So here’s the deal, we’re leaving this place and I’m not ready to go. Not that I am ever ready to go. If you’ve read any of my blogs from past countries, you’ll see this reoccurring theme. But India is different. God has taught me so much about what it looks like to worship Him with complete abandon and freedom, to love a fellow brother with the absolute acceptance of Christ, and to be a woman of God who is proud to stand in the background and allow men to take ownership and authority in leading the body and the church.
To say that India has changed me is a vast understatement.
And to be completely honest, it is for the most part due to the brothers who are a part of Covenant Worship Center. This past month, I have watched these men serve with their whole hearts, abandoning cultural expectations and demands, to be a part of God’s work in Hyderabad through the worship school.
Here’s one story of a man in the Covenant Worship Center…
Jeevan is the Principal of the Covenant Worship School and incredibly gifted in teaching. One class he leads at the school is a question and answer session. Through this, Jeevan creates an environment that is unheard of outside the walls of CWC. He is willing to answer any question that his students bring to him, in an attempt to bring clarity and strength to their faith and understanding of God’s word. Jeevan’s argument is that once they have answers for their questions, they will be able to go out into the world with authority. Typically pastors refuse to touch the subjects that Jeevan’s students have questions about; this leaves them susceptible to false teachings. Particularly in Andra Pradesh, there are cults rising up all around the state. Therefore it is essential for believers to know the truth of what God tells his people so they themselves are not led astray and so they can lead their churches and communities in it as well. When Jeevan was asked how he could always have answers to all these questions, he confidently stated that “God always has the answers”.
This is just one example of the amazing men that I proudly call brothers enlightening their country in how to have a more intimate and genuine relationship with our Father.
When I first joined them in serving India, I was absolutely blown away by their ability to lead each other and the communities we visited. These are the most passionate, humble, wise and authority-bearing men I have ever had the honor of working alongside.
Not only are they all of these Godly characteristics, but most of these men are in their early twenties!
Jeevan, the principal mentioned before, is 23 years old!! And the pastor for the school is 20 years old. When I found out their ages I nearly fell out of my chair. I couldn’t fathom that these men were my same age and even younger! How could they speak with the authority of God and hold such powerful influence when they have barely lived 20 years? I couldn’t believe it at first, but then I thought about it for a while. God promises to equip the called, not call the equipped, and age is never an issue when God plans to use someone. In 1 Timothy 4:12 it says, “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for others in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity”. These men are doing these things in complete obedience, so of course God has given them wisdom and authority far beyond what is to be expected from their age.
These are my brothers; Benjamin Button’s in the flesh. They may look young, but really they are filled to overflowing with wisdom that for most people takes decades of living to acquire. But unlike Benjamin Button they are far from dying. In fact they are just beginning to discover the plans God has for them and India…
If you want to check out what those plans entail, check out their website!
Also, check out their music in iTunes! They’re really good. My team and I may even be featured in their new album coming out soon!!
