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The Exodus India network!
2006 report
The OEW`ministry is not just about counselling and seminars but on trips, exercising by running, cycling, not exactly easy or safe in Asia and meeting people in gymnasiums such as Steve's Gym here in Bangalore, India). Move over Arnie- for Jesus!
Steve’s Gym, Coxtown, Bangalore, India is a not exactly high tech. Some weights are the old fixed standing type and there are a few computerised running machines T there is no air conditioning, just some fans and a few broken windows to keep you cool. Neither is it exactly ascetic, no plush carpets - just lino. As for the paint - well, the gyms support pillars are yellow, red, green and black. I expect his eight other gyms are the same. Yet maybe just the places where Arnie (Schwarztneger) developed his physique.
Clients are not your beautiful body, hugging designer clothes people; old shorts and tank tops are in abundance and one guy has a terrible growth on his face. Yet having been in sophisticated gyms in Australia and across Asia, there is something very different about this gym. Clients are friendly, talking to each other, smiling and actually helping me in my work out rather than narcissistically posing in mirrors! It feels like a warm, friendly, caring home where you actually matter. Not surprising - for Steve’s Gym is dedicated to Jesus, posters on salvation are around the walls and clients pumping iron have actually been lead to Jesus here! So that’s why the pillars are red - representing the "blood", green representing growth and creation, yellow representing the new heaven and earth and black representing sin.
Between 2000- 3000 decisions for Christ have been made in his gyms alone. Like Sukhminder, a Sikh, struggling with financial problems, got working out with a Manu, a Hindu convert to Jesus. Sukhminder told Manu of his problems who responded with, "lets pray about this." There was such a wonderful answer to prayer that Sukhminder wanted to know more and was lead to Christ! Zamin, a young muslim with a similar story was also lead to the Lord. When a Sikh or Muslim comes to Christ it costs them plenty - they could be thrown out of their home or rejected by their community!
Then Sunday it’s all change; the gym is closed. No pumping iron but rather pumping out praise as it is used as a church and Sunday school by the Asemblies of God Church, Coxtown!
Steve, now 41, who runs the gyms with younger brother Caleb Joshua 34, said that, while he is AOG, he lets his other gyms be used by any other church groups for services. "I first had the idea in 1985 while I was working out. Why not use a gym to reach other for Christ. So I did."
Its truly an incarnational setting - the gym is sacred ever day, as well as on Sunday for church services. He told how the AOG Church in Coxtown grew.
"We got so big that we had to hire a bigger floor above from the owners of the building." It is not surprising that they have also been lead to Christ by Steven and team!
Sunday I went with the vibrant outreach Power team, sporting "No to drink, drugs, smoking" t-shirts, where they did a presentation at a Church of South India Youth Conference, blowing up hot water bottles, breaking bricks, tearing up phone books (even the girls on the team do this). The results - all the 300 youth rose at the end to consecrate their lives to Jesus! Plans for the future are exciting. Along with brother Caleb Joshua,they want to do the equivalent of having sports chaplains in parks where hundreds of children /adults play soccer and cricket as well as a sports Bible college. So on your next ministry trip in India, when you have put on too much weight from long hours of sitting on planes, talking or ministering and endless eating, then go for a work out at Steve’s gym. It’s an inspiration.
www.stevesgym.com
INDIA 2006 REPORT - INDEPENDENCE DAY ANNIVERSARY AND FREEDOM IN CHRIST
We are called to make ways where there are no ways and work together to make breakthroughs even through the rooftops. Rev Augustine Jebkumar
www.imaindia.org/quotes.asp
Peter and Dot Lane were in India for a very short time, only 3 weeks visiting Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
They report: We were there on August 15th Indian Independence Day, when in 1946, after 200 years of British colonial rule, India became a sovereign independent nation. Even though there was concern over possible terrorist attacks, excitement and celebration was in the air for this 59th anniversary of independence.
We had the same joy over hearing the freedom that Dominic Dixon (Bangalore) had found in Jesus from his addictive lifestyles. Dominic is the newest member of the EXODUS ASIA PACIFIC:INDIA network, which was established Oct 2nd 2005, on the birthday of the founder of the nation Mahatma Ghandi. With the EAP India network barely a year old, there are now a total of 8 ministries/individuals partnering with us to reach the sexually broken from Chennai, Bangalore (2), Goa, Hyderabad (3) and Dehra Dun.
As well, it was good to catch up with some young men in Bangalore and Hyderabad we have been giving email counsel and support to, one of whom we have been able to refer to Dominic .
Saji and his wife Priya, living in Hyderabad are also a part of the network and spend some of their time helping at an HIV/Aids ministry. As well, Saji has been helping a young man who is struggling to overcome homosexuality. Read` Saji’s story on our web page. Saji, Pete and Dot spoke to 350 Young Adults at a Youth Alive Meeting in Hyderabad. Saji bravely gave his testimony and got a great response.
Read his testimony on our web page.
Other exciting news concerns our book: Setting the Captives Free
1. Operation Mobilisation (OM) have taken 300 copies for their bookstores across India
2. OM will consider translating the book intoHindi.
3. Our booklet "Keeping Your Way Pure" has been translated into Hindi and we will now look at getting it published
Thanks for your prayers for this trip – much was accomplished in a short time. Plans are being made to return to India in 2007.
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INDIA-NEPAL
CONTACTS
Exodus Asia Pacific: INDIA director
P. LANE
Regional office Brisbane, Australia
info@exodusasiapacific.org
tel. + 61 7 3371 4705
BANGALORE
Catholics Respect for Life India
respectlifeindia@hotmail.com
CHENNAI
sourcefamilycare@yahoo.co.in
DEHRA DUN
kfmcrae@yahoo.co.in
GOA
euban@sancharnet.in
Hyderabad
Care
office tel. + 27704416,
cell
+ 9849469293,
ccareindia@yahoo.co.in
sajikhyd@dataone.in
MANIPUR
NEPAL
johnpunalur@yahoo.com
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“Setting the Captives Free" by Peter and Dot Lane
Setting the Captives Free offers freedom and healing for the sexually and relationally broken through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Available in India
*Mahalife Hyderabad,contact through website: http://mahalife.com/CMS/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=3
*Gamaliel Press, Hyderabad, email: contact@gpi.in
*Operation Mobilisation, Bookstore, (OM) Books PO Box 2014,Secunderabad 500003, Andhra Pradesh, India
*ELS Chennai, 95A, Vepery High Road, Chennai 60000, Tamil Nadu, Tel: 91-44-25323231
Tel/Fax: 91-44-26420173 e-mail: elsindia@md4.vsnl.net.in
*CLS Chennai, Bangalore,
*Asia Trading Centre Bangalore, email: mail@atcbooks.net Ph: 560-084
Available in Sri Lanka (in Tamil & Sinhala) at:
* LBC, Kandy, PO Box 2, Christopher Road, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Ph: 08-388398 lbcpub@sltnet.lk
And in Malaysia (in Tamil & English) at:
* Kuala Lumpur Scripture Union Bookshop
And in Singapore (in Tamil & English)
Cost:
Contact: info@exodusasiapacific.org
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Exodus Asia Pacific, PO Box 1882, Milton, Qld 4064, Australia
Phone: + 61 7 3371 4705
Email: info@exodusasiapacific.org