It
was on November 3, 2001, when I and my husband walked into a large gym
area. The round tables were decorated with white tablecloths,
lovely placemats, paper napkins, and white plastic tableware. Many
people attended this beautiful Missions Banquet. The ceiling of
the gym hall was decorated with lines that carried many small flags that
were representative of the nations of the world. Several flags
with a cross were displayed among the flags of the world. The “Cross
Flags” is representative of what Christ
Jesus did for the entire world. (John 3:16)
What
also was amazing about the Missions Banquet?
A
special speaker was featured at the Missions Banquet of November 3,
2001.
Huldah
Buntain and her late husband, Mark Buntain, were called to be
missionaries. In 1954, they were to go to India for one
year. Thus far, God in his miraculous wisdom extended that
missionary journey to 47 years. Huldah spoke powerfully about the
happenings of what God has done during those many years. No doubt,
tears of sorrow and joy have filled their years in the Mission Field of
India. Via this dedicated couple, Huldah and Mark, an outreach was
established that resulted in helping thousands of people being fed
daily, the destitute being helped in hospitals, the establishment of a
large inner-city church, numerous schools, and evangelistic crusades
that brought thousands of people to Christ, etc.
I
may not be on a mission field, but God sees my heart. As a
Christian Writer, housewife and mother, I am privileged to serve the
Lord and bloom where God has placed me.
I
believe in intercessory praying. Some time ago, the burden for
lost souls gripped my heart, and with tears I petitioned the God of
Heaven to permit souls to become part-heir of Heaven through Christ
Jesus. That day, the burden of my heart was so great that
Jesus spoke to my heart and assured me, “My Child, I died for those
souls.” At that moment, I realized that I may continue to
intercede for others; however, ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit that
will draw souls to the Saving Power of Jesus Christ. (Galatians
1:1-7)
During
the Missions Banquet, the sharing of miracles and stories from India was
astounding. Among the true-life stories, however, one story was
very profound to me:
There
are many children in the streets of Calcutta. Those children have
no one to care for them, unless someone has mercy upon them and decides
to help them. Also, many grownups are homeless. One day, a
beggar was brought to the hospital that was established by the Buntain
Outreach. The beggar was dying, and Mark wanted him to die between clean
sheets. The good news of Jesus Christ was presented to the beggar,
and he was told that God loves him. The beggar opened his eyes and
said, “Are you Jesus?”
When
Jesus walked this earth, he encouraged the people to help those that
are less fortunate. The Bible tells us in Matthew
25:35-40:
“For
I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye
gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
"Naked,
and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in
prison, and ye came unto me.
"Then
shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
"When
saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed
thee?
"Or
when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
"And
the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me."
While
Huldah and Mark Buntain were ministering in India, they were in contact
with Mother Theresa. Mother Theresa had stated to them, “Help
them if they have heart problems.” Via the generosity of a group
of people from America, a heart unit was donated to the hospital--the
heart unit is named the “Mother Theresa Heart Unit.”
P.S.
After the Missions Banquet, I had the opportunity to speak with Huldah
Buntain. I have the two books that speak about the Huldah and Mark
Buntain's Ministry. The books are entitled "WOMAN OF
COURAGE," and "Treasures IN Heaven." I look
forward to reading both books. JH
