June 2020
Beloved Ones in Christ,
Warm greetings to you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Over the last few months, as the whole world has been feeling the impact of the Coronavirus, many people are suffering, and many people have passed away. One hymn that comes to my mind during these difficult days is “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”
In India, Covid-19 has taken many lives, and many people are still sick. Like in the U.S., there have been lengthy lockdowns, and many people have lost their jobs and cannot afford to buy groceries for their families. I remember the scripture in Psalm 41:1, “Blessed is he who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” By the grace of God, some of our prayer partners have been inspired to help buy food for some of those suffering in South India. As a result, our IEM staff has been able to purchase and deliver grocery items to almost 200 needy families in the last two months.
One woman whose family has been helped is Susan, a young widow with two small children. She lost her job when her company closed due to the lockdown. Her family is very thankful for the groceries they received. Please continue praying for all the poor and needy families.
Also pray for IEM’s evangelistic ministry in Mumbai. Many people have died in Mumbai, but by God’s grace, none of the believers at the 14 churches IEM supports were affected. The Lord has been very, very gracious to those believers.
Likewise, please pray for the IEM faculty and staff as we make decisions about reopening the Bible College and Children’s Home. In light of the ongoing crisis, we are not sure when we will be able to reopen. The Bible College students are not back on campus, but they are receiving some assignments online from their teachers.
By God’s grace, my children and I are keeping well. My son Dayan and I are in touch with the IEM staff in India, and they are indeed grateful for your continued support of what God is doing in India. We love you very much and remember you in our prayers!
God bless you,
G.V. Mathai