India, Nepal & Israel Outreach
On the way to India, Bill had the opportunity to pray for a Hindu (Brahmin) man in an airport who was stranded for two days and worried about getting on a flight as a stand-by passenger. The Lord answered prayer and that man took the last vacant seat — right next to Bill. The men became friends and he walked the group through customs enabling Bill to carry a large duffel bag of his books and tapes through unchecked!
One of the most rigorous and challenging mission outreaches of Bill's life was filled with many victories for the Lord.
The 19-day trip included 13 flights, five nights without sleep, and more than 5,000 kilometers logged by Jeep and van to minister at a national convention in the Himalayas and remote churches rarely visited by missionaries. Many parts of the roads were washed out or had recent land slide debris. Some parts were so narrow only one vehicle could pass.
A very dangerous mountain road from Rangpo to Siligiri on which bandits and gangs often rob travelers had to be driven at night. We prayed the Lord would protect us –– and He did.
Assisted by his son-in-law, Clayton Smith, and nephew, Richard Miller, Bill had the opportunity to minister for three days at India Evangelistic Crusade's national convention in the remote Himalayan mountains of northeast India where he spoke to over 1,000 people (some Hindus and Buddhists, as well as many pastors, evangelists, and believers). Bill spoke 17 times — each one a different and powerful message — during the trip, which included the convention and various churches in India, and a Messianic congregation and pastors' conference in Israel. It was Rich and Clay's first missionary outreach and they both gave excellent messages.
Many conference-goers sat under a canopy with holes in it while a torrential rain pounded down for two days. People were ankle-deep in mud and water, while sitting on hard benches for hours taking notes. They slept three nights on a cold, concrete floor. Their desire to hear the word of God was amazing. Many of these people had to walk for three days to get to the meetings. For most of the people who attended, this was the only vacation they will get for the whole year and they wanted to spend it at the convention.
Some villages we ministered at were so remote in the interior regions of the Himalayan mountains that there is virtually no contact with the outside world. Imagine, no phones or e-mail. The Lord did, however, provide a way for Bill to call Karen on her birthday.
Several of Bill's messages had to be prepared in the middle of the night in a small, dirty, bug-infested, bathroom while using a flashlight to read his Bible.
After Bill spoke his final message the last night of the convention he said, "I'm not very good at good-byes so I want the musicians to come back up and lead our favorite song in Nepali and we will slip out so the last thing we remember is your smiling faces and beautiful voices of praise to the Lord." As we left, the hugs, handshakes, facial expressions of sadness and love, and tears in their eyes said it all.
Sikkim is the seat of Lama Buddhism. It is a province of India which previously was a separate country and very hostile to the Gospel. Although restricted during Bill's previous outreach in the Himalayas, this time we were able to get a visa and enter. Bill spoke in Rangpo, Sikkim at the Rangpo Christian Church. None of these people were raised Christian — all were former Buddhists and Hindus. Before we arrived some of the men dug steps in the side of the mountain so we didn't have to walk a long circuitous route to get to the church. Bill also visited a Buddhist monastery, the seat of Lama Buddhism in the world and gave some of his pamphlets to a receptive monk.
Bill's burden to take the Gospel into every country in the world was further realized when he was able to take literature into Nepal where Christianity has been strictly forbidden. Nepali Christians could be executed and visiting Christians caught distributing information are often imprisoned and possibly executed. When it seemed impossible to enter Nepal, a young man "happened" to appear who had heard Bill at the convention. This young man was a new believer who had gang connections in Nepal. When he understood Bill's desire to enter, he was able to smuggle them in. Bill was able to witness and pass out some of his pamphlets and then they jumped on the back of a truck to head back to the border.
While in Israel, Bill spoke at Sar Shalom in Jerusalem which was attended by people from all backgrounds and lifestyles, including drug addiction, alcoholism, Judaism, and New Ageism. He also spoke in Jerusalem at an international ministers' conference on the Seven Churches of Revelation.
Thanks
Any money Bill receives from speaking engagements goes into a special account to be used when he travels and does missionary work. Also, all monies Bill receives from the sale of his cassettes, books, and pamphlets, is used to provide these materials free of charge to thousands of people throughout the world who cannot afford to pay for them. Thanks for your prayer and financial support which helps to make our ministry such a fruitful outreach.
