Prayer Letter - May 2008

I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. (Jn 17: 4 NIV)

I recently completed reading the book Finishing Well authored by our beloved Dr. David Wong. This book and a recent seminar led by him on the same subject brought to mind the stark reality that we all have the duration of our lives clearly marked out for us. The psalmist reminds us in Psalm 90:10 that the length of our days is 70 years – or 80 if we have the strength and hence the prayer in vs. 12: Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. So the question that we need to ask ourselves is this: How do we finish our lives?

1. How we begin ( understanding our calling, gifting and moving forward in the anointing of the Holy Spirit)
2. How we continue ( make course corrections if needed )
3. Bringing closure or finishing well.

Many of us start well, perhaps even live the bulk of our lives in accordance with God’s purpose, but somehow, we are unable to bring the right closure to our lives. Consider once again the claim of Jesus Christ as He spoke to His Father: I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. ( Jn 17: 4 NIV ). How many of us can say this with confidence?

The Apostle Paul writing to the church in Colossae in Col 4 had a lot of nice things to say about   Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Jesus who is called Justus, Epaphras, his dear friend Luke the doctor, and Demas (who unfortunately deserted him at the end).  All these leaders excepting Demas were on their way to finishing well. But then there is that public admonition in Col 4:17 - Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord."

Now I cannot guess what Archippus’s problem was and it is not right to read something into Paul’s statement, but there seems to be a hint of a suggestion that Archippus’s problem is similar to some of the problems we face – I face – the inability to follow through to the end! Maybe he was distracted or maybe he was tired or it could be one of a hundred or more reasons that kept Archippus from approaching the finishing line with honor.  Hence Paul’s public admonition to him. Paul reminds us of his own single-minded passion to press forward to complete the task assigned to him – “…but this one thing I do” (Phil 3: 13,14 KJV). But was that one thing? Paul talks about it in his closing message to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20: 24):

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”
Archippus is told to complete the work he has received from the Lord. We do not know what that specific work was. It could have been proclaiming the gospel, teaching, discipling new believers, planting new churches, caring for the sick and the poor, but whatever it was, it was a work ordained by God and Archippus was to finish well!

Brothers and sisters in Christ. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ and as those ordained by Him to a task – that of fulfilling the Great Commission, let us not be found wanting. Let us finish well.

Don’t be an Archippus. Be a Paul!!

Highlights of 21st Annual General Meeting dated 25th & 26th April 2008

The 21st Annual General Body Meeting of the Society of Haggai Institute, India successfully concluded on the 26th of April’08. The salient features of the Meeting are as follows:

1. The AGM was attended by 27 members including 14 new members who were inducted onto the Society.
2. Mr. Bijoy A. Sangma, former member of the Executive Committee and Haggai Institute India Society and now a member of the full time staff of Haggai Institute India was presented to the Society as the Director-Operations. He was formally commissioned in a prayer of dedication.
3. The theme of the AGM and also for Haggai Institute India this year is “Ownership”. The theme was beautifully reflected in the opening devotion led by Mr. R. Rajkumar. Later, a workshop on this subject initiated by Bro. D. Sudhir from Delhi brought out how different key constituents of the Haggai Institute ministry, namely Society members, staff, alumni, faculty and donors play a vital role in this movement and therefore must feel a strong sense of Ownership towards the ministry.
4. The Annual Ministry report for the period 2007-08 was presented. In summary, 140 seminars were organized against a goal of 158 (89%). Number of leaders trained was 3414 against a plan of 3950 (86%).
5. A total of 181 seminars are planned for 2008-09. Through these, we plan to train 4525 leaders for evangelism.
6. Mr. Jacob Varghese, our treasurer presented his financial report for the year 2007-08. Against a receipts budget of Rs. 66,25,000.00, the actual receipt was Rs. 44,26,351.00. Against an expenditure budget of Rs. 65,00,000.00, we spent Rs. 45,49,350.16. The audited balance sheet was presented and approved. While presenting the budget for 2008-09, the Treasurer quoted Exodus 35 vs 5:
   
   From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering…

The context of course was the construction of the tabernacle for worship, but in a broader sense would apply to all of God’s work, of which Haggai Institute is a part.

A receipts budget of Rs. 78,00,000.00 lakhs is planned for the financial year 2008-09 to take care of expenditures budgeted at Rs. 78,00,000.00. The task seems challenging. But is there anything too difficult for our Lord when He works through willing partners?

• Ministry openings in Gurgaon, Dwarka & New Delhi.
• Haggai Institute Orientation given to 28 senior leaders including 4 provincials of Montfort Brothers dated 30th Apr’08.
• Haggai Institute Orientation given to 115 non Christian teachers of St. Mary’s, Mumbai dated 19th Apr’08.
• Mr. Thomas Abraham, Regional Director-South’s visit to Bangalore dated 5th to 8th Apr’08 for ministry planning & the successful Bangalore Alumni Association Executive Committee Meeting held dated 8th Apr’08.
• Mr. Donald Pant’s visit to IIT Kanpur which has resulted in planning of a seminar for Professor’s & students of IIT Kanpur.
• The area seminar at Faizabad which is a new district covered in Lucknow, Central Region.
• The 7th North East Regional Alumni get-together at Tura, Meghalaya held dated 9 – 12 Apr’08.
• The successful completion of Staff Prayer Day dated 22nd April, Staff Meeting dated 23rd April, Executive Committee Meeting dated 24th April and AGM dated 25th & 26th April 2008.
• Ministry openings in Twin Cities & Telangana.
• The seminars conducted in the month of April: Northern Region: Delhi; Southern Region: M.C.C. Chennai, Trichy, Pondicherry, Tirunelveli, Chennai, Mysore, Trivandrum SS; Western Region: Pune, Ahmedabad, Mumbai; Central Region: Mungeli, Indore, Pakanjur; AP Region: UB Church-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-for professionals, Hyderabad-AG Office, Vizianagaram.

Please Pray For:

• Forthcoming North India Regional Council Meet scheduled 15th Aug’08 at New Delhi.
• Elections of New Delhi Alumni Association scheduled 14th Jun’08.
• Forthcoming Anchor Person Traning, Faculty Initiation Seminar to be held in New Delhi in the coming months.
• New Coordinators to be appointed for Rajasthan, Punjab & Uttaranchal in Northern Region.
• Ministry openings in Jammu & Kashmir, Northern Region.
• Southern Regional Alumni Get-together & Spiritual Retreat scheduled 7th & 8th Jun’08 with the theme of “Ownership – Serving the Lord selflessly & joyfully” at CEO Centre, SAIACS, Bangalore.
• God’s protection on the Regional Directors & Area Managers in their ministry trips during this summer.
• Mrs. Beulah, Asst. Manager-Finance, National Office, who is recovering from a spinal surgery.
• Mrs. Kusamavati Rajhuns, former Society Member’s daughter Roma, who is recovering from an accident at U.S.A.
• Mr. D. Samadanam, HI Hony Coordinator, who met with an accident and recovering from a surgery on the leg.
• Ministry Openings in the districts of Maharashtra & Gujarat.
• The members of the Regional Councils – North, South, East & NE Regions.
• Suitable candidate for the post of Regional Director for Western Region.
• The upcoming State Level Seminars in 2008: ETC Jorhat 7 – 13 Jun (In house), Hubli 9 – 13 Aug, Belgaum 3 – 7 Sep.

NS – National Seminar, SLS – Special Leadership Seminar, SLSD– SLS for Doctors, In-house - seminar fee is not disclosed as it is a sponsored seminar.

Please Note: We seek your prayer support for all these National Level seminars coming up. We also solicit your assistance in the recruitment of suitable candidates for these seminars. For more information regarding these seminars please feel free to call us at 040 27131209, 27141221 & 32928823 or email at hiindia@haggai-india.com also browse our website: www.haggai-india.com

May God continue to bless you and use you as a channel of blessing to others around you.

Note: Please be informed that you can now deposit your donation Cheques directly with our account # 1262560000416 with HDFC Bank, Sainikpuri Branch, Hyderabad 500 062. Please do intimate our office the deposit details indicating your name, the amount and the date of deposit.

Yours in Him,
Paul Balasundaram