I had the blessing of just returning from an amazing trip connecting with our brothers and sisters in India.
It’s always impossible to put into words what it is to see a glimpse of God’s miraculous work. India is one of the most challenging places for the gospel in the world. Christians are suffering in ways it is hard to imagine from our Western context.
We had the opportunity to connect with over two hundred church planters and their wives. They are serving in small villages across India, bringing the hope of the gospel to small groups of believers and raising up house church planters from within their bodies. All of this in the context of radical and militant Hindu oppression. They have all been threatened, and the vast majority have been beaten. Some have been imprisoned. And yet, I didn’t meet a single church planter who requested prayer for protection, even when prodded. Instead, they are earnest for the spread of the gospel, no matter the cost to themselves.
I left encouraged and challenged.
Here are a few thoughts from my seven teammates from New Life Bible Fellowship and Living Branch Church.
Rob: One testimony we heard from a church-planting couple stuck with me. As a young lady, Priya was lonely and depressed. A friend of hers shared the gospel with her, telling her that she was not alone and that Jesus loved her and gave his life for her. She put her trust in Christ. Her father was furious. When the time for her to be married came, he intentionally chose a man known for being part of a gang who beat up Christians. He was also an alcoholic. Priya called out to God as she suffered in this abusive marriage. After three years, God broke through her husband’s heart when God miraculously healed their son who was hospitalized and pronounced incurable by the staff. Her husband completely transformed and three years later felt the call to pastoral ministry. What man intended for evil, God intended for good.
Nick: The body is really as connected by Christ as the Bible says it is.
Sarah: What struck me was their passion to see the gospel spread. When you ask them for prayer requests (the majority of them have been beaten and are under threat), they ask prayers for their ministry. I’ve never seen such a passion for the lost and the spread of the gospel. Their first prayer request is for all of them is for the spread of the gospel and for their ministries.
Maureen: There were so many stories of major healings and conversions. It is so inspiring to see their faith manifesting in their lives. The pastors who drove us around and translated for us are true servants – they couldn’t have demonstrated hospitality more perfectly. Everyone was so grateful for us coming to see them and only ever asked for us to pray for them to continue their ministries.
Marie: Because of the fact that most pastors were leading churches in several villages, their time on Sundays was split. I was struck by how much the women lead the church because their husbands are in other villages. I was struck by one miraculous story of one man who came to Christ through a vision while he was awake. He went with a friend to the church planter’s house at night to drag he and his family out to beat him, but was frightened away when a ring of fire encircled the pastor’s home. Terrified by the fire, he ran away. Frightened that the powerful god that was protecting this man would come after him, he went to the pastor’s home the next day to ask for forgiveness. There he not only asked for forgiveness, but put his faith in Christ.
Mark: Perhaps the most important part of our trip was helping the saints who are doing the work in India to know they are not alone. It was humbling to see how much our presence meant to them. On the surface there appear to be many differences, but there are universal truths in families. There are struggles with families everywhere in every context. Conflict, misunderstandings, and power struggles are universal. It was beautiful to be come alongside and offer some help to these families.
Greg: These families sacrificially give their lives to press through the darkness of a Hindu stronghold, and everything we did was purposed at encouraging them. In one session the pastors began to share vulnerable hurts in their life. I was asking them who loves them well, who cares for their soul. Most said no one. That redirected the final two sessions that I was leading and it was a beautiful time of encouragement.
My life verse is taken from Paul’s conclusion to his letter to the church at Ephesus. The hearts of the Indian pastors are right in step with Paul’s request for prayer,
To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Eph. 6:18-20)
Even in the heart of suffering, the Indian church stands, with bright eyes and joyful faces set on Christ. Would you pray this prayer for our brothers and sisters in India? And, while you’re at it, would you pray that for me as well?
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