India's Women WIN!

GC3 attendee in Maharashtra

 The young woman bows her head in prayer, asking God to send her out to fulfill the Great Commission. Her state, Maharashtra, is populated by almost 115 million people and plays a lead role in the nation’s political, economic, and cultural destiny. There are 40,000 unreached villages in Maharashtra; 73 of its people groups remain without a witness.  Who will train this precious woman?

 

The number of Christians in the vast nation of India has exploded in recent years, due in part to efforts to disciple men for evangelism and church planting. In comparison, much less attention has been given to the discipleship of women. Indian society generally regards women as “second class citizens” with fewer rights, privileges, or consideration than men. They are disadvantaged emotionally, educationally, and economically.

Recent mass protests by women in India reveal a powerful undercurrent of discontent. While primarily angered by reports of violent rapes and related abuses, these women’s most important needs are truly spiritual, although most of them do not yet know it.

Sadly, this cultural attitude has also affected God’s Church. Women’s spiritual talents are often neglected in the planning of seminars, programs, training and mobilization. Apart from a handful of females receiving seminary training, very few opportunities are provided on the church level for equipping common women for better Christian life and ministry. Mobilizing women to win the lost and make disciples will dispel the cultural darkness, giving hope to women who face considerable challenges in everyday life. 

Evangelism Resources and the Association of International Discipleship Advancement (ER/AIDA) have envisioned the “Women’s Impact Network” (WIN) to minister among Christian women of twenty states of India, mobilizing them to impact other women for discipleship advancement. Women challenged for deeper discipleship will undertake dynamic, spiritual formation with other women, who in turn will become empowered disciple-makers.

Women gathered for discipleship at a conference in Gujarat

Some church leaders have already realized and expressed that women are better and more effective evangelists than many men. They have more opportunities than men to reach special populations, such as other women, children, teens and the elderly. Women are very influential when engaged in personal evangelism and hospital or jail ministries. Since many Indian women do not have careers, they are available to reach neighbors and families easily while the men are at work.

Another growing arena of influence for Christian women is among Muslim women. The Muslim population of India is growing rapidly, and the two faiths endure in common the increasing persecution from the dominant religion of Hinduism.

In bygone days, women teachers and evangelists were very common, accompanying missionary ladies in rural evangelism and ministries targeted to other women. Today, largely because of the efforts of those early pioneers, and by the grace of God, the number of new believers in India has increased tremendously. Women form more than fifty percent of the church’s population, yet little attention is being given to equip them for ministry.

All these factors compel us to see the urgency as well as usefulness of empowering women to be disciple-makers in our churches. Since we know that only a disciple can produce a disciple, we choose to impact through WIN selected women to be true disciples who will then impact other women with the same vision. Better disciples are better evangelists. Therefore, we are sure that if we prepare better disciples, they will be better witnesses too.

Will you pray with Evangelism Resources and AIDA for the funding to initiate the WIN project? A proposal has been submitted to a foundation for a matching grant; pray with us for favor for this request, and begin to ask the Lord how He wants YOU to help India’s women WIN for Christ!

Visit Evangelism Resources Home Page at: 

www.erinfo.org 

Learn about ER's Women's Conferences at: 

http://www.erinfo.org/viewNavMenu.do?menuID=118

Road Warriors

India’s roads are unbelievably crowded. Along with trucks and buses, taxis, motorcycles and motorized rickshaws, a few intrepid souls venture forth on bicycles. They literally take their lives into their own hands.

A newspaper columnist captured the dilemma perfectly, writing, “’India lives in its villages,’ Gandhi said. But increasingly, the people of India are dying on its roads… Poor road planning, inadequate law enforcement, a surge in trucks and cars, and a flood of untrained drivers have made India the world’s death capital.” Bicycle fatalities jumped 40% in only five years to more than 118,000 in 2008, and that statistic has continued to climb.  

Into the tide of vehicles ride committed men and women on a mission.  Many of ER’s School of Evangelism graduates minister in rural villages, and bicycle travel is the most economical mode of transportation.  Challenges include roads that are poorly maintained; some are nearly impassable during the rainy season. When one considers the added danger of being struck by another vehicle, the risks are formidable, indeed.

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.

India travel is no less dangerous for those in cars, or even pedestrians. ER AIDA Director S_____ R_____ was seriously injured in a car accident; God graciously helped him to recover and return to work. ER partner, beloved Dr. T.S. David from Rajasthan, died a few years ago from injuries sustained in a car accident. In November, a precious SOE graduate was killed while standing beside a road in northeast India, struck by a truck. He left behind a grieving widow and children.

Will you pray Psalm 91 for these intrepid souls? “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (v. 10-12). And then will you pray that God will give them fruit for their labors, precious people who will receive the truth of the gospel and put their faith in Jesus Christ?

You may learn more about School of Evangelism training on Evangelism Resources’ website at: http://www.erinfo.org/viewNavMenu.do?menuID=116

Transformed!

All my family members are idol worshippers... I wanted to commit suicide… I was addicted to alcohol at a very young age… These are the exact words of student testimonies re­ceived from the SOE in Andhra Pradesh, India. As part of the SOE reporting process, we receive these testimonies, which are such a blessing that we want to share a few with you. We have not “prettied up” the English, but the message is clear. We have not shared actual names so as to protect these students from persecutors.

Jathra in Andhra Pradesh with people mostly from the Banjara tribe

Mr. B.N., age 35: “All our family members are idol wor­shippers. When I heard the gospel in the Jathra (a large evangelistic meeting) for the very first time, I surrendered my life to the Lord Almighty. As a result, at my home and thanda (economic trade region) I was ex-communicated. I prayed, God answered my prayers, and today my entire family has accepted the Lord. I had the opportunity to at­tend a PBS; now my goal is to plant 11 churches.”

Women studying in the Andhra Pradesh School of Evangelism*

Ms. S.J.B., age 30: “There were several times in my life when I wanted to commit suicide. One of the major reasons was because of my husband. An evangelistic team from the BBPT ministry came and stayed in our village for three days. I listened to the wonderful teaching about the ways the Lord healed the sick and gave life to the broken-hearted. One of the team members prayed with me and I surrendered my life to the Lord. Eventually, my husband also accepted the Lord and came out of his addiction. When I accepted the Lord my life changed; even though we have financial problems at home, we have peace and we are liv­ing happily. I attended the Women’s Conference and a GC3 Camp. My goal is to plant 10 churches among the Banjara.”

Mr. B.N.R., age 20: “I was addicted to alcohol at a very young age. I think it was a generational curse. Many people in our family died at a very young age. I al­most spoiled my life. When I came for the GC3 camp, I heard a doctor preach, ‘Your bodies are the Temple of God.’ She gave an eye-opening talk about AIDS and I fell face down to the ground and started asking God to forgive me for all that I have done. I repented in the camp, and later I changed my life completely. I am happy to be here at the SOE and praise God for all that you have done. I have prayed for the entire community since my conversion. I believe that one day God will transform the entire village. I organized a youth camp (GC3 spin-off) in our region and the SOE Director came. My goal is to plant 17 churches among the Banjara.”

Praise the Lord! Thank you for making possible 

the training and evangelistic efforts which are 

transforming lives one by one!

*Faces in the photo are blurred to protect their identities from persecutors.

Read the online version of ER's March-April 2013 newsletter, and access a prayer calendar for the ER team's March-April trip to Africa and India on ER's website:

www.erinfo.org 

The Multiplication Effect

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 5^th, 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.