STAR NEWS Volume - 6, Issue - 3(A Newsletter for Shining Stars, India) April 2008
Quote of the Month: "If a child is good it's acceptable, if mischievous, normal, if too good, suspicious."- Peter Wiig
Picture of the month:
This picture was taken at our Discipleship & Disciple makers Camp in October 2007. 71 children and 14 disciple makers attended. It was a blessed time for the children and teachers.
The Bible Says: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will no depart from it." Proverbs. 22:6
From the Director's pen:
Dear Friends,
Greetings in Jesus name! We hope that this letter finds you all wellIn Matthew 21, after Jesus had driven out the merchants from the temple, He then healed the lame and blind. The natural reaction of children was praise, they shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David", which is a victory cry. The teachers of the law were angry and asked Jesus, "Do you hear what those children are saying", Jesus replied, quoting from Psalms 8:2, "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise." But, I wonder why the teachers were so angry? I think we have a clue if we look at the rest of the verse in Psalms, " . because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." I am sure that Satan's anger was coming out of them because the Son of God and he are enemies, (as were the teachers of the law) and he did not want to be silenced.
I was thinking about why praise from children is so important. Do you think that it is because it is spontaneous, without any unnecessary intellectual baggage & pure? I think that we need to teach children to praise God, and then sit back and learn from them how to really do it!
Summer is upon us here in Hyderabad, we are bracing ourselves for the heat and a great time of ministry. We hope to be involved in helping to run more than 20 VBS programmes around Andhra Pradesh . . . please see the back for more details on how you can be involved!
After much time and prayer, Mercy and I have decided to take a bit of a break- like a sabbatical from Shining Stars (after 12 years). We felt we needed to refresh, refocus and just abide in the Lord for some time - and rebuild our family.
After a lot of consideration, the Shining Stars Executive Committee has agreed for Mr. Uttam Kumar to be the Director in my place. He is a Godly man who used to work with Haggai International (an organization that holds leadership seminars) and has done some Pastoral work as well, and he loves kids and people. He has given a minimum commitment until July 1st, 2009. After that, there are some unknowns, but we believe that God will make His will clear to all of us as time goes on. We are still burdened for the vision of Shining Stars and will be involved as much as we can. Please join me in welcoming Brother Uttam and praying that God would bless and use him greatly.
Among other things, Mercy and I will be busy with some studies, reading, writing, discipleship, hopefully involved in some of the kids activities at their school, some camps we hope. I, Peter, will be working with Mr. Jaipaul Swamidass, part of the time, to do some research on the feasibility of starting English schools in rural India, where there is so much need (with the continued intent of developing children for the Kingdom).We would certainly appreciate your prayers in this time of transition.
Greetings in Jesus name! We hope that this letter finds you all wellIn Matthew 21, after Jesus had driven out the merchants from the temple, He then healed the lame and blind. The natural reaction of children was praise, they shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David", which is a victory cry. The teachers of the law were angry and asked Jesus, "Do you hear what those children are saying", Jesus replied, quoting from Psalms 8:2, "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise." But, I wonder why the teachers were so angry? I think we have a clue if we look at the rest of the verse in Psalms, " . because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." I am sure that Satan's anger was coming out of them because the Son of God and he are enemies, (as were the teachers of the law) and he did not want to be silenced.
I was thinking about why praise from children is so important. Do you think that it is because it is spontaneous, without any unnecessary intellectual baggage & pure? I think that we need to teach children to praise God, and then sit back and learn from them how to really do it!
Summer is upon us here in Hyderabad, we are bracing ourselves for the heat and a great time of ministry. We hope to be involved in helping to run more than 20 VBS programmes around Andhra Pradesh . . . please see the back for more details on how you can be involved!
After much time and prayer, Mercy and I have decided to take a bit of a break- like a sabbatical from Shining Stars (after 12 years). We felt we needed to refresh, refocus and just abide in the Lord for some time - and rebuild our family.
After a lot of consideration, the Shining Stars Executive Committee has agreed for Mr. Uttam Kumar to be the Director in my place. He is a Godly man who used to work with Haggai International (an organization that holds leadership seminars) and has done some Pastoral work as well, and he loves kids and people. He has given a minimum commitment until July 1st, 2009. After that, there are some unknowns, but we believe that God will make His will clear to all of us as time goes on. We are still burdened for the vision of Shining Stars and will be involved as much as we can. Please join me in welcoming Brother Uttam and praying that God would bless and use him greatly.
Among other things, Mercy and I will be busy with some studies, reading, writing, discipleship, hopefully involved in some of the kids activities at their school, some camps we hope. I, Peter, will be working with Mr. Jaipaul Swamidass, part of the time, to do some research on the feasibility of starting English schools in rural India, where there is so much need (with the continued intent of developing children for the Kingdom).We would certainly appreciate your prayers in this time of transition.
Humor Column
The Three Wise Women
You do know what would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you?
They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!
Kids of the Month
Esther Rani is studying in 8th class in the Quthbullapur centre. Before coming to tuition her behavior wasn't good. She was not obedient to her parents or doing well in her studies. After she started coming to tuition, her life is being transformed, because she accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour. Now she is praying for her needs and depending on Jesus Christ. Recently her uncle ran away from home and all the family and relatives were tired & searching for him here and there, but they could not find him She prayed in with her relative, in faith, for the situation and the very next day her uncle came back home and all the relatives were happy. She also prayed that she that she would get first rank in her 7th class exams last year and she got 406 marks, which was top in her class.An other greater thing in her life is she led one girl to Jesus, is it not amazing how God is working in our children's life let us praise God.
VBS 2008
Dear Friends- the summer has come and we are in preparation for VBS 2008. We would like to invite you to participate in this great occasion. How can you be involved?" Let me first explain about these summers plans: The theme for this year is "I am the salt of the earth". We are hoping to run 25 five day programmes and reach about 1300 children the budget for this year is Rs. 77000.00 ($ 1750.00). One programme will cost about Rs. 3080.00 ($ 77.00) and Rs. 61.00 ($ 1.50) per a child. We also need more teachers and volunteers.If you would like to serve as a teacher or volunteer for 1 programme or more (we will be running from April 23rd to the end of May), send someone else or support financially please let us know. We would appreciate your prayers for us. For more details of how you can be involved see the back of the letter.
Your contribution towards VBS 2008
I want to come as a teacher / volunteer / come and visit.
I want to support, financially,
5 / 10 / 20 / 50 children (@ Rs. 61.00 ($ 1.50) per child)- Rs. __________
I want to support one or more programmes
(@ Rs. 3080.00 ($ 77.00) each) Rs. ___________
I want to support the sum of Rs. ($)
________________ Other _________________
Note: Please fill in and tear the portion above and send your contribution towards VBS to our office address and or call for any other clarifications if you wish.
Please send M.O. or cheque to the office address or call us if you want us to come and collect your contribution (within Hyderabad).
Prayer Requests Pray for:
The upcoming training programme in Vizak' (April 7 & 8).
The teachers, volunteers and financial needs of VBS 2008.
Good weather and God's protection throughout the summer.
God's provision for the next fiscal year to run His ministry.
God's wisdom for Mr. Uttam Kumar, the new Director of the organization.
If you would like to make a contribution please contact us, or send a DD, Cheque or MO to the following address:
Shining StarsPlot 59 & 60A, VST Colony, Nacharam, Hyderabad,
A.P. 500076- IndiaPh. 040-27157343
E- mail: mail@shiningstarsindia.org
