CONTACT May 2021 - ""For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your - Richmond Town Methodist Church
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May 2021
CONTACT
Monthly Magazine of the Richmond Town Methodist Church
For Private Circulation Only
“„For in him we live and move and have our being.‟ As some of your
own poets have said, “We are his offspring.”
Acts 17:28
INSIDE
Pastoral Letter 03
News 07
Announcements 08
Praise and Prayer 11
Thinking Through: God’s Plan
for Nurses 16
Renewing the Mind 19
Missionary Chronicles 20
SHREK the Sheep 25
RTMC New Members List 26
April Activities - VBS 2021 28
VBS 2021 Report 29
5 Bible verses to know on ‘Courage’ 31
Area Bible Study Groups 32
RTMC Weekly Activities 33
PASTORAL TEAM
Rev. Sebastian Ravi Kumar
Senior Pastor cum D.S.
Jesus replied: "'Love 9480216971
the Lord your God
with all your heart and Rev. Vivek A. Gundimi
with all your soul and Associate Pastor
with all your mind.' 9632729007
This is the first and Rev. Ebenezer Isaac
greatest Associate Pastor
commandment. 9880602410
Matthew 22:37-38
CONTACT
Richmond Town Methodist Church
4, Kingston Road, Richmond Town, Bengaluru 560025
2 CONTACT
Phone: (080) 22210269/22272732 May 2021
Email: bangalorertmc@gmail.com / contact@rtmc.com
Website: www.rtmc.church / YouTube Channel: RTMC AVT
PASTORAL
LETTER
Dear friends in Christ,
Greetings, to all, we bless you in the name of our Lord and savior
Jesus Christ who has called us to himself by his grace.
We are facing an unprecedented crisis throughout the world at this
time as we grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus)
pandemic. We are all affected by the impacts of this tragedy that is
unfolding before us. This letter comes to offer the prayers,
encouragement and solidarity to everyone; and particularly to
express our solidarity with those whose pain is intensified by the
direct impact on your family.
The world as we knew it has changed; and the need to adapt to this
rapidly changing situation is not only urgent; it is fraught with
challenges. As months pass and the end seems still out of sight, to
our natural eyes, it is quite understandable if fear and insecurity set
in. And yet, we can be encouraged by the inspiring ways in which
communities are rising in response to this crisis. There are
opportunities for engagement that are emerging for the church in this
time of great turmoil and isolation. In this our hour of brokenness
and great need, as people of faith, we are called to persist in prayer,
trusting in God‟s unconditional love and abundant grace for all.
Keeping this in mind as we enter into the month of May, we will be
focusing on the theme “MOVE ON”.
I‟m reminded of a passage from the Scripture – a story that‟s taken
on a whole new meaning in these difficult times. In Jeremiah, the
3 CONTACT May 2021
people of God find themselves in exile, carried off to Babylon as political prisoners. To make matters worse, the armies of Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed the Temple, the center of their faith and the seat of the presence of God. Both their Temple and their land were the defining identity markers for the Israelites, and now in exile, they had neither. Surrounded by a pagan people with different religions and customs, it could seem like all hope was lost. In Jeremiah 28, along comes a prophet named Hananiah – and he‟s got good news! According to him, God was declaring that Babylon would be broken, and the Israelites would be home within two years (Jeremiah 28:1-4). It was exactly what people wanted to hear… so it had to be from God, right? Don‟t worry about settling into your new surroundings. They were to live out of their proverbial suitcases, because it wouldn‟t be long before they‟d be back to where they were. And if you commit yourself live in that kind of limbo, you never learn to see what God is doing right in front of you. But Jeremiah, on the other hand, sees right through these empty promises. In Jeremiah 29, he has a totally different message from God:“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (Jeremiah 29:5-7).” In other words, the sooner you stop trying to escape where you are and start trying to thrive where you are, the more you‟ll experience the fullness of God. And his encouragement in these difficult times? Plant gardens, build families, seek peace, and pray. 4 CONTACT May 2021
I don‟t know about you, but these words seem relevant to a time like our own. We, too, find ourselves in a place we don‟t want to be. And if we allow it, we can become so paralyzed by our desire to escape to the future that we miss what God is doing in the present. We can unknowingly gravitate to voices – religious or not – that eloquently tell us what we want to hear. And all the while, we miss the God who is with us right in the midst of our deepest longings, calling us to put down roots into His activity right where we are – in the midst of exile. So what if the simplest of places of our lives – our homes, apartments, families, and friendships, – are the very ground God is planting seeds of renewal? Like the Israelites in Babylon, we are wise not to speed up what God is slowing down. Beyond the medical realities that push us to make wise decisions in order to protect our neighbors (especially the elderly and those who are vulnerable), we should be very suspicious of religious voices that assume that the easiest, most comfortable, most preferable outcome is the will of God. As followers of Jesus, loving our neighbors in this season means making the difficult choice to stay home and protect one another from the spread of the virus. But God is not pressing pause on his activity. What if He‟s shifting the center of His work out of gathered spaces into the places we too often overlook? If this is the case (and I believe it is), we, too, should heed the call of Jeremiah. Times like these should challenge us to return to prayer. It is normal to feel helpless in a time like this, and these feelings should drive us to prayers of dependence and trust. Not only is this time an opportunity to grow in personal prayer, we should take Jeremiah‟s call seriously and engage in intercessory prayer for our cities, state, nation, and world. God directly ties our own shalom (wholeness) as 5 CONTACT May 2021
a people to the city in which he‟s called us. Many voices are continuing to push an “us vs. them” mentality in this crisis, but as followers of Jesus, we need to simply have an “us.” Every desire for life and healing we want for ourselves should be shared with our neighbors – and even our enemies. We should work to protect all life, especially those vulnerable in a time like this. It is after these calls to a rooted, patient, dependent faith in crisis that Jeremiah makes a statement many of us have heard. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) God‟s covenant faithfulness is with us in these places of weary longing, and in all things, he is still carrying us towards shalom. This, my friends, is what we should cling to in our uncertain world. Even when things are difficult and dark, we can trust God is leading us to wholeness within our struggles, not apart from them. The promise of hope and a future? Those are seeds planted in the here and now. Our job is to cultivate that hope in the fertile ground of our struggles, learning to trust in the One that that Bible says is, himself our peace (Ephesians 2:14). Know this day that you are loved, prayed for, and united to a big, beautiful family called the Church. Even in the distance that is between us, God intends to grow us closer together in faith, teaching us to love more deeply and lead one another out of exile on the other side. Until then, let us be patient. Yours for Savior‟s sake, Pastoral Team, RTMC. 6 CONTACT May 2021
NEWS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THANKS
We thank the RTMC Members for generously contributing
towards all the needs of the Church ministry and we are also
grateful to you for praying for the Ministry platforms of
RTMC.
CHURCH ONLINE
The Church will resume Online due to the second wave of
the noel Coronavirus. We will reopen the Church for Regular
gathering at a favorable time.
OBITUARY
Condolence to the bereaved families:
Mrs. Suhasini Sargunar, Aged 68, passed on to glory on 6th April
2021.
Mr. P S Prathap, Aged 87, passed on to glory on 7th April 2021.
Mrs. Annamma Philip, Aged 97, passed on to glory on 15th April
2021.
Mrs. Sapna Carol Moraes, Aged 40, passed on to glory on 16th
April 2021.
Mr. Augustine Sumanth John, Aged 54, passed on to glory on 17th
April 2021.
Mr. Somchand Macwana Robert, Aged 86, passed on to glory on
18th April 2021.
Mr. Ozwald Hiralal Singh, Aged 74, passed on to glory on 23rd
April 2021.
Mr. Kingston J Samuel, Aged 69, passed on to glory on 30th April
2021.
7 CONTACT May 2021
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ONLINE SERVICES
The Church will continue to have Online/LIVE Sunday
Services for its members. We will make available Online
Services and Resources as there be need. Please visit our
Website as we try to reach you: www.rtmc.church and
YouTube Channel: RTMC AVT and also Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/rtmc2/
OFFERTORY SUPPORT
"Give Thanks by Giving Online." We have much to be thankful
for! Give to make a special “Thanksgiving Gift.” Even when
the weather is bad and we can‟t make it on a Sunday, you can
fulfil your Offertory support!
You can use the RTMC Online feature to give your offerings and
funds. This creates a safer flow of cash for RTMC because we
know when we can expect your support, and it allows you to
participate in giving even when you can‟t make it here.
8 CONTACT May 2021
ANNOUNCEMENTS QR CODE: You could also scan the QR Code below to make your offerings towards the ministry of RTMC. You could also set aside your offerings and tithes and bring together when you visit the Church Office and also when you come for the Church Services in the forthcoming months in 2021. Do continue to pray that we will return to a favourable situation by His grace – till then stay safe. 9 CONTACT May 2021
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RECEIPTS
We want to express our sincere thanks to you for your financial
support towards the ministry of our Church through Tithes and
contributions. Kindly collect your receipts kept at the Church
entrance.
E- TRANSFER
As an added convenience, the Church offers the facility of e-
transfer for tithes and contributes to the ministry of the Church.
Kindly note the bank details and transfer intimation for the
purpose.
BANK DETAILS
Name of the Bank: South Indian Bank / Saving Bank A/c
Account Name: Richmond Town Methodist Church
Account No.: 0108053000025806
Address: South India Bank, Brigade Road.
IFSC Code: SIBL0000108
Kindly email the details of transfer to:
bangalorertmc@gmail.com or contact@rtmc.church in order
to prepare receipts for the same.
Acknowledgment: We thank Rev. Dr. Raja Singh and Rev. Calvin
Sushith Ambler who ministered in the month of April 2021. And we
welcome to the pulpit ministry at RTMC Rev. Paul Royappa and Dr.
Ravi David to Pulpit Ministry for the month of May 2021.
10 CONTACT May 2021Prayer Calendar
May 2021
Prayer introduces us to the Great Companion who meets our
human mind with His divine response.
William Adams Brown
“As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me”.
John 9:4
May 1 Colossians 3:23 Praise God who is at Work restoring
His world. Pray for all who labour in various ways –
that our labour in the Lord will not be in vain.
May 2 Jeremiah 3:15 Praise God who is the Head of the
Church. Pray for the leadership of the Methodist
Church- Bishops, District Superintendents, Pastors,
Deacons as they serve God and their congregations
through these difficult times, for Wisdom and
compassion and Obedience to the Holy Spirit.
May 3 Isaiah 40:31 Praise God who revives and upholds us.
Pray for Doctors as they work in constant danger, and
toil unending hours bringing Life and Healing to a
groaning world.
May 4 Galatians 6:9 Praise God who watches over His
creation. Pray for Nurses and paramedics toiling in
constant exposure to danger, for protection, for
encouragement, for compassion as they minister
comfort and succour to the suffering.
11 CONTACT May 2021May 5 Deuteronomy 31:6 Praise God who is the encourager
and enabler. Pray for bureaucrats and decision makers
to take wise and ethical decisions.
May 6 Exodus 15:2-3 Praise God that He is sovereign rules of
the universe. Pray for Politicians of all hues – that God
would rule and overrule the wickedness of humans.
May 7 Psalm 68:19 Praise God that He is our burden bearer.
Pray for the BBMP officials who man the help lines for
compassion, skill and courage to work ethically for the
suffering.
May 8 Zechariah 4:10 Praise God that He values little things.
Pray for Pourakarmikas who are constantly exposed to
all kinds of infections, for protection and freedom from
anxiety.
May 9 Exodus 35:10 Praise God who is the skill-giver. Pray
for Lab technicians, pathologists for skill and alertness
in their work and for protection for them and their
families.
May 10 Deuteronomy 31:6 Praise God who goes with us
wherever we go. Pray for Auto and Taxi drivers, as they
provide their services, for protection of life and
livelihood.
May 11 Deuteronomy 29:29 Praise God who knows all hidden
things. Pray for scientists, researchers who are working
to find vaccines and cures, for Wisdom, honesty and
ethics, for protection for evil forces.
May 12 Deuteronomy 8:18 Praise God who gives us ability to
produce wealth. Pray for Bank employees and others
who serve public continuously to keep the economy
12 CONTACT May 2021running, for calmness, freedom from anxiety, for
protection and good health.
May 13 Colossians 4:6 Praise God who puts words in our
mouths. Pray for front line workers who interact with
patients and their families that their speech would bring
healing and comfort.
May 14 Psalm 46:1-3 Praise God who provides help in times of
trouble. Pray for ambulance drivers as they provide help
in emergencies, for kindness, for protection, for a
willing spirit to serve.
May 15 Hebrews 1:14 Praise God who sends angels to assist
his children. Pray for volunteers and voluntary agencies
as they help the sick and needy, that they would be
encouraged and protected, that they would see and
experience the miracle working God.
May 16 Hebrews 10:19 Praise God who calls us to stand in the
gap. Pray for intercessors who are upholding our nation
before God, that the Spirit would cry out through them.
May 17 Deuteronomy 28:8 Praise God for His bountiful
provision of food on earth. Pray for farmers, who are
toiling and suffering, for justice and protection, for
livelihood and fruitfulness.
May 18 Psalm 32:8 Praise God who instructs us in the living
way. Pray for teachers as they adapt and teach and
nurture children in uncertain times, for wisdom,
protection, encouragement and creativity.
May 19 Exodus 18:21 Praise God that He gives wisdom for
administration. Pray for the management of schools
13 CONTACT May 2021and colleges particularly Christian for wisdom and
guidance, for vision and obedience
May 20 Isaiah 44:28 Praise God that He authors world history.
Pray for nations to assist one another in compassion and
not in competition.
May 21 Psalm 40:17 Praise God that He is the helper of the
helpless. Pray for Plumbers and Electricians for
protection of life and livelihood.
May 22 Psalm 37:40 Praise God that He cares for the homeless.
Pray for the street dwellers, for food, protection from
virus and from virulent people.
May 23 Exodus 15:26 Praise God He is Yhwh Rophe the healer.
Pray for Cancer hospitals, Specialists and Cancer
patients, for succour, healing, wisdom and protection.
May 24 Psalm 113:7 Praise God who builds lives. Pray for
Construction workers, for provision of needs, protection
of life and livelihood.
May 25 Leviticus 25:23 Praise God who values every human
being. Pray for Migrants in these anxiety filled times,
to encounter kindness in community, for courage and
strength.
May 26 2 Chronicles 16:9 Praise God that He is God who is
eager to help. Pray for Truck drivers and Railway
personnel as they serve community away from home,
for protection, courage, encouragement and blessing.
May 27 Psalm 56:8-9 Praise God that He is our Peace. Pray for
the bereaved that they would experience the God who
weeps with them and may His peace flood their souls.
14 CONTACT May 2021May 28 Psalm 80:19 Praise God He is the Restorer of all
things. Pray for personnel in Information Technology,
for jobs to be preserved, for wisdom to leverage
technology for community help.
May 29 Philippians 4:19 Praise God that He provides for all.
Pray for Retail merchants and small businessmen, for
preservation of Life and livelihood.
May 30 Isaiah 46:4 Praise God that He is eternal, ageless. Pray
for the elderly particularly those living on their own, for
encouragement, community support, protection and
good health.
May 31 Matthew 5:16 Praise God that He empowers the church
to be His instrument. Pray that the Church local and
Universal will be the hands and feet of Jesus in our
aching world.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save!
Kindly meditate on the scripture and then pray it through.
15 CONTACT May 2021Thinking God’s Plan for Nurses
Through International Nurses Day
12 May, 2021
“Nurses are the hospitality of the hospital”
Five Biblical Truths to Encourage Nurses - Brie Gowen
I‟m the kind of woman who draws her strength from the Lord, but
after an especially difficult shift as a registered nurse I will
sometimes find myself feeling weak. I may even feel defeated, as if I
am an absolute failure at what I‟m trying to do. Or I may feel like I
just don‟t have what it takes to give my patients what they deserve.
It‟s in these moments of occasional, but understandable
discouragement over a very difficult vocation that I must remind
myself of the solid
truths about myself
and my profession
that can be found in
God‟s word.
Here are 5 Biblical
truths I try and
remember, and that I
repeat to myself in
those moments when
I need encouragement
the most.
1. Remember where
your strength comes from. Philipians 4:13. Y‟all, nursing is hard,
and that‟s why this is my power verse. I will never know all the
answers, catch every problem before it becomes a big issue, or get
16 CONTACT May 2021every single thing right. It‟s just too complex of a position to expect perfection of one‟s self. But I can rely on the one who is perfect. I can pray to hear His voice as I go about my day, and I can agree to trust the Lord to supply me with the resolve I need to do my job well. When I cannot, he can. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 2. Remember why you’re doing what you do. Colossians 3:23 As a Christian I believe that every move I make and every action I perform is a direct representation of who I am in Christ. Every task I perform is for his honor and his glory. So in essence everything I do should be done unto him, in his honor, and for the furthering of his kingdom. What I do matters. Whether it‟s wiping someone‟s bottom, holding a frightened woman‟s hand, titrating dangerous cardiac medications, or even charting, I am doing it for the Lord. I am serving his people, and I would like to think that makes him proud. In this regard it only makes sense that I try and do what I do with a joyful heart. This isn‟t always easy, and I fall short often, but that‟s why it‟s a good reminder. It‟s a great thing to keep in mind that my actions are working according to his purpose, that my attitude represents his kingdom, and that God can use even little ole me to accomplish wonderful things. Now that‟s encouraging. 3. Remember that fear isn’t necessary. Psalm 118:6. It‟s really easy to become fearful in the frightening world of healthcare. There‟s so many unknowns, so many things that can go wrong. I find it extremely helpful, though, when I remind myself that there is no unknown to God. He knows what assignment I will receive, how my patient will react to intervention, and what the eventual outcome will be. He holds it all in the palm of his hand, and as I trust in him, 17 CONTACT May 2021
he will guide me. In nursing fear will come, but it‟s not necessary to hold onto that fear when you remember your trust lies in the creator of the universe. When you rest in the shadow of the almighty he will give you peace, not fear. Fear is from the other guy. 4. Remember that God has you where he wants you for a reason. Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 8:28. It‟s easy to get frustrated at times with where we are in our career. You can begin to question if you‟re in the right setting or field all together. It‟s easy to become discouraged, and in those instances it‟s imperative to hold tightly to the calling God placed in your heart in the beginning. Sometimes we are where we are for a season, or we must transverse a difficult, dry patch to get to the other side. But whatever the situation you can always trust that God has control of your destiny. He will open doors, and he will close others. He will guide us to new places if and when it is his will, but he will always provide us with what we need for where we are. And his purposes are always fulfilled where he has placed us. Even when we cannot see. You just have to trust that he is working it all towards your good, in his perfect knowledge and time. 5. Remember who’s in control. This is a hard one for nurses. Nursing is a field where your actions and decisions are a huge deal, and in reality they can mean life or death for someone. In that line of thinking it‟s easy to become stressed out as you feel you must manage and control everything. But when it comes down to it you don‟t have control. You just don‟t. While this is a hard thing to admit, I find it‟s actually easier when I can remember that the outcome of my patient isn‟t really in my hands. I can do the best I can do, but in the end I have to surrender my performance into the Lord‟s hands. And when I do that I can actually catch my breath. He‟s in control; he‟s got this! Thank God. 18 CONTACT May 2021
Renewing
the Mind
2 Thessalonians 2:1–2; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 10:4–5
It is possible to have knowledge without having wisdom. It is not
possible, however, to have wisdom without knowledge. Knowledge
is a necessary precondition for wisdom. The practice of godliness
demands that we know and understand what godliness requires.
The Christian life is a transformed life. The transformation of life
comes about, as the apostle Paul declares, through the renewal of the
mind. An understanding of the Word of God renews the mind. The
Word of God expresses the mind of God to us.
Our minds are to be conformed to the mind of Christ. That
conformity does not automatically or instantly occur with
conversion. Our conversion by the power of the Holy Spirit is not
the end of our learning process but the beginning. At conversion we
enroll in the school of Christ. There is no graduation this side of
heaven. It is a pilgrimage of lifelong education.
The pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of the knowledge of God. In
one sense, Socrates was right in his insistence that right conduct is
right knowledge. This is not in the sense that correct knowledge
guarantees right behavior, but in the sense that knowledge, when it
grows to wisdom, leads into right behavior. Thus, philosophers can
become philotheos, “lovers of God.”
___________________
Copyright: © First Published in Tabletalk magazine
19 CONTACT May 2021Missionary Amy Carmichael
Chronicles Mother to India
Dedicated in passionate pursuit of God‟s calling on her life, Amy
Carmichael has been an inspiration to many missionaries over the
past 170 years.
Who was Amy Carmichael? Amy Carmichael was an Irish
missionary to India. She is known for opening a safe house called
Dohnavur Fellowship
after rescuing
children from being
trafficked in the
Hindu temples. She
served in India for
fifty – five years
without a furlough,
and in the last twenty
years of her life, she
remained bedridden
and wrote several
books and poems
about her deep love
for Christ. Her
dedication to serving
God has inspired many Christians to become missionaries and to
remain steadfast in their faith.
Amy Carmichael was born in Ireland on December 16, 1867. As a
young girl, she would often pray for her brown eyes to turn blue so
she could fit in with everyone else.
20 CONTACT May 2021Keswick Convention: In 1887, Carmichael went to the Keswick Convention. There, she heard Hudson Taylor, a missionary from China and founder of the China Inland Missions. From that time on, Carmichael dedicated her life to being a missionary. Unconventional Background: For an aspiring missionary, Carmichael had an unconventional background. At that time, it was unheard of for single women to be a missionary. The role of women was to take care of homes, not to go into a foreign country to preach the Gospel. In addition, Carmichael had an illness, which would temporarily make her weak. Slum Ministry: Carmichael did not have any experience in Bible school like so many other missionaries. After the Keswick Convention, Carmichael decided to start a slum ministry in Belfast, Ireland, among women and girls out on the street. On to Japan: At first, Carmichael wanted to be a missionary with China Inland Missions. She decided to apply with the Church Missionary Society and was accepted. Her first assignment in1892 was Japan. Carmichael found Japan to be a rough country to adapt to. The language was difficult for her to pick up. In addition, the missionaries seemed worldly to Carmichael. They would gossip with each other and hardly ever reach others with the good news. Every day during her time in Japan, Carmichael asked God for a certain amount of converts that day. There were times when it seemed to her like she had made a mistake in asking for a certain number, but each time God was faithful to save the exact amount of people she had asked for. In 1893, Carmichael returned to Ireland convinced it was not God‟s will for her to be in Japan. 21 CONTACT May 2021
Rescuing Temple Prostitutes: Several years after returning to Ireland, Carmichael felt God was calling her to India. As soon as she got to India, she started learning the Tamil language. She dyed her skin brown with coffee, and her brown eyes helped her fit right into the culture. She formed a group of women to reach out to others with the Good News, mainly through evangelism. In 1901, to the dismay of the Hindu priests, Carmichael started rescuing children from temple prostitution. The priests were furious at Amy. They pressed charges against Carmichael, which were not dismissed until 1914. Not only were the priests upset because of Carmichael‟s ministry, but even the missionary community condemned Carmichael‟s work. Although people-trafficking was not new, they thought she exaggerated the situation of temple prostitution. The truth of what went on behind the temple scenes was so hard to get people to understand, that Amy found she must pretend to be an Indian and visit the temples herself. She would dye and stain her light skin brown with coffee or tea bags, and her brown eyes helped her fit right in as a Hindu. No one would guess that the dark-skinned woman wearing a light blue sari, which was associated with the lowest caste, the untouchables, was a missionary from Ireland. Deeply rooted in the religion was the practice of selling little girls and boys who were unwanted to „marry‟ the Brahmin temple priests. Amy became increasingly aware of the fact that many Indian children were dedicated to the gods by their parents or guardians, became temple children, and lived in moral and spiritual danger. As the ministry of the Starry Cluster grew, word soon spread about Amy‟s rescue mission in the temples. Babies, children, and teenagers began to show up on her doorstep until the family was 22 CONTACT May 2021
over fifty in number. Amy realized then that her time of traveling and evangelizing was over. Carmichael provided a home for the former child prostitutes. She showed unconditional love to each child she took into her house. Eventually, the children started calling her Amma, their word for “mom.” Even after she died, the children had fond memories of her love for them. Carmichael was the only one who really cared for them. Her work originally targeted girls, but eventually boys were included in Carmichael‟s rescue efforts. Although Amy never tried raising funds, she was in constant conversation with God for all the money and medication that was needed to sustain the ministry. In 1912, Queen Mary recognized her work and helped fund a hospital at Dohnavur. By 1913, the Dohnavur Fellowship was housing one-hundred-and-thirty girls, and over thirty Indian Christian women volunteered to serve in the ministry. In 1918, Amy added a home for young boys, many of whom were born to the former temple prostitutes. They were taught to love and fear God and eventually when the children grew up, many of them married Godly spouses and served with Dohnavur. Injury and Death: In 1931, Carmichael fell and injured herself. For the next 20 years, Carmichael was bedridden. During this time, she wrote multiple books about her work in India and having faith in God. Twenty years later, at the age of 83, she died peacefully. Legacy: Even after her death, the work of Carmichael continues. The Donhovar Fellowship, which Amy Carmichael founded to help 23 CONTACT May 2021
orphans in Southern India, continues to impact the lives of thousands in India. The body of Carmichael is buried in the middle of the campus under a fountain that simply says, “Amma.” Without the work of one Godly woman, these children would have never known what it meant to be loved. ______________________ Footnote: https://missionsbox.org/ https://bethanygu.edu/ 24 CONTACT May 2021
SHREK
The Sheep that Escaped
Shrek was a Merino sheep, a castrated male, belonging to South
Island, New Zealand, who gained international fame in 2004 owing
to his gigantic coat of fleece. Shrek became famous after escaping
his enclosure and evading the shearers for six years by hiding in
caves. Merino sheep are usually shorn annually but Shrek managed
to escape the blade for six years straight. When he was finally
caught, the sheep was unrecognizable. “He looked like some biblical
creature,” said John Perriam, Shrek‟s owner.
Primitive sheep shed
most of their wool every
year, but domestic breed
like the Merino - the
ones raised primarily for
their meat, continues to
grow wool year round
until sheared. During his
cave-living days, Shrek
grew a fleece weighing
27 kg, roughly six times
the average fleece
produced by a Merino
sheep. This is definitely
an exaggeration when
one would say that Shrek
is much like a person
who knows Jesus but has wandered away from His discipline.
However the point is if we avoid His process of cleansing our life,
we would become unrecognizable as his disciple and we‟re going to
accumulate unnecessary fleece – a fleece we don‟t have to wear
after-all.
25 CONTACT May 2021New Members received
into RTMC on 18.04.2021
Serial Names Membership
No.
1. Mr. Chidamber Vinod Kumar Full Member
2. Mrs. Lidiya Sumalini Full Member
3. Christina Supriya C Preparatory
4. Mr. Amit Kumar Full Member
5. Mrs. Roopa Priyanka Full Member
6. Aishwarya Preparatory
7. Abhiyan Preparatory
8. Mrs. Nina Sealy Full Member
9. Rev. James Jayakumar Full Member
10. Mrs. Susanna James Full Member
11. Mr. Girish Kumar Minalkar Full Member
12. Mrs. Ramya Minalkar Full Member
13. Aarona Preparatory
14. Aarna Preparatory
15. Ms. Priyanka Ashok Full Member
16. Mr. Dinesh Anthony Full Member
17. Mr. Gopinath R Full Member
26 CONTACT May 2021New Members received
into RTMC on 18.04.2021
Serial Names Membership
No.
18. Mrs. Sampathi Kumari Affiliate Member
19. Cheryl Liza Preparatory
2o. Aaron Mark Preparatory
21. Mr. Girish Teldhune Full Member
22. Mrs. Juliya Teldhune Full Member
23. Esha Teldhune Preparatory
24. Akansha Teldhune Preparatory
25. Dr. Theodore Srinivasagam Full Member
26. Mrs. Nilima Basu Affiliate Member
27. Mr. Alfred Emmanuel Full Member
28. Mrs. Rebekah Alfred Full Member
29. Aaron Alfred Emmanuel Preparatory
30. Alex Alfred Preparatory
27 CONTACT May 20212021
April Activities VBS
Thank you for
praying for the
VBS Ministry and the
Children.
28 CONTACT May 20212021
VBS Report
VBS 2021 was held online between 12thApril - 21st April and the
theme was “Kingdom of God”. It was truly a learning and fun
experience for the children as well as the teachers and the volunteers
even though it was on Zoom. We had 173 children registered from
42 different churches.
The classes would start off with a time of praise and worship during
which the children enjoyed praising God from the confines of their
homes, followed by a theme based skit by the skit team. It was
presented in a fun and meaningful way.
The VBS 2021 has indeed been a wonderful experience. In the
months of
May/June
2020 a few of
us came
together as the
curriculum
team to
discuss and
plan the
curriculum for
VBS 2021.
We spent weeks praying together for the Lord‟s guidance for the
theme and curriculum. We came up with a few topics including the
Kingdom of God, and that was what God wanted us to do.
We started working on it and chose the characters, topics and
29 CONTACT May 2021passages as the Lord led us and wrote the Bible Studies with much
prayer. We are so overwhelmed as we look back on how God has
been leading us till the day we finished our VBS on 21st of April.
The children had received the word with an open heart and curious
minds. They expressed their eagerness to know more about the
Kingdom of God with their questions and enthusiasm to know more
about their Creator, the Holy Spirit, His second coming including
the present situation and God in the midst of the pandemic. We
could feel and see The Holy Spirit at work through every teacher, in
every lesson and in every child‟s life.
Our prayer is that the seeds of the Kingdom of God sown in the
hearts of the children will bear much fruit. We are truly grateful to
God for His guidance and to Him belongs all Glory, Honor and
Praise. And we are also thankful to the VBS team including all
writers, teachers, tech team, P&W team the Skit team and our prayer
warriors.
RTMC Wishes all Mothers
"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness
is on her tongue." – Proverbs 31:26
30 CONTACT May 20215
on Courage
c
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the
LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor
forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the
strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?. – Psalm 27:1
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
– 1 Corinthians 16:13
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather
fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. – Matthew 10:28
RTMC
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to
Area Bible Study Groups
you, Do not fear; I will help you.–Isaiah 41:13
2021
31 CONTACT May 2021RTMC
Area Bible Study Groups
May 2021
Area Bible Study Group
(May Schedule) Date Time
1. HSR Layout 08.05.2021 7:00 p.m.
2. R T Nagar 12.05.2021 7:00 p.m.
3. Austin Town 15.05.2021 6:30 p.m.
4. Jayanagar 15.05.2021 7:00 p.m.
5. Ramamurthynagar 15.05.2021 7:00 p.m.
6. Kothanur 22.05.2021 7:00 p.m.
7. Richmond Town 26.05.2021 7:00 p.m.
8. Electronic City 29.05.2021 7:00 p.m.
32 CONTACT May 2021RTMC Weekly Activities
Church
Power of Prayer
33 CONTACT May 2021RICHMOND TOWN METHODIST CHURCH
Pulpit Calendar
ggggg
CONTACT – May 2021
May 2021
Theme: Move On
“„For in him we live and move and have our being.‟ As
some of your own poets have said, “We are his offspring.”
Acts 17:28
1st Sunday 02/05/2021
Move On with a Forgiving Spirit (Mark 11:25-26)
Acts 17:28
9:30 a.m. – Rev. Vivek Gundimi*
2nd Sunday 09/05/2021
Move On with a Fresh Revelation (Eph.1:17)
9:30 a.m. – Rev. Ebenezer Isaac
3rd Sunday 16/05/2021
Move On with a Mandate (Acts 1:8)
9:30 a.m. – Rev. Sebestain Ravi Kumar
4th Sunday 23/05/2021
Move On with Anointing of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-3)
Move On
9:30 a.m. – Rev. Paul Royappa
5th Sunday 30/05/2021
Move On with a Challenging Commission (Mt. 28:18-20)
9:30 a.m. – Dr. Ravi David
* Holy Communion
34 CONTACT May 2021You can also read
