On Fasting-I

I am grateful that our decision to do a chain fasting starting on May 1 has started a lot of conversations in the community. So we have accomplished one of our goals already. We wanted us to to become a prayer

centered community again- with less emphasis on politics, gossips, misinformation campaigns etc. Let us talk more about things of God and less about other things.

Let me dispel some of the misconceptions initially. Doing a chain fasting is not wrong. It is not artificially prolonging a fast. It is a practical way to get more people involved in a fast. Usually what happens in a chain fast is this. A few people will fast for the entire length of the declared duration and others will join with them for a day or more. Some of the most successful fasts in recent history has been done this way. When late Dr. Bill Bright did a forty day fast in a stadium, it did not mean that everyone in that stadium was fasting for forty days. Jensen Franklin has been doing a 21 day fast for years now. That does not mean that everyone who joined with him from his church or across the world fasted for all 21 days. We have done chain fasting in our church multiple times.

The same will happen in this fast also. Already one of my Pastor friends in India has decided to join with me in this fast for 40 days. Many others are doing this once day a week, as their work schedule permit.

WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT FASTING FROM BIBLE:

Originally the entire population was expected to fast on the Day of Atonement. Later in their history, they increased it to 4 days (Zech. 7:5, 8:19). This was always related to the destruction of their nation. There is an extra fast in Esther, which she requested for a specific reason.

During the time of Jesus, the Pharisees fasted every Monday and Thursday (Luke 18:12). They used to put ashes on their faces during these days. That is why Jesus called them white washed sepulchres.

An exception to the fasting requirement was granted to the newlyweds in Old Testament (Deut. 24:5). Jesus used this clause to defend his disciples (Mat. 9:15) when asked by Pharisees why they did not fast.

Jesus expected his disciples to fast though. In fact, he declared, "this kind does not go away except by prayer and fasting.” (Mat. 17:21). 

DIFFERENT TYPES OF FASTS. 

There is an erroneous concept in our communities that all fasts are the same. It is not. Entering into a fast is a vow taken before God. What is important is to keep your vow before God. "It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it." (Ecc. 5:5). How others look at your fast is immaterial. 

1. Complete fast is when you abstain from everything including drinking water. In the Bible, the only time people did that was in the book of Ezra. (Ezra 8:21). It shows extreme sacrifice. We know the heat of the Middle East. To give up water in that weather is difficult. But Ezra and friends did that, knowing the severity of their challenges, and acknowledging that they had no future except for the intervention of God. Today Muslims do something like this during Ramadan. But we know that they have freedom to eat and drink as much as they want after sunset.

2. Full fast is when people abstain from all food during the duration of the fast. Jesus fasted this way for 40 days. Many of our people have done the same. An older sister of my mother has done this multiple times. If your fast is real full fast, you should drink only water and avoid coffee, tea or sodas.

3. Partial fast is when people decided to fast from certain things during a fast. This is many times looked down upon in Eastern cultures. But, again, what really matters is keeping your vow. If you vow to eat just one meal a day and fast for the rest of the day, it is between you and God. Do not let people who never fast judge you and try to discourage you. YOUR VOW IS YOUR VOW. 

Sometimes people are encouraged to fast in a different way to learn the value of a vow and to introduce them to the concept of fast. Many western churches ask children to do a 'tv fast' where they agree not to watch TV for a certain time period. Again, what is important is to keep your vow.

4. Daniel fast is a type of partial fast which has become very popular in the West. Some people think there is no scriptural backing for it. That only shows their ignorance of the scripture. It is based on two references in the Bible, both in the book of Daniel. hence the name Daniel fast. In Daniel, chapter 1, we see Daniel and his friends deciding on a diet that included just vegetables and water. (Our modern equivalent will be a vegetarian meal with water as the only liquid to drink). We do not know how long this lasted. Again  in Daniel, chapter 10, verse three, we read: " I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over."  Again, Daniel is abstaining from meat and wine. Or, Daniel had vegetarian meals and water for drink.

Many books on this topic are available in the West. I recommend the book written by Jensen Franklin. Or, simply Google 'Daniel Fast' and read the tons of material available online about this.

Our community is not used to Daniel fast. What we do is eat one time a day, if it is necessary. So we do practice partial fast. That is acceptable for us.  What I have decided to do before the Lord during this season is to fast, eating only one time a day, which is a common and accepted way of doing fast in our community.

At the same time if someone say he or she is doing a Daniel fast (another type of partial fast) we will skin them alive. What it shows is our closed mind set- not that one is more right than the other, as both are partial fasts.

Daniel fast allows people with medical conditions also to fast. In my own case, I am a cardiac patient with three stems in my heart. It  forces me to take medication everyday, including aspirin. Today we know that we cannot take many of these medications on an empty stomach. In that case what do you do? Many people use it as an excuse and never fast again. How much better it is to go on a Daniel fast and spend time in the presence of God and seek answers from Him?

For years, I used to go on a full fast one weekend a month. It was during that season that my ministry flourished the most. Many of my friends remember the tremendous revivals that happened in my meetings in Kumband, other cities of Kerala, in Mumbai, Delhi, Hariyana, South Africa, Australia, Europe, Middle East and elsewhere. The secret of those meetings were not my prowess, but the presence of God since I was spending a lot of time in His presence.

We just finished a 21 day fast in Gateway in March.The lingering presence of God during those days has created a hunger and thirst in me to fast as often as I can.The turn around it has caused in Gateway is amazing. If you need proof, you are invited to watch a video that will be posted on Gateway's homepage. (http:www.gatewaynyc.com).

I did not write these things to promote me. Or because I need to justify me before anyone. Let that be far from the truth. But to correct some of the comments I heard and to encourage you to spend time in the presence of God in fasting and prayer. Do it in a way your health and circumstances allow. You will be amazed how it will revolutionize everything about you.

Join us in this fast, as you can. 

Chain Fasting Starts on May 1st

The preparations for the 31st PCNAK Conference in Hartford, CT is progressing at a regular pace. The venue, the speakers, the transportation arrangements, arrangements for food, sports venue etc. are ready. The national committee and the local committee are working hard to make sure you will have a blessed conference.

Already hundreds of people have reached out to us complementing us for the large number of excellent speakers for this year's conference. God will send them with a special anointing and they will be used mightily by God for His glory.

As you already know, when I took over the responsibility for the conference in 2012 July, I foresaw some challenges and had decided that this will be a conference done with prayer power. We have been praying all year long. Now we will take it one step further.

We are starting a chain fasting starting on May 1st. I have decided to fast from May 1st to July 4th, having a  meal one time a day. I invite you to fast with me at least one day during this season.

The story of Esther is probably the best example of the power of fasting in the Bible. When people choose to pray, things happen.

"They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed." (Psalms 34:5)

Get ready for a spirit filled, prayer filled, God's presence filled conference in Hartford, CT.

On a different note, the pre-registration will end on April 30th. If you or any of your friends want to make use of it, please click here.

See you all on July 4th.

Pre registration till April 30

The registration process for the 31st PCNAK Conference is progressing smoothly. We have extended the pre-registration rates till April 30th. Please use this opportunity. Click here to register at discounted rates.

On another note, we have arranged bus service from New York to the convention site. New York participants are requested to meet at the parking lot of Gateway Christian Center. The bus will leave at 2 PM on July 4th Thursday.

Out of town participants who fly into LGA or JFK will be picked up from the airport and given free transit to the conference site. Please make sure your flights arrive no later than 2 PM on Thursday.  After the Sunday service, you will be dropped at the airports.

Sports programs for the youth also are ready. This year we will have tournaments for Basket Ball and Volley Ball. Please contact David Richard at 405-923-3283 for details and to register your team.

There is a special trip to the Science Center across from the Conference site arranged on Saturday morning for parents attending with small children. They will be enriched by the sights and sounds of this seven story science museum.

See you soon in Hartford!

Conference Is Ready

After months of preparations behind the scenes, the 31st PCNAK Conference is ready for you. In the midstof challenges, God has strengthened the hands of the Executives, the National Committee and the Local Committee to work together and put together a conference that I am sure will be a blessing to you. I thank God for a team that has worked together with understanding and unity.

God has shown His favor in this from the beginning by answering our requests. When we were praying for a beautiful and convenient facility to host the conference, God gave the elegant Connecticut Convention Center where we can hold all the functions under one roof. As I have freely admitted, I did not even know of a facility like that. I accept it as a divine provision for us. It also became a point of assurance for me personally that God is with me and my friends  in this and that He will see me through.

Then when we started prayerfully considering speakers for the conference, we made a list of speakers expecting may be half of them to agree to come. To our pleasant surprise almost all of them agreed to come! Again I took it as a divine sign that God's favor is upon this conference. Where there is God's favor, God's provisions will follow.

I am grateful to the members of the National Committee and the Local Committee for working with us to arrange everything for the conference. Let me summarize the things we have done so far:

1. The Facility is ready.
2. The Speakers are ready.
3. The Sports facility for the youth is ready.
4. Transportation arrangements for out of town participants are ready.
5. The Local teams are ready to help with any of your needs.

The song book is getting ready. Please reserve your space for ad today. Contact our Secretary, Br. Rajan Aryapallil for more details.

Thanks to everyone who has used the pre-registration discounts. For your convenience, we have extended it to April 30th. Please make use of it and register today.

Register online today

Free transportation will be given to out of town registrants from La Guardia and JFK airports in New York, if they can get there no later than 2 PM on July 4, Thursday. After the Sunday service, we will drop them to the airport. Please book your tickets accordingly to make use of this money saving opportunity.

Bus transportation from New York is also available for others for a nominal fee. Please contact us for details.

Please contact the following people to register your team for basket ball or volley ball tournaments (if you haven't done so already).

• David Richard : Tel. 405-923-3283. Email: davidrichard@oru.edu 

• Ronnie Samuel: Tel. 678-463-1429. Email: ronnie.samuel@yahoo.com 

ONE SPECIAL REQUEST: I do not like to write negative things. But unfortunately there has been a smear campaign going on for an year with the express intention of destroying PCNAK. They keep spreading lies after lies. Please do not believe them. The executives who are working hard for this conference were elected and appointed by the 30th PCNAK in Hamilton with a huge majority and they have put together a wonderful conference for you.  The pathetic efforts to discredit them and the conference in that process are sad, painful and uncalled for. May God deal with the folks who work full time and even over time to destroy this conference!

With God's help, we are ready for a prayer filled, spirit filled, God's presence filled conference.

See you soon in Hartford!

Promotional Meetings

Promotional meetings are part of the PCNAK calendar. It allows the executives to travel to different cities that are major pockets of Keralite believers, meet with key members and Pastors, encourage them to come for the conference etc. It culminates with a promotional meeting somewhere.

In recent years, attendance to such meetings have been extremely poor. A successful meeting usually has only 15 to 20 people. Some cities have only 5 to 10 people on a given day.

So the real value of the weekend is not really the promotional meeting. It is the opportunity to meet with people and pastors and visiting churches.

Just like in any other year, this year we have seen the same trend. In each of the cities we are doing the promotional meeting, the same thing is happening. We have had the opportunity to meet with many families and many Pastors. We have visited and ministered in many churches.

Last week we were in Philadelphia where we accomplished the same. I personally visited four churches and had the opportunity to personally invite believers to the conference. I missed out on a fifth church where I had made appointment.

We had contacted many of the other churches that we could not visit and they also have extended their right hand of fellowship for the conference.

This pattern will continue until the conference.

Guest Speakers For the Conference

As I woke up early on February 1, my heart had shifted gears knowing that the conference is almost here. Just five months left! Five months of extra hard work, extra hours of prayer and extra thousands of miles on executives' car. But I prayerfully believe that it will culminate in a wonderful conference, come July 4th. Once again, let me reiterate that the PCNAK Conference is not about us. We are just carrying out the responsibilities handed to us by PCNAK General Body in Hamilton, Canada last July.We are grateful for this opportunity to serve you. We are moving right on schedule. All along our goal was to release the name of the speakers at the beginning of February. So here we go. In addition to the speakers listed below, many ministers from our community also will minister in different sessions. Let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who stood with me and the national committee, encouraged us, joined us on the national prayer line on Sunday nights and strengthened our hands by registering early. May God bless you all! It is my prayer that thousands of others will join your ranks in the coming months. God will answer our earnest prayers. Let His name be glorified! REV. SAM CHELLADURAI CHENNAI Rev. Sam P. Chelladurai is one of the most respected and influential word-preachers in India. He is a Bible teacher with a heart to touch the lives of people by expounding upon the life-transforming power of God's word. His ministry has effectively changed thousands around the world. After spending about 10 years in the United States of America, studying and later pastoring a church in North Carolina, Pastor Sam felt led by God to come back to India and continue his ministry. In 1985, he took over the leadership of Apostolic Fellowship Tabernacle in Chennai, which today is one of the fastest growing churches in India. He is the Principal of 'The Full Gospel Bible College', which trains young men and women for ministry. He is also the Founder of 'Campaign India', which is designed to take the gospel to the unreached in India. His monthly publication, 'VETRIYUM VAZHVUM' (in Tamil) is a magazine that is being read by thousands of people and his books, CDs and DVDs and tapes are distributed around the world.

REV. TOBY MONTGOMERY CALIFORNIA Rev. Tobey Montgomery is an anointed minister of the Gospel. He has been in the ministry for 24 years, the first seven of which he was solely responsible for the youth ministry of the church. In one year, under his ministry, 250 youths accepted Christ. For 17 years he was senior pastor of The Gate Fellowship in Corona, California, where the membership reached 350.His ministry has included 10 international crusades, 6 to India and 5 to the United Kingdom. Pastor Toby has been a key note speaker in IPC General Convention multiple times and has ministered in campaigns in our community in the USA. Pastor Toby who also served as the President of a College will minister to both youth and adults. .  ZAC POONEN BANGALORE Zac Poonen is the Senior Elder of Christian Fellowship Church in Bangalore, India. He is one of the best known Christian leaders from India, highly regarded and respected across the world for in depth Bible.studies. He has responsibility for a number of churches in India and abroad. He has written more than 25 books and numerous articles in English - which have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages. He was born in an Orthodox family. He was attracted to the gospel message as he entered the Naval Academy in 1955. He finally had the assurance of salvation in 1959. He took water baptism in 1961 and had the first encounter with the Holy Spirit in 1963. Since he was associated with the Brethren church, he had trouble accepting the infilling of the Holy Spirit. But after his wife was filled with the Holy Spirit in 1969, he started praying for the same experience and was filled with the Holy Spirit in 1975, which has empowered him to be fruitful in ministry all these years.    (He is introduced without any ecclesiastical titles at this request). REV. MATHEW BARNETT CALIFORNIA Matthew Barnett, author of the New York Times Best Seller, The Cause within You, and pastor of one of America's fastest growing churches, is one of the most dynamic voices God is using in Christianity today. At the age of 38, he is fulfilling the roles of people who have been in the ministry for years. Son of Pastor Tommy Barnett, best-selling author, church growth pioneer, and pastor of what Time Magazine noted as "One of the three largest churches in America," Pastor Matthew has learned powerful principles of ministry, which have gifted him in founding The Dream Center in Los Angeles. The Dream Center began as a typical local church. With the fresh vision and desire to impact the entire city that God birthed in Matthew's heart, the church grew from 39 members at its conception in September of 1994, to reaching more than 50,000 people each week in the Center's multiple services and 273 ministries and outreaches today. The Dream Center houses close to 500 people who are being rehabilitated for the glory of God. Every week people receive food and many other services are offered to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the community. As of April 2002, there have been over 130 Dream Centers launched around the world.    Pastor Mathew will be the main speaker for the youth.   REV. DR. K. C. JOHN KERALA Dr. K. C. John returned from North America in 1972 to the Indian sub-continent after theological education and pioneered the Gospel Centre Church at Nedumpuram in Kerala. This church today has over 1,600 in attendance every Sunday. Pastor John served as the General President of P. Y. P. A., the largest evangelical youth organization in India, leading it for several years. Later he served as the State Secretary of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) for Kerala for nine years and now he is the General Secretary of IPC. Pastor John is the founder and chairman of Power Vision TV, India's first indigenous, multilingual, evangelical, Christian television station, with over 50 million in viewership. Dr. K.C. John is one the most well known gospel preachers from India.    REV. R. ABRAHAM DELHI  Rev. R.Abraham along with Rev. V.A. Thampi are the founders of New India Church of God. This movement was started in Kerala in 1976. He went to north India in 1980 in obedience to the call of God. Today NICOG has hundreds of churches across North India as a result of this. As the Ministry was growing, Pastor Abraham felt the need for training young men for the ministry. In 1989 they started the first Bible Institute in the English language in a place called Bahdurgarh in Haryana. In 1996 The Bethesda Bible Institute was started in Bhubaneswar, Orissa in the Oriya language. In 1998 NICOG established a Bible School in Nagpur, Maharashtra in the Hindi language. In 1999 a Bible School was started in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu in the Tamil language. During his extensive travel through the states of India, Pastor Abraham came across poor children starving and neglected. In places like Orissa and Madhya Pradesh some were sold as child laborers. He wanted to do something to help these children. As a result the Bethesda Children's Home was born. In October 2000 the first Bethesda Children's home was established with 29 children in Malanjkhand in Madhya Pradesh. There are now also Children's homes in Orissa and Goa and Nagpur, Maharashtra.   REV. NOBLE P THOMAS KOZHIKODE Rev. Noble P. Thomas is a well- known convention speaker from India. He started his ministry at a young age and gained recognition as an anointed convention speaker very soon. Today he serves as the Senior Pastor of Kings Revival Church in Kozhikode and travels to many nations to minister in gospel campaigns. His messages are underlined by the divine presence of Holy Spirit and a revival fire. His ministry in our conference will be a blessing.

SISTER PADMA MUDALIAR  CHENNAI Sister Padma Mudaliar is the founder of the Oasis Children's Home in Chennai, India. her husband late Rev. Nataraja Mudaliar was a missionary from South Africa to India. Padma began a journey to personally see 1,000,000 people come to know Christ through her testimony. She began preaching anywhere the Lord provided an opportunity. From her passion Oasis Ministries was birthed. She is also training students for ministry in her Bible College and continues her evangelism ministry. Sister Padma is a well known gospel preacher has ministered in many meetings among Keralites both in India and abroad.

New Year Blessings

We wish all of our readers a blessed new year!

One thing we need to pay more attention to is the blessing factor. This is so clear in the Bible.Many things in the Bible does not make sense in the natural- like God loving Jacob more than Esau.

A casual look and you will think Esau was a gentleman whereas Jacob was a scoundrel. How can God reject a gentleman and bless a scoundrel? This concern is behind many of the judgments we pass today. We forget that man looks at the outside and judges while God knows our hearts.

Esau never paid any respect or value to his spiritual heritage. He was never around for evening sacrifices. At that time he was out with his friends hunting. We all know the famous porridge story where he was willing to give up his double portion blessings for a cup of soup.  When he became an adult, the Bible tells us that he married  two (not one) Hittite women as wives, 'which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.' (Gen. 26:25).

I personally believe that was one reason Rebekah decided to make sure Jacob got the blessings from his father and thereby continued the lineage of the family till Messiah came.

When we look at the life of Jacob, we see a person who hung around his parents' tent, was there to witness the worship practices of his father, who always listened to his parents etc. He was a person who valued his heritage, wanted his father's blessings etc.  Isn't that the pattern God had placed in place to bring up children? Then is it any wonder that God rejected Esau and loved Jacob?

Something really caught my attention recently while researching the counter cultural roots of Christianity for a forthcoming book. It has tremendously influenced me and has forced me to rethink some of my positions. In Genesis 24, when Abraham was sending his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac, we see this important turn in their conversation.

'And the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?" But Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back there. The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, 'To your descendants  I give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there."' (Gen. 24:5-8).

In other words, this aging father who desperately wanted to see his son married is telling his servant to make sure that Isaac is never taken back to things he left behind, even if it meant Isaac remained unmarried for the rest of his life! SEPARATION WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ABRAHAM. At that time, Abraham had all of three people worshiping this God who called him out- Abraham, Sarah and Isaac. The future of this new way of true worship depended on Isaac and the wife he chose. That is why Abraham was so adamant.

Jacob was willing to do the same when his turn came. When his mother asked him not to take a wife from surrounding areas and to go back to her people to find a wife, unlike Esau, he agreed. It was on that journey that Jacob had his first encounter with God at Bethel and the rest is history.

Never forget this incredible promise God gave to Jacob that night: " I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."(Gen. 28:15b). In other words, God took the responsibility for Jacob's success in life!

As you enter into this new year you need only one thing: God's blessings. Do not neglect the blessings factor. It will change everything. It will bring His favor on your life. You will be a success in life. You will be the head, not the tail.

P.S. Only six months left for 31st PCNAK in Hartford, CT. Have you registered yet? Go online and register today to take advantage of the pre-registration discounts.