TCU Ministers in Other Nations!
India, Kenya, Guatemala, Peru, the Philippines
(Our most extensive involvement has been in India, with multiple trips over the years)
Click here to view a short YouTube video of our January 2016 trip to India!
The Church Unchained: LukeNine1&2 Ministries was in India for the first time immediately after Christmas in 2012 (and extending into 2013). Thirteen team members traveled to India to proclaim the Kingdom of God, to minister healing and deliverance, and to disciple others in healing and deliverance ministry. It was our privilege to meet with and train many pastors and to worship with and encourage several churches--in rural areas, villages, towns, and large cities. We kept up a physically exhausting pace while there because our time was so limited. We had the honor to pray for and feed lepers, widows and orphans, to share the Word of God, and to participate in the baptisms of about thirty new believers in Jesus! One of our greatest joys was getting to know and love many of the precious Christians there who are doing such a great work for Christ. The worship in India is very enthusiastic and it was often humbling to see people who had so little materially by our standards, and who faced health issues and other circumstances rarely seen here in the U.S.A., so full of joy and thanksgiving as they worshiped our wonderful God. Our Indian brothers and sisters exhibited an incredible gift of hospitality as they greeted us and loved us. We are so thankful for what we were able to learn from them.
It was not our plan to go to India, but God had other plans (as He often does...). The invitation for The Church Unchained to go to India came about in a completely unexpected way and we were convinced this was a "Macedonian Call" (see Acts 16) by the activity of the Holy Spirit. We responded in obedience and God faithfully provided the resources we needed to get our team over there and to be able to be a blessing to the dear brothers and sisters in India, even as they were a blessing to us.
We returned to India after Christmas again at the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014, this time with a team of ten. Our goal was to encourage churches and to conduct training with a focus on pulling down the spiritual strongholds of idolatry in India. Idols are literally almost everywhere you look in India. The worship of false gods is rampant and the people are enslaved in spiritual darkness. Our first trip had been necessarily focused on building relationships. With this trip we were able to focus even more on praying for individuals and we saw a greater effectiveness as we trained pastors. The Holy Spirit was faithful and we saw many people healed. One improvement we made this trip over the previous trip is that we asked to have translators with our team members every time we prayed with people. The previous trip it had been difficult to know what people’s needs were and also what healing they experienced because of the language barrier. This year we had a much better sense of the needs of the people as we prayed for them. This trip some of our team members kept a running estimate of how many people we had the privilege of praying for through laying-on-of-hands, and they conservatively estimated we prayed for 1,000 people directly! With this trip we were also highly encouraged by the changes in the spiritual atmosphere we could sense after just one year. In our previous trip we saw idols everywhere and little evidence of Christianity. This trip, everyone on the team remarked concerning how many more churches and public displays of Christianity we were seeing! That was exciting, and we had a sense of growing spiritual momentum as the foundations of generational idolatry are beginning to weaken in India.
Our third trip to India (end of December 2014 and beginning of January 2015) was incredible in every way and the sense of spiritual momentum we had after our second trip was even greater! This time we only had a team of six in India, but during our time in India we prayed for 1,700 people directly through laying-on-of-hands and we saw miracles of healing routinely! We ministered in many churches where no other international ministry teams had ever been, and we also trained pastors in pastors’ conferences. The power of God to heal was evident and it was expected that what the believers experienced as we prayed for them in the church meetings would radically transform their communities as they shared their testimonies of what Jesus had done for them. The rural churches were located in predominantly Hindu villages. After returning from India we have been told that what was expected to happen is happening as villagers shared with their neighbors what Jesus had done for them! Many Hindus are coming to Christ! We were very careful to have translators present when we prayed with people, and we made every effort to be accurate in our understanding of what the Lord did. We have been careful in the past to not claim any miracle of healing we were not absolutely sure about, and we feel it is very important we continue to operate with the utmost integrity regarding this.
Our fourth trip to India (beginning of 2016) was very much like that of the previous year. This time we had ten team members. We had the opportunity to return to many of the village churches we had been in for the first time the previous year, and where we had seen God move so powerfully. It was wonderful to see the people again. I had the joy of seeing, and getting a picture with, a petite elderly lady whose blind eye had been opened the previous year when two of us prayed for her. Before praying, one eye was clouded over by a very thick cataract we could clearly see and we found out she was completely blind in that eye. After we prayed she lifted up her face and I looked into a completely clear eye! The cataract was gone, instantly. We asked through the translator if she could see out of that eye and she said she could, but not clearly. It reminded me of the account in the Bible where Jesus prayed for the man twice to have clear sight. We prayed for her again and she could see clearly. On this fourth trip many of our team members had very similar experiences and we saw a multiplication of blind eyes and ears being opened, along with almost every other ailment healed instantly or near-instantly. The churches were not as full this trip because of a national Hindu holiday. Since the schools were closed, many families were away visiting other family members. Even so, we estimate we prayed for over 1,200 people and almost all were healed or set free, just as we had seen the previous year. The Lord showed His marvelous kindness with a miracle in the life of one woman who came up for prayer. She said she had double-vision when she looked at words in the Bible. We prayed for her and asked the translator (an Indian pastor who spoke excellent English, so there was no misunderstanding) to open his Bible and give it to her to read to see if the double-vision was gone. She held it up and got a pained look on her face. It turned out that although the double-vision was gone, she did not know how to read! This confused us, so we asked for clarification. It turned out that even though she could not read she would open her Bible and look at the Word of God because she honored it so much and knew there was power there. We prayed again, asking the Lord to give her the ability to read, and then asked the translator to give her the Bible again. He pulled a bookmark out of his Bible with Scripture printed on it in their language and gave it to the woman. This illiterate woman who loved the Word of God even though she could not read, began to read the Word of God out loud! Most Indians are very "stoic" when they are healed, showing little emotion, but this woman smiled radiantly. She was so happy! God is good (all the time)! This year again we saw evidence of "increase" concerning what the Holy Spirit is doing in India. Something different this year was the number of Hindus IN the churches. We prayed for them and Jesus healed them. Some accepted Jesus as Lord on the spot. Others understood He healed them, and we expect them to come to Him soon. When we are in India we always respect Indian law, which prohibits open gospel meetings led by people like us in an attempt to proselytize. We are able to lawfully encourage folks who are inside the churches, however, so the fact that Hindus are now coming into the churches in greater numbers is extremely encouraging. God is moving powerfully in India and we feel so blessed to be a part of it!
Here is a short account of one of our trips we have shared elsewhere (it was published in the February 2015 Fredericksburg Area Baptist Network Newsletter), which gives a quick, factual view:
“Richland Baptist Mission Team Witnesses Miracles in India
A mission team from Richland Baptist Church just returned from a mission trip to southeastern India. The trip was the third trip just after Christmas in as many years and was a partnership between Richland Baptist Church and The Church Unchained: LukeNine1&2 Ministries, a healing and deliverance ministry founded by Richland’s pastor, Jim Bethany. The six member team left the USA December 28 and returned January 9. In an exhausting schedule the team members prayed personally for approximately 1,700 people in nine churches and four pastors’ conferences with laying-on-of-hands and saw an incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit to heal and set free. Most people received healing instantly. Out of 1,700 people prayed for, literally only a handful were not healed. Miracles witnessed included the blind seeing and the deaf hearing, but people were healed from a wide variety of conditions, and many were set free from demonic oppression as the bondages of generational idolatry were broken. The team focused primarily on rural churches, most of which had never had a foreign mission team visit them before, but the team also ministered in a leper colony and two major cities. The Indian pastors expect many salvations as healed villagers share their stories in their predominantly Hindu villages of what Jesus did for them. At least two Hindus who were prayed for directly by the team in the streets outside the churches were healed instantly and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord as a result. As written testimonies are translated from Telugu into English and sent to Richland they will be posted on websites for Richland and The Church Unchained: www.richlandbaptist.com, and www.thechurchunchained.org. Richland will be returning to India next year with an anticipation of an even greater outpouring. If you have an interest in the team making a presentation at your church concerning what God is doing in India or you are interested in receiving training for being part of the team next year, please contact Senior Pastor Jim Bethany at 752-9352 or jbethany@richlandbaptist.com.”
On one of our trips our Indian pastors made an attempt to capture many of the healing testimonies in writing on-the-spot so they would not be lost (we normally would attempt to solicit written testimonies after-the-fact, but this was not very successful). While most people who were healed in the meetings (almost everyone experienced healing or the power of the Holy Spirit in some way) did not give written testimonies, many were written down and then translated into English. THESE TESTIMONIES FROM INDIA ARE BELOW. THE ENGLISH SPELLINGS ARE SOMETIMES VERY CREATIVE AND YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE A WORD OR TWO, BUT I THINK YOU WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING EXPRESSED!
SOME TESTIMONIES FROM INDIA!
The written testimonies we have from India are just a drop in the bucket concerning what we have seen God do. Multiply these accounts a hundred-fold in your mind and you will begin to grasp the wonder of what we have seen the Holy Spirit do. While the English spellings in these testimonies, which have been translated from Telugu, are not always what we are used to, I think you will be able to understand what is being said if you make an attempt to think about what the word “sounds” like (or very similar to, anyway!). Sometimes letters or sounds are left out (like “craps” for “cramps”; or “four are” for “forearm”). It is exciting that many Hindus and Muslims are now coming to Christ because the willingness and power of Christ to heal and set free was witnessed by Hindus and Muslims as our team ministered in India, and as villagers who were touched and healed by Jesus shared with their neighbors what He had done for them!
Here is the text of an email I received from Pastor George in India. It includes the written testimonies he had received from the Indian pastors and then translated into English from Telugu.
"Dear Bro. Jim in Christ,
Glory and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry for taking much time to send testimonies from your visit. I am herewith attaching the testimonies from different churches you have visited in December 2014 through January 2015.
With love,
In Him,
George"
Testimonies
Pastor Jim's Visit to India- December 2014-2015
Dhupalapudi Village, Pastor Name: John Moses
1. M. Nagamani-- Stomachache-- healed
2. P. Kumari-- Calf pain ( leg pain) -- healed
3. Sandamalli Kumari -- Join pains-- healed
4. T. Raja Kumari-- Gift of the Holy Spirit-- received
5. E. Chantiamma-- Eyesight-- healed
6. P. Martamma-- Witchcraft-- Delivered
7. N. Ruthamma-- Headache-- healed
8. Varasala Narimani-- healed
9. Nandamalla Mariyamma-- Gas pain-- healed
10. Kottapalli Jyothi-- Joint pains-- healed
11. B. Ratnam- Gas pain-- healed
12. Mortha Mani-- Side problems after Thyroid Surgery-- healed
13. Sis. M. Kamalamma – Chest Pain – Healed
14. Sis. S. Gowri – Respiratory Disorder – Healed
15. Sis. K. Venkata Laxmi – Stomachache( 3 Years old Child) – Healed
16. Sis. N. Badramma – Pain in the socket of Hip – Healed
17. Bro. K. Naveen – Headache since one month (10 Years Old) – Healed
18. Sis. N. Satyavathi – pain in the left heal – Healed
19. Bro. S. Paramjyothi – Spinal back bone pain – Healed
20. Sis. B. Venkata Laxmi – Shoulder Pain – Healed
21. Sis. N. Bhagyavathi – Nervous disorder – Healed
22. Sis. T. Bullayama – Cough and Sneezes – Healed
23. Sis. G. Mary – Tumor on the Chest – Healed
24. Sis. K. Baby – Received Holy Spirit anointment
25. Bro. Ramu – Swelling on his legs– Healed
26. Sis. P. Papa – Stammer (Since 10 years) – Healed
27. Sis. G. Brumma – Craps – Healed
28. Sis. K. Chandramma – Kidney Pain – Healed
29. Sis. P. Kusuma – Sleep Sickness – Healed
30. Bro. K. Ramana – Tuberculosis (TB) – Healed
31. Sis. K. Sudha Rani – Back Bone Pain – Healed
32. Sis. G. Bujamma – Tumor on Neck – Healed
33. Sis. N. Sirisha – Headachesince 5 months – Healed
34. Sis. S. Kumari – Knee Pain – Healed
Maredubaka Church (Pastor Name: G. Yesu Das)
1. Sis. P. Jyothi – delivered from evil spirit attack – Healed
2. Sis. M. Kumari – Stomachache - – Healed
3. Sis. Vijaya Mani – Legs pains – Healed
4. Sis. P. Ratnam – Abdomen pain – Healed
5. Sis. G. Yenkamma – Sore Throat – Healed
6. Sis. M. Nukamma – Cough and respiratory disease – Healed
7. Sis. P. Niramala – Chest pain – Healed
8. Bro. Nathaneyalu – Pain in the hand – Healed
9. Bro. Mukaraje – Stammer – Healed
10. Bro. Anand – collar bone pain – Healed
11. Sis. Mary Mani – Mental disorder – Healed
12. Bro. Samson – Respiratory disorder – Healed
Vaynturu Village, Pastor Name: James
1. Sis. Ch. Satya veni – Eye sight – Healed
2. bro. A. Naga Raju – Eye Sight – recovered
3. bro. Vijay Kumar – Feet burn – Healed
4. Sis. P. Niramala – Body pains – Healed
5. Sis. K. Ratna Kumari – Boil on the neck – Healed
6. Sis. S. Krupa Mani – Relief from stress – Healed
7. Sis. P. Priscilla – Mental disturbance – Healed
8. Bro. Deva Ratnam – Eye sight – Healed
9. Sis. Ratna Kumari – Hand Pain – Healed
10. Sis. Surekha – Physical weakness – Healed
11. Bro. Vijay Ratnam – headache – Healed
12. Sis. M. Naga Mani – Kidney Problem – Healed
13. Sis. B. Ratna Kumari – Headache – Healed
14. Bro. Krupa varam – Nervous pain – Healed
15. Bro. Suresh – Joint pains and stomachache – Healed
16. Sis. Mary Grace – Cough and Sneezes – Healed
17. Sis. Bhagyavathi – back pain – Healed
18. Sis. Krupa amma – Throat problem – Healed
19. Sis. Suramma – nervous weakness and pains – Healed
20. Sis. Ramanamma – Sore throat – Healed
21. Bro. Murthy – Body and Gas Pain – Healed
22. Bro. Satyanarayana – Delivered from Ideal worship
23. Sis. Santhoshamma – Eye Sight problem – Healed
24. Bro. Subba Rao - Evil spirit causing temptations – delivered
25. Sis. Kruppama – Tumor – Healed
26. Sis. Swathi – Cough – Healed
27. Sis. Bhagyavathi – Gas Pain – Healed
28. Sis. Chantiamma – Body pains and nervous weakness – Healed
29. Sis. Eswari – Neck pain and headache – Healed
30. Sis. Swaroopa – Angry – Healed
31. Bro. Asservadam – Joint and hip pain – Healed
32. Sis. Pushpa – back pain – Healed
33. Sis. Kanaka – Throat Pain – Healed
34. Sis. Jaya Lakshmi – Leg Pains – Healed
35. Sis. Latha – Knee Problem – Healed
36. Sis. Sandhya – the evil spirit causing disputes in family – Delivered
37. Sis. Veera veni – Headache – Healed
38. Bro. Johnson – Joint pains – Healed
39. Sis. Poorinima – abdomen pain – Healed
40. Sis. Divya – Anxiety disorder – Healed
41. Sis. Rani – Received Holy Spirit Anointment
42. Sis. Neeraja – Kidney pain – Healed
43. Bro. Raju – Stomach disorder – Healed
44. Bro. Moses – Kidney problem – Healed
Thusupudi Village (Pastor M. Satya Samarpan)
1. Sis. K. Krupa – back pain – Healed
2. Sis. Rebecca – Sour Throat – Healed
3. Ch. Ratnam – Blood flow (Since two years) – Healed
4. Sis. P. Bullamma – Body pains and weakness – Healed
5. Sis. Charamma – back pain and nervous weakness – Healed
6. Sis. K. Suramma – Knee join pain – Healed
7. Sis. Rama Lakshmi – Delivered from evil spirit
8. Sis. N. Lakshmi – Chest pain – Healed
9. Sis. M. Lakshmi – Boil on right hand – Healed
10. Bro. Issac – epilepsy – Healed
11. Sis. A. Mary – Uterus pain – Healed
12. Sis. Bhagyavathi – Hip pain – Healed
13. Sis. Ratnakumari – Chest pain – Healed
14. Sis. Ruthamma – Pain in the waist – Healed
15. Bro. Srinu – Joint pains – Healed
16. Bro. Philip – back pain – Healed
17. Sis. K. Paremila – Sever Body Pains and Gas problem – Healed
18. Sis. V. Naga mani – Tumor in the throat – Healed
19. Sis. M. Ganga – Abdomen Problem– Healed
20. Bro. S. Yesu Ratnam – Fits – Healed
21. Sis. Deenamma – Leg pains – Healed
22. Sis. P. Rajini – Knee Pains – Healed
23. Bro. Christopher – Piles – Healed
Kurmapuram Village, Pastor D. Satyadas
1. Sis. Surya vathi – Temptation to commit Suicide – Delivered from evil spirit
2. Sis. M. Seshamma – heat weakness – Healed
3. Sis. B. Anna mani – Joint pains – Healed
4. Sis. Mariyamma – back pain – Healed
5. Sis. Satyavathi – Nervous weakness – Healed
6. Sis. Gnanvathi – pain in the four are – Healed
In addition to the testimonies gathered from the individual churches and pastors’ conferences, an update from the coordinating pastor we work with in India (Pastor George) is included below, which describes how what God set into motion with our last trip continues to impact southeastern India:
"Dear Brother Jim, and precious members at Richland Baptist Church and The Church Unchained, Greetings to all of you from our Lord Jesus Christ. Your Indian family is doing well and keeping you in our hearts. Today is our 14th second Saturday and we had a wonderful prayer fellowship at one of our churches in a village. It went from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
After the prayer service I and our pastors who attended have come to our house to have a special prayer on some specific things. We had an opportunity to pray for you, your family, and your churches and specifically prayed for God to use you mightily through the Church Unchained Ministries.
As we have witnessed during the time of your ministry for deliverance and healing, there are so many testimonies I have received. Many pastors told me that many Hindu and Muslim families are added to their churches after you prayed for them. At Hyderabad Church, two Muslim girls who attended the meeting along with their friends accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and they are attending the church. At Pastor Moses' church, in a public gospel meeting outside his church, 12 people who are Hindus are delivered from idol worship and received by Jesus Christ into His household. Even at Thossipudi village, at a public gospel meeting many people belong to Hinduism, are touched by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit, and received Salvation. As the pastor said that fifteen families are added to his church. There are so many testimonies but I sent some of them. I and our pastors are very thankful to you, and to the Richland Baptist Church and The Church Unchained for sending you to our nation to bring deliverance and revival in lives of our people and in our churches.
Give our love to all our friends, and to Sis Peggy.
Your fellow servant in Christ,
George"
