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VisionVision One fine morning, in the very early hours of the day, in October of 1978, God spoke to me in a vision and called me to serve Him. Though I was born in a Christian home and my parents were missionaries, I was not living in faith. I did not think that God would call me for His purposes, but as the divine call haunted me and stirred my heart, did not have peace.I could not rest. I took the counsel of my mother, who was a pious lady and a prophetess. She said His ways differ from ours and I should obey Him.My wife confirmed God's call by saying the same thing.
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So I did not hesitate to leave my secure Government job with the railroad, to carry out the ministry according to the divine vision. A church should carry out the mission that Christ Jesus started. Jesus Christ began His ministry proclaiming the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand! He demanded every one to repent and believe the Gospel. His ministry was based on soul saving (Evangelical) and healing, feeding, attending to the needy and clothing the poor (Relief). His great commission is to teach all nations to observe what He commanded to do and baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost(Evangelism).
Just preaching the gospel to the poor (especially to the poor in India), is just like taking away the garment in cold weather and pouring vinegar upon soda (Pro 25:20). So IERF started a church to continue the mission of Jesus (as per the Divine vision) showing the love of Jesus, the love that can be tangible through Relief activities, That is the evangelical and relief aspect of our ministry.
"To preach the Gospel to the poor... Heal the broken-hearted; Deliver the captive and bruised (by Satan)" is the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ and continuing the Great Commission is The Vision of IERF.
IERF was founded in 1978 and registered with the Government under Societies Act in 1983 by Joseph Kodavatikanti, a man of vision who has a heart for his own people. For the last 27 years he and his wife Rachel have been pioneers in church planting and discipleship training in the rural India.
He has been faithful to the divine call and started the ministry on a rented bike with his 10-year-old daughter Sweetie and wife Rachel. For this he had to leave his decent federal Government job. After 7 long years of great suffering and faithful ministry, God blessed and brought many Godly people to support this ministry as prayer and financial partners. Started with 2 Pastors and 5 Orphan children the ministry is now flourishing, putting forth many branches.
"To preach the Gospel to the poor... Heal the broken-hearted; Deliver the captive and bruised (by Satan)" is the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ and continuing the Great Commission is The Vision of IERF.
IERF was founded in 1978 and registered with the Government under Societies Act in 1983 by Joseph Kodavatikanti, a man of vision who has a heart for his own people. For the last 27 years he and his wife Rachel have been pioneers in church planting and discipleship training in the rural India.
He has been faithful to the divine call and started the ministry on a rented bike with his 10-year-old daughter Sweetie and wife Rachel. For this he had to leave his decent federal Government job. After 7 long years of great suffering and faithful ministry, God blessed and brought many Godly people to support this ministry as prayer and financial partners. Started with 2 Pastors and 5 Orphan children the ministry is now flourishing, putting forth many branches.
