Message

THE SECRET OF TRUE HAPPINESS

Greetings to you all in the name of Jesus Christ!

i can say with the Psalmist, "Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord" (Ps. 144:15).

This month i want to share with you the Top 10 reasons why i am Happy:

One: i am happy, because He saved me. There were 1000 soldiers in the army unit where i was serving in 1971 as a soldier of the Indian Army. i was one of the 10 worst characters in that unit. There were many good, able, intelligent men - officers and soldiers. But it pleased Him to save me, one of the worst, on 1st Oct 1971.

Two: i am happy, because He called me. In the church where i was worshipping, and in all of India, I could easily list the names of those who were highly qualified, intelligent Christians, which could preach excellent messages. i considered myself to be at the bottom of that list, for numerous reasons. I had only studied up to the 10th grade, and then dropped out of technical school after flunking the exams. On top of this, excessive smoking and drinking had long wiped out a good majority of my memory. I was by no means a communicator. I was an office worker in the daytime, and a man lacking good character upon leaving the office. Having lost touch with my mother tongue, Malayalam, I really didn't have a good grasp of any language. English, though it fascinated me, was a tough language; and Hindi was Greek to me - as it is with most South Indians. But He selected me, put a bible in my hands, and called me to preach the gospel!

Three: i am happy, because He made me a busy preacher. Today i preach more than 250 new messages a year - through crusades, conventions, pastor's seminars, TV and Bible schools. i travel across the nation and the world for 250 days, or more, a year. Also, i am not only well accepted, but also invited back to minister in Catholic, Protestant and full gospel churches. This alone, is the hand of God.

Four: i am happy, because He made me an author. One day, having nothing to do and no book to read, i laid down to take an afternoon nap. Slightly frustrated i asked, "God why did you bring me over here? God spoke to me and said, "Son of man, write." i was shocked. How could He ask me, a man who only studied only up to 10th grade, with no strong hold on any language, write a book? What was to write about, and in what language? i opened my Bible and it landed on Ezekiel 24:2, "Son of man, write." i took out a few sheets of paper and started to write. After 4 days of writing, the book, Keys to Miracles, was finished. It has now sold 10 millions copies in various languages. Over 40 books followed this one, and most of them not only became best sellers, but also great encouragement for believers. Not only this, but the various magazines that IET publishes are the best in India, and the movies that we make are the highly effective Christian films! All this, God has done.

Five: i am happy, because He caused us to grow from nothing to one of the largest church-planting missions in India. When Lilly and i started the work on November 7th, 1972, at Katra, we thought that we would remain there our entire lives; handing out tracks to the 2000 plus Hindu pilgrims who arrived daily from all over India. But i dreamed big - and God gave me more than i could have ever hoped or imagined. He gave me over 100 souls; baptized, spirit filled evangelical believers, in one year! That had never happened anywhere in the history of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. In another year the work spread to over 12 churches planted in the surrounding mountain villages! Indians, especially the Christians from my home state of Kerala, heard about our ministry and they started to support us. This helped us to train more people and send them all over north India! We began to see Acts 29 take place wherever our missionaries went, and today we are one of the largest church-planting missions in India!

Six: i am happy, because He made me an example for other missions by leading me to hand over the mission to a young man, who is not a relative. i did not do it for myself, it was what i saw in the Bible, and knew it was what i was to do. Look at the lives of Moses, Elijah, Paul, etc. God showed them their predecessor and they followed the leading of God and handed the work over. It never went to the son or daughter - except the Kingdoms. Even though my own two sons were working with me in the ministry, from the very beginning i desired to hand over the ministry to the person God had chosen. In 2003, i announced the name of Joy Thomas as the President-designate. He was a person i had selected from the four men whom i was watching and mentoring. On November 6th, 2004, i handed the ministry over to him. In a closed service with over 100 guests in our office i said, "On November 6th, 1972, when i arrived at Katra with Lilly and 10 month old Aby, i had Rs 42 with me." Today after 32 years, the real estate of the ministry alone is Rs 420 million. i had saved enough money to run the mission for a year, so that my successor would not immediately face financial pressure. i then walked out of the office, taking nothing with me - not even an address of a supporter. We had no property or savings in our names; our children were our assets.

Seven: i am happy, because the mission was gracious to me. They loved and continue to love me. They purchased a four-bedroom apartment for Lilly and i to live in as long as we remain. Then they also purchased a good SUV vehicle for our traveling. (We gratefully thank the three well-wishers who designated and gave the money for the apartment and SUV.)

Eight: i am happy, because even after stepping down from the leadership, we continue to be busy in His work. Lilly and i are traveling far and wide within India and outside India and our ministry is a blessing to thousands of people, Indian Evangelical team and India. What else we can ask? Nothing. We are happy. We are content. And we are still dreaming - dreaming for God.

Nine: i am happy because God caused my obedience to multiply into hundreds of Christian workers in the last 35 years. My own converts, those who came in touch with me, my family members - hundreds have entered full time ministry all over India. Only a very few went abroad. i was the first one in my family to be born again, and now my two remaining brothers were trained by me and are in full time ministry in north India. Four of my own five children (two boys and two girls) are in full time ministry (the last boy is working in a secular job, but is a very good believer). What a privilege!! i am happy.

Ten: i am happy because IET continues to grow, even after i stepped aside and put another Timothy in my chair. Though many had doubts, i trusted in the Holy Spirit who guided me, and i had faith in Joy Thomas. The successor God selected is doing a great job! He is very spiritual, a great evaluator, bible teacher, troubleshooter, trainer and visionary. i sincerely prayed and still pray that my successor would be a great leader who would also rely on the Holy Spirit to show him who his successor will be. Joy Thomas is doing better than I ever could have thought or imagined. Thus, i have faith in the Indian Evangelical Team.

At this point, 2 verses come to mind. "What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done in it...?" Is 5:4a. God has given me a fruitful ministry, four children out of five working in full time ministry and the fifth one a good believer. We all are in good health, and i...i am happy.

Lilly remembers a verse that God gave in 1972, the day she was asking whether she should obey her family and remain in Kerala to work as a teacher and let me work in the mission field: "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not..." Jeremiah 45:5.

i want to salute and thank every one who has prayed, supported, and loved us in the last 35 years. If you will continue to do so, i have a dream to crisscross this nation with the fire of the gospel, setting people ablaze for God.

Will you continue to stand with us?

Together we can see India evangelized in our lifetime. It cannot be done alone, but together - we can do it. Let's do it - now!

P G Vargis