[3 minute read]

Hello EMCC,

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!" (1 Chr. 16:1).

The Maha Kumbh Mela in India is one of the largest gatherings for followers of Hinduism. It is estimated that about 400 million people are gathering this month along the banks of the river in North India to celebrate the victory of the gods over demons. Demons have controlled people generationally, destroying lives and claiming territory. Shamu* lives and ministers in the epicentre of this gathering in Prayagraj. He reports that God has confused the leaders and gurus and there is infighting among them. He encourages followers of Jesus to seize the opportunity to "make known His deeds" and show the love of God by helping the pilgrims. Many of them are separated from their families, some injured or dead under the crush of unruly mobs. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Love of Jesus breaks the curse and shatters strongholds. Praise God!

The curse is being broken and replaced with blessing in West Bengal. Shane D’Souza reflects on this promise: "God worked through Abraham and Isaac, making them a blessing to their community and beyond. God's blessings were not limited to individual benefits but extended to their families, communities, and future generations. This realization reminds me that God's blessings are not solely for my personal gain but are meant to flow through me, creating a ripple effect of His glory among the nations."

God extended His blessing to us in that while we were yet sinners and at enmity with God, He gave His Son to die for us. Today believers in many regions of the world literally put their lives on the line to show love to those that will often reject and even want to harm them. This challenges me to declare God's deeds by loving people in the same way and to the same extent as Christ has loved me.

Live for Jesus! 

David Benjamin

World Partners Church Engagement Facilitator

*name changed for privacy.

Little Angels

The Little Angels Project (Salvation Ministries) is supporting underprivileged children from the local slum community. Currently, we are ministering to around 40 children, providing informal education through tuition four days a week (Monday to Friday) and Sunday school. In addition to education, our team provides brunch once a week and hygiene products (body soap, hair oil, toothpaste, etc.) once a month.

The recent Christmas program outreach was a resounding success, where gifts were distributed and members of this impoverished community gathered to hear the story of Christmas. We are thrilled to report that one of the mothers has started attending our weekly Sunday worship fellowship.

Shane D’Souza

Shane and his wife have planted several worship gatherings in a slum area and are discipling people in their newfound faith in Jesus. The vision is to see these disciples reach out to their neighbour sharing the love of Jesus in word, dead and life, in effect, reaching out to the local community. They desire to reach 1,000 people in each community in one year. 

Thanks for joining us this week!

We would love to see EMCC local churches engage with our partners and sister denominations. If you're looking to form partnerships with any of the people/partners we've featured this week, please contact us. We'd love to help make the connection. Email me at dbenjamin@emcc.ca.

You can review all the stories, and read stories from the last couple years, on our website.

#IDW2025