Seeking the Sikh

Some call the State of Punjab the “wild west” of India. At least part of that reputation comes from the ancient conquest of northern India by Babur and the rise of the Sikh religion in the early 1600s. Known to be a fierce and proud people, Sikh through the centuries have endured great turmoil and conquest by many invading armies.

 The British designated the Mazhabi as a “martial race,” deeming them naturally warlike and aggressive in battle. They lauded the Sikh qualities of courage, loyalty, physical strength, resilience and orderliness. Sikh warriors were known to fight tenaciously and devise clever military strategies.

The Sikh religion emphasizes the equality of all people, and they reject discrimination based on caste, greed and gender.  Sikhism is monotheistic, and adherents believe that all religions are equally valid and capable of bringing enlightenment to their followers.

Although Sikhism teaches equality, the people live in a Hindu nation, with its caste system, that greatly affects them culturally. Once a mighty empire, many Sikh tribes today live in poverty. Among them are the Mazhabi Sikh of modern-day Punjab. They are considered to be the “lowest of the low” in relation to other people groups, known as an “untouchable” caste. They are denied contact with other people groups and have only limited access to education and resources many Indians take for granted. The government has recognized the Mazhabi as a “scheduled caste,” meaning they are given advantages through India’s program that resembles Affirmative Action. Still, poverty and illiteracy remain rampant among them.

Building upon that foundation, the Schools of Evangelism (SOEs) in Punjab and Haryana are reaching out to the Sikh. The Mazhabi have been adopted as one of ER’s “Unreached People Groups,” and a team, consisting of nine people, is already praying that they will be reached with the love of Jesus Christ.

A recent e-mail from our Punjab/Haryana SOE Director reports progress among the Mazhabi Sikh and two other Sikh tribes, the Jat and the Rai.  Among the Mazhabi, more than 2.6 million strong, students and graduates of the SOE have undertaken evangelism in 75 villages, with 240 accepting Christ! 82 have been baptized, and two Portable Bible Schools have been held to train lay leaders. Eleven Mazhabi have been trained at the SOE, and five of them are now working among these precious people. 24 cell churches are meeting, with an average of 10 people each.

These reports are only from one SOE! We know of at least one more SOE that is engaging the Mazhabi with the gospel. These encouraging numbers underscore the importance of ER’s Unreached People Group emphasis. As God’s people pray, He will continue to open doors for ministry! The Joshua Project website lists the Mazhabi as “unengaged.”  When reports of these efforts of the Punjab and Haryana SOEs are given, their status will change—ER’s partners are engaging the Mazhabi!

Would you like to join the prayer team for an Unreached People Group like the Mazhabi? Perhaps your small group or Sunday School class would join you! Send an e-mail now to eroffice@qx.net. If you would like to see a listing of the fifteen groups being adopted by ER, visit our UPG page on our website at: http://www.erinfo.org/viewNavMenu.do?menuID=130 .

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Blessings on the Batéké

The geography is daunting. The wild Plateau Batéké is criss-crossed by rivers, escarpments, and swamps. Roads are almost non-existent, and those that do exist are often made impassable by weather conditions. Traveling into the Plateau Batéké would be grueling in the best of circumstances; only hardy souls make the effort.

Evangelists at a preaching point on the Batéké

Among them are three intrepid evangelists trained in ER’s School of Evangelism in Kinshasa. Baudouin Finkole, Jaques Leby and Theophile Mpiambula make regular excursions into the Batéké to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. They haul heavy equipment to show the Jesus film in a two-wheel cart. Sometimes they travel by boat up the Congo River, but the rest of the journey is made on foot. The only power they use is the force of their own legs and backs to make the cart bump along rutted, muddy paths more suitable for animals than humans.

Setting up the projection screen

Why do they dare undertake such a journey? The fields are too white to leave them unharvested!  Regular reports of their efforts are received in ER’s Home office. The most recent report, from 2013, narrated seven times they had set up the equipment and shown the film. 1,045 people viewed it, which is an unusual event in such a remote region. 451 prayed to receive Christ, 251 made re-commitments, and 40 were discipled to become lay leaders. Ongoing efforts are taking place to disciple Christian leaders from among the indigenous people, and Portable Bible Schools are a primary method for doing so. 310 were engaged in Bible studies. Their statement of praise?  “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Along the way, there are opportunities as well for the men to pray and minister with people whose access to medical help is sparse at best. One person was instantly healed from crippling back pain. He then repented of his sins and prayed to receive Christ! The team also prays with people who have witnessed first-hand the power of evil. One family was terrorized nearly every night by demonic forces. Every morning when they awoke there would be blood spattered in the foyer of their home.  The evangelists prayed, the house was cleansed of evil spirits, and the family committed their lives to Jesus. They rejoiced in being set free!

Viewing the Jesus film

This team of three was trained by a man who is no longer able to accompany them. Joseph Mongo, an SOE graduate, has been afflicted with serious physical disabilities, including a heart condition that makes the trip too grueling. In 2012, the team’s return to Kinshasa was seriously delayed beyond when they were expected. Concern and prayers mounted day by day. They finally emerged from the Batéké, reporting that their delay had been caused by Mongo’s illness. Though he cannot go himself, he continues to inspire and motivate others to go, while he continues his impactful ministry in local prisons in Kinshasa.

Years ago, when Willys and Thelma Braun were at the helm of Evangelism Resources, their hearts were burdened for the people of the Batéké. That concern remains the heartbeat of the men trained through their efforts, and there is today a light still shining to reach those precious people with the gospel. Will you pray for these evangelists?  Ask, with us, for the Lord to protect and enable them for the demanding ministry they have undertaken for the sake of the Kingdom.

Learn more about ER ministries on our website: www.erinfo.org

Prayer is Building God's Kingdom in Gujarat!

Meetings in yet-unfinished building

“Prayer is not a passive activity. Prayer alters us. It awakens us. Our eyes begin to notice beauty where we never noticed it before. Our hearts begin to feel compassion we never knew we had. Our priorities shift. As we talk to God, we receive the encouragement to live up to the potential inside us. Soon we start to see beyond ourselves into the world that is waiting for our help.”

Madhya Pradesh School of Evangelism (SOE) Director S____ F____ wrote eloquently about prayer because he and his students pray regularly.  Many of our SOEs hold prayer vigils—some fast and pray all night, lifting up not only their own needs, but those on ER’s Prayer Hotline.

Director F____ visits the construction site

Prayer is undergirding a very important new effort by the Director and his SOE. Sensing that God is opening a door, and having practical experience in evangelistic efforts, S___ and his team know that the people of Gujarat are hungry for God. Madhya Pradesh borders Gujarat, and the two neighboring states in India share languages, people groups, and customs. Many unreached people groups reside in the region, and millions of people have no witness for Christ among them.

S___ and his team hope to remedy that situation. They are constructing a building as a center for outreach, having already raised and spent nearly $30,000. In January of 2014, walls are going up, and meetings have already been held there which have been attended by hundreds of people. Not depending solely on foreign help, local church members from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are also giving sacrificially for this endeavor. Some are even donating sand to assist in the project.

Under construction is a church hall. The first floor is targeted for completion this year, with 2,880 square feet of meeting room. Six or seven rooms in the second phase of building will be set aside for SOE students to live, but when instruction begins in July they will likely be living in temporary quarters behind movable partitions. 30 students are expected. They will remain at the school for nine months, and upon graduation they will be launched into church planting ministries.

ER has already sent start-up funds for the SOE in the amount of $2,000. Upon receiving this provision, S___ wrote, “While we certainly know the joy of giving, I must be honest and let you know there is a whole lot of joy in receiving too, especially a gift of this magnitude and thoughtfulness. Needless to say, our hearts are overjoyed and full of thanksgiving first of all to our Lord and Savior, and secondly to you for being obedient to the prompting he placed in your heart.”

He continued with this written prayer: “Heavenly Father, You are the Lord and there is no other. You publicly proclaim bold promises;  we thank You for giving our leaders the vision to build.  Thank You for providing the resources for us to build.  Thank You, Father, for being a wall of fire and protection around all the families of ER and those involved in the construction of this new building.” He also requested, “Please hold us up to God when you pray that we may continue to be a blessing to those in need of the glorious gospel.”

He closed his e-mail simply, “Salutations, S___.”  Please pray with us, actively and not passively (in S___’s words), that God will answer the prayers of these precious people as they build God’s Kingdom in Gujarat. 

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Casting the Net for the Kaibartta

As you read the timeline below, perhaps you can begin to understand why we at Evangelism Resources are so excited about our endeavor to reach Unreached People Groups!  One such group adopted by ER is the Kaibartta tribe of India.  Read the text below to see how God is moving among them to reach them with the gospel!

June, 2013

The Kaibartta tribe of India is identified as an unreached, unengaged people group (UPG) within the sphere of influence of ER’s Schools of Evangelism. Research on the tribe is conducted on the Joshua Project website and a flyer is prepared to recruit prayer partners.

July, 2013

God stirs prayer for the Kaibartta tribe as people pick up the UPG flyers at the ER Board meeting and summer dinner events. Partners begin to pray for Great Commission outreach to the Kaibartta. Their prayers are heard by Almighty God!

September, 2013

The Director of the Odisha SOE reports that some of his students have already begun outreach among the Kaibartta.

October 11, 2013

Cyclone Phailin, a Category Five storm, slams into coastal Odisha, India. It greatly affects thousands from the Kaibartta tribe, coastal dwellers who rely on fishing as their primary occupation. Homes and belongings are swept away by widespread flooding, and many escape death with only the clothing on their backs. However, in spite of the ferocity of the storm, few lives are lost... “a miracle,” say some.

In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said to his brothers, “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” Could the same be said of Cyclone Phailin? Could God bring good out of something apparently so evil?

October 12, 2013

The Odisha SOE and sponsoring organization Odisha Follow-Up (OFU) swing into action immediately. Students are trained and become active in disaster relief doing lifesaving, providing food and clean drinking water, and assisting government workers who use their campus as a staging ground for rescue operations.

November-December, 2013

The U.S. Kaibartta prayer team and ER donors respond to the plea for funds to assist in rebuilding the lives of the Kaibartta people. $17,000 is immediately sent to OFU for “buckets of love” with food and supplies which are given to the Kaibartta and other needy people in the region. As they provide material goods such as blankets and tarps, SOE students share the biblical account of Noah and the flood, and give encouragement about a loving God who is providing for their needs during this crisis. For some, this is the first time they have heard the gospel! OFU becomes known as a place where loving assistance is offered to rebuild homes and provide seeds and fertilizer for agricultural property stripped of topsoil, giving hope for a crop next year.

January, 2014

A cultural event, the “Sea Beach Festival,” is held in Odisha on January 14. Over 5,000 Kaibartta attend, and 200 of their leaders are present in a small meeting (because of concerns about persecution) where the SOE Director shared the gospel. ALL 200 PRAY THE SINNER’S PRAYER! 1,000 Bibles will be distributed through Kaibartta schools in the coming months. January 21-23, OFU plans to bring 200 house-church planters together including some Kaibartta, to give fresh orientation and evangelism strategy training. The Kaibartta are no longer unengaged, praise God!  Our Director and his team are engaging them! Pray with the Kaibartta team for ongoing efforts which will include sponsoring promising Kaibartta believers to Portable Bible Schools and Schools of Evangelism!

Would you like to adopt one of our thirteen Unreached People Groups?  Send us an e-mail at:  eroffice@qx.net.