I returned to India for our fifth time at the International School of Worship with Bishop Tony and the three directors: Arun Michael, Shanu Das and Rocky Anthony. Every year is a little different as far as who I minister with and who we minister to. This year was an exceptional surprise to have Pastor Kenny Bourgeois join me all the way from Guam, USA – a small island in the Pacific, home to our US Naval Base! Pastor Kenny is not only a pastor and very prophetic man of God but also has his own dentistry business there on Guam (his tent-making occupation).
We both arrived in Delhi about 3 hours apart and transferred to the domestic terminal on a shuttle bus where unfortunately someone was able to steal my wallet which then made us late for the flight to Lucknow (first time in 30 years of travel!). Fortunately I only had $25 cash in my wallet and I still had my passport, cellphone and my luggage. I had Maryl cancel my cards and Pastor Kenny graciously paid for our new flights. So three hours later we left on a flight and made it safely to Lucknow where we were met by Pastor Shanu who then took us on to Midway where the School of Worship is held. From that point on, there were no more mishaps and everything flowed so powerfully that I soon forgot about my Delhi experience.
Sunday morning and night we traveled into Lucknow for services in the Assembly of Believers Church there. I led worship and then Pastor Kenny spoke powerfully on the Holy Spirit and being released into our destiny as children of the King. He spoke on getting your spiritual ‘swag’ on! To be bold and strong in the Lord! So many were ministered to at the end of each service. It was wonderful to watch God move so quickly and easily in ready and willing hearts. Pastor Kenny has a gift of infusing expectation of the work of the Holy Spirit in everybody present. After the evening service we found out that a woman’s painful and dislocated knee was instantly healed during the worship time as we sang ‘there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain!’! There is power in His name and in His presence! Thank you Jesus!
Monday began an exceptional week with the students at the International School of Worship back in Midway. Pastor Shanu was the director along with his wife, Jolli, for the first part of the week followed by Pastor Rocky Anthony with his wife, Chiffy and son Aaron. Pastor Kenny and I shared our teaching times and even though we have never ministered together, we flowed so easily and beautifully throughout the week. Almost finishing each other’s sentences! :)
During the morning sessions we both shared both practical and inspirational teachings for these eager students. In the afternoon sessions I would teach on practical areas like vocal training, songwriting, music theory, etc. In the evenings we would teach new songs and then worship for a couple of hours! Every session seemed so alive with the power of God. So much so that one student got healed twice during the week! One day of a headache and another of growth that was causing pain and keeping her from talking!
I started with Biblical Worship followed by Vision of Worship getting them grounded not only in the Bible but what God really wanted to accomplish in our times of worship with Him. Pastor Kenny spoke a lot on the Holy Spirit and being sensitive to Him and flowing accordingly. His experience in ministry as a worship leader and pastor gave them new insight into their role as leaders of churches in India. The students were really challenged to step up and take ahold of what God had in store for them this week.
I did get sick one day during the week and let Pastor Kenny take pretty much the whole day – which he did with great authority and ease I might say! He really released them in singing new songs and expressing the Holy Spirit in their worship. I joined them in the evening for some powerful time of worship and ministry before I had to go back to bed because of the sickness. They prayed extensively for me and the next morning I woke up totally refreshed and actually more invigorated than before the illness! My energy was off the charts! Praise God!
Pastor Kenny had to leave Friday afternoon to fly back to Guam – but the students really bonded to him and were very sad to see him leave. But their level of ‘swag’ continued! He left a rich deposit in each one of their lives! He also gifted a beautiful guitar to one of the students there! I look forward to ministering with him again in the near future!
The final night (Friday) with me was a passionate night of worship followed by a prophetic time where I shared with each one individually what I felt that God was saying to them personally. God gave me one or two words for each one of them during the week and then I ministered that over each of them, enlarged on what I felt God was saying through those words and then prayed prophetically over each of them. A lot of tears and joy as God confirmed His word hearts were emboldened to ‘greater things’ in their lives!
My final Sunday there was back in Lucknow with a sister church led by Pastor Das a great man of God who was just got back literally from the brink of death! God miraculously healed him last month and this was his first Sunday back. I felt so honored to share the word of God for this great pastor and his wonderful congregation. After a stirring word, I gave an invitation to receive Christ and many came forward for prayer. It was a beautiful end to a great week! I flew home that night (36 hours) and came home to my beautiful wife, satisfied that God had done His work through us in India.
Thank you Pastor Kenny and your church in Guam for blessing India so much and giving yourselves to the students of the School of Worship and the people of India! May God bless you further in all your exploits wherever he takes you and may you ‘swag’ even more for Him! Thank you to Pastor Shanu, Pastor Rocky, Pastor Das, Pastor Tony and all your wives for hosting us so wonderfully and making sure everything went smoothly. We treasure our time with you. And thanks to all the great students at SOW, may you be released into God’s destiny for each of your lives, loving Him and loving people everywhere you go! Swag on!
Blessings – Dr. Tim Smith