When we truly trust God to lead our lives, we begin to experience many divine appointments along the journey. Often, we may not fully understand what He is doing at the moment. Seasons change, and with them, our assignments also change. Some people gradually move out of our lives, while God brings new people and new relationships into our path for the next season.

Recently, I was listening to a talk where the speaker mentioned something about our nature works, and it stayed with me deeply. Let me rephrase it in this context — when a purpose or season is completed, God, in His wisdom, allows certain people, situations, or circumstances to move away, and He brings in new ones according to His plan. At times, it may feel confusing or even painful, but when we look back, we can clearly see His hand guiding every transition with purpose and love.

In May, I had the privilege of traveling to Canada for the SFCNA Canada Region Meet, and I can only describe the experience as deeply blessed. I had the joy of meeting so many wonderful individuals. Attending the meetings was nothing short of enriching and uplifting; the kind of gatherings that remind you why you do what you do.

And that brings me to what has been on my heart since returning — something I believe many of us, especially those in leadership and ministry, desperately need to hear.

Finding a Seat at the Feet of Jesus

In the Gospel of Luke, there is a story that is short but enormous in significance. Jesus had come to visit the home of two sisters — Mary and Martha. Martha, ever the faithful host, busied herself with all the preparations that needed to be done. Mary, on the other hand, sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His words. When Martha, overwhelmed by all she was doing, complained and asked Jesus to send her sister to help, His response was gentle but piercing:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:41-42

Now, let us be careful not to misread this passage. Martha was not wrong for serving. Hospitality is a gift. Preparation is necessary. The work of ministry matters. But Jesus was drawing attention to something critical: the work must never crowd out the Worker. The service must never replace the Savior. And the preparations of life must never rob us of the one thing that is truly needed — time spent at His feet.

What Happens When We Neglect the Seat?

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us are far more Martha than Mary. We fill our calendars, lead our teams, carry our responsibilities, and check our to-do lists — often at the expense of quiet, unhurried time with Jesus. And the consequences are real.

We become spiritually depleted. Activity without communion drains the soul. We can minister to hundreds and still feel completely empty because we have been giving out of our own reserves rather than out of overflow.

We lose our sense of direction. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus because that is where clarity comes from. When we skip that seat, we begin to lead from our own understanding — our strategies, our plans, our instincts. And slowly, almost imperceptibly, our agenda replaces His.

We become anxious and distracted. Notice that Martha was worried and troubled. That is what busyness without Jesus produces — anxiety. When we are not anchored in His presence, everything feels urgent, everything feels like a crisis, and we become irritable, reactive, and burned out.

We lose our intimacy with Him. Perhaps most painfully, neglecting this practice turns our faith into a performance. We become very good at doing things for Jesus while growing increasingly distant from Jesus. And at that point, the fire begins to go out.

Choosing the Better Thing — Intentionally

The word that stands out to me in Jesus’ response is chosen. Mary chose to sit at His feet. It was not accidental. It was not a passive default. In the middle of a busy household, with tasks swirling all around her, Mary made a deliberate decision.

This is the invitation for all of us — especially those in leadership, those carrying heavy assignments, those whose schedules seem to leave no margin. We must choose the seat.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is not laziness. It is the most productive thing you can do. It is where strategy meets Spirit. Furthermore, it is where the servant becomes aligned with the Master’s heart. It is where weary leaders find renewed strength, fresh vision, and the courage to keep going.

Practically, this means carving out time that is non-negotiable — time that is not about intercession lists or sermon preparation, but simply being with Him. Listening. Waiting. Letting His Word wash over you. Allowing the Holy Spirit to speak into the deep places of your heart.

Staying Fit for the Journey — Spiritual Fitness: Training for Godliness

This is precisely why I wrote my book, Spiritual Fitness: Training for Gardeners. As leaders and laborers in God’s kingdom, we are gardeners — entrusted with the care of souls, communities, and assignments that God has placed in our hands. But a gardener who is not spiritually fit will eventually find themselves unable to tend what they have been given.

The book is a practical guide to building the habits, rhythms, and disciplines that keep us rooted — including the irreplaceable practice of sitting at the feet of Jesus. It is written for people like you: people who are doing meaningful work but who sense the need to go deeper, to build a sustainable inner life that can carry the weight of an outer calling.

If you have not yet gotten your copy, I want to encourage you to do so. It could be exactly what you need for this season.

📖 Get your copy of Spiritual Fitness: Training for Godliness here

A Final Word

My prayer for you is simple: that you would find your seat. In the rush of this week, in the middle of everything demanding your attention, may you make the same deliberate choice Mary made. May you sit at His feet, may you listen to His voice, and may you discover — as so many have before you — that everything flows better from that one place.

He is not just your assignment. He is your portion.

Until next time, be blessed.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. By God’s grace, I have been doing well. My next appointment is in July. Attempts are being made to reduce medications. I deeply value and appreciate your continued prayers during this season.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog (Many New blogs added)

  • The Problem of Exaggeration in Preaching

  • Walk in Your Calling Plan Notes

  • Where Is Adam’s Missing Rib? Faith Meets Science

• Theology AI Blog

  • AI, Machine Learning & Robotics by Dr. Giby Raphael

  • AI Tools to Convert Sermons

• Pilgrim’sThoughts

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • असली आशीर्वाद // True Blessedness

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • Vision and Mission

      • The Talk to the Pastor - Rest TV Uganda

      • Outside Messages Playlist

      • Kingdom Mindset for Missions // English Malayalam Message

      • Supernatural Aspect of Missions // English Malayalam Message

    • English

      • A Righteous Call in a Corrupt World : Noah

      • A Call to Leave : Abraham

      • English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Set Apart for his Work - 2026 Theme

      • Malayalam/English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

    • Malayalam Messages

      • Witness Beyond Jerusalem - ജറുസലേമിന് പുറത്ത് സാക്ഷി

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Songs

      • Kya Din Khushi Ka Aaya - क्या दिन ख़ुशी का आया | Hindi Song

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • Shorts Playlist

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Travel Preperation

• Local Ministry Assignments

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• Who Was St. Valentine?

• 12 Things Pastors Cannot Do

• Tim Keller: 3 Questions Fake Christians Can’t Answer

• Faith Stagnant? Play More

If this encouraged you, please share it with a friend or fellow leader who might need it. And feel free to reply — I would love to hear what God is doing in your life.

Please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so. I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

Share Thriving Newsletter

Early Morning at Wilderness Prayer Fellowship, Frederic, WI

This is going to be a little long, despite my best efforts to keep it short.

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” — Mark 16:15

When God Says Go, He Makes a Way

This trip almost didn’t happen.

Months of planning were met with obstacle after obstacle — scheduling conflicts, team unavailability, logistics that refused to align. Just when it seemed like everything was finally coming together, the Middle East crisis erupted, casting uncertainty over international travel and shaking the plans of some team members.

And yet — God is not deterred by what detains us.

Every wall became a door. Every delay became a divine setup. The trip came together. Every. Single. Piece.

If the enemy works this hard to stop something, you can be sure God has something extraordinary on the other side of it.

The Night Before Departure

The day before I was set to fly, a massive snowstorm hit, grounding flights across the region. Cancellations were everywhere. Mine was on time.

But there was another storm — this one in my body. I woke up with my throat completely closed. I could barely whisper. Furthermore, I found myself on the plane typing my food preferences on my phone to show the flight attendant because I couldn’t get the words out.

I want to be honest with you: I wondered how I was going to preach. How I was going to lead. How I was going to do any of what I had been called to do on this trip.

And then I remembered:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

God doesn’t need our strength. He just needs our availability. I showed up weak — and He showed up strong. He always does.

🇨🇲 Cameroon — Planting Seeds in Young Soil

The days in Cameroon were rich and purposeful, with a heart toward the next generation and the local leaders carrying the work on the ground:

• School visits — bringing the gospel and hope directly into classrooms

• A one-day camp with young people hungry for truth

• Leadership meetings with local volunteers and ministry leaders

🇺🇬 Uganda — Where Heaven Touched Earth

Uganda was where the SFCNA team joined, and what a team it was. The schedule was relentless. The anointing was undeniable. And the fruit — the fruit was eternal.

The week included:

• 🏥 Medical mission — serving bodies as a doorway to serving souls

• 🎓 Outreaches in schools and universities

• 👩 Women’s and Parenting conference

• 🙏 Pastor’s conference — pouring into those who pour out daily

• 🔥 Youth conference

• Countless meetings, gatherings, and Spirit-led moments that no itinerary could have planned

Then Came the Number That Brought Me to My Knees:

Approximately 260 people accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

260 lives. 260 names now written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. 260 eternities — redirected.

Think about that for a moment. These are not statistics. These are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, students and teachers — people with faces, with stories, with futures — who said yes to Jesus. Because some people took break for a week and got on a plane. Because someone showed up.

And then there were the healings.

Two of our team members were present at a church where people were praying for a mute person. That person was healed. Not metaphorically. Not symbolically. Healed.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8

He is still healing. He is still moving. The question is — are we still going?

🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of Congo — A Harvest in the Making

The DR Congo leg of this journey was its own deep chapter of grace. We were honored to visit ICPF Congo team in Bunia, and the ministry was full and fruitful:

• Pastor’s conference — equipping and encouraging frontline servants

• Youth meetings — a generation rising with fire

• Various outreaches and community gatherings

The church in Congo is alive. It is growing. It is desperate for God in the most beautiful way.

And the harvest continued.

64 people accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in Congo.

64 more names. 64 more lives transformed by the power of the gospel. When you combine Uganda and Congo — that is over 320 souls who crossed from darkness into light on this single trip.

On the road, people literally stopped their journey midway, heard the gospel, and surrendered their lives to Christ right there on the side of the road. Traveling. Stopped. Saved. Forever changed by an encounter they never expected — because a believer was willing to open their mouth.

This is what missions do. This is what happens when the church says yes.

The Moment That Silenced Me

But of everything I witnessed in Congo — of all the conferences, the salvations, the gatherings — there is one moment I cannot shake. One scene I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

I met a group of students who are both mute and blind.

And when I found them, they were not sitting in silence. They were not withdrawn or defeated. One of them — blind, unable to see as the world see — was playing guitar. And the others were singing.

I stood there and could not move.

But what wrecked me completely was what came next. These students — these young people who cannot see the world around them and cannot speak in the way most of us take for granted — began to express with absolute clarity and burning conviction that they wanted to share the gospel with others. That their greatest desire was to tell people about Jesus.

Let me ask you something.

If they can find a way — what is your excuse?

We complain about being too busy. Too tired. Too unqualified. Too afraid of what people might think. We tell ourselves we will go on a mission trip someday, we will share our faith when the timing is right, we will give when we have more.

And then God places a blind child with a guitar in front of you, singing worship and burning to reach the lost — and every excuse you have ever made turns to ash.

“Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength.” — Psalm 8:2

These students are not waiting for perfect conditions. They are not waiting until they can see. They are not waiting until the world makes it easier for them. Furthermore, they are going — in the only way they can — with everything they have.

The question this moment left burning in my heart, and the question I want to leave burning in yours, is simply this:

Lessons Burned Into My Heart

1. The harvest is not over — not even close. Everywhere we went, hearts were open. People were hungry. They were not waiting to be convinced — they were waiting to be found. The gospel is still the power of God unto salvation. Don’t let anyone tell you the world is too hard, too dark, too far gone. It is not. Go and see for yourself.

2. God still heals. Our team members watched a mute person receive their voice. The miraculous is not a relic of the early church — it is the present-tense reality of a living God. When you step into the mission field, you step into territory where heaven shows up.

3. Weakness is not disqualification — it is an invitation. I started this trip unable to speak. I finished it having witnessed hundreds come to Christ. God does not call the equipped. He equips the called. Your limitations are not obstacles to His purposes — they are the very canvas on which He paints His glory.

4. Even in the ditch, He is faithful. Near the end of the trip, my car went into a ditch. I walked away without a scratch. God’s protection is not abstract theology — it is a daily, personal, tangible reality for those who walk in His calling.

“The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life.” — Psalm 121:7

5. You don’t have to be extraordinary. You just have to go. Missions is not reserved for the super-spiritual, the highly trained, or the fearless. It is for the willing. The obedient. The ones who say here I am, send me — even when their throat is closed, even when the storm is raging, even when everything in them says wait.

Go anyway.

The World Is Waiting. Will You Go?

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” — Matthew 9:37-38

Here is the uncomfortable truth: people are dying without Christ. Not in some distant theological sense — literally, daily, in cities and villages and on roadsides across the world. And the gospel — the only answer, the only hope — is sitting inside of us, waiting to be released.

Missions is not someone else’s calling. It is the assignment of every believer. You may not all go to Africa. But you can pray. You can give. You can send. Not only that, but you can go next door. You can open your mouth at work, on the plane, at the gas station.

What are you waiting for?

Will you be one of the workers?

“Here I am. Send me.” — Isaiah 6:8

Thank You

To every person who prayed for this trip — thank you. Your prayers crossed oceans. They held us together when things were hard, dangerous, and uncertain. Prayer is not the least you can do. It is often the most powerful thing you can do.

To the SFCNA team — your sacrifice, your faith, and your heart for the lost made an eternal difference. You will never fully know this side of heaven what your obedience produced.

And to God — all the glory, all the honor, all the praise. None of this was us. All of it was Him.

Omanyi — do you know? Now you do. And now you are responsible for what you know.

Until the next update — keep praying, keep going, keep believing.

Spiritual Fitness book is released — and I could not be more humbled or more excited to place it in your hands.

Spiritual Fitness Training for Godliness is not a devotional to breeze through. It is a training manual. A regimen. A call to rise from the pew and step onto the field of disciplined, intentional, Christ-centered living. Just as an athlete doesn’t become a champion by wishing — neither does a disciple become godly by accident.

The Apostle Paul said it plainly:

“Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” — 1 Timothy 4:7–8

👉 [GET YOUR COPY HERE → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GSH2BJTV]

Inauguration Day — We Celebrated Together!

The book was officially launched on March 26th at Kampala, Uganda during a Pastors conference. Pastor Abiria Okuonzi, ICPF Democratic Republic of Congo President from Bunia prayed and dedicated it and gave the first copy to Mr. Johnson George.

The full inauguration video is on YouTube — watch it, share it, and let it bless you:

📺 [WATCH THE INAUGURATION ON YOUTUBE →

Don’t Just Be Inspired — Be Trained.

Whether you are just beginning your walk with God or you have been in the faith for decades, Spiritual Fitness Training for Godliness will challenge you, stretch you, and equip you to live a life that honors God in every season.

We made copies of the book available to many pastors in Uganda and DR Congo. Copies were made available in school libraries for students to read.

Godliness is not a feeling. It is not a mood. It is a discipline. And discipline — like any training — begins with a decision.

Make that decision today.

👉 [GET YOUR COPY NOW → https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GSH2BJTV]

With love and faith

With Pastor Wilson Bugembe, Senior Pastor, Worship House, Uganda

“He who is faithful in little is also faithful in much.” — Luke 16:10

People approach mission trips at times with anxiety and excitement. When you return from one of the most spiritually charged weeks of your life. You watched people come to the Lord. You prayed over the sick. Furthermore, you wept with strangers who became brothers and sisters. You served shoulder to shoulder with your team, who became like a family from dawn until long past dark, and somehow — impossibly — you were never tired. The Holy Spirit felt near, almost tangible.

And then you got on the plane and came back home.

Within days, sometimes within hours, the weight of ordinary life comes rushing back. The inbox. The commute. The pile of laundry. The Sunday service that, if you’re honest, feels a little flat compared to what you just experienced. And instead of the joy you expected to carry home, you feel something closer to grief — a quiet, disorienting emptiness that you can’t quite explain to the people around you.

If this is your story, you are not alone. And you are not failing. But there is something important the Lord may want to show you in this very uncomfortable place.

The Disciples Came Back Buzzing, Too

In Luke 10, Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples two by two, with a clear mission: heal the sick, announce the Kingdom. When they returned, their report was electric: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17). You can almost hear the adrenaline in their voices. They had seen things they had never imagined. They were on fire.

Jesus doesn’t dismiss their joy. He shares it — “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (v.18). But then He says something that gently reorients the whole conversation:

“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” — Luke 10:20

This is not a rebuke. It is an invitation to build your spiritual life on a foundation that cannot be shaken by geography, circumstance, or the absence of dramatic miracles. The disciples’ rejoicing was tied to their experience. Jesus was calling them to a joy rooted in who they are — beloved, known, and eternally secured in the Father’s family.

This is the first and most important principle for everyone returning from missions:

The thrill of the field is a gift, but it was never meant to be the foundation.

Why the Re-Entry Is So Hard

To understand the struggle, we first have to honor what made the mission field so extraordinary. On a short-term trip, you are typically:

• Freed from distraction. No immediate family concerns, people know you are away and do not disturb you, no bills to pay, no meetings to attend, no social media to scroll. Your entire day is devoted to one thing.

• Surrounded by shared purpose. Everyone around you is all-in. The unity is almost supernatural.

• Witnessing visible fruit. People responding to the gospel, prayer answered before your eyes — the evidence of God at work is immediate and undeniable.

• Living at the edge of your own ability. You are dependent on God in a way that daily life rarely demands.

Coming home means leaving all of that behind — or so it feels. The church potluck doesn’t compare to a school outreach in Uganda. The local church prayer meeting feels thin beside simple daily devotion in the mission field. The daily commute feels spiritually meaningless after days of divine appointments at every turn.

And so a subtle but dangerous thought begins to form: real Christianity happens out there. What we have here is just... maintenance.

This thought, if left unchecked, will make you critical of your local church, distant from the people around you, and ultimately discouraged in your walk with God. It is also, gently but firmly, a lie.

The Attitude That Changes Everything

Paul writes from a Roman prison — not a mission field retreat or conference — “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). The word “learned” is striking. Contentment is not a personality trait. It is a discipline acquired through practice, through seasons of abundance and seasons of drought.

A returning missionary carries something precious: they have seen a wider world. They have glimpsed what God is doing beyond their zip code. This exposure is not a burden — it is a responsibility. But it must be carried with a particular kind of humility.

The people in your local church haven’t seen what you’ve seen. They haven’t prayed for children who came forward for prayer in humid conditions with no electricity. They haven’t held a single mother’s hand and watched faith arrive in her eyes like sunrise. You cannot parachute back in and lead with judgment or frustration. You lead with patience, with stories, with the long and gentle work of sharing a vision.

Think of it this way: a doctor returning from a crisis zone doesn’t walk into a suburban clinic and declare the work there meaningless. They bring what they learned. They serve where they are. They trust that faithful care in ordinary places is every bit as sacred as heroic work in extraordinary ones.

“Don’t despise the day of small things.” — Zechariah 4:10

Your local church is not a lesser version of the mission field. It is a different field, with its own kind of harvest, its own kind of brokenness, its own kind of miracle waiting to happen.

The Goal: Closing the Gap

Here is the deepest truth the Lord wants to work into every returning missionary over time:

There is no secular-sacred divide in a life fully surrendered to God.

Whether you are in Kampala, Dallas, or Minneapolis, whether you are leading worship at an outreach or making dinner for your family, you are on mission. The same Holy Spirit who moved through you on the field is present with you right now, in the middle of your Monday. The question is not where you are, but how you are positioned.

As you mature in Christ, the gap between “mission trip me” and “everyday me” should shrink — not because ordinary life becomes as dramatic as the field, but because your availability to God becomes constant. You wake up each morning with the same prayer the disciples might have learned to pray:

Lord, I am available. Send me. Use me. Let the circumstances not dictate my attitude, but let my trust in You shape everything I do and say today.

This is the prayer that turns a commute into a divine appointment. That turns a difficult coworker into a mission field. That turns a dry Sunday service into an act of faithful love for the body of Christ.

Practical Steps for the Journey Home

1. Process before you project. Before you share your experience widely, take time to sit with it. Write your thoughts or Journal. Pray. Let the Lord settle what He wants to say through what you saw. Premature sharing — especially if tinged with comparison — can wound the very community you want to inspire.

2. Stay connected to your team. The relationships forged on the field are a gift. Meet regularly, pray together, and hold each other accountable to carrying the mission home — not just the memories.

3. Find one concrete way to serve. The antidote to mission trip depression is usually not less engagement, but more purposeful local engagement. Find one area in your church or community where you can pour yourself into. Small, faithful, unglamorous service is often where the deepest formation happens.

4. Speak grace, not frustration. When you feel the gap between what you experienced and where your church is, choose to speak life. Pray for your pastors and leaders. Volunteer. Encourage. The mission field needs cheerleaders more than critics.

5. Let the Word anchor you. The feelings of the field will fade — that is normal and not a sign of backsliding. What sustains you is not emotion but the steady bread of Scripture. Return to it daily.

A Word of Encouragement

To every believer who has come home from the field feeling a little lost — know this: God did not bring you home to disappoint you. He brought you home to deploy you. The fire you carried back is real. The burden for souls is real. The encounter with His power was real.

He is not asking you to forget what you saw. He is asking you to let what you saw reshape how you see everything else.

The same Holy Spirit who moved in Uganda is moving in your living room, your workplace, your church. He is not confined to the field. He travels with you. And as long as you remain available — surrendered, open, willing — He will continue to write a story through your life that you could never have planned on your own.

Your name is written in heaven. That was true before the mission trip. It is true now. And it will be true on the most ordinary Tuesday you will ever live.

That is enough. That is more than enough. That is everything.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” — Colossians 3:17

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” — Frederick Buechner

“Bloom where you are planted.” — attributed to Saint Francis de Sales

Have you experienced the challenge of re-entering local church life after a mission trip? Share your story in the comments — your journey might be exactly the encouragement someone else needs today.

I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time — and today, I get to share it with you.

My book, Spiritual Fitness: Training for Godliness, is officially out. 🙌

This is more than a book to me. It’s a conversation I’ve been wanting to have — with you, with myself, and with God. We live in a world that places enormous value on physical strength, mental sharpness, and emotional resilience. We have gyms, trainers, coaches, and apps for all of that. But what about the inner life? What about the soul?

Spiritual Fitness is my answer to that question.

What This Book Is About

Just as an athlete trains consistently to build strength and endurance, Spiritual Fitness invites you to approach your walk with God with the same intentionality, discipline, and joy. Drawing on scripture, personal experience, and practical tools, this book is a guide to:

• Building daily habits that deepen your faith

• Understanding the “spiritual muscles” we’re called to develop

• Overcoming the resistance that keeps us spiritually stagnant

• Living a life of genuine, growing godliness — not performance, but transformation

Whether you’re just beginning your faith journey or you’ve been walking with God for decades, this book is for you.

A Personal Note

Writing this book was itself an act of faith. This comes out of a sermon series I took at my church in 2023. As I tried to write and make this as a book, there were times I was unsure whether it will be worth anything or beneficial. As I thought more about it, I felt a conviction that godliness isn’t about perfection. It’s about training. It’s about getting up, every day, and doing the work.

I had been serving with ICPF International for many years now. This book is my heart’s gift to the youth, especially across Africa and other nations. It comes out of a burden I developed through the opportunities I was presented to minister among youths. It explores how spiritual disciplines are the key to cultivating a vibrant, healthy life in Christ. This book is dedicated to the staff, volunteers and leader of ICPF International across nations. All profits from the sale of this book goes 100% to ICPF International to support the misery in different countries.

I pray this book meets you exactly where you are.

🌍 Official Dedication & Public Launch — Kampala, Uganda

Mark your calendars! Spiritual Fitness: Training for Godliness will be officially dedicated and publicly launched in Kampala, Uganda on March 26th, 2026.

This is a special milestone — a moment to celebrate, give thanks, and share this message with the community that holds such a dear place in my heart. People in Africa has been very close to my heart and that is the reason I decided to do public launch in Uganda. If you’re in Kampala or nearby, I would be so honored to have you there as we dedicate this work together. Reach out to me for more details,

📖 Get Your Copy Today

Spiritual Fitness: Training for Godliness is available now on Amazon. Click the link below to grab your copy — and if you feel moved to leave a review after reading, it would mean the world to me.

👉 Order on Amazon

Share the Journey

If you know someone who’s been longing for more depth in their spiritual life, please share this with them. A book finds its full meaning when it’s read, discussed, and lived out in community.

You can share this newsletter, send them the Amazon link, or simply tell them about it over coffee. Every share matters.

Thank you for being on this journey with me. This community means everything — your encouragement, your prayers, and your presence have made this possible.

With gratitude and joy!

Hello Friends and Family,

As t025 came to a close, and we stepped into 2026, I found myself reflecting on how many changes happened around us. I began drafting this update in November, but with a very busy schedule, I couldn’t complete and send it then. Recently, someone asked me why I no longer send these newsletters, and that question made me realize how long it has been since I last shared an update. So here I am, grateful for the opportunity to reconnect.

When I look back on 2025, it stands out as the year I traveled the most in my life in a year. I am thankful for all the people whom I met and who helped me during my travels. During one of my trips in November, I visited another country and heard firsthand about the challenges believers face because of their faith. These conversations were both sobering and deeply moving.

In Christianity, faith is never meant to be forced. It is a voluntary response to God’s grace. Scripture teaches us that we are saved by faith, not by compulsion. Sadly, misunderstandings about conversion have led to suffering for many believers. I personally know someone who was physically assaulted after being falsely accused of forceful conversion while simply conducting a worship service in his church. Incidents like these remind us that following Christ can come at a real cost.

I had the privilege of listening to many individuals share their experiences and perspectives on these issues. Through those conversations, I was reminded that Jesus Himself clearly taught that suffering and persecution would be part of discipleship. Following Christ is not only about receiving blessings; it is also about faithfully enduring hardship for His name. At the same time, Jesus assured His followers that suffering for righteousness is never wasted—it carries God’s blessing and an eternal reward.

Jesus warned His disciples that opposition would come simply because they belong to Him:

John 15:18–20 (NIV)
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”

We often pray for deliverance from our problems. Sometimes God grants deliverance, but at other times He gives perseverance to endure. The outcomes are not always the same. Peter was miraculously rescued from prison, yet only days earlier, James was killed by the sword and did not escape. Stephen, a powerful preacher and evangelist, was also stoned to death.

Persecution is not new to the church. Yet history shows that where there is pressure and persecution, believers often grow stronger in faith and the church continues to expand. A church without external challenges can sometimes turn inward, become divided over internal matters, and gradually weaken. But a church facing trials and persecution often stands united and grows stronger together.

Let’s continue to pray for people who are facing persecution for their faith. Let us pray that the Lord will strengthen them and help them to be faithful till the end.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. By God’s grace, I have been doing well and experienced no issues during my recent travels. In December, I completed 4 years post transplant. Attempts are being made to reduce medications. I deeply value and appreciate your continued prayers during this season.

I am also planning a trip to Africa in the month of March 2026. Plans are being finalized.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • असली आशीर्वाद // True Blessedness

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • Vision and Mission

      • The Talk to the Pastor - Rest TV Uganda

      • Outside Messages Playlist

      • Kingdom Mindset for Missions // English Malayalam Message

      • Supernatural Aspect of Missions // English Malayalam Message

    • English

      • A Righteous Call in a Corrupt World : Noah

      • A Call to Leave : Abraham

      • English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Set Apart for his Work - 2026 Theme

      • Malayalam/English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

    • Malayalam Messages

      • Witness Beyond Jerusalem - ജറുസലേമിന് പുറത്ത് സാക്ഷി

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Songs

      • Kya Din Khushi Ka Aaya - क्या दिन ख़ुशी का आया | Hindi Song

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • Shorts Playlist

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog (Many New blogs added)

  • The Problem of Exaggeration in Preaching

  • Walk in Your Calling Plan Notes

  • Where Is Adam’s Missing Rib? Faith Meets Science

• Theology AI Blog

  • AI, Machine Learning & Robotics by Dr. Giby Raphael

  • AI Tools to Convert Sermons

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Travel Prperation

• Local Ministry Assignments

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• Who Was St. Valentine?

• 12 Things Pastors Cannot Do

• Tim Keller: 3 Questions Fake Christians Can’t Answer

• Faith Stagnant? Play More

  Please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so. I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

Share Thriving Newsletter

Mission India Office Nagpur

I sent a note to all pastors in my organization. Sharing it to the larger community as I felt it can be a blessing for more people.

As November begins, we are reminded of how swiftly time passes. The month of October is often recognized as Pastor Appreciation Month. While some of you may have been specially appreciated by your congregations, others perhaps were not. Regardless, I want to take a moment to let you know from my heart — I truly appreciate each one of you for what you do day in and day out.

More than human appreciation, we take comfort in knowing that the God who called us is faithful and will surely reward us in His time.

“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” — Hebrews 6:10

In recent months, I have had conversations with several pastors about the struggles and challenges in ministry. This generation presents many factors that make pastoral work especially demanding. We already face a shortage of committed pastors, and on top of that, many contemplate stepping away because of the pressures and discouragements they face.

Often, pastors are misunderstood, suspected, wrongly accused, or blamed for things beyond their control. Our families also feel the weight of ministry, and that pressure can create tension and pain. Many times, we carry our burdens silently—unable to fully express them, yet continuing to serve faithfully.

But there is comfort in knowing that God knows us deeply. He understands what others do not.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

I have often said, *“A pastor is a lonely man in a big crowd.”* It’s a unique loneliness that comes with the calling. Those who work in the marketplace often receive visible appreciation for their efforts, and at times, such comparisons can stir questions in our hearts. Yet, we know that our calling is not about recognition but obedience.

Let me close by repeating something I’ve shared with a few pastors recently:

*“Why do we endure hardship, pain, and misunderstanding? Because we chose to obey His call.”*
We could have turned away or chosen an easier path, but we did not. We love God, and we count it a *privilege* to serve Him and His people.

So, dear pastors, *do not give up.*

Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Fulfill the ministry He has entrusted to you with joy and endurance, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

On behalf of the entire *SFCNA family*, I extend my deepest appreciation for all that you do to serve God and care for His people. May the Lord renew your strength and bless your ministry abundantly.

With love and appreciation!

“Is it true? Is it good? Is it useful?”— The Three Filters Test, attributed to Socrates

These days, we hear so many things, and social media is filled with lies presented as facts. I’ve reached a point where I view almost everything with suspicion when I read or watch the news. False information has become normalized, and even major news outlets often present two different versions of the same event based on their political or personal biases. There is a lot of confusion everywhere, and it is vital for Christians to stay alert and not become victims in the hands of the enemy, whose goal is to create deception and division.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” – Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.” – Exodus 23:1 (NIV)

Introduction: A Whisper Can Wound

Rumors are often dressed as concern, curiosity, or “just sharing.” They travel fast, grow wild, and leave broken trust in their wake. In an age of instant communication, Socrates’ ancient wisdom is more relevant than ever.

One of the most powerful stories attributed to Socrates is his “Three Filters Test”—a guide not just for what we say, but what we choose to hear. While its historical authenticity is debated, the principles reflect the kind of moral reasoning Socrates was known for.

Let’s revisit this timeless story—and what it teaches us about handling rumors wisely.

The Story: Socrates and the Gossiping Man

One day, a man came to Socrates and said,
“Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”

Socrates replied,
“Before you tell me, I’d like you to pass a little test. I call it the Triple Filter Test.”

Filter 1: Truth
“Are you absolutely sure that what you are going to tell me is true?”

The man hesitated. “No, I just heard it from someone else.”

Filter 2: Goodness
“Is what you are about to tell me something good?”

“No, actually, it’s quite the opposite…”

Filter 3: Usefulness
“Is what you are about to say going to be useful to me?”

“Not really…”

Socrates then said,
“If what you want to tell me is neither true, nor good, nor useful, why tell it to me at all?”

1. The Wisdom of Slowing Down

In a world of instant opinions and rapid reactions, Socrates’ first filter—Is it true?—reminds us to pause. Most rumors are fueled by assumptions or secondhand information. Passing them on without verification is like lighting a match in a dry forest.

Before we speak, we must ask:
“Do I know this to be true, or am I just passing along noise?”

2. The Power of Positivity

The second filter—Is it good?—is not about avoiding hard truths, but about checking our motives. Are we sharing to build up or tear down? To help or to hurt?

Socrates urges us to consider the heart behind our words. If our words don’t carry kindness or care, they may be better left unsaid.

3. The Discipline of Relevance

The final filter—Is it useful?—guides us to evaluate whether what we say has real purpose. Even if something is true and not necessarily harmful, does it serve a good end? Will it bring clarity, growth, or healing?

If the information serves no real purpose, it may just be empty chatter—or worse, harmful distraction.

Socrates and Today’s World

Apply the Three Filters Test to:

• Social media posts

• Conversations at church or work

• Group texts or prayer chains

• What you choose to listen to

Imagine how much peace and trust would be preserved if we used this test more often.

When You’re the Target of a Rumor

Socrates doesn’t just give us a tool to stop rumors from spreading—his wisdom also equips us to process them with reason rather than reaction.

When you’re the subject of a rumor:

• Ask: Is there any truth I can learn from this?

• Avoid emotional retaliation.

• Let your consistent life and character speak louder than gossip.

• Choose forgiveness over bitterness—because responding with grace always outlasts revenge.

Conclusion: Be the Filter, Not the Funnel

Socrates’ lesson invites us to think before we speak, and even before we listen. Whether you’re tempted to pass along a juicy story or struggling with what’s been said about you, remember:

Not everything that’s heard needs to be repeated.
Not everything that’s repeated needs to be believed.

The next time you’re faced with a rumor, stop and apply the Three Filters:

Is it true?
Is it good?
Is it useful?

One of the greatest blessings of being part of a church is fellowship. Fellowship is more than just casual interaction; it is a spiritual bond that unites us as one body in Christ. In a time when the world is becoming increasingly isolated and people are drowning in loneliness, fellowship is not optional—it is vital for our growth in the Lord and for the health of the church.

Unfortunately, what often creeps into churches today is not true fellowship but groupism. Groupism happens when people only relate, talk, and associate with a few selected individuals, closing themselves off from the rest of the body. Instead of building bridges, groupism builds walls.

Fellowship vs. Groupism

Fellowship:

• Inclusive: Welcomes everyone as part of the body of Christ.

• Christ-centered: Built on love, prayer, and encouragement in the Lord.

• Strengthening: Helps each believer grow stronger in faith.

• Reflects heaven: Displays unity in diversity, showing the love of God to the world.

Groupism:

• Exclusive: Selects only a few, leaving others out.

• Self-centered: Based on comfort, preference, or culture rather than Christ.

• Weakening: Isolates members and hinders spiritual growth.

• Divisive: Creates exclusive groups and destroys the unity of the church.

How It Impacts Our Walk with the Lord

When we live in fellowship, we are reminded that we are not walking alone. We share burdens, celebrate victories, and pray for one another. The New Testament is full of “one another” commands—love one another, serve one another, encourage one another. Fellowship is where these commands come alive.

But when groupism takes over, believers are left feeling unseen, unwanted, and disconnected. This leads to spiritual dryness and, in many cases, people drifting away from church altogether. Without fellowship, we become easy targets for discouragement and temptation.

Practical Steps to Build Fellowship

Fellowship does not just happen automatically—we have to be intentional. Here are some practical ways:

1. Talk to new people – Make it a point to greet someone you don’t know. Even a simple smile and kind word can make them feel welcome.

2. Stay after service – Don’t run away as soon as the benediction is said. Take a few minutes to greet others, especially new visitors.

3. Join smaller gatherings – Participate in prayer meetings, Bible studies, or fellowship dinners. These smaller settings help you connect and know people more personally.

4. Step out of your comfort zone – Don’t just stick to your close circle. Try sitting in a different spot, invite someone new for coffee, or ask someone how you can pray for them.

5. Be intentional – Fellowship is a discipline. It requires effort, but the rewards are eternal.

The Challenge of Our Generation

The world around us is becoming increasingly isolated. People may have thousands of online connections but very few real, life-giving relationships. This reality is a wake-up call for the church: if we do not guard and intentionally nurture fellowship, even church members will soon be lost in the loneliness that plagues society.

The greatest challenge for the church today is not just to attract people from outside, but to maintain the fellowship of those already inside. We must be intentional in reaching out beyond our comfort zones, breaking down walls of division, and fostering genuine relationships centered in Christ.

A Call to Action

Fellowship matters. It is the lifeline of the church and the anchor for our walk with God. As members of the body of Christ, let us:

• Welcome everyone with the love of Christ.

• Refuse to be trapped in Exclusive groups.

• Encourage one another in prayer and word.

• Build a community where no one feels alone.

When we do this, we reflect the heart of Jesus, who came not for a select few but for all.

Disclaimer: Portions of this content were created or edited with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and have been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity.

Hello Friends and Family,

Greetings!

This summer has been a busy yet fulfilling season with many travels and ministry opportunities. Over the July 4th weekend, we had the Sharon Fellowship Churches of North America (SFCNA) Family Conference, which was a refreshing time of fellowship and worship. Earlier this month, I was in Toronto, where I enjoyed reconnecting with friends and family while also having the privilege to minister in various meetings. We also had our church annual convention during the first weekend of August.

As I reflect on the SFCNA Family Conference, my heart is full of gratitude and hope. It was truly a blessed time together with fellow pastors, leaders, and believers from across North America. The presence of God was tangibly felt in every session, and the Word of God was powerfully expounded by each speaker. The conference theme, “Walk in Agreement with God,” resonated deeply in every message and moment of worship.

To walk in agreement with God means to align our hearts, decisions, and direction with His will and Word. It’s not just a call to unity with one another, but first and foremost, to unity with Him. When we walk in step with God, we move forward with clarity, courage, and purpose. The theme challenged us to lay aside personal agendas and distractions so that we can pursue the Kingdom of God together—with conviction and obedience.

I’m humbled and honored to share that I have been entrusted with another two years to serve as the President of SFCNA—a responsibility I receive with deep gratitude and a fresh sense of calling.

As we move forward together, I’d like to present three key challenges that emerged from the conference:

1️⃣ Salvation First – Let every board meeting, every local gathering, and every outreach event prioritize souls. May we be a fellowship known for winning the lost.

2️⃣ Every Church Plant One Church – Let multiplication be more than a motto. Let it be our mission. If every church plants just one church, we will double our Kingdom impact.

3️⃣ Move for Missions – Let’s rise from our comfort zones and move into new territories with the Gospel. Missions is not just a call for a few, but the commission for all.

I also want to take a moment to clarify a misunderstanding that arose from a clip of my message that circulated online. Some interpreted it to mean I was discouraging people from speaking about missionaries or missions. That was never my intent. My point was simple: let us not only talk about the stories of missionaries but also follow their footsteps. We honor their legacy best by continuing their mission. We must step out in faith and become the kind of people who, one day, will be remembered as those who sacrificially served the Lord.

To further explain this, I’ve written a blog post titled "More Than Stories: The Power and Call of Mission". You can read it here:
🔗 https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2025/07/more-than-stories-power-and-call-of.html

As we enter this next season, may we each choose to walk in agreement with God—to say “yes” to His voice, to live by His Word, and to move forward in step with His Spirit. Let us be united in purpose, rooted in love, and driven by the Great Commission. The harvest is plentiful. Together, let us go.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. By God’s grace, I have been doing well and experienced no issues during my recent travels. With the warmer weather, some of the lingering effects I felt during the colder months have also subsided. In July, I had a major medical appointment, and while things remain stable overall, there has been a change in my medication. As a result, I am currently undergoing lab work every two weeks. I deeply value and appreciate your continued prayers during this season.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • असली आशीर्वाद // True Blessedness

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • The Talk to the Pastor - Rest TV Uganda

      • Outside Messages Playlist

      • Kingdom Mindset for Missions // English Malayalam Message

      • Supernatural Aspect of Missions // English Malayalam Message

    • English

      • English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Malayalam/English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

    • Malayalam Messages

      • Witness Beyond Jerusalem - ജറുസലേമിന് പുറത്ത് സാക്ഷി

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Songs

      • Kya Din Khushi Ka Aaya - क्या दिन ख़ुशी का आया | Hindi Song

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • Shorts Playlist

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog (Many New blogs added)

  • Role of Miracles in Church Growth

  • More Than Stories: The Power and Call of Missionary Legacy

  • What’s in a Title? Reflections on 'Reverend' and the Use of Titles in Ministry

  • Socrates and Three Filters to deal with Rumors

  • Benefits of Selective Hearing

• Theology AI Blog

  • YoungHoon Bryan Kim and AI Claims

  • 🤖 AI in Ministry: A Hot and Healing—or Hazardous—Topic

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Writing

• Local Ministry Assignments

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• Why Plant Churches?

• Growing Churches in Godless Places: What New England Teaches About Ministry in Post-Christian Contexts

• Could You Last a Day on a Technology Fast?

• Multisite Ministry and How It Works for KidMin Programs

  Please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so. I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

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In Uganda

Hello Friends and Family,

It’s been almost four months since I last shared a newsletter with you. During this time, I’ve been engaged with a number of assignments and travels that demanded my full attention. At the end of March and into early April, I had the privilege of spending 2.5 weeks in Uganda and DR Congo—an unforgettable time of ministry and connection. That was followed by more travel, including ministry trips to Dallas and Memphis. Amidst it all, I realized I hadn’t pushed myself to write, as I chose to focus on several time-sensitive responsibilities. Thank you for your patience—and now, I’m glad to reconnect through this reflection.

A Call to Get Out of the Comfort Zone

“Then the LORD said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.’”
— Genesis 12:1

We all enjoy the feeling of being comfortable—predictable routines, familiar faces, and safe environments. But the truth is, God rarely calls His people to stay where it’s safe. He calls us to follow Him into the unknown, the unfamiliar, and the uncomfortable—for His glory and the good of others.

From the very beginning, God called Abraham to leave everything familiar behind. Moses had to return to Egypt, the place he fled from. Esther had to risk her life to stand before the king. The apostles left their nets, homes, and comfort to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. And the greatest example of all—Jesus—left the comfort of heaven to step into the brokenness of this world to redeem us.

Comfort and calling rarely go together.

If we want to be effective in ministry, we must be willing to move beyond what feels easy or safe. God doesn’t develop leaders in comfort zones—He forms them in obedience zones. True spiritual impact comes when we surrender our preferences and take faith-filled steps in unfamiliar territory.

This is especially true when it comes to missions. To carry the gospel to people and places where Christ is not yet known requires courage, sacrifice, and risk. Missions is not convenient. It demands a heart that is willing to go beyond borders, cross cultural lines, and enter spiritually dry places. Whether it’s across the street or across the world, the call to missions will always lead us out of the comfort zone.

You might be sensing that call right now—maybe to serve in a new way, to mentor someone, to give sacrificially, to go on a mission trip, or even to step into full-time ministry. The fear is real, but so is the grace. God never calls us out without also equipping us to go.

Faith doesn’t thrive where it’s comfortable. It grows where we learn to depend completely on God.

Let’s be a people who don’t just stay where it’s easy—but step where it’s eternal.

Reflection:
What is God asking you to leave behind in this season?
What new territory is He calling you to enter for His kingdom?

Prayer:
“Lord, stretch me beyond my comfort so that I may walk fully in Your calling. Give me the courage to go, the grace to grow, and the faith to follow—wherever You lead.”

Looking Ahead

In the first week of July, I’ll be heading to Dallas for the SFCNA Family Conference. This year is especially meaningful, as it's the first conference since I stepped into this leadership role. For the very first time, we’ll also be hosting a Pre-Conference for pastors, leaders, and families—a significant step toward equipping and uniting those who lead in various capacities.

I look forward to this time with great anticipation, believing that God has prepared something special for all who attend. Please keep the conference in your prayers—and if you're coming, I hope to see you there!

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. I’ve been doing well and experienced no issues during my recent travels. With the warmer weather, some of the lingering effects I had from the colder months have also subsided. I do have a major medical appointment coming up in July and would appreciate your continued prayers.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • असली आशीर्वाद // True Blessedness

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • The Talk to the Pastor - Rest TV Uganda

      • Outside Messages Playlist

      • Kingdom Mindset for Missions // English Malayalam Message

      • Supernatural Aspect of Missions // English Malayalam Message

    • English

      • English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

      • Sudden Detours

      • Danger of Hardened Heart

      • Danger of Neglect

      • Answers for Curious & Open Minds (ACOM) - 8 Sessions

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Malayalam/English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

    • Malayalam Messages

      • Witness Beyond Jerusalem - ജറുസലേമിന് പുറത്ത് സാക്ഷി

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Songs

      • Kya Din Khushi Ka Aaya - क्या दिन ख़ुशी का आया | Hindi Song

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • Shorts Playlist

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog (Many New blogs added)

  • Marks of a Christ-Centered, Mature Christian

  • Marks of an Immature Christian

  • Mending Brokenness: The Call to Restore Others with Grace

• Theology AI Blog

  • Justin Bieber’s AI-Generated Song Holy Jesus

  • AI Pastor in your Pocket who can Pray for You

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• SFCNA Conference

• Local Ministry Assignments

• Travels

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• Mexican Evangelicals Navigate Ministry in Cartel Strongholds

• Church of the Open Book

  Please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so. I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

Share Thriving Newsletter

Kids in DR Congo.

Hello Friends and Family,

We have completed one month of 2025. Many people started last month with new goals and decisions. Some may have stopped doing what they decided to do, but many continue. Where are you?

I am using a tracker this year, and as I reviewed it, I realized that I am doing well in some areas, although I am not consistent in others. My best metric for January 2025 is 84%, and the worst is 25%. Tracking has helped me progress with many of my goals this year. If you have stopped doing what you planned, let me encourage you to start again, as making some progress is better than not making any progress.

Last month, I had the opportunity to be at ICPF International Equip Camp, a leadership camp for young boys held in Dallas. I had the chance to visit Houston after many years.

I recently read Frank Viola's 48 Laws of Spiritual Power. One chapter discusses becoming a reservoir rather than a canal. Let me share some thoughts on this topic.

Ministering from the Overflow: Becoming a Reservoir of Spiritual Life

One of the most vital principles to remember in our journey of faith and ministry is that we can only give what we have first received. Just as a tree bears fruit from the overabundance of life within it, our preaching, teaching, and spiritual leadership must flow out of a deep, abundant life with Christ. If we attempt to minister without first experiencing the fullness of God’s presence, our words and efforts will be hollow, lacking the power and nourishment that actual spiritual fruit provides.

The Reservoir vs. the Canal

A striking analogy helps illustrate this truth: the difference between a reservoir and a canal. A canal immediately passes along whatever it receives, never retaining or deeply absorbing the water. On the other hand, a reservoir collects water until it is complete and then overflows to nourish those around it.

When we minister like a canal, we risk giving out before receiving. Our words may sound correct, and our messages may be well-structured, but they lack the depth and transformation from personal communion with God. Ministry becomes dry, routine, and ineffective.

However, when we minister like a reservoir, we first experience God's life-giving presence. We absorb His Word, meditate on it, and allow it to transform us. Then, out of the overflow of that experience, we pour into others. This kind of ministry carries weight, authenticity, and the power to change lives.

Preaching as Spiritual Cooking

Another helpful metaphor is that preaching is like cooking. A chef does not serve a dish without first tasting it. Similarly, we should not preach or teach something we have not first digested spiritually. When we rush to share a message without first letting it take root in our hearts, we offer something stale, lacking in flavor and nourishment. But when we experience the richness of God’s truth, our preaching becomes like a well-seasoned dish—satisfying and full of life.

The Key to Fruitful Ministry

Fruit-bearing does not come from effort alone. A tree does not strain to produce fruit; instead, fruit appears as a natural result of being deeply rooted and nourished. In the same way, if we want our ministry to be fruitful, we must first abide in Christ.

John 15:5 reminds us:
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Our first responsibility is to go to God—not just for a sermon but for life itself. Before seeking meaning from commentaries, books, or other teachers, we must sit at Jesus' feet. Let His Word shape us, His Spirit fills us, and our lives be transformed. Only then should we share with others.

Conclusion

Ministry that lacks personal experience with God is ineffective. Preaching that does not flow from abundant spiritual life becomes dry and powerless. To be truly effective, we must first be filled before we pour out. Like a reservoir, we must allow God’s presence to fill us to the brim so that what overflows is rich, life-giving, and fruitful.

Before we preach, teach, and serve, let us first go to God. Let us taste before we feed. Let us abide before we give. And when we do, our ministry will not be a canal of empty words but a reservoir of overflowing life.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. This December, I crossed three years since my transplant. I had a visit to Mayo Clinic and had tests done. Everything is fine, and a few medications were taken off. Due to my upcoming trip, the doctor advised me to continue taking some medicines. An attempt to reduce more medicines will be made later this year.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk

  • 2024 Travel Experiences

  • Service

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • असली आशीर्वाद // True Blessedness

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • Outside Messages Playlist

      • Kingdom Mindset for Missions // English Malayalam Message

      • Supernatural Aspect of Missions // English Malayalam Message

    • English

      • English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

      • Continuous Reformation

      • Jesus is Superior to Angels

      • Danger of Neglect

      • Answers for Curious & Open Minds (ACOM) - Worldviews

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Malayalam/English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

      • Provider - ദാതാവ്

      • Bread of Life - ജീവൻ്റെ അപ്പം

    • Malayalam Messages

      • Witness Beyond Jerusalem - ജറുസലേമിന് പുറത്ത് സാക്ഷി

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Songs

      • Kya Din Khushi Ka Aaya - क्या दिन ख़ुशी का आया | Hindi Song

      • Jhoom Jhoom Jhoomaa re Jhoomaa //Sharon CEM UK

      • Innellu ilalo ఇన్నేళ్ళు ఇలలో |Telugu Song 🎵 by Arun Savarapu

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • Shorts Playlist

      • Salvation & Gift

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

  • Ecumenical Movements

  • Authentic Pentecostalism: A Transformed, Spirit-Led Life

  • Answers for Curious & Open Minds (ACOM) - Worldviews

  • New Generation Churches

  • The Tripartite Nature of Humanity

  • Difference between Pentecostals and Charismatics

• Theology AI Blog

  • Justin Bieber’s AI-Generated Song Holy Jesus

  • AI Pastor in your Pocket who can Pray for You

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Goals for 2025

• Writing

• Travel Preparation

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• The Simplicity and Difficulty of Pastoring

• Report: 31% of Evangelicals Did Not Give to Church or Charity in Previous Year

• A New Year’s Resolution Worth Taking Seriously

• Build Spiritual Habits in Just a Few Minutes

  Please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so. I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

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Beautiful Sunset. A photo taken at Pool, UK, in September 2024.

Happy New Year 2025!

In December 2023, I posted about Time to Reflect. As I reread it, I realized that another new year allows us to reflect and make new plans. 2024 was a hectic year for me as I traveled most of the year. A high-level count tells me I traveled more than 15 times last year, including four international trips. This is why I only had three editions of this Newsletter in 2024 compared to 16 in 2023. I did many other things but could not keep up with this newsletter as I have many posts in draft.

As 2025 has started, I have some travel plans already in place, but I have also decided to focus more on writing and have some specific goals written down. I plan to focus on five areas and have put together a plan. It is time to execute them.

I will share some blog links in this edition, as I posted many during the last few months. Hence, I will keep the newsletter write-up short.

In October, I had an opportunity to be with a church in Dallas for their mission weekend. It was a blessed time as I shared on the topic, Mission, the heartbeat of God.

Mission: The Heartbeat of God

Mission expresses God's love for the world, reflecting His desire to redeem and restore all creation. It is not merely an activity of the church but the essence of God’s purpose and heart. From the beginning, God’s Mission has been to reconcile humanity to Himself, as in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...”

When we embrace God's Mission, we align ourselves with His heartbeat—bringing hope, healing, and the message of salvation to those in need. The Mission is not confined to distant lands; it begins in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. It calls us to step out in faith, to love as Jesus loved, and to serve as He served.

As followers of Christ, we are called to live missional lives, sharing the good news and demonstrating God’s love in word and action. In doing so, we become co-laborers with Christ in His Mission to transform lives and bring His kingdom to earth.

In this new year, let us commit ourselves to this divine calling, for Mission truly is God's heartbeat.

Once again, Happy New Year 2025.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. This December, I crossed three years since my transplant. I am still on some medication. This has made any recovery from a common cold difficult at times. It has not stopped me from doing anything, but at times, I am struggling with throat issues. I have Things are progressing, even with some challenges here and there. I have an appointment coming up this month.

I will be in Dallas and Houston this month. In March, I plan to travel to Africa, and then I have more travel plans.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk's new episodes have been released.

  • 2024 Travel Experiences

  • Service

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • प्रभु के साथ संगति // Fellowship with God

  • प्प्रभु से जुड़ाव // Connection with God

  • असली आशीर्वाद // True Blessedness

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • Outside Messages Playlist

      • Kingdom Mindset for Missions // English Malayalam Message

      • Supernatural Aspect of Missions // English Malayalam Message

    • English

      • English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

      • Why did Jesus Come?

      • Joyous Dedication

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Malayalam/English Message Playlist (Many New Messages are added)

      • Death to Life - മരണത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജീവങ്കലേക്കു

      • Do you want to get well? - നിനക്കു സൌഖ്യമാകുവാൻ മനസ്സുണ്ടോ

      • First Sign - ആദ്യ അടയാളം

    • Malayalam Messages

      • Witness Beyond Jerusalem - ജറുസലേമിന് പുറത്ത് സാക്ഷി

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Songs

      • Kya Din Khushi Ka Aaya - क्या दिन ख़ुशी का आया | Hindi Song

      • Jhoom Jhoom Jhoomaa re Jhoomaa //Sharon CEM UK

      • Innellu ilalo ఇన్నేళ్ళు ఇలలో |Telugu Song 🎵 by Arun Savarapu

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • Shorts Playlist

      • Realizing We're Saved

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

  • Cost of Spiritual Slackness

  • Time Required to Read the Bible

  • Distinctiveness of Pentecostalism

  • Types of Pentecostals

  • New Generation Churches

  • Difference between Pentecostals and Charismatics

• Theology AI Blog

  • Justin Bieber’s AI-Generated Song Holy Jesus

  • Generative AI and Impacts

  • AI Pastor in your Pocket who can Pray for You

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Goals for 2025

• Writing

• Ministry Travels

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• The Church of the Chronically Online

• Report: 31% of Evangelicals Did Not Give to Church or Charity in Previous Year

• A New Year’s Resolution Worth Taking Seriously

• Build Spiritual Habits in Just a Few Minutes

  Please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so. I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

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A photo taken at William Carry church in Northhampton, UK.

Expect Great things from God. Attempt Great Things for God.

After six months, I am writing a newsletter. The summer months have been busy with travel. Since my last update, I have been in Dallas, Chicago, Oklahoma, India (2nd time this year), New York (2 times), Canada, and the UK. I have had the opportunity to meet many people and preach in different meetings. Sometimes, people ask me how I manage everything, and I have one answer: " It is God’s grace.” I also had an opportunity to present the gospel to university students and speak on the topic of “Creator and sustainer of life.” Our God sustains life and provides everything we need to survive.

We all have a past that, in some cases, we are proud of and, in some cases, we do not want to talk about. At times, we live in fear of the past. Many live in depression, always thinking about past events. Our current situation and promise of God for the future may be way better, but still, there are times when our past haunts us, and we regret things that happened. It also raises a lot of questions. People struggle to overcome and are often stuck in the past.

In the Bible, we see many people with a past that may have disqualified them from many things, but God still restored and used them. In some cases, it may have been a severe false accusation. Still, God transformed and used them for His glory. Let me list a few examples.

1. After committing a murder, Moses ran away from Egypt. He would have never expected to be back. The first forty years of his life were spent in a palace. The next forty years were hard, and he was in the wilderness most of the time. Later, God called him and sent him back to Egypt with a great mission. He led Israelites out of Egypt and led them for another forty years. He faced many challenges, but still, God fulfilled His purpose.

2. Joseph kept integrity throughout his life. His brothers sold him. He was falsely accused of rape by a lady, which landed him in jail. At that time, everyone would have written him off. No one would have expected a comeback for him. Well, Joseph’s history did not end in prison. God made him the prime minister of the land where he went as a slave. What a turnaround!

Our current situation is not the last chapter of our history. A new chapter will start if we let the past go and surrender to God.

God gives another chance, gives a comeback, and restores what is lost.

Do not let your past tie you down. As Paul said, “Forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead.”

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. Things are progressing in the right direction, but I am still on some medication. The doctor wants a few things to stabilize before taking off some medications. Things are progressing, even with some challenges here and there.

I plan to travel more this month and in the coming months.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

Latest Media Updates - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2024/08/latest-media-updates.html

• Thriving Talk's new episodes have been released.

  • Service

  • Simplicity

  • Rest

  • Travel and Ministry Experiences

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • आदर्श प्रार्थना // Model Prayer

  • प्रार्थना की मूल बातें // Basics of Prayer

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • Vision for Growth with Kingdom Mindset | Sharon Fellowship Church Dallas (English)

      • Refuge from Storm, Metro Church Dallas (English)

    • English

      • Challenges - Your Personal Testimony

      • Challenges - Engage in Battle

      • Challenges - Ransom for All

      • Challenges - Proper Attitude and Conduct

      • Challenges - Preconditions for Leaders

      • Mystery of Godliness

      • Demonic Influence

      • A Good Servant

      • Be a Role Model

      • Relationships within Church

      • Honoring Leaders

      • Good Fight for True Faith

      • Faithful Stewardship

      • Genuine Burden

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Actions of Fallen -  വീണുപോയവരുടെ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ

      • What after Resurrection? - പുനരുത്ഥാനത്തിനുശേഷം എന്ത്?

      • Witnessing beyond our Comfort Zone - ഞങ്ങളുടെ ആശ്വാസ മേഖല അപ്പുറം സാക്ഷീകരിക്കുന്നു

      • Witnessing based on God's Plan - ദൈവത്തിൻ്റെപദ്ധതിയെ അടിസ്ഥാനമാക്കിയുള്ള സാക്ഷ്യം

      • Attitude of Anointed -  അഭിഷിക്തരുടെ മനോഭാവം

      • Second Chance - രണ്ടാമത്തെ അവസരം

      • ഒരു പ്രാദേശിക സഭയുടെ അവശ്യ ഗുണങ്ങൾ || Essentials Qualities of a Local Church

      • Time for Change - മാറ്റത്തിനുള്ള സമയം

      • Foreigner in the Land of Promise - വാഗ്ദത്തദേശത്തു ഒരു അന്യദേശത്തുഎന്നപോലെ

      • When We Seek the Lord - നാം കർത്താവിനെ അന്വേഷിക്കുമ്പോൾ

      • Chosen to be Appointed - നിയമിക്കപ്പെടാൻ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തു

      • Initial Steps in Mission - ദൗത്യത്തിലെ പ്രാരംഭ ഘട്ടങ്ങൾ

      • Half-Hearted Right Actions - പാതി മനസ്സോടെയുള്ള ശരിയായ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ

      • Freedom - സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം

    • Malayalam Messages

      • Witness Beyond Jerusalem - ജറുസലേമിന് പുറത്ത് സാക്ഷി

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Songs

      • Innellu ilalo ఇన్నేళ్ళు ఇలలో |Telugu Song 🎵 by Arun Savarapu

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • English

      • It's God

      • Life of Faith

      • Do not Pay Back

    • Malayalam

      • Deliverance from Attack - ആക്രമണത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വിടുതൽ

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

  • Be Alert: Do not fall into this trap!

• Theology AI Blog

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Ministry Travels

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• Human Capacity, Burnout, and the Essential Work of Soul Care

• What Does It Mean to Be Child-Free?

• Cheating Isn’t Just an Honesty Problem

• How the Legend of the “Jezebel Spirit” Keeps Empowering Sin

• Novel Friendships for Pastors’ Wives

• Discussing LGBT+ Questions Can Help Our Children Understand the Gospel

• Why Christian Parents Should Resist School-Issued Screens

• What’s All This Talk About Red Heifers?

  Please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so. I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

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The final landing of the trip, Minneapolis-St. Paul.

I completed a busy month with travel and experiences that will remain in my memory for a long time. It all started with a weeklong stay in the New Delhi area. There was a three-day public convention, and preaching in Hindi was a joy. There was a family seminar during the day. I got an opportunity to take an ordination class in a Bible College and then was the guest for a Bible College graduation. I was able to participate in a three-day pastors conference for hundreds of pastors who are from some of the most challenging places. My favorite time was when they shared their testimony and experiences.

I had the privilege to speak many times to them, and my favorite session was “Persecution and Reward.” I was talking to people who carry physical marks on their bodies for their faith. There was a pastor whose left ear was cut off by people who opposed his faith. It was a special occasion to spend time with them. I also had the privilege of being a guest at our organization's main Bible College graduation. It was the 70th graduation service of Sharon Bible College in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India.

We also visited Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and Kathmandu, Nepal. It was a blessed time meeting many people. All together, it was a blessed time in many ways. The biggest challenge was the weather. I went from a cold place to a sweltering place to a cold region. Finally, back to a scorching place and then to a cold place. I felt I could have planned that better.

While in a hot place, I took many sessions during the day for almost six hours. It was scorching hot, and I got exhausted. The night after having dinner, I slept with the AC on without realizing it. I woke up in the middle of the night shivering, making me sick and tired. I did not miss any meetings but felt down and pulled myself.

The excitement for serving others was there, but the body pulled me in a different direction. That is the time when you are hit with “Homesickness.”

Homesickness, also known as "nostalgia," is a feeling of longing, sadness, or distress experienced when one is away from home or familiar surroundings, if it is felt more when one feels sick or helpless.

Symptoms of homesickness can vary from person to person but may include:

1. Longing for familiar people, places, and routines.

2. Feelings of sadness, melancholy, or nostalgia.

3. Difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks.

4. Loss of appetite or changes in eating habits.

5. Trouble sleeping or disruptions in sleep patterns.

6. Irritability or mood swings.

7. Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches.

The feeling of tiredness and sickness brought a longing to be back home. The ministry times were exciting, but deep inside, there was this longing to be back. It made me realize how we all feel homesick at times when we are in this world. Just like the places I was visiting were not my home, this world is not my home. As Jim Reeves wrote -

This world is not my home
I'm just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore

The best accommodations and stay can still make us homesick. There is always this feeling that you must leave the place in a few days. If you are going to stay at a place for one week, you tend to bring out most of the things from your suitcase. If you stay at a place for just one night, you bring out what you need for that night, knowing that you have to pack everything the next day and go and, in many cases, never return to that place again.

From a biblical point of view, we are strangers and foreigners in this world. We do not have a permanent residence. We are staying for a short time and will move on soon. We should not give up but focus on what is ahead.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. Things are progressing in the right direction, but I am still on some medication. The doctor wants a few things to stabilize before taking off some medications. Things are progressing, even with some challenges here and there.

I plan to travel more this month and in the coming months, including internationally.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk's new episodes have been released.

  • Solitude

  • Self-Control

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • आध्यात्मिक जीवन में व्याकुलता // Distractions in Spiritual Life

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • Vision for Growth with Kingdom Mindset | Sharon Fellowship Church Dallas (English)

      • Refuge from Storm, Metro Church Dallas (English)

    • English

      • Challenges - Oppose False Teaching

      • Stand Strong - Strong in Faithfulness

      • Stand Strong - Strong in Doctrine

      • Stand Strong - Strong In Suffering

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Deliverance from Attack - ആക്രമണത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വിടുതൽ

      • Cost of Jealousy - അസൂയയുടെ വില

      • Time for Bigger Assignments - വലിയ നിയമന സമയം

      • Be Strong and Go Forward - ശക്തരായിരിക്കുക, മുന്നോട്ട് പോകുക

    • Malayalam Messages

      • Witness Beyond Jerusalem - ജറുസലേമിന് പുറത്ത് സാക്ഷി

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Hindi Songs

      • Jangali Darakhto Ke - जंगली दरख्तो के - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • English

      • It's God

      • Life of Faith

      • Do not Pay Back

    • Malayalam

      • Deliverance from Attack - ആക്രമണത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വിടുതൽ

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

  • Be Alert: Do not fall into this trap!

• Theology AI Blog

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Ministry Travels

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• ICPF International Newsletter

• How to Start Making the Most of Your Day

• How Christians Should Think About IVF-Created Embryos

• Cynics in the Hand of a Living God: How to Shake a Cynicism Habit

• Preparing Your Kids for Artificial Intelligence

  Please subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so. I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

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The final landing of the trip, Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Some of you may have come across the concept called Self-branding. It refers to creating and managing a personal brand, much like how companies build and manage their brands. It involves presenting yourself in a way that reflects your values, skills, expertise, and unique qualities. Self-branding is crucial in personal and professional development, as it can influence how others perceive you and the opportunities that come your way. It can also turn to self-promotion which crosses boundaries. This could also lead us to a place where we feel like we need to promote ourselves and get credit for everything we do. It worsens when people try to get credit for things they did not do to promote themselves.

The Bible gives us a perspective which is counter to this. The Bible advocates humility and exhorts us to think higher about others than ourselves. This can lead us to think of us more than we should. This can lead us to think that any success or growth is because of us. If we are not there, then nothing will happen or will not happen as efficiently as it should. We may overestimate our ability and importance.

Sometimes people say if they are not there then nothing will happen. Apostle Paul addreses a similar issue while writing to the Corinthians.

⁵ After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. ⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. (1 Cor. 3:5-7, NLT)

In these verses, Paul uses the metaphor of planting and watering to explain the roles of various individuals in spreading the message of faith and growth of ministry. He emphasizes that, ultimately, it is God who brings about the growth, highlighting the divine aspect of spiritual development. It is not based on an individual’s ability or talents. The passage encourages humility among leaders, recognizing that they are mere servants in the grand scheme of God's plan, and the success of their efforts ultimately rests in God's hands. It is God who gives any initiative to grow.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. Things are progressing in the right direction but I am still on some medication.

Last week of December 2023, I had the opportunity to be in Okhlahoma and minister at Sharon Church. Second week of January 2024, I was at Dallas for one week. I got an opportunity to meet with some pastors and attend few meetings including visiting Sharon church Dallas and ICPF Equip and Empower camps.

In February, I will be mostly traveling few countries in Asia for different meetings. I request you prayers for this matter.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk's new episodes have been released.

  • Secrecy

  • Read vs. Study

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Hindi Podcast Launced - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • आध्यात्मिक जीवन में व्याकुलता // Distractions in Spiritual Life

  • नया साल और संकल्प New Year & Resolutions

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Outside Messages

      • Vision for Growth with Kingdom Mindset | Sharon Fellowship Church Dallas (English)

      • Refuge from Storm, Metro Church Dallas (English)

      • പ്രതിസന്ധിയെ വിപുലീകരണത്തിലേക്ക് മാറ്റുന്ന സമർപ്പണം Submission which turns Crisis to Expansion, Sharon Oklahoma (Malayalalam)

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms), SFC OKC (Hindi)

    • English

      • Stand Strong - Strong in Doctrine

      • Stand Strong - Strong In Suffering

    • Malayalam/ English

      • Time for Bigger Assignments - വലിയ നിയമന സമയം

      • Be Strong and Go Forward - ശക്തരായിരിക്കുക, മുന്നോട്ട് പോകുക

      • What Does the Lord Look? - കർത്താവ് എന്താണ് നോക്കുന്നത്

    • Hindi Messages

      • अचानक तूफ़ान (Unexpected Storms)

    • Hindi Songs

      • Jangali Darakhto Ke - जंगली दरख्तो के - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • English

      • Do not be deceived

      • Strong in Suffering

      • Do not Pay Back

    • Malayalam

      • Private Victories - രഹസ്യ വിജയങ്ങൾ

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

  • Be Alert: Do not fall into this trap!

• Theology AI Blog

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Ministry Travels

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• ICPF International Newsletter

• 5 Truths We Need for Church Revival

• Bivocational Pastors Don’t Have Two Jobs

• Cremation or Burial: Does Our Choice Matter?

• Why We Pulled Our Kids from Club Sports

  I request you subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so, as I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

Share Thriving Newsletter

Another eventful year is ending, and many are looking forward to a new year with new hopes and expectations. I have heard people look back at 2023 and say they cannot wait to finish it. There is always an expectation when the New Year starts.

The end of a year also allows us to look back and reflect. It also presents us with the opportunity to make adjustments or new decisions. It is also a time to start new things. When I reflect, I can only be thankful for everything. This year, I was able to travel to new countries and twice traveled out of the country. I could take on new responsibilities and experience many things for the first time. As I write this note, I am at the airport, traveling for a ministry assignment.

There is a Hebrew word used in the Bible - Ebenezer. Ebenezer means that thus far, the Lord has helped us. Ebenezer is an expression of gratitude to God. Truly, in all circumstances, including valleys experience, Lord God has been our Ebenezer.

When we look forward, we may feel anxious at times. We can be assured that the Lord God will be Jehovah Jireh, who will provide everything for us. His grace is sufficient for us.

So we can depend on the grace of God in all circumstances of our life.

I wish you all a blessed New Year 2024 and pray that God will help you overcome all situations. Let us be thankful for everything.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. I had my two-year full tests, including a bone marrow biopsy. All results came back good, and everything looks good. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, recent lab results showed a few things elevated, and I am on some medications to calm things. Things are progressing in the right direction.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk's new episodes have been released.

  • Thriving Talk

    • Current Culture Challenges with Billy Anger

    • Deconstructionism with Billy Anger

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• New Hindi Podcast Launced - जीवन उन्नति संवाद (Jeevan Unnati Samvaad) - Life Growth Talk

  • परिचय Introduction

  • जीवन का मकसद Purpose of Life

  • क्रिसमस और परंपराएँ | Christmas and Traditions

  • नया साल और संकल्प New Year & Resolutions

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-hindi-jeevan-unnati-samvaad

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Training Video

      • Raising Godly Profitable Children - Parental Seminar

    • English

      • Authentic - Authentic Encouragement

      • Authentic - Authentic Hope

      • Authentic - Authentic Life

      • Authentic -Authentic Relationship

      • What after Manger and Cross?

      • Lord is My Shepherd - Pastor Jacob Mathew

      • Hope in God

    • Malayalam

      • ഒരു പ്രതിഫലം ഉള്ളതിനാൽ - There is a Reward

      • Obedience or Sacrifice - അനുസരിക്കുന്നതു യാഗത്തെക്കാളും

      • ശക്തമായ അടിത്തറ - Strong Foundation

    • Hindi Message

      • वास्तविक सफलता (Real Success)

    • Hindi Songs

      • Asi Rab De Bande Haanਅਸਿ ਰਬ ਦੇ ਬੰਦੇ ਹਾਂ - Punjabi Christian Song

      • Jangali Darakhto Ke - जंगली दरख्तो के - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • English

      • Cost of Following Jesus

      • Hope that Overpowers grief

    • Malayalam

      • Empowered - അധികാരപ്പെടുത്തി

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

  • Be Alert: Do not fall into this trap!

• Theology AI Blog

  • Sermon: "AI in the End Times: Unraveling Revelation" - from ChatGPT

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

✍️Papers

• Papers Published

  • Theology Proper

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Ministry Travels (last week of December and 2nd week of January)

• Writing

📚Reading Updates

• My updated reading profile is here - Goodreads profile.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• ICPF International Newsletter

• Prayers for Monday Morning

• Reading Scripture Is a Walk in the Park: Bible Reading Plans for 2024

• Don’t Let Deconstruction Become Deconversion

• 7 Reasons Most Churches Don’t Reach the Lost

  

  I request you subscribe to this newsletter if you have not done so, as I plan to stop sharing newsletter links in public soon and go with newsletter emails.

Share Thriving Newsletter

This month, many celebrated Thanksgiving. The Bible encourages us to be thankful and rejoice in the Lord.

Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. (Ps. 106:1, NLT)

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)

There are times when it is not easy to be thankful. We can get bitter when circumstances are complex, and things are not going our way. I was talking recently with someone going through some challenging times and finding it difficult. I asked him what was the worst thing that could happen. The worst thing is death. The Bible teaches us that death is a gain or better for a child of God. Paul writes in Philippians 1:21, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

• “God has promised to supply all our needs. What we don’t have now, we don’t need now.” –Elizabeth Elliot

• “No matter what our circumstances, we can find a reason to be thankful.” –Dr. David Jeremiah

Comparison and peer pressure are real challenges of humanity. We often compare ourselves with others and consider what we do not have. These days, when many things are happening around us, let us be thankful for everything we have and trust that God will supply all our needs.

If you feel down about your situation, then start counting your blessings. I am sharing a picture I received from Myanmar where people, including kids, are hiding in a trench to save themselves from getting killed in the bombing.

Let us be grateful for everything, knowing that our situations will change since God controls us. Stay strong, and do not give up.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. Recent lab results showed a few things elevated, and I am on some medications to calm things. In December, I will be going back for annual tests.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk's new episodes have been released.

  • Thriving Talk

    • Meditation - YouTube Link

    • Spiritual Disciplines - YouTube Link

    • AI, Faith & ChatGPT - YouTube Link

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • Training Video

      • Raising Godly Profitable Children - Parental Seminar

    • English

      • Authentic - Authentic Response

      • Authentic - Authentic Ministry

      • Authentic - Authentic Community

      • Passing Through Valley of Tears - Pr. Billy Anger

      • Questions Atheism Cannot Answer - Pr. Billy Anger

      • The Importance of Your Worldview - English Message - Pr. Billy Anger

    • Malayalam

      • Rash Oaths - തിടുക്കത്തിലുള്ള ശപഥങ്ങൾ

      • Costly Mistakes - ചെലവേറിയ തെറ്റുകൾ

      • ശക്തമായ അടിത്തറ - Strong Foundation

    • Hindi Message

      • वास्तविक सफलता (Real Success)

    • Hindi Songs

      • Kitna Haseen Wada - कितना हसीन वादा - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

      • Aye Duniya Ke Logo - ऐ दुनिया के लोगो - Hindi christian Song - Anand Karma

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • English

      • Who's Agenda?

    • Malayalam

      • Empowered - അധികാരപ്പെടുത്തി

    • Others

      • Capturing the Magic: First Snow of 2023 Minnesota

📔Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

  • Be Alert: Do not fall into this trap!

• Theology AI Blog

  • Sermon: "AI in the End Times: Unraveling Revelation" - from ChatGPT

• Pilgrim'sThoughts

📚Papers

• Papers Published

  • Theology Proper

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Preparation and writing.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• ICPF International Newsletter

• How to Be Humble In the Age of Self-Promotion

• What We Can Learn from Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Conversion

• Prone to Dechurch, Lord I Feel It

• Golden Rule for Your Email Inbox

• I Love My Transgender Child. I Love Jesus More

• Online Content Runs from Good to Bad. The Bigger Danger Is Online Habits

• 5 Life-Changing Secrets of Kingdom Living

• 5 Ways We Get Evangelism Wrong and What We Can Do About It

  Thank God for technology. I was able to teach during a Parental Summit conducted by the Off The Street in Cameroon.

  

October 2023 was a busy month with many things happening. We hosted our first-ever church region convention, which was a great blessing. Many things are happening around the world also.

We live in strange times. This year, I have encountered people who live in abundant provisions and also saw people who do not have enough to eat. In Africa, I met people who ate only once a day and saw many people on the streets who did not have anything to eat. I have also seen people in other places who have abundant food and do not think about what to eat. Their problem is which one to eat.

Many times, we are too concerned about our needs and wants. Our prayers are primarily full of provision requests. I was reading a book and studying, and I got to look at the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. It is commonly referred to as the Lord’s prayer and can be found in Mathew 6 and Luke 11. Many people pray it ritualistically and sincerely every day. Many do not pray it as they think it will make them traditional Christians.

When we look at the Lord’s prayer, it starts with things concerning God and His presence in our lives. Then it gets to our provisions or needs. This may be simple, but honest evaluation reveals that we often do not even ask for God’s presence or His glory. We spend the entire time praying for us or ours. That shows we desire and care for our provisions more than the presence and glory of God.

This has challenged me and made me intentional with personal and public prayers. I felt that our prayers reflect our heart’s real desires. It is not forcing but being intentional that we value and desire God’s presence more than his provisions.

The Lord’s Prayer pattern.

1. God’s glory and presence -

   1. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

   2. God’s kingdom comes.

   3. God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

2. Our provisions -

   1. Give us today our daily bread. - Daily dependence and thankfulness for provisions.

   2. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors - we need forgiveness.

   3. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one - protection from temptations and evil one.

We must start by focusing on God’s glory and presence in our lives. We should not ignore that and focus on provisions. Our prayers should not be provision-centered. We need to pray for our needs but we should not ignore the greater thing.

Let us desire and pray for God's presence rather than all the provisions we can ever get in this world.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. Lab results are mostly stable. In December, I will be going back for annual tests.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk's new episodes have been released.

  • Thriving Talk

    • Spiritual Disciplines - YouTube Link

    • My Church and My Hopes - YouTube Link

    • AI, Faith & ChatGPT - YouTube Link

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • English

      • Authentic - Authentic Community

      • Training for Godliness - Prayer

      • Training for Godliness - Celebration

      • Training for Godliness - Confession

      • Training for Godliness - Worship

    • Malayalam

      • Costly Mistakes - ചെലവേറിയ തെറ്റുകൾ

      • Final Words - അവസാന വാക്കുകൾ

      • Empowering Anointing - ശാക്തീകരണ അഭിഷേകം

      • Anointing Before Assignment - നിയമനത്തിന് മുമ്പുള്ള അഭിഷേകം

    • Hindi Songs

      • Deep Jale - दीप जले - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

      • Aye Khudaya - ऐ ख़ुदाया - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

      • Aasmani Khushi Se - आसमानी ख़ुशी से - Hindi Song - Anand Karma

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • English

      • Relationship with God Matters

      • Approach God with Confidence

    • Malayalam

      • Empowered - അധികാരപ്പെടുത്തി

    • Others

      • Capturing the Magic: First Snow of 2023 Minnesota

      • WWinter'sReturn: Snow is Back!

      • A Colorful Journey: Fall 2023 in Minnesota

📚Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

• Theology AI Blog

• PPilgrim'sThoughts

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Reflection and writing.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• 7 Signs You Are a Counterfeit Christian

• 5 Fascinating Lessons From a ‘‘ecret’’Guest in Church Worship Services

• How to Feed Gen ZZ'sHunger for Jesus

• 3 Eras Shape Modern Missions

• Christians and the Fall of Expertise

Look upwards.

I have always enjoyed seeing grapes hanging on the grapevines. This desire prompted me to plant a small grapevine at our old house but before I could see a lot of fruit, we moved out. A few years ago, I got another grapevine and planted it in our backyard. Out of everything else you may find, this is the only plant I really care about. Last summer, I saw some fruit, but everything was gone as winter came. There was only a few dried stick left. As spring came, I looked at it, and I was not hopeful that it would return or anything would grow on it. It looked really bad due to the harsh winter.

As I was busy with travel during summer, I never went to see it. Last month, I realized that there were grapes on it. Then, one day, I finally went to see it, and I was surprised to see how much it had grown and the amount of grapes. It was way beyond what I expected or thought. I took some photos and was very happy to see that what looked like hopeless was producing fruit. I got a message while looking at the grapes.

Seasons will change, and there will be fruitfulness after a season of struggle and nothing visible.

There are times when we give up hope or think that it will not be fruitful again. We must realize that there is still life inside during difficult seasons; when the season changes, there will be change outside. How many times have people written us off, or we have given up on people? We can still hope for a change and a season of fruitfulness. We must remember that the season will not remain the same forever but will change. When we feel discouraged or lost, we can trust that God will bring back seasons of fruitfulness in our lives.

As the climate changes and the temperature goes down, I see the leaves fall off, and things are getting dry. I am sure the stems will be dry in a few months with nothing green on it. Still, I will wait as I know that in a few months, things will change. I will see the green leaves again. Before I realize it will be fruitful again. It will produce fruit in its season.

Do not give up, seasons will change and you will be fruitful again.

✍️Quotes of this edition

📔My Health/Personal Update

Thank you for your continued prayers for my complete recovery. Lab results are stable. After the last visit, one more medication was discontinued. In December, I will be going back for annual tests.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who has not given up but continues to pray for me.

🎬My New Media Updates

• Thriving Talk’s new episodes have been released.

  • Thriving Talk’s new episodes,

    • “Thriving Talk - We are Back! ” - YouTube Link (First-time video Podcast)

  • All details are here - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/.

  • Podcast Platforms Link

• Video Messages

  • Full Video

    • English

      • Training for Godliness - Fellowship

      • Training for Godliness - Generosity

      • Training for Godliness - Fasting

      • Training for Godliness - Submission

    • Malayalam

      • പൂർത്തിയാക്കാൻ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുക - Pay Attention to Complete

      • Anointing Before Assignment - നിയമനത്തിന് മുമ്പുള്ള അഭിഷേകം

      • Desire to Be Like Others - മറ്റുള്ളവരെപ്പോലെ ആകാനുള്ള ആഗ്രഹം

      • Precondition for Ebenezer - എബനേസർ മുൻവ്യവസ്ഥ

      • Reasons for Defeat - തോൽവിയുടെ കാരണങ്ങൾ

  • Shorts (less than 1 minute)

    • English

      • Needs vs. Wants

      • Avoid Distractions

      • Serve Through Submission

    • Malayalam

      • Priority for Prayer - പ്രാർത്ഥനയ്ക്ക് മുൻഗണന

    • Others

      • Ray of Hope - September 30, 2023 - Greetings

📚Blogs

• Spiritual Journey Insights Blog

  • Change Style with Role

• Theology AI Blog

  • A Good Sermon - By AI

• Pilgrim's Thoughts

🔥Focus for the next few weeks.

• Ministry assignments and writing.

🎓Some articles worth reading

• It May Be Time To Reconsider Who You’re Following on Social Media

• 9 Challenges to Church Planting

• 4 Principles for Practicing Apologetics

• New ‘Gospel’ Manuscript Discovered? (What It Is and Why It Matters.)

• Pastors Wonder About Church Members Who Never Came Back Post-Pandemic

• Did Jesus Help Lazarus Identify as LGBTQI+?

Seasons are changing, and the journey will continue.