After the message Mr. Brian presented a special song, which ministered to all of us. Then all the families were divided into small family groups to share and hear each other’s life stories. There were nine groups all together. It was such a moving and profitable time of getting to know each other in the group and their life stories in short. While couples met in groups, all the children met separately with Mr. John Anchan who is children ministry specialist played games and taught them action songs and so on. Children presented an action song for all of us. Smitha distributed gifts to children as they were enjoying the action songs and games.  Later on Francis led all of us into question answers kind of games where the winners were given gifts. This game session was for all including children. Then Smitha led the gift exchange program; in this every one had to pick up a name coupon from Smitha and find the person, whose name is written in the paper, and exchange the gift and pray with him or her. After this session we had a community dinner.

We heard families saying that they were blessed being with us; their children also said thank you for the joyous program. We heard all most all families gave a very good and impressive feedback on the program and bringing them together. We love investing on families like this. We usually set apart our one month income towards this event just to bless families.

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

We are delighted to inform you that we had successful and 7th “Summer School of Missions” conducted for 20 days; It was started on 9^th May and concluded on 28^th May, 2011. This training is especially designed for Kannada speaking secular College students in Karnataka state, India. Karnataka state is a needy state in terms of missions. We had 32 students (20 girls and 12 boys) attended the Summer School this time. Students from 8 different districts and churches in Karnataka, who are mostly from rural parts attended. These college students after their college exams they are free fro two months for the summer vacation. Hence, parents send their children to attend the Summer School of Missions. We had 18 teachers helping in teaching various subjects and topics from the curriculum that we have designed. We thank God for the New Life College that allows us to conduct the Summer School on the College campus with a good discounted rent. We thank you all for your prayers and contributions towards this cause. We shall have this Summer School again next summer. You are welcome to Partner in this youth training.

We had a time of reflection on the last day. It was such a moving experience to hear from the participants about what they felt during this intensive training. One boy student said. “I will not forget for the rest of my life of what you have taught us here.” Another student said, I had never thought that I would ever get a chance to learn Bible.” Another student said, I want serve God in my village.” Another girl said, “I am a Hindu girl, I just came here with my friend and I did not know about Bible and Jesus; now I have learnt so much about Jesus and I have accepted Jesus as my Lord here.” There were quite a few moving testimonies from the students. We praise God for the Lord’s doing in this regard.

We continue to train young boys and girls in Karnataka, so that that there will raise a generation that would turn Karnataka upside down. Thank you for your partnership in this great cause. Let the name of Jesus be glorified through this. We thank God for enabling us to do this regularly for the last seven years. If you wish to involve in reaching youths, family, children and building the church at large, you are welcome to join us. We need your partnership.

We conducted training for 13 selected persecuted pastors from various parts of Karnataka. It was held on February 4-5, 2011. It was such useful training for the pastors who work in the places where they are faced with opposition and persecution. Dr. Chris Gnanaken was the main teacher who trained these pastors. Rev. Albert Sudarshan and I coordinated this training program. We praise God for this training.

Child Theology Consultation

South India level Child Theology Consultancy was held at Bangalore from February 3-5, 2011. We had 40 selected delegates from all over south India. Dr. Keith White was the main teacher who taught on Child Theology. We also had paper presentations and discussions from various scholars and leaders. We also had a quality interaction on Child Theology.

“Home Ministry”

We conducted a day seminar on the theme of “Home Ministry.” It was especially was organized for pastors and their wives. The purpose of this seminar was to encourage and help the pastors how to make our home an open home for people. We had 35 people attended this seminar. Dr. Ravi David and Dr. DonMaclean were the speakers. We praise God for this seminar. It was held on 5^th February, 2011.

House Church Leaders’ training

This training was exclusively for house church leaders. We selected 20 house church leaders from Bidar, Gulbarga and Raichur. Please pray for these 20 pastors and their families. They need lots of encouragement and support. This training was held from February 10-12, 2011. Mrs. Suman Aghamkar and Dr. Sukrutraj coordinated this training. Francis took few classes for these pastors.

Harvest festival at Mandya

Francis spoke in the Harvest festival service at a CIS church in Mandya on 13^th February, 2011. Rev. Devakumar is the pastor of that church. Over 300 people attended the church service. He is very active and a people person. Harvest festival went on till evening. Most of the church members had involved in the harvest festival. Thank you for your prayers and partnership.

Family Seminar at CSI Church Bangalore

We conducted a Family Seminar in CSI Ascension Church, Bangalore. We had 200 people attended this seminar. Dr. Ravi David, Smitha and Francis were the speakers for the seminar. We had a fruitful time during the seminar. Church has organized the lunch for all the families and children. Children presented action songs, dances and special programs. Few families also presented family songs during the seminar. We praise God for this family Seminar. We received quite a few feed back from people. Some of them said that it was a very useful and informative seminar. Please pray that we would be able to conduct more seminars in the days to come.

South India level Child Theology Consultancy was held at Bangalore from February 3-5, 2011. We had 40 selected delegates from all over south India. Dr. Keith White was the main teacher who taught on Child Theology. We also had paper presentations and discussions from various scholars and leaders. We also had a quality interaction on Child Theology

We conducted training for 13 selected persecuted pastors from various parts of Karnataka. It was held on February 4-5, 2011. It was such useful training for the pastors who work in the places where they are faced with opposition and persecution. Dr. Chris Gnanaken was the main teacher who trained these pastors. Rev. Albert Sudarshan and I coordinated this training program. We praise God for this training.

We want to thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Please continue to uphold us as we serve families to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are conducting Family Christmas on 4^th December at 7 pm. We selectively invite about 20-25 families for this celebration. The purpose of this is to bring families together and make them feel that they are cared and loved. We encourage them to get involve in the ministry along with their work and busy schedule. Please pray that the Lord would touch families during the celebration. Please pray for the financial need for this program

However, the most encouraging aspect of the Congress has been the remarkable success of the small groups.  There were more than 800 table groups in the congress. I had a privilege of being the table group leader and lead the discussions every day in our group. We praise God for the vision of Lausanne, which is an evangelization of the entire world.

I am interested in building and nurturing churches, pastors and families across Karnataka. Karnataka should not suffer in Bible poverty and Christian presence. I keep encouraging Christian ministries in the state of Karnataka to network partner with each other and together reach and establish the kingdom of God in Karnataka. I welcome any Diaspora Kannada families (those who are living outside Karnataka) to get connected to the ministry in Karnataka. If we do not develop a burden for our state, then who can have a burden for Karnataka? Hence, I encourage you to prayerfully think and partner in doing some thing for the Lord in Karnataka. May the Lord speak to you in His own way, Amen.

We had joyous time and refreshing Family Seminar for Scripture Union partners. We had 22 families, which means 60 individuals all together. It was a three days seminar, which started on September 9^th evening and concluded on 11^th September evening at 6 pm. We praise God for Dr. David Balasingh, Dr. Atul Aghamkar and Mrs. Suman Aghamkar for their participation in teaching in the seminar. We also praise God for Dr. Honey ball, a Principal of Karnataka Theological College, and professor Dr. Watson from the same college also taught in the seminar, taking morning devotion and speaking in the session.

It was a quality seminar. Rev. Francis Doddamani was the main speaker who planed the entire seminar and the topic that needs to be dealt during the seminar. Bro. John Philip Anchan is the state secretary for Scripture Union who looked into the over all preparations.

We specially thank you for your prayers and support for this life-changing seminar. Please continue to pray for the upcoming programs. I have attached some pictures in the Face Book in Francis Doddamani’s name, hence please do visit and see the pictures. I am unable to upload pictures on the website due to less space at this moment. I will try and set it right at the earliest.

Regards

Francis

I also had family counseling sessions with few families who  God’s touch upon their family.  We thank you for your involvement in encouraging this ministry. Many families right here in Bangalore city including many pastors and Christian workers are going through serious crises. They are not really happy but yet act on the out side just to hide their status and position in the missions.  Hence, come let us intercede on behalf of families across and around our neighborhood.

On August 2nd I spoke in the New Life College chapel addressing the students and faculty. I spoke on the topic of theological education and its significance.

I am teaching at B.th and Master’s level on counseling, Pastoral epistles, Prison epistles and the book of Acts.

We had  a monthly fasting prayer on 31st July. we visited a family and spent time with them in fasting and prayer. We are happy to visit your home and pray with you as well. Please let us know if you want us to be with us and pray with you.

We also had Pastors’ training simultaneously. It was a five days (May 10-15) training. The purpose f this training was to equip the equippers. Interestingly 52 pastors, evangelists, and Christian workers participated in this training as well. This training will have two sessions. One session is over, and the next session would be in October. This training was also in Kannada. We want to reach Karnataka and involve as many as possible in the service of God.

We thank you for your participation and prayers for this training.

We thank you for your participation and prayers for this training.

It’s a big project; require much preparation, planning, resources and our fulltime effort. Our desire is to train some young Kannada speaking people so that they can involve in reaching the un-reached in the days to come in the state of Karnataka. Thank you very much for your prayers, encouragement and support. Please continue to pray more people come into the ministry to reach Karnataka.

After the celebrating Easter Sunday, Francis traveled to north Karnataka, a city called Gadag to attend a funeral service.

Please continue to pray, support and join this caring ministry.

They have planned to have the family seminar at Hydarabad.  Seminar is scheduled from 19-21st April. Hence, please pray for this seminar and partner with us in equipping the pastors for counseling their families and congregations.

Secondly, from May 10-16, there will pastors’ training. This especially planned for the pastors from karnataka who are working in the rural and sub urban places, and do not have any formal theological training. We hope to have about 70 pastors for this training.