Bless Delhi 2004 Festival Sets the City Ablaze : over 4000 believers gathered in Talkatora Stadium

New Delhi – 2nd May 2004 is no longer going to be an ordinary day in the annals of the history of the Christian community in India. Why? Because on that day, something happened that no Christian could have ever imagined – over 4000 believers gathered under the roof of Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi and united in one voice, heart and spirit, they swayed to the tune of gospel songs that were belted out by some of the best worship bands in town.

Yes. It was an evening of revival and a revival in a big way! The four hour long program organized jointly by the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches saw many brave the evening heat, traffic and pollution of Delhi and navigate their way by cars and buses to witness a revival, that could well be called the first of its kind in terms of the massive turnout of believers and number of dignitaries who came to bless the occasion.

Bless Delhi 2004 Festival, a combined worship program that was held to coincide with the general elections season, cannot be dismissed as just any revival, by any standard. By any means. Aptly entitled, "I am going to do something in your days that you
would not believe, even if you were told," (Habbakuk 1:5) the program captivated and enthralled the church leaders, evangelists and lay believers alike as the Holy Spirit Who descended upon them all, poured out His grace and allowed them to transcend above man–made barriers of denomination, culture and language and be united in heart and spirit enveloped in the love of the Lord.

When the program started, the believers who thronged in the stadium were promised that it would be an evening to remember. "I believe that You are in our midst and will bless us and save us by giving us Your Bread. We thank You for bringing us together and allowing us to commit ourselves into Your hands," prayed Rev. George Varghese, the coordinator of the program, dedicating the evening to the Lord as a hush fell within the stadium.

When the opening prayer was over, lead by Pastor Sam, some of the best gospel singers of Delhi began praising and worshipping the Lord "in spirit and in truth." "This is a historical get together. Let us celebrate the presence of the Living God," exhorted Pastor Sam to the ecstatic crowd, as he churned out popular numbers like "He has made me glad," "Prabhu Ne Banaya," "Raja Jesu," "Blessed is the Name of the Lord," "Ancient Days," "Be Glorified," and more in English and Hindi. "Come on, sing louder," encouraged the worship singers to the frenzied audience whose hearts and hands were joined in worship and voices echoed in unison:

Every Tongue in Heaven and Earth
Shall Declare Your Glory
Every Knee Shall Bow
At Your Throne in Worship
You will be Exalted, O God
And Your Kingdom
Shall not Pass Away
O Ancient of Days…

Once the worship singers had succeeded in getting the crowd on its feet, Rev. George Varghese took the opportunity to introduce the distinguished guests, viz. Pastor K. T. Thomas (senior–most minister of Delhi), Dr. R. Abraham (Gen. Secy. of New India Church of God and Gen. Secy. Of All–India Pentecostal Fellowship), Pastor Thomas Andrew (District Pastor of Full Gospel Church of India), Pastor Abraham Daniel (Coordinator of Shalom Fellowship Churches in Chandigarh and Faith Bible Training, Faridabad), Rev. Robert Jeyaraj (Vice–Chairman of Pentecostal Fellowship of India), Pastor K. Joy, Dr. P. G. Vargis, Dr. A. F. Pinto (Founder–Chairman of Ryan International Schools) and Dr. Y. D. Jeyaseelan amongst others, to the audience who were blessed by their presence. Special words of thanks was conveyed to Dr. Josh Kallimel who planned and coordinated the entire event and Dr. A. F. Pinto who graciously provided the conveyance and transportation facilities for the hundreds of believers, who came to witness the presence of the Lord, from all over the city.

Dr. Y D Jeyaseelan, soon, thereafter, led the crowd in prayer and Pastor K. Joy offered the intercessory prayers. "We pray not only for the spiritual leaders but also for the national leaders. We pray not only for our people, but also for India. We pray for the forthcoming elections and the leaders who will lead us well and allow the Word of God to spread all over the nation," prayed Pastor Joy. "India has been mentioned twice in the Bible and if India is recorded in the Bible, we believe that India has also been mentioned in Your heart, O Father."

The intercessory prayers were briefly followed by a musical rendition by the Agape Music Team who played touching Gospel numbers as Dr. P. G. Vargis explained to the audience how a dream of making a revival program such as this came true and exhorted the crowd to surrender their all to the Lord if they wished to witness His miracles and be led by Him.