For many decades, people from many parts of the country have been coming to Mumbai to make a living. Therefore, a good number of disciples in the Mumbai church have their roots in a small town called Palakollu, which is in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

These disciples often have their relatives visiting them in Mumbai. Sarojini, one of the disciple’s mother, was a frequent visitor. Last year, during one of her such visits, she attended church service. Sarojini is 66 years old and having been a daughter of a pastor, attending church services was not new. But what seemed to be new was how the word of God now moved her heart. She had always relied on God for strength through all the struggles she faced. Previously she thought she knew God, but now she realized that she had so much to learn to understand him.

As Sarojini studied the Bible, she also realized that she did not have a relationship with God. She learnt how she can have that by accepting Jesus as her savior. She made that decision in November 2019.

It was also her desire, to give people back home in her native town, a chance to hear the word of God. Sarojini eagerly started reaching out to the leadership in Mumbai, for their help and guidance. A small ministry group was formed to conduct meetings over the phone in Palakollu. This was before the COVID-19 lockdown.

In December 2019, Sarojini traveled back to her village, this time accompanied by another sister, Elizabeth. Together they both reached out to many and studied the Bible with them. God moved many hearts to know more about him.

God continued moving their hearts in miraculous ways, through the online meetings, as lockdown came into effect.

One among those moved hearts was Rajkumari, a widow with two children. As a single mother, she encounters much struggle to raise her kids. She continued studying the Bible. In July, she become a disciple of Jesus. Her daughter, Jaswanti and her brother, Sai have started studying God’s word.

God continues to give grace to those who seek it. God’s way of reaching out is always amazing. May He always be glorified!

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. – Acts 13:47-48 (NIV)


Simran: Falling in Love With God

God works mysteriously in everyone’s hearts. But his eventual goal is to get them to fall in love with Him.

During the lockdown that is what happened to a young teen who expressed her desire to start her walk with Christ. Her name is Simran, a 13-year-old from the East Sector of Mumbai and daughter of Monica, a disciple.

Simran has been a part of the Kingdom Kids curriculum for quite a long time. Though her mom is a disciple, her father has always opposed their faith. But that did not stop her from studying the Bible. Initially, she was able to study only when her father was not around.

Simran was quite determined and kept pushing forward. This made her fall in love with the God of the Bible, ultimately moving her heart and transforming her from within. Her eagerness was evident; at every study she would turn up with questions and a mindset to put everything into practice. The teens in the East sector of Mumbai met virtually every day on Zoom and she would make an earnest attempt to attend every meeting despite the opposing circumstances.

Noticing the changes in his daughter’s life, her father stopped being so aggressive with her. She had to wait for an opportune moment to accept Christ, because it kept raining very heavily and it was not safe to go down to the lake. So, one day, she and her mum, started filling up the little balcony area of their house. They started at 10:30 in the morning and by 2:30 in the afternoon there was enough water filled. And at 3 pm on the 22nd of August, Simran began her walk with Christ.

We welcome our little sister in Christ, and we believe God will use her powerfully for His glory.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” – Matthew 21:16 (NIV)