FISHERMEN MINISTRY

MINISTRY OUTREACH AT PULICAT (FISHERMAN’S VILLAGE)

ICI Madras Team in front of the Pulicat church. From Left to right: Daniel Raj, Leo Bastian, Ps.Bosco, Noel Pentony, Ramesh Daniel and Godfrey Evans.

ICI Team with the Ps.Bosco’s family and believers of the church praying in the open ground which was dedicated. In the background is seen the cemented of the old church which was washed away in the sunami. In the foreground on the left of the photograph is seen the steel rods for the pillar of the new church which is to be built as the Lord provides.

We have 34 E&D Students at this church who are eager to not only study the word of God but also to show the love of Jesus Christ to their neighbours.

There are about 60 families who live in Pulicat and who are simple and God fearing people. The families consisting of 4 to 8 members all stay in one hut. The government has given them a brick walled 10’x10’ and with an asbestos roof shelter seen in the background (after they had lost every thing in the sunami) . The family seen in the picture use the brick structure for storage and prefer to live in the hut which is much cooler.

All the families are fisherfolk and depend on the sea for a living. Many of them a hand to mouth existence. Sometimes the men are gone for a week or ten days at a time in order to bring a catch which they can sell to the local market.

ICI Team leaving Pulicat in one of the fisherman’s boats.

Acknowledgements:

It is with a deep sense of gratitude to the Leaders of the Assemblies of God in India, viz Rev. D. Mohan, Superintendent, All India Assemblies of God, Rev. P.S. Rajamoni, Superintendent, South India Assemblies of God & Tamil District Council of SIAG, the Executive Members of the Tamil District Council and SFC Executive Committee who have all greatly encouraged us as we travelled the length and breadth of Tamilnadu to reach every church through the 35 Sections in order to install Centers of Evangelism and Discipleship in every church to reach the communities in every locality with the love of Jesus Christ.

We would also like to acknowledge Rev. J. Devadhason, Superintendent and all the other members of the Executive Committee of the Southern District and the SFC Executive Commitee who have been a great encouragement and help in promoting and follow up of the CED's in the 14 Sections of the Kaniyakumari District.

We deeply appreciate the love and support that has been extended to us as we went to the section meetings and churches and we would like to express our love and gratitude by informing every one of you that we set aside a day every month to fast and pray for our beloved leaders of this nation and also for every Presbyter, Centers of Evangelism & Discipleship (churches) and every unreached community in your district.

Sincerely in Christ,

Noel Pentony

Madras Team

Noel Pentony

Leo Bastian
Zonal Co-ordinator

Godfrey Evans
Zonal Co-ordinator
R. Ramesh Daniel
Zonal Co-ordinator

A. Daniel Raj

LIFT UP THE LAITY TO LIFT UP THE NATION

In May 2005, the Lord spoke to me to “LIFT UP THE LAITY TO LIFT UP THE NATION”. I began to work with the churches encouraging the believers to rise up and join the pastors in reaching the communities around them. The following letter was given to the pastors at the Tamil District Council Conference in July 2005. At the SIAG Conference in October Rev. D. Mohan, Superintendent, All India Assemblies of God said that there are 85% of the people in our churches are Sunday Christians and are not involved in any outreach ministry. I was overjoyed when I realized that the Holy Spirit had guided me in the right direction.

Thanks be to God that He has always led us in triumph from 2002 since I became actively involved in ICI. In the beginning of that year we had only 13 Study Centres and 379 students. We had been concentrating on getting individual students. However, at the end of 2003 we had more than 8000 students but found it very difficult to correspond with each student and guide them into a spirit filled church.

The year of 2004 was a year of transition for us. We moved from a student based set up to a local church base set up; wherein the local churches became the study centres and trained the students (members of their church) to go out and reach the communities with the love of Jesus Christ through their outreach ministries and add to the local church and to the body of Christ.

With the grace of God, we now have 546 study centres and more than 17000 students in Tamilnadu.

"Dear Pastors,
Do You want to reach every person in every home, in every street and every village?Then may we help you. The purpose of ICI University is to utilize every available means to take the message of God's Word to the people where they are. Our aim is to win the lost, disciple the new believers and train people for service in the church. In order that we may remain focused on our purpose God has given us a theme "LEVER THE LAITY TO LEVER THE NATION" or "LIFT UP THE LAITY TO LIFT UP THE NATION".We seek to serve the churches in the villages, towns and cities in the districts and in the nation - to encourage the members in every church to rise up and join the pastors to reach every member in their families, every person in every street and in every community so that we may lift this nation before God. We look forward to hearing from you. Please e-mail us at iciuniversitymdrs@gmail.com.

Thanking you,

Sincerely in Christ,

Noel Pentony
ICI University
Plot No.24
1/62/12A Ravi Colony
Chennai-600016
Tamilnadu"