Rev. Tharp and his ministry team of Dr. Mike Ross and Ms. Shelly Hardy were privileged to serve in India during April, 2002.  Below are excerpts from e-mail communication from Rev. Tharp and Shelly during their trip.  Some photos from the trip have also been posted on the web site.

04/26/02

This will probably be my last e-mail before returning home. We are now in Agra and will be going to

 the Taj Mahal in about an hour. Yesterday was quite a day. We said our farewells to the Masih family over breakfast and headed out (by a SUV taxi) for Varanasi. I cannot even begin to relive that experience. The driving here is CRAZY!!! One would not survive here without a horn. In the States we almost think it rude when someone honks their horn, but here you would be in an accident or dead in a flash. Truly, the bravest driver wins the road.

The view of the countryside was another stimulation as we viewed women rolling up the cow fertilizer. Another interesting thing was the brick barreled walls they put up around newly planted trees. The reason for this is to keep the cows, buffalo, etc. from eating the leaves. As noted before, they have free reign of the place. So, the people work around them.

Over the last few days, we have been becoming more ready to return home. We have laughed a lot, but have also been very tired. Please pray for continued strength. I have personally not been feeling too great the last few days. But God is good and I feel His strength. The people that bombard you just to ride a rickshaw, take a taxi, view the Taj is unbelievable. My experience has given me new insight to how Jesus must have felt from time to time with people surrounding Him on every side.

What a God we serve!  My heart can feel the Love of God for these people as I sense that my own tears are the tears of God for this country. Oh, how I almost feel guilty for the life God has blessed me with as I ponder the abundance of wealth we have in our country.

If there is one word this trip has brought to my mind, it is PERSPECTIVE. May I always keep Christ Jesus and HIS Love for this dying world in right perspective. Yesterday before flying to Agra from Varanasi, we had lunch with our friend Leslie from the States and she told me to be ready for Reverse Cultural Shock. She said upon her first return home from India she experienced feelings of anger for having so much luxury at her fingertips.

These people live a HARD life. My pictures will only begin to tell the story. They work 6 days a week and their only day off is Sunday. They stay very busy. Another tool of Satan to keep them from really feeling the emptiness in their lives.

As I said, we will be going to the Taj today. So, this will probably be the last e-mail.

Pray that we can keep our strength, health, and sense of humor, as it seems to be becoming an endurance test. There was a feeling of home while with the Masih's, but now I feel really lost. I hope to share some of the funny stories with you all upon my return home. This mission has been life changing for me, but thank God, it is not all heavy. There have been some great laughs.

I thank God for this time here in India, but also with these two godly men. They are fun and traveling with men has been a whole new experience for me. Men and women truly are from 2 different worlds, but our differences make life interesting. I will let you all go now. May God bless you all.
Love, Shelly

Hello!
I just wanted to give a quick update. Today is our last day here in Allahabad. We are at the hotel taking a break right now, but will soon be returning for the final session and Holy Communion. I will be singing in that final service and Rev. Tharp will be speaking. The Holy Spirit has made His presence known to us while here in Allahabad and even though we all look forward to coming home, their was a sadness in our hearts this morning as we sat at the breakfast table with the Masih family. We have had some blessed times of fellowship with this dear family. It has been so fun to laugh and share with these precious saints of the Lord. This time will never be forgotten and has given me an even greater love for this country.

I wish each and every one of you could be here and experience this time with me. Rev. Tharp and his ministry are a part of history here as this Pastor's conference is the first in the history of the ECI (Evangelical Church of India). This was a much needed break for these servants of the Lord. An alumni association was started today for Allahabad Bible Seminary. This seminary is 60 years old and today was the first time an Alumni Association has been formed. Rev. Tharp presided over the election process, as most of the ECI pastors are ABS graduates. Rev. Dr. Masih is the man for this job as he is a "mover and a shaker." He gets things done around here and the Lord is using him in a powerful way. As I sat there today, I was wondering where the Lord will lead this wonderful seminary from here. From what I have experienced, it can only be great blessings that he has in store.

Won't it be neat someday, as ABS grows to say that I was a part of the wonderful history of this blessed seminary. I have to be going, but if you will, please remember Rev. Dr. Masih, ECI, and ABS in your prayers as Rev. Masih will soon be ordained as Bishop for the ECI here in North India. That means that he will have his hands full, but He is trusting the Lord to send the RIGHT president for the seminary as that is his love. Yet, he knows that the current pastor's need support and will be faithful to take that office. It is an appointment system, so Rev. Dr. Masih will be faithful to the call.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouraging responses.

Love, Shelly

Well, it's another day here in Allahabad and a blessed day it has already been for me. I don't think that I have made mention of a lady I met my first day here in Allahabad. So, I will tell a little now.

Upon arrival in Allahabad, we were taken to Hotel Yatrick to settle in for our weeklong stay. We arrived in the morning as we came overnight by train from Delhi. Dr. Masih had asked Dr. Ross to speak in the morning chapel service. So, me being eager to experience as much of India as I could was ready to go along with Dr. Ross for the chapel service at the Bible Seminary. Well, as we were waiting on our transportation in the hotel lobby I met a lady from the USA. Her name is Mrs. K. Sylvester. We visited shortly to find that she and her husband were in the ministry here in Allahabad and knew the Masih's. She gave me her card and told me if I had free time to give her a call, as she would love to visit and to share with me about their ministry. So, having some free time, I called her yesterday evening and arranged to go to the ministry site today.

We had a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer. God is really at work here in India. Kay and her husband are involved in several different aspects of ministry. Kay's father-in-law was a great minister of the gospel for 56 years and passed away just this year. In that time, he founded the India Bible Training Institute that trains male village converts to become pastors and ministers of the gospel. I had the privilege of meeting several of those young men this morning on my visit. However, the Institute is just one facet of ministry the Sylvester?s are involved in here in India.

Kay's father-in-law also started a church here in Allahabad, which is known as the Allahabad Pentecostal Church. I have heard from other sources that Rev. Joyce Sylvester, Kay's father-in-law and John's father, was a well-known minister in the Indian church here around Allahabad and other parts of India. Kay was ordained as pastor of that church in November 2001 by her father-in-law before his death in February of this year. She speaks with such love for him and his passion to see the lost come to the saving knowledge of Christ. I wish I would have had the honor of meeting such a dear saint of God.

The ordination of Kay as pastor was a huge step of faith for her father-in-law and for Kay from what I understand. Women in ministry are still not openly accepted here in India, especially as pastors. However, I sense that Kay has the Spirit of God upon her life and my time with her in prayer was evidence that she relies on that Power alone to lead, guide, and direct her steps.

After visiting the campus of India Bible Training Institute and hearing of the church her father-in-law founded Kay took me to another area of ministry that her husband founded. This ministry really stirs my heart as it is to the tribal areas that have not been introduced to the gospel in any manner. This ministry is called Stewards' Trust. They go to the tribes and village areas and minister to their physical needs as they establish a relationship with the people. They sponsor different programs to meet their needs such as water supply, medical, educational, etc. However, they also begin to teach them how to provide a better living for themselves as they are meeting their needs so they become self-sufficient. The areas of ministry in these 2 projects are so involved that I do not have time to go into detail. I would have loved to go to one of their villages, but I have other obligations to ABS and would not want to be a rude guest. They offered to take me, but I had to decline. This is somewhat sad to me, as I really wanted to experience this side of ministry here in India. So, you know what that means. Lord willing, I will come back to take part in the Sylvester's ministry. They are very gracious people as well and were just thankful that I was able to visit with them for the few hours that I did this am.

For those of you who are praying for God's work to be done here in India, I will have much good news to share with you about God's work here, but the needs are still so great. As said before, PRAYER ALONE will accomplish the Great Awakening that needs to take place here in India.

I hope this finds you all doing well. The Pastor's Conference is going well. There is a marked change in the countenance of the pastors from the time of arrival. They really needed this time of rest and they are very thankful to Christian Renewal Ministries for sponsoring such a wonderful time. For those of you who do not know, Christian Renewal is the sole sponsor of this conference. So, if you have been blessed by this mission and would like to give to God's work here in India, I'm sure Christian Renewal would be thankful for any donations given to offset the costs of this wonderful mission trip. That is coming only from me, so please do not read anything into my requests.

I have just witnessed with my own eyes the real ministry Rev. Tharp has and his desire to see God's people Renewed. Thank God for laying this burden on his heart as it is God's people that will bring the great awakening to this country.

I will be going for now. Thanks for giving me your time. May God bless you for your interests in His Kingdom and may we all be encouraged and challenged by His church here in India.

In Christ,
Shelly

P.S. By the way, Kay's husband and father-in-law are Indian natives. She married John in when he came to study in the States back in 1980. She has been here ever since and has only been back to the States twice.

The heat is getting to us some as we head into a full week, and each day so full. But the Lord is helping us.  I got my bag with everything intact.  Thanks for faxing the message on unity. It came Sat. afternoon before the need for it on Sunday morning.  Shelly and Mike are a great blessing to have along.  Shelly never complains about the heat, the food, or ... anything.  She just fits in and is a very sweet person.  She sang beautifully Sunday morning and gave some good words in the conference today.

Mike did his first session yesterday at 5:00pm.  I rested at the hotel in the afternoon.  The temps are probably 100 F. It's perishing! I hope all is well there.

Love, Jim

The internet caf頨as a generator too, but they do not have air conditioning. But because I love you all and want you to experience some of India, I'm enduring it. : )  Of course, you know I'm joking, but I do want to keep you all up-to-date on the Pastor's Conference.

On Sunday, we had the joy of worshipping with our Indian brothers and sisters in Christ. We were a part of the ECI (Evangelical Church of India) worship service there on the campus of Allahabad Bible Seminary. They really know how to praise and worship the Lord through their songs. Some of us worshippers that are more reserved would not know how to react, but I really enjoy their excitement over our Risen Christ.

They are very receptive and warm people. I sang (Old Rugged Cross, contemporary version) Sunday morning before Rev. Tharp preached a wonderful message from Ephesians 2. The focus was Unity in the Spirit. Praise God, we now have Unity because of what Christ Jesus did for us on Calvary. I was moved to tears at the end of the service as we praised our God together. I could only think of the verse found in Rev. 5:9 when the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders "fell down before the Lamb and they sang a new song:

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
Because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God
From every tribe and people and nation."

What an amazing thought! What an awesome Lord we serve! I could not understand one word that my brothers and sisters were saying in Hindi, yet I felt as if I heard everything clearly. That is Unity in the Spirit and I praise God for affording me this wonderful opportunity. I tell you, the gift of tongues would come in handy here in India : )smile! but the Lord has not seen fit to bless us in that way while we are here. So, we rely on our interpreters. They are doing a great job.

After the service on Sunday, Rev. Dr. Masih took us to the Ganges River. What a site that was! The Ganges River is considered the most holy river to the Hindus here and they also worship the River as a goddess, Gonga. Sunday just happened to be a special "holy day" so we were able to see hundreds if not thousands bathing in the holy water. The Hindus call their worship puja.

The Masih?s son, Justin is a chemistry professor here in Allahabad and he told us that they did a study on the river last year before the holy days started, during, and after the holy days. He said the graph revealing the toxicity of the river continually inclined. Yet, they still call it holy.

This same river and place that we visited is the area where approx. 30 million Hindus come every 12 years to worship. We missed it by one year as they were here last year.

Well, I have written a lot this time, but I still have much to tell. I will write later. The Pastor's Conference is going well and Rev. Tharp and Dr. Ross are doing an excellent job. I'm learning a lot myself. I hope this finds you all doing well. I'll write more soon. Thanks for all your prayers. By the way, if any of you are wondering, YES my appetite is just as big here in India as it is in the States.  Dr. Ross gets a kick out of my large appetite. The Indian food is different, but I have enjoyed getting a taste of true India. Gotta go 

Love, Shelly

Commencement went smooth. Dr. Masih is well organized. The script came just before we robed up to go and prepare for the procession. (NOTE:  Rev. Tharp's luggage with his prepared messages was separated during his travels.  His assistant, Rachel, e-mailed them from the States.) I hope the one on THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE UNITY OF THE BODY comes today, so I can go over it a bit for preaching in the morning.
Mike has been sick but now better. Shelly is fatigued by heat and a great deal of sightseeing but she?s fine and fun to have along.  I am doing O.K.  The hard stuff (as far as schedule) begins on Monday.  But we are here to give and be a blessing.

The Masih's are so gracious. They have the most beautiful granddaughter.  Her name is SIMI. Oh, she's precious.

Thanks for all of your loving support.

Love, Jim

Yesterday was a VERY tiring day for me, but I got a good night of rest and feel much better this morning. ... We encounter many things throughout the day that are so foreign. ... The noises (constant horn honking, music), the driving, ... the sacred cows and pigs on the street, the poverty, ... the shopping areas, and the people following a mile or more to sell you postcards (that was more in New Delhi). Beggars were also prevalent in New Delhi.  Little children begging, showing webbed fingers, one little girl kissed my feet. I can't look them in the eyes. I am almost in tears now as I write. I want to write as much as I can while I am here because I will never be able to recount all that I have experienced and even now, words are insufficient.

Yesterday Leslie and I took a rickshaw to Katra to shop and my eyes encountered even yet, a whole different world. I think that is one reason I was so extremely tired at the end of yesterday. We are staying in an area of town called Civilines. This was the place of British parliament when they were here back in the 40's, but when one goes to a place like Katra it is very obvious that one has been staying in the more civilized area of town. I took pictures, but only the senses could get the whole picture. I thank God for this opportunity as I now more understand why I have had such a burden for these people and this country. The burden is growing, but now I can put faces and real specific needs to my prayers...

I do have to be going now. We went to the Masih's this am for breakfast and have been there everyday since arriving in Allahabad for lunch and dinner. I will tell more about all the great things God is doing at the seminary and through the Masih?s' ministry when I get more time. I feel your prayers and I am very thankful to have so much support. Tomorrow, Rev. Tharp will be preaching and I will sing for the first time in India.

Monday starts the pastor's conference so extra prayer Monday through Thursday will be greatly appreciated.  I will write more when I have time.

Love, Shelly

Hey everybody,

I don't have long to write, but I wanted everyone to know that I arrived safely to New Delhi, India and I am now in Allahabad. We came by train overnight and I have only spent one night here in Allahabad. I am having a great time and have met a woman that lives in Varanasi, but she came back by invitation of Dr. Masih, he is the president of Allahabad Bible Seminary.

We will be at the Seminary this next week for the Pastor's Conference. Leslie...is originally from Auburn, AL. Isn't it neat to see how God works things out. She stayed with me last night and will be staying again tonight before she has to go back to Varanasi where she is learning the Hindi language. Last night after a dinner at the seminary for the seminary graduates Leslie and I took a rickshaw, basically a bicycle taxi, to one of her favorite hangouts for some ice cream. I'm learning so much about the culture...here in India from Leslie. She has really been a blessing to meet and get to know.

One of my purposes for coming to India was to experience the country, people, and the church in India to know how to better pray for them and Leslie has been a great resource for these very things. I will tell more later.

The Masih family is very hospitable and has been a delight. I look forward to spending more time with the family and the people of ABS (Allahabad Bible Seminary). I have also met another lady from the States.

She is originally from TX, but married an Indian man. She has a ministry outside of ABS. We just happened to meet her in our hotel lobby as she runs a Bible College and has a special speaker here from Switzerland. I will probably spend a day with her early next week.

So far, my trip has been a great blessing. I have not the time to tell what my eyes have seen, my senses have felt, and my spirit has experienced since arriving in India, but I can tell you that I am even more aware of the great blessings we are all recipients of in the USA. However, I have great love for the Indian people here. I ask for your prayers for the people of this country. The spiritual blindness and the oppression of this land is unexplainable. Pray hard for the spiritual forces to be removed and the scales to fall from their eyes in the Powerful name of JESUS CHRIST...

I know this is a long e-mail and is jumbled, but thoughts are running so rapidly through my mind.
I will let you all go for now, but please remember to pray for us and especially Rev. Tharp as he will give the commencement address tonight. The pastor's conference begins on Monday.

I Love you all and thank you for your prayers.
Shelly

Will write more later...Jim

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