Moriah School. It’s a private, residential school for disadvantaged children, teaching both academics and a love for Jesus. This is some sort of sand art on the ground; something we’ve seen in a number of places.In the street outside the Moriah School, neighbors are engaging in the festival of Boghi, a Hindu celebration. The sand art here is part of that, as is the burning (the smell of its smoke woke me up in the night). I was told that the idea is to empty your house and whitewash it, then have a swaami (a type of priest) bless it to cast out evil spirits to help ensure a good year. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about it:
“On Bhogi, people discard old and derelict things and concentrate on new things causing change or transformation. At dawn, people light bonfires with logs of wood, other solid-fuels, and wooden furniture at home that are no longer useful. This marks the end of the year’s accounts and the beginning of new accounts on the first day of the harvest on the following day.”More of the sand art outside a home.Here comes the swaami, making music and chanting as he goes.Arriving at the Symposium.The campus where the event is held is the home to a nondenominational organization, Hosanna Ministries International. It is a large space. The blue building is the main worship center where we are speaking.During one of the sessions.The dining hall at lunch time.Another session begins.Preaching at Vespers.A little girl named Pravalika. She’s a sweet little kindergartener.A new friend named Prakumar—he’s in first grade, like my daughter.Another sweet little child of God.My new friend David. He is a very joyful man! We prayed for his health and strength.What may be the birth of a seminary. The three men to my right are all professors who have ideas and visions on how to make a good thing better. Praise God for their faithfulness. They have a lot of work ahead of them!
