Mike's Story

Make A Difference Tour of India
“One World One Voice”
Gloucester and District Christian Choir
3rd – 9th August

On 30th March this year Mr Clement Moses of the Indian Missionary Society (IMS) visited Gloucester and offered an opportunity for the G&DCC, to support the One World One Voice concert in Chennai on 5th August. It was my task to sell the tour to the choir, and the following Monday to Frank and my astonishment we stood in St Mary’s Congregational church with a choir hungry to do whatever it would take to raise the funds to get there. By August we had raised £37,000! And were off. Fifty people including (46 choristers, 1 cameraman, 1 sound technician and 4 family members) made up the group, our mission to “Make A Difference”.
We travelled via Finn Air from Heathrow to Helsinki then transferred to Mumbai where we were greeted by dignitaries from the IMS and presented with garlands. We were also greeted by torrential rain (albeit warm) as Mumbai was in the middle of the monsoon season. From Mumbai we transferred to Mumbai internal airport catching the Air India flight to Chennai. We were then transferred to our first destination Mahabalipuram.

After a relaxing evening we were treated to a tour of the ancient Hindu temples for which Mahabalipuram is famous. We were treated to a visit to a cultural centre before returning to Chennai where we went to a Silk Emporium and after many rupees had changed hands we left to book into our second hotel. In the afternoon we were taken to St Georges School for a concert rehearsal. The extraordinary efforts made to create the stage and backdrop left us amazed. We were greeted with warmth and affection wherever we went and nothing was too much trouble, in short we were treated like Kings. The rehearsal over, we retired to our hotel for a much needed rest.

Sunday morning saw us journey into the heart of Chennai. We saw hundreds and hundreds of immaculately turned out people, families walking from all directions streaming along the roads. Where are they going? TO CHURCH! Yes, JESUS IS ALIVE IN CHENNAI. At the New Life Congregational Church we were stunned when we sang to 5000 Christians. No mistake, 5000 in one Church. We were asked to sing at another service on the first floor, to another 1000 young people (I would say 18 plus in age). This service really rocked to songs like Majesty, This is a Church on fire, and it was! and Mat Redman songs, we couldn’t believe what we were hearing in India.

At 6.30pm The Chariots African Choir, The G&DCC, The Gloria Choir from Korea and the Augmented Emmanuel Methodist Choir from Chennai, joined forces for One World one Voice. Oh, I forgot to mention the 7000 people who came to hear the Gospel, and after an exhilarating concert the IMS fed all 7000 + the Choristers.

On Monday morning we were treated to a tour of Chennai and another visit to the silk emporium to pick up made to measure sari blouses and more merchandise before returning to the hotel for lunch. Frank, Eve and Sue, visited the Alpha Orphanage (Frank carried a 14kg paddling pool to India for the orphanage) and they were treated to chips, lucky people. Bob and Liz Allen from Matson Baptist Church visited a Christian mission hospital. On Monday afternoon we all met up to do a sound test at St Andrews Kirk in Chennai. More amazement when we turned up to find they had flattened a huge area for seating and car parking for their first ever Gospel Concert, our rendition of Jail Break. When we returned in the evening huge lighting stands had been constructed out of Cashew nut tree trucks and a huge Jail Break poster commissioned especially for us was hoisted as an amazing backdrop.
The Concert was not without technical problems but we persevered and everyone was blessed. Afterwards a beautiful young boy came up to Pam, Graham and myself and the joy in his eyes was overwhelming. He blessed us when he asked us to pray for him. This young man will do mighty things for his Lord in future. More food and refreshment followed before we departed (with the huge poster as a present).

On Tuesday morning 44 of us travelled by train (1st class air conditioned) to Bangalore on the Bandavian Express, all 29 carriages of it! Unfortunately Frank was not feeling very good, so slept most of the way, I on the other hand spent 5 hours sitting at the carriages open door with my legs dangling in the air FANTASTIC! The Indian people love their railways and were so polite and friendly. The other 6 people travelled to Bangalore by Jet Airways.

After booking into our last and lovely hotel, we were free to roam the busy streets of Bangalore by foot and auto rickshaw. They were much cleaner than Chennai.

Wednesday found us in St Marks Cathedral and a much-needed time of quite, prayer and the most memorable communion led by our wonderful Choir Chaplin Graeme Osborne. Another full house greeted us for our second Jail Break Concert; with yet again more sound problems. We had to stop the performance whilst the congregation prayed and Andy and Frank sorted the problem out. Again the hospitality and genuine warmth of hosts and the congregation was overwhelming.

On Thursday morning we were asked to sing at Bishops Cotton Girls School in Bangalore. This is a Christian school for which we have to say were the privileged girls of Bangalore. Before we sang, their choir entertained us. Remarkable politeness and genuine joy greeted us and was a blessing to send us on our way home.

Virtually everyone suffered from tummy upsets and sickness, some requiring medical/hospital treatment. The plight of the poor in India has to be seen to be believed. The lack of sanitation and the shear numbers of desperate people is heartbreaking. Every one of us are changed people, our lives can and will never be the same. We did “make a difference”. But the people we met, the way we were treated, and the memories we will always have out way the bad bits. India is incredible, the people are amazing and those like our host and now dearest friend Kumar and Mr Clement Moses who’s dream of One World One Voice has become reality deserve all praise for the way they serve their people and the choir in the name of Jesus.

God bless you and thank you India

From your humble and thankful friends

Mike, Glynis, Frank and Ruth.

PS. On Sunday 23rd August the Choir will hold a Thanksgiving Service at Christchurch from 3.00 to 5pm to give thanks to God for the blessings received and anyone who supported us in this venture or would like to join us in celebration. We will also hold another India Evening at Christchurch in October when Les our new minister is with us, this date is yet to be confirmed. This will be an opportunity to see the Video of the tour and listen to individuals stories.