|
|
 |
|
| An Introduction to Pastor George, Salomi & Noella Samuel in India |
“Jesus loves me this I know.” If you heard those lyrics being sung here in the U.S.A. there would be little, if any, surprise. However, if you find yourself on the streets of downtown Bombay (Mumbai), India, they might be a little startling! And that’s exactly what happened to our friend Greg Strudwick twelve years ago. While he was working on a construction project the voices of small children singing this childhood standard caught his ear, and he followed the sound. A Methodist church downtown was holding their annual Vacation Bible School, and Greg walked into a room full of happy kids. The rest, as they say, is history. That moment is a key part of our church’s history, and we believe a part of God’s unfolding tapestry of eternal history. By the time Greg left Bombay he had struck up a friendship with Pastor George Samuel, the Indian pastor who was leading the children. In addition to pastoring the church, George was also leading multiple fellowships in the slums of Bombay, serving the poor with the loving good news of Jesus Christ.
Before our friend Greg returned home he asked Pastor George what our people could do to help him minister to the people of Bombay. George asked for a motorbike, as he was spending a great deal of time getting to and from the various slums. Cabs would not take him into some of these areas, so George was walking, sometimes for hours, to move about among each slum fellowship. Greg returned home, quickly raised the funds, and sent the money to George. George bought the motorbike and, in a most unusual and telling response, gratefully returned the funds left over! From this humble beginning our hearts have increasingly grown together. MCC began to help George with various projects, and our relationship continued to mature. By 2004 our hearts were so joined, and the Lord had so led, that George left his denominational position to become a fulltime pastor, evangelist and leader of his ministry, Hope in the Desert. This work includes his various slum ministries throughout Bombay/Mumbai and beyond. Pastor George’s ministry has grown to now include fellowships in Bijapur and Mudhol, cities far from Bombay/Mumbai. George currently has three other paid members of his ministry team, and God has granted our fellowship the means to offer gifts which support George and his team. However, it would be an injustice to fail to mention the ongoing encouragement and help of George’s dear wife and our precious sister, Salomi. Without her excellent work, both professionally and personally, none of this would be possible. George and Salomi’s only child, Noella, has also been a source of constant encouragement in their home and in their faithful service to others.
|
|
| Moving along... |
In the fall of 2006 MCC’s pastor, Wayne McDonald was accompanied by youth leader and Dallas Seminary student, Paul Robbins, on a visit to Pastor George. During those wonderful but far-too-short days they were able to visit with many of the people who have been touched by the Lord through our fellow-servant George and his ministry team. They were even given the great honor of participating in a baptismal service where a good number made public their decisions to follow Jesus Christ. This journey was filled with joy and affection, affirming the Lord’s purposes in joining a small church in Texas with a work of God on the other side of the world. Only the Lord could have brought George and MCC together, and we are all grateful that He did!
In March of 2008 George purchased land in Mudhol, with MCC’s aid and encouragement. The goal is to build a church meeting place in this city of over 100,000, which has no visible Christian witness or church of any kind. Join us in prayer and support for Mudhol, a great city which has a corresponding great need of the great good news of God’s love, demonstrated in His gift of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
|
|
| To contact George, Salomi or Noella... |
| To leave a word (or two) of encouragement and affection, you can send an Email to George, Salomi or Noella. They will love hearing from you!
|
|
|
