THE TROPHY IS OURS

Masiha Church has won

the newfrontiers maharashtra inter Church cricket tournament, held on 26th Jan 2009.The performance of the team was excellent. Jeetu won the best batsman award and Jagdish the best bowler one. Manish captained the team well. Many from the Church gathered to support the team. The children were brilliant in rasing their voices - the ground echoed with "Masiha..Masiha". Well done to all!!!!!

A Multicoloured Church

Simon Petit was an apostle of amazing passion and understanding. He was very well received by many especially in the strife infested continent of Africa. He was committed to building a Church which broke every dividing wall between people.We are all one in Christ.

Here are Ten Practical steps in a multicoloured Church that he shared. May you be blessed and challenged.

1. Be convinced theologically of the Biblical nature of the Church, the calling and eschatology of the Church

2. Be jealous for God’s glory in diversity- God is more glorified in diversity than
Uniformity

3. Be concerned for every person who is lost. Evangelistic passion will help reach all types of people.

4. Be aware of the changing composition of society- they are in transition

5. Be proactive about cultural diversity-make it easy for people of other cultural backgrounds to come

6. be a talent spotter- disciple all communities

7. Be wary of political correctness

8. Be ruthless with racism in your heart

9.Be prepared for pain- this is not sentimentality, this is spiritual warfare.

10. Be passionate about a glorious Church- We are God’s new tribe

Prayer and fasting

As a Church we are on a three week prayer and fast ( 4th January to 25th January)
It is good to seek the Lord - The Bible says "commit all your plans to the Lord and he will make your paths straight" Let us do that....
Please join us as we seek him for the following:

• An increased spiritual hunger for God
• The presence of God in all our meetings - especially during this season of fasting
• For a new dimension of the supernatural in our midst
• An increase in numbers with many people turning from darkness into Light

Masiha Church is also launching special midweek prayer meetings in Bandra west, Khar east, Mahim and Dharavi from the second week of January.

Please do contact us for more details. Trust this will encourage many more to come and meet with the Living God.

The BIG Catch

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

As we enter the New Year - let us see a few important lessons from this story
Obedience
Peter was a seasoned fisherman –however he did not say to Jesus “you are a carpenter, I know more about fishing than you”. He was willing to let go of his so called experience and obey Jesus – He let the nets down.
The disciples were radical- They left everything to follow Jesus. For some of us it will be a laying down of things and following Jesus.
Be willing to just obey Jesus.

Expect the Big catch
What a catch!!!!- They got -It blew their mind - As you obey Jesus this year you can expect God to break in with amazing blessings.
I am Believing God for a Big catch- I encourage you to do the same.

In everything –see Jesus
Peter has just been blessed with an amazing catch- I would have expected him to be rejoicing and giving thanks – but here he falls at the feet of Jesus, sees his own sinfulness and the holiness of God. Every miracle will draw us to see the greatness of Jesus. May we never lose sight of Jesus- It is all about honouring his name.

Help of one another
It is not about me doing my thing. Our nets will break – we need help.
Call for help- hundreds will come in and all need to be cared for. Be willing to help-A united people is a great strength- We are in this together- we are partners- James and John were partners with Simon.
And lastly
From Now on you will catch me
Those who have encountered Jesus are recruited to this Calling. Let us not miss this. Catching people for God was the prime call on the disciples when Jesus first recruited them.
Everything in Church life is good- kids work- youth work- music -Bible teaching- working for the poor - generosity etc but let us not forget-
Jesus said “from now on you will catch men”

Masiha Church this year let us step into the deep
May we all have a very fruitful God filled 2009