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Evangelism by Mennonite Brethren in India is most extensive through local churches. However, 79 church extension workers travel on foot and bicycle to almost 400 villages that have little or no Christian witness.
Russell Schmidt, MBMS International's program director for Asia, recently visited India. "A highlight of our meetings was hearing the testimonies of these evangelists," said Schmidt. "There were repeated stories of miraculous healing, conversions followed by baptism and persecution that later resulted in conversions."
John Sankara Rao began directing the Church Extension Worker program in October 1998. He recently reported that as many as 1700 people have come to know the Lord as their Saviour through the work of travelling evangelists over the past 13 years.
He has now prepared a plan to systematically reach whole villages over a two-year period. Under the plan, each worker is expected to share Christ with five people each day. As well, another 382 villages have been identified as having little or no Christian witness, and plans are being discussed to reach new areas in northern India. He encourages North Americans to pray for the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in India, and particularly for the church extension workers who give up much to share the Gospel.
"The church extension workers are committed, sacrificial and working hard to bring the gospel to unreached areas," said Schmidt. "In light of the present feeling against Christians in India, these workers need to be supported with regular prayer."
The India MB Church also recently appointed P. Menno Joel as director for urban ministries. Under his leadership, several new initiatives have been developed. Students at two Bible schools have begun regular prayer meetings. "Each day, these 30 students pray specifically for one aspect of the life of the India Christian churches," reported Werner Kroeker, MBMSI's liaison in India.
Kroeker states that the students do not merely pray, but put their beliefs into action. "Several students are regularly involved with Joel in starting new churches in Hyderabad," he said. "One group which began in a rented store front last October now has around 40 people attending each Sunday. Among those regularly coming are non-Christians."
Joel has also started a monthly prayer meeting in Hyderabad among pastors from MB churches and other denominations, and plans are underway to build dialogue with Muslims.
Churches in Canada and the US give financial support to MB churches in India through MBMSI. This support provides books, tracts, bicycles and a small living allowance to the travelling evangelists. It also supplies funding for church roofs, medical equipment, scholarships and subsidies to several MB Bible schools.--Brad Thiessen, MBMS International
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