Advent Christian mission work in India has a long history, starting way back in the late 1800s. Over the 125+ years we’ve been engaged on Indian soil there have been many challenges and many shifts in the way we approach gospel ministry. For most of this long history, missionaries worked alongside Indian ministry leaders to courageously walk through God-given doors of opportunity. These missionaries and ministry leaders faithfully navigated the turbulent waters of change as the Indian church grew and matured.
Today our mission role in India is shaped by two realities. First, no western Advent Christian missionaries live and work in India. Second, for the last two years the Indian government has denied us permission to send ministry funding into the country.
Given these realities, we are seeking the Lord for clarity concerning our mission role in India. He is guiding us with a fresh focus on investing in ministry leaders. Last year, Rev. Dr. Sam Walsh went to India with our Asia/Pacific Area Director (APAD). The two of them conducted equipping seminars for pastors that focused on discipleship and expository preaching.
While in India a few weeks ago, APAD, Dr. Ezhil Christadoss and I led some valuable training time with pastors and their wives (with the help of our incredible staff of course).
In my mind, a training event seemed like so little considering all the things our mission used to do. However, the Lord reminded me that he specializes in using what seems so small (mustard seeds) for a great impact in his kingdom. This was apparent even during the training event a few weeks ago. Unknown to us at the start of the day, one pastoral couple was celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary that very same day. And to think – they chose to commemorate the day by spending it with us for the training! We took time to celebrate this couple’s marriage and ministry.
And this wasn’t the only surprise on that training day! During a break in the training, our mission staff unveiled an enlarged framed printed photo of three women missionaries who were very instrumental in the early ministry development of almost all the pastors who were there – Beryl Joy Hollis Ching, Marion Damon and Barbara White.
You should have seen the excitement, joy and tears as the pastors and their wives shared precious memories of these three ladies! The Lord took what felt like very little we had to offer that day, and used it to create an incredibly significant event for the pastors and their wives.
The future of our mission in India remains uncertain. But one thing is clear – the Lord has shown us that investing in our Indian leaders is well worth it. These leaders are carrying the light of Christ in their churches, cities and villages; and they are teaching others to carry it as they have.
They are worth our support, and they are worth our encouragement.
Your giving to Penny Crusade helps make trips like this, which serve as an investment in our faithful Indian leaders, entirely possible.
