BOBBY & REKHA GEORGE’S 2016 TRIP TO U.S.

August – September 2016

Bobby and Rekha arrived in Orlando from India on August 3rd after a 13 hour train ride to Mumbai and a grueling flight to Orlando which, with layovers, took 25 ½ hours! They returned to India September 24th. 

They arrived tired and feeling discouragement.  Rekha shared that she was nearly burned out.  This is easy to understand when you consider they have been working day in and day out for 19 years, giving of themselves and receiving little back. They work in a hostile environment where they have experienced nearly constant persecution including many threats and several attempts to kill Bobby. They really have no home of their own as their house is located in a 1.5 acre bustling compound shared with the children’s home and the church building/training center.  The demands on them are overwhelming and never ending.  And, ministry needs and opportunities always far exceed the available resources.

But they left encouraged, refreshed and excited, with their emotional and spiritual tanks refilled and with increased determination and enthusiasm.  Rekha said she felt like she had been given her life back and Bobby got the spring back in his step!  They are excited about getting back on the mission field to share the Gospel, make disciplemakers and plant more churches among the unreached peoples of Karnataka!

The anointing of God on them was obvious every where they went.  The Lord stirred the hearts of everyone  they come in contact with, moving many to provide encouragement to these tired and weary missionaries and supply critical personal and ministry needs.

The apostle Paul tells is in Ephesians 3:20 NKJV that God “… is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”  With this trip God once again did more than we asked or imagined possible!  Thank you Lord!

Now for their action-packed, whirl wind itinerary. 

Bobby & Rekha spent the first week with Art & Brenda Foster in nearby Tavares resting and getting adjusted to the 9 ½ hour time change and having a little fun.  Rekha & Brenda did what the girls do – went shopping.  Bobby & Art did the guy thing – fishing.  While there Bobby & Art met with pastors of two churches.  They were also providentially introduced to, and met with director of Christian Ministries International who has produced solar powered audio new testaments in the native language of Karnataka.  We purchased ten and are excited about putting them in the hands of our pastors and believers!

Then we all four headed off for a full two week schedule in and around Atlanta. 

First stop – Westside Baptist Church, Mableton, GA.  Rev Paul Kumar, an Indian, an avid supporter of our ministry and one of our greatest encouragers, arranged for us to share during their Wednesday night service.  The members were so encouraging and gracious to us!  At the end of the service they took up a love offering that was a big  help of our travel expenses.  The next day we received a call from their mission director telling us the the missions committed intended to make Karnataka Gospel Mission their “mission emphasis” for September with the goal of raising money for a motorcycle, like the one you see here, for one of the KGM pastors.  Well, they succeeded.  Thank you Westside members!

On Thursday night Art’s sister Martha Anne McCravy and her husband Randy hosted us at their home with the Foster clan for dinner.

Friday night was spent with Paul and Minnie Kumar.  Minnie fixed a delicious traditional Indian meal and we had a wonderful time of fellowship.  It was no surprise that the Kumars and the Georges fell in love with each other.

Next Stop – a Saturday get together with Completing The Call board members at the home of Jerry & Judy Shipman.  Always a great time of encouragement for all of us!  Then that evening we were hosted for dinner by a couple who is one of our most faithful monthly support and prayer partners

Sunday Pastor Perry Fowler and Kennesaw First Baptist Church gave us the privilege of sharing during their evening service.  They received us with much warmth and encouragement.  Afterward Pastor Perry and his family took us out to dinner.  KFBC has been sponsoring one of our KGM pastors for some time now and has provided significant funds to help with the cost of materials for a badly needed church building which was just recently completed.  Thank you pastor and KFBC members!

On Monday we met with one of our accountability board members who is one of our most devoted prayer partners and supporters.

On Tuesday we met with the Director of Missions and her assistant at First Baptist Atlanta. The meeting had been arranged by Jerry Shipman, a CTC board member and FBA member.  We shared our visions and goals for CTC and KGM, the opportunities available, the struggles we face and our most critical needs.  We were greatly moved by their keen interest, encouragement and desire to help. As some of you may know Charles Stanley’s InTouch Ministries has for some time been producing their “Messenger” – a small solar powered, audio bible together with Stanley messages in many languages.  We were thrilled to learn that they now have it available in Hindi, India’s official language, and Kannada which is the primary language of the state of Karnataka where we work.  As we were leaving the Director asked us how many we would like.  We told her “about 24 depending upon the cost.”  Her reply:  “We’re going to provide 100 at no cost!”  Because the illiteracy rate in the rural villages of  Karnataka is more than 30% there simply is no better evangelism and discipleship tool for us.  She told us that it would take about 90 days to load them.  We got them is less than 30 days!   Needless to say this demonstrates just how serious FBA & InTouch are about getting the Gospel to the unreached!  Thank you FBA & InTouch so very, very much!  We can’t wait to see the harvest from their use.  Stay tuned for updates from the field.

Immediately after that meeting we had lunch with a couple who are long-time, generous ministry partners and supporters. Rekha passionately shared our vision for a tailoring institute KGM is starting in a recently completed church building in one of our ripest mission fields.  The wife was so moved that she asked her husband if they   could provide funds to buy 6 sewing machines!  He quickly agreed as he loves the ministry and is a strong proponent of helping believers become self sufficient.  The tailoring institute, in addition to providing income for the ministry, will be a tremendous outreach tool!  We have been praying for just such an opportunity for twelve years!  Stay tuned for reports from the field!

A meeting had been scheduled with Ken Anderson, Director of Asia/Pacific for Church of God World Missions.  COG World Missions has been instrumental in providing support in the past for KGM’s outreach to unengaged people groups (people groups with no christians and no christian workers) in Karnataka.  Ken had to cancel due to a death in his family.  But in a phone conversation he informed us that Serving Orphans Worldwide (SOW), a sister ministry he is actively a part of, has committed to begin providing monthly support for our Good Samaritan Children’s Home with a substantial sum!  This in “just the nick of time” as the number of children in the home had recently ballooned to 30 from only a dozen or so the year before! 

After a brief break we all headed to Thomaston, Georgia to be with First Baptist Church for their 5-day missions conference they call their “Global Impact Celebration”.  They last hosted Bobby & Rekha at their 2009 mission conference at which time they all fell in love with them.  Everyone was so glad to see them again.  From our perspective and all accounts the conference was a “out of the park” success.  Everyone left with a renewed excitement.  FBCT and its members are some of the most loving, encouraging, dedicated and godly people you’d ever hope to meet.  FBCT has faithfully provided financial support for Bobby & Rekha now for seven years, they provided Bobby a motorcycle, and members have personally met so many of their personal and ministry needs that it would take pages to enumerate!  In 2014 Pastor Bill Barber went to India with me and also with Bobby and me on our grueling 700 mile circuit to visit the KGM mission stations throughout the state of Karnataka.  Thank you FBCT members for showering Bobby & Rekha with gifts and buckets of love!  And, special thanks for covering their round trip air fare which made all this possible. Words are hard to come by that adequately describe our gratitude for all you have done and are continuing to do!

After remaining a day and a half after the conference one of the FBCT members took Bobby & Rekha to Atlanta and put hem on a plane to Saint Louis, Missouri where they spent four days with Pastor Michael Shattuck, his wife Vicki and Kaleo Church. Once again Bobby & Rekha were loved on and received so much encouragement. And, the Kaleo members were greatly moved by Bobby & Rekha’s testimonies and sharing about the ministry.  Michael & Vicki’s 14 year old son was so moved when Rekha shared about their Good Samaritan Children’s Home that he got up, went to his room and came back with his entire savings of $122 which he gave to Rekha to help the home!  And, if that were not enough, he committed to spend his next summer vacation in Indian helping at the home!  Michael is a CTC board member.  He and his wife went to India with us in 2014 where they developed a deep, loving connection to Bobby & Rekha and the ministry.  They and Kaleo are faithful ministry partners and supporters.  Thank you Michael & Vicki and Kaleo members!

On Saturday August 27th Michael & Vicki put Bobby & Rekha on a plane for Dallas Texas where Bobby’s siblings and extended family live. Because it is rare for them to come to the states to be with the entireN family and friends, they stayed for nearly a month.  During that time they met with old friends (Bobby went to high school in Dallas), friends of the family and ministry supporters.  One of our faithful partners who has made significant donations in the past for various key projects, donated a substantial sum for the Tailoring Institute.  With his gift and the one mentioned above we will be able to start tailoring institutes in, not one, but two churches!  Thank you partner, and thank you Lord!!!  Bobby made it known that he was praying for a badly needed laptop to replace his ancient computer.  He didn’t get one.  He got 5!!!  Because they are used and needed some work I asked if he could get them ready for use.  He replied “In India you can repair anything!”  His two young daughters both need a computer for school so each one will now have one.  Another will be used for the children’s home.  It is so neat to see how the Lord provides!!

On Saturday September 24th they made the long trip back to India full of joy and renewed enthusiasm for taking the gospel to the lost peoples of India and planting many more churches.