The jungle road they had been traveling seemed to be turning into a
path more suitable for walking. Driving slowly, S___ and S_____ R_____ began
to wonder what adventure awaited them. Nothing but dense vegetation or fields
could be seen in any direction–there was no sign of human dwellings. Silently,
each began to pray for protection.
Gujarat State is in western India, with a population of more than 60
million people. It has tremendous geographical diversity, including jungles and
more than 1,600 kilometers of coastline on the Arabian Sea. But it also is diverse
in religions–90% are Hindus, with ancient roots, and 9% are Muslims. Other
minority religions include Sikhs, Buddists, Jainists, and Zoroastrians. Christians
number only one-half of one percent; there is only one Christian among 200
Gujarati people.
Although India’s constitution allows religious freedom, Gujarat State
enacted anti-conversion laws in 2003, following riots between Hindus and
Muslims which resulted in more than 1,000 deaths. Christians are often targeted
under these laws, accused of “enticement” based on ministries which provide
material assistance, especially to those of low caste who live in poverty. In
spite of the danger of legal problems, Christians like the R_____s fearlessly,
though cautiously, train others in methods of sharing the gospel. It was this
mission that placed S_____ and S_____ on that desolate jungle road in November
of 2012.
Finally the village appeared, as if out of nowhere. Unexpectedly, the couple found themselves in front of a large church building. In July of 2012,
a lone woman had traveled from the village to a women’s conference sponsored by
ER/AIDA. Greatly stirred by the message, she approached S_____ and asked her to
come to her village to teach them methods of sharing the gospel, such as
Five-Finger Evangelism, the Roman Road, and the Wordless Book.
When the R_____s arrived, they heard sounds of the youth choir
practicing for the praise and worship service planned for the next day. Their
hostess greeted them along with the youth president. To their surprise, they
were told that almost the whole village is Christian, with just a few Hindu
families. The people were on fire for God, eager to learn from the Word.
Eleven youth had attended the Gujarati Great Commission Challenge Camp
(GC3) held July 5-7, 2012. Simple young men (among them was a
bullock cart puller, an electrician, and a mechanic), they had already taken ER’s
Tentmaker’s Manual and gone to nearby
village churches to instruct other youth how to take Christ’s good news to
their friends and neighbors.
S_____ and S_____ had been called to teach “Discipleship” and
“Mission” for a one-day youth conference the group had planned and funded on
their own. Over 100 young people gathered, some traveling more than two hours
to attend.
A women’s meeting had also been organized, and more than 150 women
were taught in the same manner as the woman who had attended the July meeting. Their
commitments to fulfill the Great Commission are sure to bear good fruit in
months and years to come.
On the evening of November 5th, an open-air meeting was
held. This is a rarity in India, particularly in a state with anti-conversion
laws. More than 300 people gathered to hear the R_____s’ messages on the topic
“The Cross of Christ.” Hungrily, the people took in every word, marveling on
the expanded teaching and indicating tremendous desire to grow in their
knowledge of the Word of God.
This true-life account of how God is
moving among the Gujarati tribal people is evidence of something remarkable. ER
sponsors GC3 camps and women’s conferences, but the effect is not
confined only to those who attend the sponsored events. Spin-off ministries are
burgeoning all across India, fed by the zeal and commitment of those equipped
in the ER events. This report will certainly not be the last of its
kind–ministries are ongoing, and more victories are being won every day.
Christians are familiar with the missions mandate in John 4:35, when
Jesus said, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!
They are ripe for harvest.” We know this is true today–we see it in so many
ways. But we are also seeing modern
fulfillment of the ensuing verses: “Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and
harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad
together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I
sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work,
and you have reaped the benefits of their labor” (John 4:36-38).
Think of this: when you give to Evangelism Resources or pray for its
ministries, God takes what you invest and multiplies
the impact. We are accustomed to the idea of a “matching grant,” like the one
currently in operation–a foundation matches our gifts for GC3 Africa
with an equal donation, doubling the monetary amount. But God is offering a
“multiplication grant,” increasing exponentially and infinitely our humble
investment, supernaturally bringing fruit we did not expect and could not imagine.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to
Him be glory in the Church by
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians
3:20).
To learn more about the ministry of Evangelism Resources, visit our website at: www.erinfo.org.
The SOE Director in Maharashtra state recently sent
photos of some of his graduates with their new bicycles. Their pictures are
included here, but their faces have been blurred to protect their identities
from those who might seek to persecute them. They are willing to face hardship
and dangers for a higher purpose–that of seeking the lost to introduce them to
the Savior.
