Indian Christians increasingly find themselves under threat in their own country. Persecution at the hand of extremist Hindus is on the rise. Anti-conversion laws mean that any Christian sharing their faith can be accused of a crime. Violent attacks on Christians are becoming more commonplace. And, yet, we see the all-powerful Gospel leading to salvation in even the most unlikely places!
A Divine Encounter
One pastor and his wife experienced first-hand how powerful the Gospel can be when conveyed in its most simple form and in the most simple circumstances: by sharing a meal with fellow countrymen.
Pastor Dev* and Ami travelled in the scorching sun to a nearby village to share the Gospel. “We asked for water at a random house,” shares Pastor Dev. A woman opened the door to them and kindly welcomed the strangers into her home. Although she didn’t have any food to offer her visitors, the woman managed to get some basic ingredients from a neighbour to prepare a meal for them.
Over this meal Pastor Dev and Ami shared the powerful message of the Gospel with the woman. She was open and curious, and the Spirit worked through this woman to transform her community.
“We began visiting her home weekly, where she would gather her family and neighbours,” shares Dev. “Over time, a house church formed in her home.” The woman’s daughter has now been baptised, despite the risks that this entails.
As pastors enter villages to evangelise or disciple, groups of Hindu nationalists will often appear to drive them out – sometimes violently. But faithful believers like Dev and Ami refuse to let this deter them preaching the Gospel. Harvesters is thankful to be able to work with them.
God had pre-ordained this meeting between Pastor Dev, Ami and the woman from the village, and He used them to expand His Kingdom. Dev sums it up: “This lady welcomed God into her life and God did wonders in her family. All glory to God, Amen!”
God has sent faithful workers
Despite the vast challenges, God has prepared many more faithful servants like Dev and Ami, who are willing to open the way for the Gospel in India.
Harvesters’ teaching shifts the focus from buildings and public evangelisation campaigns to personal evangelism, personal prayer and gatherings in houses. Many pastors are already implementing these new methods from their training.
One Harvesters Stream, or church planting movement, has seen a hundred baptisms and 40 churches planted! In another Stream, 99 people have been baptised over the past 12 months! This is amazing if one considers the price these individuals have to pay to be baptised – officially declaring yourself a Christian in India means losing certain government benefits and being marginalised in society.
Throughout history the Gospel has triumphed under persecution. Thanks to your continued prayers, your faithful partnership and the bold workers in the harvest fields of India, we believe the same will be true of this beautiful country. Join us in thanking God for the giants of faith who have committed themselves to evangelise, make disciples and plant churches in India.
*Names changed for security reasons.
