Amidst my travels and getting acquainted with India, I have had some wonderful opportunities to share the Gospel and minister to brothers and sisters here in this area. Wednesday afternoon, Sheila Massey invited me to her home to meet a group of people she is working with. Some are believers, some are not. They asked me to open the Word and share for a few moments. I opened to Romans 8, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." What a delightful time of fellowship and teaching. They seemed genuinely interested and attentive.

After tea and sweets, they all left. One man, John, remained behind. (The man on the far right of the picture.) He had been silent during the meeting. Now we sat together in the living room, just the two of us. He asked if he could talk more personally with me. "Of course," I replied.

This young man is a pastor of two house churches in the area. His life is difficult. He's married, but gets little encouragement from his wife. I asked if she was a believer. "Well, she's a Methodist," was all he said. I read between the lines to discern his message. He is doing what He can to follow God's will, yet gets no encouragement from his wife or her family. He feels very much alone.

We talked for more than an hour and I was able to ask questions about his church, his challenges, and his needs. We prayed together, and then he went off to his church meeting that evening.

I tucked his newsletter in my Bible with a promise to pray for him. I hope our time was encouraging to him. Our conversation reminded me of all those who minister faithfully in unseen and unpretentious places. They are faithful, in spite of the challenges and the difficulties.

Pray for John. Pray for others like him who serve faithfully without fanfare and very little notice. What a privilege to hear his stories, to encourage him, and share in his ministry.