"When I was sick you visited me"

Dear Brethren,

Leyamma's prayer for many years was that she would live to see the completion of a ministry center in the Tribal Area.

Over the past ten years Sandy and I have come to deeply love and respect this dear widow and Bible woman who has labored for 30 years in a remote tribal region of India. Her prayers for the completion of a ministry center in this tribal region were answered, but she is now in the hospital in critical condition from a stroke.

Leyamma in the hospital suffering from the stroke.

Please take a few minutes to read Sister Leyamma's extraordinary testimony and pray with us for her. She wrote this testimony just after we dedicated the new ministry center during my recent visit to India.

"Greetings to you in the most holy and precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I am 60 years old. I was born in a Hindu family and used to worship Hindu gods and goddesses. I was saved in 1972 after hearing the gospel at a church my Christian neighbors took me to. Now I am serving the Lord among the un-civilized tribal people called the Koya and Konda Reddy. These tribal people live in the hilly area in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in South India. I am working for the salvation of the tribes.

My father died in my childhood, my mother and husband died a few years after my marriage, and I have no brothers or sisters. I had only one daughter and I sent her to study for God's ministry. A few years after graduation she became ill with typhoid and slept in the Lord. I was very sad, my one and only baby left me, and went to God. I am very sad one way; but I am very happy in another way. Although I was serving the Lord alone, helpless, and hopeless, my faithful God was with me all this time. He only has provided all my needs for the last 30 years of my ministry.

Sister Leyamma Praying at the dedication of the new ministry center

I am working alone, among the tribal people and idolaters. They are very poor and illiterate, and they have their own gods and goddesses. My life work has been to work among them to reach them with the Gospel. They had never heard about our Lord Jesus Christ. Every day I share the love of Christ, and my testimony, distributing Holy Bibles, and gospel tracts. Telling them of God's great plans and purposes for them. Loving them and sharing the salvation of Jesus.

I have struggled a lot these 30 years of ministry. Many days were very bitter for me from loneliness, being a widow, and with no one to help me. Several years ago, Pastor George, the director for In Jesus' Name Ministries visited my work, and encouraged me to write to brother Court and sister Sandy. They prayed for me, and encouraged a few dear American brethren to help me, in Jesus' Name. They loved me very much. They treated me as their family member. Now I am living because of their love, support and encouragement. I am grateful to the Lord for their love.

Because of the love of my American brethren, I have a new house-church to minister in, and live in. My desire is to serve the Lord and lead many people to the presence of the Lord till my death. Kindly pray for my Ministry. I am also helping, and ministering to the other widows in this tribal area.

I will pray for you, please pray for me. God Bless us together. Thank you very much.

Yours In Jesus Christ, Sister R. Leyamma, Kannapuram, India."

Leyamma with some of the widows and brethren of her area

The November dedication of Sister Leyamma's Ministry Center

Above, photos from the joyful November dedication of Sister Leyamma's Ministry Center and home. Although she has been in poor health for many years, the Lord answered her prayers to see it completed while she was still living.