Pastors Advancing the Gospel in India By Rev. Mark Powell
G
eneral Baptists have two regional associations in India. The older of the two associations is the India Association of General Baptists located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The newest association is Calvary Grace Association located in the state of Telangana. The Prakash family oversees the India Association ministry area, and the Vemula family oversees the Calvary Grace ministry area. Both associations have a variety of ministries, but one important ministry for each of them is the care of pastors connected with associated churches in both areas. A group from Risen Church in Dexter, MO recently had an opportunity to visit India and, among other activities, also ministered to the pastors in the Calvary Grace Association. During their time in India, the Risen team helped conduct two pastor’s seminars with Mark Powell and Dr. Jim Pratt from General Baptist International. The team also was able to give a variety of gifts to the pastors they visited. Calvary Grace pastors received water filters from this
12 | General Baptist Messenger Spring 2020
years LAUNCH offering. The LAUNCH offering not only provided water filters for the pastors, but the team also participated in the dedication of several water wells also funded from the 2019 LAUNCH offering. Risen Church was one of the largest donors to the offering, giving nearly $20,000. A key regional pastor for Calvary Grace ministries assisted the pastors in his area with assembly of their water filters and also plans an instructive video in the local language for future expansion of the program. Pastors also received a micro-SD card with a variety of Bible tools and references. Cell phones are astonishingly popular around the world (even in developing countries). Source material in a variety of languages was located by the GBIM office for micro-SD card evangelism and resources for pastors. Resources were found from the “Jesus” film project of Campus Crusade for Christ, www. Bible.is, and the Digital Bible Society. A great blessing was to give bicycles to five pastors to assist them with their ministries. It may not seem like much to us, but this gift will be a tremendous blessing to
