By Mark Ellis
Joshua
He was born into the upper rung of Indian society, but his involvement in gang activities as a young person almost took his life.
After his father died when Joshua was only a child, his mother raised him with his two sisters and brothers. Like many young men lacking a father in other parts of the world, he gravitated toward others seeking to prove their manhood in troublesome ways.
Filed under angels, evangelism & outreach, miracles, missions, testimonies
By Amber Holloway
Our partner South India Gospel Outreach (SIGO) is reaching the Lingayats, a people group who lives in the South Indian state of Karnataka. Eleven million Lingayats live in Karnataka, yet only about 5,500-6,000 know the truth of the Bible. Though you may not have heard of them, the Lingayats are the 12th largest unreached people group of India. The Lingayat come out of a Hindu tradition, but the founder was opposed to animal sacrifice, caste hierarchy, and societal divisions, and thus the Lingayats hold a number of beliefs that stand in stark contrast to traditional Hinduism. Continue reading
Filed under evangelism & outreach, missions
Spread across South Asia is a group of forgotten people too numerous to count. Despised by their countrymen and viewed as subhuman, even the shadows they cast are believed to be cursed because of their perceived filth. They are the Dalits (“Untouchables”) of South Asia, the lowest of the low.
 |
|
Dalit children |
Estimated at over 300 million in number, you would think they have great political might. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Divided into many smaller groups that speak numerous languages, they find organization almost impossible. Many of the people reached by Gospel for Asia are Dalits.
Filed under evangelism & outreach, missions
Christians in India’s most religiously intolerant state have witnessed heightened violence in the past several weeks, including Hindu
Pastor Samuel Kim, attacked in hospital
extremists attempting to slit the throat of a pastor as he lay hospitalized from a previous attack, sources said.
Karnataka State led India in attacks against Christians from 2009 through 2011, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI). Christians or their property are attacked an average of three times per week in Karnataka, Christian Legal Association Senior Advocate S. Nova Bethania told Morning Star News.
Filed under persecution
From Empart –
At our regional pastor’s conference last week, Jossy Chacko, founder of Empart, met an older man who has been pastoring with us for a number of years. This man is illiterate! Jossy asked him how this was possible, how did he learn and study the Word to prepare his messages?
Pastor Satish* explained that he sits with his daughter and has her read passages to him over and over until he has them committed to memory. This gives him the Scripture to preach and teach from.
How effective is this method, you may ask? Well, as of last week, Pastor Satish has over half of the entire New Testament memorized! What’s more, he has planted 35 churches and baptized over 1000 believers into the faith! Maybe some of our pastors here in the US should adopt this methodology.
We are so thankful for your prayers. As you carry the needs of pastors like Satish before the throne of grace, remember that your prayers are a vital link in the effectiveness of their work.
*name changed for security reasons
Filed under evangelism & outreach, missions, teaching
