JOHN THE BAPTIST

John the Baptist

" Jesus Grew Up in Nazareth in Galilee, He was now about thirty years old "

at that time , a man named John began to teach about God in the desert of Judea. He told the people , " Do not sin any more, and start doing what God wants you to do, beacause God has already begun to rule as King. "

John was the one that the prophet Isaiah had written about long ago.
"Someone is shouting in the desert, 'Get the Lord's way ready for him! Make a straight road for him to follow!' "

John's clothes were made from camel's hair, and he wore a leather belt.
He ate only locusts and wild honey.

 People from many places came to hear him.
They came from Jerusalem, from Judea, and from the towns along the Jordan River.
They admitted in front of everybody, the wrong things that they had done, and John baptised them in the river.

But when John saw that many religious leaders of the Jews were also coming to be baptised,
he said to them,
               " You are as bad as snakes, and God will soon punish you.
Do you think you can escape his anger? If you have truly stopped sinning , then show this by the way you live.
Do not make excuses by saying that you are descendants of Abraham.
You should know that God can take these stones and make descendants of Abraham our of them.
God is going yo judge that you are useless, just as a man cuts down a tree at its roots and burns it when it does not produce good fruit.
I baptise you with water to show that you have stopped sinning.
But someone is coming later.
He is much greater than I am.
In fact, I am not even good enough to carry his sandals.

He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and purify you as things are purified by fire.

"As a farmer with a fan seperates grain from the chaff, he will seperate good men from the bad.
As grain is gathered in barns, he will gather the good men to himself.
As chaff is thrown out and burnt , the bad men will be rejected for ever."

At that time, Jesus Left Galilee, and went to the Jordan River where John was baptising.
He asked John to baptise him, but John at first refused.

He said, " You should not come to me because I am the one who should be baptised by you."

But Jesus answered him, "Please baptise me, because in this way, we shall be doing God's will competely."
So John Agreed.

As soon as he was baptised , Jesus came up out of the water. Then the sky was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God come down like a dove and settle on him.

Then God spoke from heaven saying,
                        " This is my own dear Son. I am very pleased with him."

History of Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church

Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam, Ranchi

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This great folk-church in the province of Chota Nagpur had its beginnings when four missionaries sent by the Gossner Missionary Society and prepared by Father Johannes Gossner, arrived in Calcutta in 1844 with instructions to find a mission field. When the new missionaries, who were chiefly farmers and artisans rather than theologians, came into contact with some street laborers of aboriginal stock (known as "Kols") they resolved to follow them to their native habitat in Chota Nagpur. Arriving in Ranchi in 1845 they established their base there and supported themselves by farming. After much initial frustration a few converts were made in 1850. Soon a mass movement among the Kols gathered momentum. Particularly after the Sepoy Mutiny (1857) the people began to embrace Christianity in increasing numbers, so that by 1900 a community of 100,000 had arisen.

Boys' and girls' boarding schools were established at Ranchi and elsewhere. A normal school, theological seminary, hospital, and leper asylum were added. Missionary work was begun among Kols people who migrated to the province of Assam. Work was carried on among ten language groups. The Church by 1984 had 336,524 baptized members. Despite rapid numerical growth the Gossner Church, formally organized in 1919, has been plagued by a succession of problems. The formation of schismatic churches among the Kols people by the Anglican SPG in 1869 and by Roman Catholics at the end of the century resulted in heavy losses to the Gossner Church.

Oppression by Muslim and Hindu rulers created additional hardship. Rivalry between the principal Kolarian tribes -- Mundas and Uraons--- has hindered complete unity in the Church. Finally, the interment of German missionaries in 1914 left the Church "orphaned" and without financial subsidy. Despite Anglican offers to assume financial responsibility, Indian Gossner leaders expressed their staunch desire to remain confessionally Lutheran. In 1919, through the good offices of the National Missionary Council of India, the Gossner Autonomous Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed and became heir to all mission property. An inter-denominational board of Trustees, of which an American Lutheran was executive secretary, temporarily administered its affairs. Lutherans in America promised "means and men" to maintain the field, and the National Lutheran Council sent subsidies. German missionaries were able to return in 1925, but their service is to an autonomous church. The Lutheran World Federation assisted support of Gossner institutions with grants. The spirit of independence is strong in the Church.

For More Detail about Lutheran church Please Visit:

http://www.gracelutheranchurch.ca/MMS_LuthHist.html