December 2021
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18
Beloved Ones,
As Christians around the world mark the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am reminded of Christ’s fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in the Scripture quoted above.
Christ came to bring us reconciliation to God the Father, and we as His people are to continue to be His hands and feet and bring reconciliation to the world around us. All of you who labor with us in the work in India through IEM are helping us do the work of the kingdom each and every day.
Many years ago, our Children’s Home staff, Annamma, came to our IEM leadership and asked us to admit two young girls from a nearby village, who had experienced great tragedy in their family. Their father had been employed as a caretaker of an elephant (elephants have been used to move logs and help with construction for hundreds of years in South India). The father was an alcoholic and abusive, and in a fit of rage, he killed the girls’ mother and soon after, sent the girls into the street to beg. Subsequently, the man was killed by his elephant, after the animal had suffered under this man’s abuse as well. IEM took these two girls after this tragedy and raised them and helped them grow in their faith. Last week, Ashudee, one of the sisters, came to visit the IEM campus to express her gratitude for helping her and her sister know the Lord and have a home. Today, Ashudee works as a nurse, and just got married. What a joy to see God’s hand on her and learn about how God is continuing to restore her life.
God is still helping his people to follow Christ in “proclaiming good news to the poor, and setting the oppressed free.” As we celebrate His coming to earth, let us continue to partner together to do His will here and in India. My heart is overjoyed when I think of all of our prayer partners and supporters who make it possible to restore lives like Ashudee’s.
During the pandemic we have been supporting children in their homes. This month we are planning to bring them back to the campus for a special Christmas program, along with the children we are helping through our Helping Hands tutoring program. Please pray it will be a wonderful time together as we show them the love of Jesus and communicate the true meaning of Christmas.
May you have a blessed Christmas and New Year.
We love you very much!
G.V. Mathai and Family