We were privileged to have Bryan Bettis (Epiphany Ministries) from New York City join us for the first time as we ministered in India this year. We returned to New Delhi and Lucknow for 10 great days of ministry and release in worship. This is our fifth time to India and we are starting to feel more and more at home in this vast land of great opportunity.
God has opened up a great door of opportunity to us through the Assembly of Believers’ Churches throughout India. Based in Lucknow, a city of 3 million in northern India, Bishop Augustus Anthony (Pastor Tony) has established over 500 thriving churches in major cities across India. 
He also speaks weekly (in Urdu) to over 500 million people in Asia through Zee TV – the largest broadcasting company in the world! 9 years ago, with the encouragement and help of a great friend in Harrisburg, Oregon, they established the International School of Worship. And now we have joined them on a yearly basis, coming to teach, impart and release future leaders and pastors of India in the area of worship and music. In fact, I (Tim) am now one of the 
International Directors of the school. During the week we spend with them, we teach on everything from vision, character, heart, anointing, etc. to practical areas like guitar, keys, drums, theory, vocals, songwriting, etc. Bryan fit right in so easily this year with his expertise in drums, leading, anointing, and songwriting. Here is a thumbnail sketch of our 10 days there:
Friday, Feb 8 Tim arrives in Delhi early morning (sidenote: I was anonymously and miraculously bumped up to first-class for my flight from Amsterdam to Delhi! thank you to whoever prayed that prayer!); Bryan arrives late that night – sleep. Special note: I had dinner with Pastor Rahul Patrick and Cipra in Delhi and saw their beautiful daughters again, Rachel and Michelle. 
Rachel is the miracle child you might have heard about. She apparently died in the womb, but through the prayers of her parents and others, God miraculously revived her. Then the doctors told them she would probably not live outside the womb, (she’s six now), and then she wouldn’t walk, see, hear, etc. All of which she does now except the hearing part. And now they have performed an amazing procedure with an Cochlear implant that is apparently the first of it’s kind in Asia! We are believing for total healing of this amazing young lady who will someday lead glorious worship and play the cello!!!! I am now her adopted grandpa! Praise God!
Saturday, Feb 9 We minister together at a combined church meeting in northern Delhi (Pastor Ajay Matthews church) They were able to get my ‘Jewish cello’ for me again from the local synagogue – what a delight to play this fine instrument again! This was our first time to minister as a team, and Bryan flowed so easily and quickly here that it actually surprised me! His ability to get right in to the heart of the moment and express the love of God so passionately, was stirring to everyone including me! He had his translator sing the translation too! Powerful!
Sunday, Feb 10 Following a thrilling taxi ride to the church, we had the joy of ministering with Pastor Rahul Patrick Singh at his church along with his brother Peter and the whole worship team.
I have never felt so honored to freely play the cello in worship as much as this day. There was a visiting team from Texas that seemed to be really enjoying and taking in this wonderful time of worship and ministry. Bryan sang and shared again and continued to provoke all of us to more love and passion for God. We had a good response at the end for salvation as well as many responding to a call to receiving the love of the Father for the prodigal. This afternoon we flew on to Lucknow where we were immediately driven to the Lucknow Bible College graduation ceremony – complete with robes, diplomas and processionals. We were honored to share a song and an exhortation to these great young men graduating.
Monday, Feb 11 Driving out to the Conference Center at Midway (about 40 min from Lucknow) our excitement grew for this great week with the students at the International School of Worship. 
Of course, Bryan was getting his introduction to Indian ‘traffic’ with cars, trucks, rickshaws, cabs, carts, bikes, cows, etc. Hang on for dear life in India! When we got the center, we immediately went in to teach our first class on worship – giving them a taste of what to expect throughout the week. This year there are 18 students from all over India as well as New Zealand, Yuma, AZ and Los Angeles, CA. with Pastor Rocky Anthony leading the group. We got them singing and worshiping and bowing and shouting in the first hour! Powerful start to an amazing week. After a great lunch (you just have to go there sometime to experience the cuisine at this school – quite amazing) we started our daily regimen of workshops in the afternoons: 4pm: keyboard class (Tim); drum class (Bryan); guitar class followed by a 6pm voice class each day – we were able to really work the students on the practical aspects of the instruments and the voice. By the end of the week, everybody saw and heard a dramatic difference in their sound – especially the vocals! In the evenings we had some wonderful times of worship and more intimate ministry with exhortations and prophetic words being shared. We ended each day with another great meal together.
Tuesday, Feb 12 Breakfast is followed by two general sessions in the classroom. Each morning starts with a rousing time of worship lead by the students. This batch is strong, gifted and passionate, so worship was easily lead and enjoyed by all. I started my teaching series on the Vision for 
Worship and Bryan ministered on Releasing your Devotional life in Christ. Once again I saw how Bryan easily flows in this culture and how much the students were able to glean from his solid teaching. (these classes were all in English so no translators out here). We again had our afternoon classes and evening sessions that continued to be so powerful. Bryan led the worship in the evening and we saw a great breakthrough in prophetic worship as he led the way with new songs and exhortation in song.
Wednesday, Feb 13 After breakfast and a great time of worship, Bryan shared on the Flow of Worship out of Ezekiel 47 and then I finished the Vision teaching. these students are so ready and willing to receive and release anything we give them. What a joy. In the afternoon Bryan got sick and needed some time off so I took the afternoon and evening sessions while he slept (after about 13 hours of sleep he was 100% better the next day!) This evening session was one of the most powerful I had experienced as God put a thread of His word to us throughout the time. 
We sang the song, Nothing is Impossible, and at the end of that I kept saying the word ‘nothing’ over and over. Then the students picked it up and we all began to chant: nothing, nothing, nothing… and over that I would sing the word of God to them concerning the miraculous and God’s plan for them. Then we went on to other songs and landed on the hymn, Nothing but the Blood. Again: ‘nothing, nothing, nothing’… started up in the students and we declared the blood of Jesus to be sufficient – needing nothing else. 
Then we sang a few more powerful songs ending with Amazed (Lord, I’m amazed by you how you love me) and as we repeated that last phrase, I started to sing: ‘Nothing can separate us from the love of God’ ‘nothing, nothing, nothing…’ We came full circle and it was a powerful moment to see what God had crafted among us. Praise God!
Thursday, Feb 14 (Valentines Day) I found a present from Maryl in my luggage for Valentines Day and got to share some of the candy with the students.
Fun times. Bryan (now awake from his ‘coma’) was in rare form and did an outstanding job of teaching on the flow of anointing in worship. I challenged them on leadership for worship. At lunch we had a ‘change of the guard’ with Pastor Shanu taking over for Pastor Rocky as School Director. In the afternoon we decided to teach some on songwriting for worship and after some good instruction, and using some of my main points we collectively wrote most of a decent song entitled: ‘The Plains of Ganga’ and if we ever get it recorded I will be sure to post it here! Using many students ideas (and Bryan’s) we constructed the lyrics, melody, chords and form in about a half hour. Probably not a CCLI top 25 but has potential in India for sure! Stay tuned.
Friday, Feb 15 Our final day at the school was spent wrapping some things up and releasing the students into their potential for all that God has for them in worship and leadership. 
In the afternoon, we finished teaching all the songs from the packet we brought them (30 great worship songs we wanted them to learn throughout the week) and then I spent some time teaching them the practicalities of flowing in worship with chord progressions, etc. After a break we came back in the evening to a powerful time of releasing new songs, prophetic songs, anointed songs from the students – I taught on various ways to facilitate and release them. They responded so wonderfully for about an hour and a half they sang song after song – from the word, changing hymns, singing thanksgiving, prayers, etc. Then I shared about the Song of Moses being a song of victory over their enemies (Egypt means ‘limitations’) so I had them write down many of their seeming limitations in their lives and after we sang a song we threw the papers down on the ground and stomped on them and then danced over them. Great joy as God released and delivered them in their hearts from their limitations – insecurities, fears, etc. Wish we could have had a video of that moment! Wow! Then I took them one step further to sing a song of forgiveness over those who have hurt us. They then quietly sang the names of hurtful people in their lives, releasing them in forgiveness. Powerful time of transparency and authenticity. Not a dry eye in the place. We ended with a great time of prayer over each other, sealing this great time in the Holy Spirit.
Saturday, Feb 16 After a great round of ‘around the world ping pong’ – we regretfully said our good’byes to the school and rode back to Lucknow for a short day of shopping, resting and emailing.
Sunday, Feb 17 The students joined us one last time in the main church in Lucknow for a glorious service. I had them join us for the worship time, starting with a nice 4-part a capella song – they nailed it!
We had them sing a new song that Pastor Rocky had written and one of the students (Rini) led a beautiful dance to the song. (I watched since I am somewhat dance-impaired) Then Bryan sang a song with the translator singing along – he flows so well that way! I shared briefly on the hope and expectation we have in Christ with a great response from the people. After that Pastor Tony recorded two sessions for his Zee TV show. Not sure what he said (it was all in Urdu) but it sure was powerful to watch him preach the word!
We flew back to Delhi that night and had dinner w friends – they are the reasons we are in India!) and Pastor Rahul and Cipra (daughter Rachel! the amazing miracle story which we will tell when the full story comes around) and brother Peter before we headed home early Monday morning.
Our hearts are full of the goodness of God, His provision, His favor, His strength, His anointing – preceded us all the way throughout India. Bryan’s words: ‘life-changing’ is becoming a common theme to all who have the opportunity to go to India or anywhere around the world for the gospel’s sake. God is moving, changing hearts, changing nations – and we have the honor of being a little part of His great plan. Thank you all for your loving prayers and prayerful support throughout these days. We are honored to represent you around the world.
Our next adventure is in El Salvador next month with Pastor Roy Rubuliak from Abbotsford, BC Canada. Thanks for the prayers,
Your worship missionaries, Tim and Maryl Smith – Worship Without Borders
and Bryan and Amy Bettis – Epiphany Ministries (check it out!)
Here is Bryan’s India Report:
Dear Friends & Family,
Just wanted to follow up with you all on my trip to India! As you know, I had the honor & privilege of going on an adventure of a lifetime this last month; ministering with one of my heroes of the faith, the one & only Dr. Tim Smith (Worship Without Borders).
When I was 17, my parents somehow talked Pastor Tim into taking me on as a piano student during my senior year in High School. I remember playing his original songs & using his ‘worship bridges’ for hours on end that year; falling in love with Jesus & learning how to sing, play & truly worship simultaneously without even realizing it! The spiritual DNA he imparted in terms of the ‘flow in worship’, etc. have become an integral
part of who I am as a worshiper today. I definitely consider him among the very few most inspirational & influential music ministry mentors I have ever had. In January, he invited me to India. And when God miraculously provided the funds needed to cover my expenses, Amy & I knew God had opened a door, so we walked through it. Tim & I traveled to 3 main areas in Northern India, ministering to several churches of the ‘Assembly of Believer’s Church’ movement (65,000 people in over 500 churches throughout the nation.), whose growth is largely in part to the faithful obedience & humility of an anointed farmer & his wife from Harrisburg, Oregon; Mark & Laurie Smucker (more on that a little later ?
Our first ministry opportunity came in the Nation’s capital – New Delhi. I was so blessed to be there & loved meeting & interacting with the people; hearing stories of Supernatural miracles & healings & provision that had taken place in that region. The other definite highlight of that weekend was playing piano alongside of Tim as he played Cello. I will never forget that moment as long as I live. The Holy Spirit surrounded us & flowed through us that weekend as we ministered the Love of God. Prodigals returned, leaders were strengthened, wounded were healed & the lost were found – ‘nuff said! On Sunday we flew to Lucknow, ministering that night at the Lucknow Bible College graduation to the students who will all be released into pastoral assignments this year. For the next week, I joined Tim as an honorary faculty member at the “A.B.C. International School of Worship” out at the Conference Center that is in its final phase of construction.
While there, Pastor Tim released me to impart to the students what so many others have imparted into me over the last 20+ years in regards to Worship, Music, Ministry, Songwriting, Musicianship, & Servant-Leadership. We team-taught for about 6+hrs. each day & then had a worship experience with the students each evening. Simply a brilliant time spent with 20 “future legends” (as my pastor, Carl Lentz would say!)
Our final weekend was spent with Bishop Augustus Anthony (Pastor Tony) & his family in Lucknow, where A.B.C. is based. This man is living the definition of the Abundant & Supernatural life, like few men I’ve ever met. I had a chance to talk with him about his journey.
Here are a few highlights from my time with Pastor Tony: Decades ago, He decided that instead of moving away to a different part of India, he would build a home in the ‘slum neighborhood’ he grew up in. Today, it is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in his city. At the beginning of his ministry in 1973, Pastor Tony got a specific ministry assignment from God; to pastor a church-planting church. “..The Holy Spirit told me, ‘I want you to raise up & release spiritual sons to start churches all over India.’ That’s when I realized, why would you teach your son to drive a motorcycle (moped) if you never plan on giving him a motorcycle to drive?’ ”
Today, staying faithful to his specific assignment, he has personally sent out 200 pastors & teams from his own church to plant churches. Each of those churches has the same churchplanting philosophy, and this church God started 40 years ago has now grown to over 65,000 people.
He told me that one of the best things in life is to see His spiritual sons released into the fullness of their calling; “it also makes birthdays much more exciting..”, winking at me as he laughed, “..With as many spiritual sons as I have, I will never have to buy a dress shirt or tie again as long as I live.”
Another thing about Pastor Tony that was very moving is that every year, he invites 12 future leaders into his home to live with him. All year. Every year. They eat with him, pray with him, serve with him, & minister with him. Finally, God has opened the door recently for Pastor Tony to preach the gospel every week to over 500 million people around the world through an international TV broadcast on Zee TV (the largest broadcast company in the world!) His focus is to reach the Muslim community with the gospel, which is why he preaches in Urdu, the primary ‘original language’ of the Muslim religion. Needless to say, spending time with Pastor Tony, his son Rocky & the rest of the family made
me feel like I won some sort of spiritual lottery. Beyond inspiring!
Now back to Mark & Laurie! About 30 years ago, Mark & Laurie started coming at least once a year to India; sowing seeds of faith through creative practical methods, and watering the seed through hands on ministry & strategic vision implementation; God has been faithful to bring the growth! What an amazing testimony to what happens when you stick to the calling! Wow. Overall, I can definitely say India was a life-changing experience. One I for sure recommend to each & every one of you! So Again, we want to say a HUGE thank you again to all of you for your prayers & support during this trip. Much Love & Many Blessings!
Bryan, Amy, Zayah & un-named 2nd born (“baby sister”, for now)
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Epiphany Ministries // Box 93 Bogota, NJ 07603 // lifetreevillage@gmail.com // 503.348.6373