Living Legends - Bro John V. Rao

How do you preach for more than 50 years?

Well, you do so by sheer will-power - and great gratitude to God.

We stopped off in Rourkela on the first day of the month. One of the reasons was to celebrate 50 years of the Bethany Assembly - the place where Sheba's parents came to the Lord, where they were married, where Sheba and her siblings were nurtured and baptised, where Sheba and I were married.

Bro. Rao keeps on going strong. When we visited we were able to see that he continues to faithfully give the word. His eagle eye roved over the gradually filling up room - and he is still keeping the 3.5 hour long service moving forward with songs, prayers and sermons. His messages continue to be pointed. It takes a hard heart not to be affected by what Bro Rao shares from the word.

His early life was in the military. One day, when he was almost dying as a young man due to his alcoholism and tuberculosis, Bro. Rao made a decision to follow Christ. He has continued steadfastly in the path of his master, waking at 4 am each morning for prayer and preperation for the day. Having raised 2 daughters and many spiritual children over the decades. And preaching. And preaching.

A strong disciplinarian, Bro Rao does not suffer fools gladly. But he has a heart for people. He receives our newsletter every month and faithfully prays for us. He has given his life for the Lord - and lived it out in faithfulness. Some will quibble with his style - but no one can fault his consistency.

50 years of preaching.

Bro Rao with the next gen of preachers