CCOG Newsletter

If you have been reading the daily devotional on the YouVersion Bible app (https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/28435), you may have noticed a common thread. Often in the Bible, what would have seemed like an interruption was actually an opportunity to minister. Jesus was not irritated when people stopped Him on the way to His next preaching/teaching appointment. He gladly took time to speak to them, answer their questions, and heal them.

I confess that I too often am single-minded in my focus. I have a list of things I want to accomplish in a day and I try to avoid distractions of my own making. If I am not careful, I will rush past someone who needs to talk, to fellowship, or even to pray! In my effort to prepare for ministry, I can skip past the work of ministry. Recently, the Lord has given me opportunities to put into practice what He is teaching us in this devotional. I have encountered unexpected "interruptions". In these cases, I have heard the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling me not to rush through these conversations because these people have needs. I have come away from these encounters feeling good that I was able to be a little more like Jesus.

Maybe you are already really great at this, but this is a discipline that I am learning. Lord, help us all to recognize those who God is bringing into our path. Lord, help us remember that we are to be daily living on mission!

Jyothi was born in 1964 to a poor Christian family. His father had been miraculously saved some years prior and, because of his conversion, had been disowned by his family. Determined to live out his life for His savior, Jesus Christ, Stephen Reddi lived as a powerful minister of the gospel and farmed to provide for his family. Jyothi was called into this precious ministry of the Lord at the age of 14 in the year 1979. He had all the struggles of being a Christian in a predominantly Hindu Society, but God was faithful to him. By God’s grace a great man of God, the Rev. Robert E. Hinson, Senior Pastor, Spring Valley Church of God, PA, was inspired of the Lord to sponsor Jyothi’s education in the United States. Rev. Hinson had become great friends with Jyothi’s father years earlier. Jyothi would never forget his love, kindness and generosity. Jyothi knew for many years, that he would somehow repay this kindness by helping others in a similar way.

In 1993 God gave him a vision and a burden about the deprived, unwanted and orphaned children that roamed the streets of India. Many children go hungry, homeless and unwanted because of the caste system still operating in India. The rich and wealthy refuse to help in anyway, for fear of retribution on them by the Hindu gods. Many children are forced into slave labor and even prostitution to make money for their guardians. Jyothi knew that God was leading him to take these children that would come and raise them to be happy, healthy and humane citizens and allow them to become useful tools in the kingdom of God. Little did Jyothi know just how God would bless his endeavors and how many children would come through this institution ordained by God to be vessels to spread the Gospel through out India.

Since the time this orphanage opened, hundreds of children have been loved, cared for, and have put their faith in Jesus. Many have gone on to have successful careers and some have entered the ministry in their home country of India. Jyothi's Home for Children currently is home to 400 children, making it the largest Church of God orphanage in the world!