“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...” [Matthew 28:19a]
In June 2001 God chose a most unlikely candidate for special preparation for an unknown and undreamed of task – at least by me, the one who was the subject of His divine grace. An unlikely candidate because I had received no formal theological training and had held no position of note within any Christian organization. In my private world of fellowship with Him there was much deepening of commitment and of understanding of His ways. In daily life, or among other believers, there seemed nothing out of the ordinary.

However, a year later in the second week of July 2002, I was surprised to receive two separate invitations to visit India. Consequently I found myself on a Boeing 777 bound for India in January 2004. My assignment was to teach around thirty five students in a Bible Centre some distance North of Bangalore. What the Lord revealed during many hours of teaching preparation from the book of Acts proved to be a turning point in my life.

After making two visits a year till the Spring of 2006 the Lord's leading directed me to the state of Andhra Pradesh to a town named Martur. Martur, I found out, is situated in a vast rice growing area with countless villages dotted around the countryside. One of my previous senior Bible students and a few local pastors wished me to take part in a vibrant and growing ministry in these parts.

Funded by an amazing display of faith, a house for me was well under construction when I arrived in Martur in late January 2007. Local women had pawned their jewelery in order to raise money for the construction. I consequently repaid all monies owing and the little home of 380 square feet was completed in September 2007 just before my second visit; this time with my beloved wife Tricia accompanying me.

During a total of five visits of a month or so each the work, under the Holy Spirit's leading and direction, has evolved from concentrated village evangelism to a combination of evangelism and encouragement of an increasing number of pastors concerning the plan and purpose of God as it pertains to the present time. ‘Love and unity in the Spirit.’ ‘Setting aside the ideas and methods of man to follow the Lord Jesus fully and be led by the Holy Spirit.’ ‘Working shoulder to shoulder in obedience to the Holy Spirit's leading’ were topics the Lord laid upon my heart.

Never have we witnessed such a thrust of the gospel as we are beholding in this area of India. We sense that an unprecedented move of the Lord is impending across this great continent. As at the time of Pentecost there had to be those prepared and readied by the Lord for an explosion of the gospel in the power of the Spirit, so now such preparation of hearts, lives and believing communities is a priority of the Lord.

Our latest visit included four pastors' conferences. The first with the twenty local pastors well known to us and to whom we provide financial support each month. The second to forty pastors in an adjacent district. The third to fifty two pastors, including the twenty local ones. Finally, before we returned home, a conference attended by one hundred and forty eight pastors and around one hundred church leaders.

Our limited financial resources, under the Lord's leading, have enabled a number of wonderful outcomes for needy people. Johan, who is paralyzed from the waist down, now owns a Honda three wheel motorcycle. Despite his physical limitations he has formed an association for others who are handicapped and has recently become involved in establishing the first local orphanage. Chinna, the first whom the Lord brought to Himself through me in Martur, and who owns an auto rickshaw, is funded to provide transportation to outlying villages for up to a dozen pastors at a time as they support each other in spreading the gospel. Precious Pastor Aaron was greatly helped with the formidable expenses incurred during the fatal illness of his dear wife Padhma last October. Our friend and interpreter Elisha now has a motorbike, which he shares as needed with other pastors, to visit those in special need or to plan and arrange meetings. ‘This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? Matthew 21:42

The work is under the guidance and direction of the blessed Person of the Holy Spirit. Those involved owe no allegiance to the organizations of man. My wife Tricia and I believe ourselves to be somewhat in the role of itinerant workers sent forth at the Lord's behest. We are privileged beyond measure to play the part we have been called upon to play; to see with our eyes amazing acts of God's mighty power; to be a part of what is so clearly a move of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our prayer is that all who read this account, we who composed it, and God's loved ones in India and throughout the whole world may come to live in the reality of His eternal purpose and desire - “...that they may be one, just as We are one; John 17:22

Tom & Tricia Walker

Canadian address:
Apt. 202 – 33 Mount Benson St,
Nanaimo, B.C. Canada V9S 5L2

E-mail: tomhwalker@shaw.ca

Indian address:
‘Bethel’, Martur (Post) & (Mandal)
Prakasem (District)
Andhra Pradesh, India Pin 523301