Pastors Advancing the Gospel in India

Pastors Advancing the Gospel in India By Rev. Mark Powell

General 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

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

these pastors and their families as it will relieve them from walking from place to place as well as save time in the process.

Mark Powell and Dr. Jim Pratt then conducted a couple of pastors conferences in the India Association area. Pastor Prakash also took Jim and Mark to visit several churches which was a great blessing. GBIM Director Mark Powell commented, “It is always a joy to be able to meet pastors and their families and see their churches. It has always been my conviction that every community needs a pastor to love the people of God, perform dedications and marriages for their kids, and bury their dead when this worldly journey is over.” Pastors in the India Association area also received Christmas gifts. Both conferences in this area were well attended.

GBIM assists churches with construction needs in both associations. During the visit, churches in various stages of construction were noted. Some were simply stick structures, while most were stucco covered brick structures. As in most areas, construction takes place in phases as funds are available. It would be great if GBIM could provide even further assistance to construction projects in both areas.

Bicycle projects cost $85, micro-SD cards $10, and church construction projects vary considerably, so donations of any amount would be appreciated. Calvary Grace ministries has a beautiful ministry center, but the main church of the association in Siddepet is wanting to relocate with land cost at a staggering $65,000 to $100,000 dollars in that area. India Association has a ministry building in progress. Eventually it will be a four-story building with family residence on the first floor, guest accommodations on the second floor, a workshop center on the third floor. Cost per floor will be approximately $20,000.

General Baptists Ministries has exciting work in India with potential for even greater impact. Both ministry locations are within the 10/40 window, and Christians make up less than 3% of the population. With a hostile pro-Hindu government currently, it is very difficult for Christian work and ministries. Please keep all our pastors in your prayers.