Our satellite TV ministry beginning in India was humble, but now God is moving it forward in a tremendous way. Glory and honor be to Him always.

Our current Tamil program on JAYA TV reaches India, most of Asia and as far as Europe. In fact, we are broadcasting to millions of people on every continent except the Americas and North Africa. This will soon change as we begin Hindi broadcasts on another satellite TV station. We are now negotiating a contract. How many people will this reach? Can you believe over 750 MILLION! Yes, two channels, one for the Tamilians and the other for Hindi speaking people.

In France, a believer is recording all our programs and telecasting them for the benefit of people who do not have satellite capabilities. What a blessing!

A Visit to the USA

Through the support of Laymen Ministries, I was able to attend the ASI convention in the USA this last August. God can make anything possible. He made it possible for me to get a visa, and for Laymen Ministries to cover my travel expenses.

While in the USA with Elder Reich, I visited the wonderful video studio at Laymen Ministries. We shot a series of excellent quality programs for the Tamil broadcast. Jon Wood, a friend of Elder Reich from the video department of Pacific Union College, and Martin Pakkianathan from Maryland helped run cameras, along with the regular production staff. We had a wonderful time together.

Last week we aired on satellite the first of these programs. As people watched, they wondered and asked where we shot it. The set and quality were far better than what we have had in the past. For the past three years of our TV ministry, we've usually had about 30 calls per week. But this last week, we received 100 phone calls. I concluded by saying that "quality really helps!"

Pastor Shadrach Samuel and myself are making plans to return to Laymen Ministries’ studio in a few months to shoot more programs. We know that the quality and the Truth will impact millions of people.

Are People Watching?

The lay-workers connected with this TV program have a 24-hour prayer line. After a broadcast a few weeks ago, a Tamil Indian called from Saudi Arabia asking for prayer and information.

Hindu people call and ask if this is the "Jesus prayer number!" They have many requests. Recently a Muslim lady named Fatima called and asked for prayer. Fatima is the name given to a daughter of Muhammad. She now attends church every Sabbath, is studying and paying tithe.

Tamil speaking people are all over what we call the 10/40 window. Why? Many have sought work in various countries using their technology and computer skills, or are employed as factory workers. There are millions throughout the 10/40 window.

Solid baptisms are the result of these broadcasts. People call or write in. Visitation is made. Literature is given out. Bible studies ensue. Thus, grounded believers are baptized. Here is another example:

Vinoth: As a Grain of Wheat

Pattalam is a section of Chennai (Madras), India, where we live. In this section, Roman Catholics are the dominant religion among the Christians. We received a letter from Pattalam about a month ago. The parents of a boy named Vinoth asked us to pray for him, as he had had a very serious accident.

Our lay-workers went to the hospital where the boy was being treated and prayed for him. A few days later our workers tried to locate his home.

"Is this Vinoth's house?" the workers asked at the door.

At first, the person at the door did not know what to say and stood with a look of shock. Finally the workers were invited in, and were able to comfort the worried family members.

Vinoth's family was really grateful for the visit and for the sympathy shown. Now our lay-workers visit them regularly and they are very receptive of the Truth.

Vinoth's aunt and uncle once were Catholics, then became Christians of another faith. Today they are studying with us and are accepting the Truths of the Bible.

Next door to Vinoth's house lives a family with five sisters. The youngest sister, named Ammu, recently accepted the Truth and has given us a place at her home to conduct group prayer and Bible study meetings.

Pattalam is at the brink of blooming as an Adventist community! Though Vinoth later died of his injuries, many precious souls are being born again in Christ through the contact his accident provided. The Scripture is true, "If a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it bringeth forth much fruit." John 12:24. Likewise, Vinoth's death has been the seed planted that has brought forth the saving love of Christ in the hearts of many souls!

Peace Amidst the Storm

"Family." That word means a lot. It is an eternal part of God's plan — that husbands and wives love each other and live in unity.

Satan has other plans. He is the stealer and robber of family peace. The tempter is especially at work in breaking up Christian families.

God sees every situation. He hears our cries and restores to us the lost peace. Jesus is the prince of peace and the mender of broken families.

Mr. Michael is from a Catholic background, and married a young lady although both families bitterly opposed. In fact, the older family members plotted together and sneakily decided to use sorcery against the couple. Things like this are somewhat common here in India.

This witchcraft seemed successful, as the wife, herself, got involved with witchcraft and then used it against her own husband! He went into a terrible state of mind and it seemed that divorce was the only answer to the whole mess. Demons seemed to press in on him.

One day, while he was extremely depressed, he came across our TV program. Afterward he phoned our office and asked us to pray for him. One of our volunteers talked with him for quite a long time. He was really upset, full of self-pity and very worried.

"I am a waste living in this world," he said in despair. "It's no use. I think I would rather die, as there is no hope for my future."

We prayed for him and gave him counsel. God was good and gracious and granted him peace.

"No other church has given me such encouragement and peace," he said with a glimmer of hope in his voice, "Something special is here with your church."

He called us again the following week! He was always eager for us to pray with him. But the problem is not yet totally settled. God has given him peace, but now he needs to take courage in the Lord and study God’s word to find the Truth as it is in Jesus. We have sent him our literature. God is doing a great thing in his life. Pray that His family will soon be re-united and live in peace.

These are just a small sampling of the responses from our TV ministry. Thank you for your prayers and support through Laymen Ministries. It is through your help that we are able to touch the lives of many around the world.