Herb Hoefer
Update
7 January 2006
Family and Friends,
As usual, my work in India has been inspiring and exhausting. The leaders
took me to seven churches in the Ambur area when I was there a couple of
days ago. It's such an inspiration to see how the congregations are growing
in size and in maturity. They are so dedicated to their church and they
sacrifice so much for its progress.
When they build a new facility, these poor villagers dedicate one month's
salary above and beyond their usual tithe. For example, one congregation
lost its old chapel because the government widened the highway. They got
only $12,000 from the gov't. as compensation and only $2000 from our LCMS
"Roofs for Churches" fund. The other $45,000 they gave themselves.
Our continued challenge is to help the new congregations. They are coming up
by the work of the Holy Spirit through the probationers-as-church-planters
and the congregations and the pastors/evangelists and the mission societies
such as United Evangelical Mission and Mission India which whom the IELC is
partnering. The church is also stretched to provide the nurture in the faith
that these new believers need. It's a welcome problem, of course, but it is
a great need and challenge. I so
much wish that our LCMS could step forward to help these new congregations
get a site and erect their chapel, usually about $10,000.
Here in Nagercoil, I've been working two days with the pastors and sem
profs. I leave tonight for Chennai by night train to escort the delegation
through Ambur and then down to Nagercoil. It's a joy and privilege to show
them the work God is doing, but it takes a great
deal of organizing to meet their diverse agendas and interests.
As you know, the IELC is now being adminstered by two court-appointed
"Administrators." They are charged with getting the church reregistered and
to conduct new elections. However, some significant theological issues are
developing, and I'm working with the seminary faculty to address them. These
administrators are appointing people to positions that should only be filled
by divine call, including onto the seminary faculty. They are setting
qualifications for voting membership that do not include proper church
criteria such as Confirmation and discipline. I'm discussing with
people to have the seminary faculty address a group of church leaders
(perhaps the previously elected Church Council members) on these issues so
that the administrators do not violate the integrity of the church's
doctrine and practice.
It's striking that the church's various political/ethnic/linguistic/caste
factions are now uniting to get the church restored. That is a blessing.
They love and honor their church, and they are angry and frustrated that it
has come to this point. They have gathered funds and appealed the matter to
the Supreme Court of India. Significantly, a team of Christian lawyers at
that level have also taken up the case, seeing that a precedent is being set
that affects all the churches in India.
The IELC people heard about a threat from one of the court-appointed
administrators, a Hindu, that "I will shut down this church." That has
rallied them to work together. I am working with the seminary faculty to
prepare a brief on how the administrators are violating the doctrine and
practice of the church. Please uphold me in your prayers. These are
critical times, and I need the courage and wisdom that only God can give.
God bless.
Herb