Revival Deepens in Shillong, Meghalaya, India

My friend and co-worker in Northeast India, Reuben Pradhan (http://torestoration.googlepages.com/), has recently reported that an outbreak of the an outpouring of the Holy Spirit is taking place in his city. If you missed his previous report of Sept. 1, 2006, you may want to read that first (click here). Today he sent another thrilling report of events that he witnessed and participated in.

Revival in Buddhist-Run and Other Non-Christian Schools

4th Sept '06
7:00 p.m.
Reuben Pradhan
Shillong, Meghalaya, India

Today shortly after noon (at about 12:30 p.m.) I received a call from a young sister from our church. She goes to a school run by the Bengali Buddhists community. She sounded both excited and urgent as she told me that some children (although only four of them) in her school had come under the power of God. She also told me that the school was declared holiday for the day. This caught my attention because this wasn't a Christian school like the others where students, basically from Christian backgrounds, are experiencing similar things. This was a Buddhist school, and now it wasn't just students from Christian backgrounds but also Hindus and others who were having a direct encounter with God.

As soon as I put down my phone, I told my wife about it, changed my clothes, hopped onto my motor-scooter and rushed toward the school. When I reached there at about 1:00 p.m. I saw a young man carrying a young girl (about 13 or 14 years old) outside the school. Her relatives and neighbors were there too. I quickly recognized that she was from my community–Nepali. They were taking her home. The girl was crying and groaning and seemed to be without any strength in her body. At first I thought I would speak to them, but felt I should see what was happening with the others in the classroom. All that I saw was some Christians in one room trying to explain to the authorities and teachers of the school what was actually happening. Almost all the students had left the school. I felt it was no use to be there and felt the prompting to follow the people with the young girl. I ran toward the road and joined them. Her aunty and a young man were carrying her. I approached them and talked to them and helped carry the girl to her house, which was not far from the school. There were lots of houses where she lived and as soon as we reached her house a crowd gathered to find out what had happened to her, since someone from the school had gone there earlier to inform them of what had happened to the girl, and asked them to come and pick her up. There was panic in the house and in the surrounding compound. Of course, they had been hearing the news everywhere that such occurrences were happening with Christians in the churches and schools, and had actually watched it on the local news channel. Now they were seeing this with their own eyes, happening to one of the kids from their own block, and to someone who wasn't a Christian at all. The small room was packed with some people and the rest simply flocked at the door. A little boy, about 10 years old, scurried to the room with a Bible in his hand. The adults began to ask him to read the Bible. At that moment I told them that I was a Christian and that they need not be afraid or panicky, and offered to read the Bible, too. I later learned that the little boy wasn't a Christian at all but had been given a Bible by someone. Their idea was that since this is a Christian "phenomenon," reading the Bible would bring the girl (or anyone else for that matter) going through this manifestation back to consciousness.

"What's this happening?" asked a lady. Then I opened the Bible to Acts 2 and started preaching the Gospel to them. I got a rapt audience. Over and over again I shared with them about the Savior, Jesus Christ and their need for believing and receiving Him into their lives.

As I paused for a few moments I tried talking to the girl whose name was Pratima, but she was crying continuously and seemed to be totally unaffected by her surroundings. Later, after over an hour in the house, she slowly began to move her eyes, which indicated that she had come to her senses. Just to check, I asked her if she wanted to drink some water. She nodded her head. She drank the water and lay down on the bed again. I asked her what had happened. She softly answered, "He's calling me." I asked her who the person was who was calling her. "Jesus," she said. At that moment I turned back to her people and repeated what she told me and reiterated that the Lord had indeed specially chosen her, and that probably through her the rest of them. They just kept quiet and simply nodded their heads. Her mother, who probably was a widow, seemed familiar to me. On inquiring, I came to realize that she was a staff member of State Bank, where my father had also served (though in another branch in town). On inquiring further, I came to realize that she and her family actually know my father very well and call him "uncle." I also learned that her old father was actually serving at the same time in the same branch office with my father. And soon I also came to learn that the other lady who asked me, "What's this happening?" was actually a distant relative of mine. This made things all the easier. And as some more people were inquiring about the whole event I affirmed to them that this was God's divine plan to come and meet with Pratima in such a sovereign way that people would gather in that house, and I would, out of nowhere, reach there and get the opportunity to share the Gospel with all of them. I assured them that this was God's love for them and His divine plan for their salvation. I just hoped that they were beginning to see the truth.

In the meantime Pratima was hungry and was served lunch. Soon she began to talk with her mother and others. When I asked her how it all began, she told me that in her classroom she suddenly felt giddy and fell down, and after that all she remembers is some teachers trying to pick her up. She remembers nothing after that till the time she regained consciousness at home. During the whole time she was only crying and crying in a very deeply emotional manner.

Later in the house tea and biscuits were served to the rest of us. And after some more conversation I finally left them but not without offering to visit them again.

The surprising thing was those non-Christian crowds that had gathered in that house were also making an uproar about a similar incident in another school not far from that area. This was also a non-Christian, Girl's High school. In fact, it was in a much larger scale there. And so after I left that house I rushed toward this school hoping to catch a glimpse of what was happening there, too. But when I reached there all the students had already left. I only saw a young girl on the road outside the school along with her relative trying to make some effort to walk. Her face, too, was wet with tears.

In the evening I went to visit my Dad and Mom in their house, eagerly looking forward to sharing all this, since those people were actually my Dad's close acquaintances, too. Monalisa, a sister from our church, was also there, along with one of her daughters. I interrupted their conversation (whatever it was) by beginning to share my story of the day. Then Mom actually told me that they had also visited the school and had also spotted my scooter parked outside the school premises. But all the students had left by then, and I wasn't there either. They, however, had the opportunity to speak to some of the school authorities about Jesus and also handed some gospel tracts to them and left.

On the other hand, Monalisa had another interesting story to share. In the afternoon she was actually passing by that Girl's High school when she heard and saw all the commotion. She noted a girl who also had been touched by the power of God and inquired what had happened to her. The girl said she actually saw an inferno, and Satan was standing nearby, trying to pull her towards the fire. But suddenly in the middle, between them, a tall man clothed in white appeared, and she knew it was Jesus. He invited her to Himself and said, "Come with me and I'll take you to Heaven." This girl was an Assamese Hindu girl. Before leaving her, Monalisa asked for her contact address and also gave an invitation to come to our fellowship on Sundays.

Another somewhat staunch Hindu school also came under similar experience today. Some students who came under the power of God began to prophesy, "Jesus is coming soon. Repent!" Sadly, some of the teachers and authorities (of course, non-Christians) of the school allegedly didn't like what was happening and in fact rebuked and discouraged them by making snide remarks that they should go home and do all the pretensions and dramas. Yes, there'll be those who'll try to oppose or even attempt to thwart the move of God and yet we confidently know for sure that in the end His love and power will prevail over and above everything else.

Dear saints, this is the beginning of what the prophet Joel prophesied. Right now it is mostly happening with the young people but we expect and are also praying that it would be poured out, as the Bible says in Acts 2, "upon all flesh" of every age and stature.

Rejoice with us. But also please continue to pray that the revival fire would spread to the Garo Hills, and from there to Assam and the rest of India, and to the neighboring nations too. One hundred years ago, when revival came to Meghalaya it spread from here to Mizoram, other parts of India, and even up to Korea. Somehow, I sense this time that it would multiply itself many, many times more both in terms of intensity and coverage.

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come."

So unworthy before Him,

Reuben Pradhan
http://torestoration.googlepages.com/ 

Before receiving this report, as I had been praying for those experiencing the Lord in a fresh way there in Northeast India, I sensed a prodding from the Lord to encourage Reuben with a specific word. Before I could send it, however, this second report came. But I thought others might be edified by reading some of what I sent Reuben, and his reply.

September 4, 2006

Hi Reuben. Wow! This is exciting!

I sure wish I was there with you. I feel I had a word for you and for the saints there this morning. Some time ago I recorded a message I entitled "Narrow Preparation For God's Blessing." I believe the Lord wants me to re-title it "Preparation for Revival." I believe He has been preparing you, and the saints you walk with, for this current outpouring of the Spirit. He has had you prepare the soil in your own hearts and in the community. Now that the outpouring is here, I suspect you wish you had done even more of this.

The word from the Lord is to continue preparing. Keep digging deeper! Enjoy the current outpouring, but don't relax! Teach the new babes coming into the family to drink deeply of the flow of the Spirit, but also to quickly learn to dig themselves. Many revivals in the past had less long-term effect than they should have, because the people simply relaxed and enjoyed the outpouring without making a place for God to do a much deeper work in their own hearts and in their community.

For further encouragement along these lines, find the tape I gave you entitled, #314 "Narrow Preparation." Or, if you can't find it or want to share it with others with internet access, the message is available as a free download at <http://www.boldchristianliving.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=34>

I believe homeschooling is intended as a preparation of vessels for outpouring. I think the Lord wants to pour out His Spirit in the U.S. also, and has sovereignly been preparing vessels to retain the blessing.

Jonathan Lindvall

Here is part of Reuben’s response:

Dear Jonathan,

Indeed it is exciting to be alive in such a moment as this! Out here we’re always anticipating "where next?"

I’m encouraged by your sharing regarding "Preparation for Revival". I’ll need to check the tape you gave me, too. And oh boy! You’ve hit the nail right on the head. Yes, I had been wishing I had done even more preparation. Just last evening I was thinking this as I was heading toward my parents’ house. And there are things God is speaking to me and others too.

Got to do the deeper digging…

Love and blessings,

Reuben Pradhan
http://torestoration.googlepages.com/ 

I intend to continue publishing any further reports Reuben sends regarding this fresh wind of the Spirit (with his permission). Check back here in coming days, to follow this story. And you are welcome to listen to (or save) the free online audio message, "Preparation for Revival: Narrow Preparation For God's Blessing" (click here). I believe God wants to move in my community, in your community, and all over the world.

[Reuben's report sent September 6, 2006 is available by clicking here.]

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