THE JOHNS
missionaries to India
In This Issue
Greetings
Article Headline
Article Headline
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John Family
The Johns
Sharon, Molly, Henry and Joshua

Sending Church
Maranatha Baptist Church
Grimes, IA

TRAINING NATIONALS AND PLANTING CHURCHES
Ministry Quicklinks
BAPTISMS IN OCTOBER 2008
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Greetings
india
SHALOM!
We hope this update finds you doing well and enjoying spring. We love seeing the evidence of God in this season with the flowers blooming and the grass turning green. We have enjoyed celebrating Easter and celebrating how He expressed His love for us through His death and resurrection! Here is a little bit about what God's been doing in our ministry currently.

We would be traveling for the next few months to raise our monthly support. In the past year we have lost support of three churches and one personal supporter. But that dear supporter promised us that they would try to restart their support soon. That was a big encouragement for us.  We do understand that in these days both churches and individuals are struggling with their finances. So please pray for us too.

In the last few weeks we had opportunity to meet several Indian families. They invited us to their business meeting. We had several opportunities to talk about our faith in their home. They all live close to Ankeny. We were able to take them along with us to the Church. They liked it so we will keep talking to them. Dr Manoj and Mamta Jha have two kids. Their  children's name are Dev and Gauri. Dr Manoj Jha is a professor at Iowa State University. Please pray as we continue to share with them truths from the Bible. And also especially Dr Manoj's parents are visiting US first time and it was first time they have been to any church.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
  • MAP OF MINISTRY
  • We have started bible studies in several villages. We have now bible studies going on in 44 villages including two neighboring states.
  • Our ministry area has expanded.  (Uttarakhand, Himachal, Harayana)
  • We have now 7 couples that are. involved in Church planting with us.
  • We have three mission centers now namely: Dehra Dun, Paonta Sahib and Jagadhari.
  • We had 5 baptisms.
  • We had two Bible seminars for Pastors and their families.
  • Pastor Rod Efta from Wisconsin visited us for two weeks. He preached in one Church, visited some of the villages and taught one seminar along with me. We were encouraged by his ministry.

OUR CHURCH GOT ATTACKED BY HINDU MILITANTBITTU Family
We would like you to pray for our Church in  HP, INDIA. The Church got started in 2008. Last Sunday during the worship service a group of Hindu Militants attacked our Church Pastor and the small congregation. They abused him and beat him up. They have asked him to leave the town, since he is living in a rented house. He has two little sons. They have threatened him and his landlord and asked his landlord to move him and his family out from the house.
Please pray for him and his family and the Church people. It is a very small group of 18-20 people. The authority of the town did not even care to help him nor did the police.
They have no place to go as their landlord have asked them to vacate the property as soon as possible. They would need some help to move out from the town.

Upcoming Events
  • EASTER CELEBRATION IN TWO PLACES- EXPECTION 350-400 PEOPLE ON APRIL 12TH
  • VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IN DEHRA DUN IN THE MONTH OF JUNE
  • VISITING CHURCHES TO RAISE OUR SUPPORT.
PRAYER REQUESTS
  1. Pray for Pastor Bittu Samuel and his family and the need to relocate him to new place for security reason.
  2. Pray for our monthly support. We need $650 toward our monthly support.
  3. Pray for our seminary project. We will not be able to start our classes this fall as planned earlier. Since we do not have enough funds for it. We need supporters who can support us with $10-$30 every month.
  4. Pray for our national church planters- safety and financial support for their work. We need $100 each for seven couples.
  5. Pray that we would get new churches to partner with us in the ministry. It is getting hard to set up meeting.
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word...Acts 4:29

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Yours in His Service,
The Johns
Henry, Molly, Joshua and Sharon
..not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ...