But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are an aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death to the other a fragrance of life to life. Who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. Second Corinthians 2:14-17
If you’ve been following India Connection recently, you know that we are in a season of change. In our last post, we spoke about the giant waves that are starting to form that we believe are leading to a historic revival of God’s church in India.
Believers in India today are experiencing trials at the hands of the Hindu authorities. There is pressure being put on us to accept pluralism in beliefs and ideologies. Some are warning Christians that we have until 2021 to get our house in order because there are plans in place to make India a Hindu Nation with no room for Christianity to operate.
After 20 years of ministry, India Connection finds itself at Crossroads. Change is upon us. As faithful stewards must prepare and take the necessary steps of faith. We were birthed in prayer and faith and we continue by prayer and faith.
Watch and Pray
As we evaluate the current situation, two things have become clear. The Koinonia Fellowship Churches across India are doing well. However, if changes are not made, the Koinonia College of Theology, Girls Home of Pune and Koinonia Medical Clinic are in danger of having to close their doors.
Other long-standing Christian organizations in India have already been forced to close down. Earlier this year Compassion International in India closed after 50 plus years. Now we are hearing that World Vision is also rethinking how they are going to continue to operate.
When changes come and the leaders of the country oppose us, we have two choices—leave, or make the best of it. We choose to stay. It’s important to remember that change is why we as Christians are here in the first place: to change lives and hearts for eternity.
In this issue we take a look back at the marvelous things God has done over the past year and look forward to what comes next. As we embark on this journey we are asking all the saints who invest in India Connection to pray and seek the Lord’s will for this ministry.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
The Psalmist encourages his readers with these words, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story” (Psalm 107:2). One important aspect of our life in the church is to tell the stories of what God has done in our midst.
We are blessed that the Koinonia Fellowship Church of India is growing. Men have been planting churches across the country, and our existing churches are seeing growth. This is all coming at a time of growing persecution. Earlier this year the Koinonia Fellowship Church of Pune started building a new church. As soon as the foundation was poured and beams started coming up, Hindu fundamentalists attacked at six in the morning and knocked it down.
Pastor Joseph preached a message of hope the following Sunday. They can knock down cement walls, but they cannot knock down the Church. The people of the church are undaunted; they are praising God and continuing to courageously display Christ’s love to their enemies, those who thought knocking down a building would hinder the work of God.
Please pray as we discuss partnering with a ministry that may come alongside and help us build more church buildings in towns and villages across India.
Here I am Lord. Send me!
The 36 girls at the Girls Home of Pune are flourishing. I am writing this after just coming from a wonderful visit with them, where we distributed gifts from our supporters in America. Seeing them grow in Christ is such a great blessing to me!
The Koinonia Medical Clinic continues to serve the slums of Pune. This coming year we are planning to expand the services we offer by placing a dental chair in the clinic. Would you pray with us as we consider all the logistics of this dental expansion?
There are opportunities for short and long term missions at both the Girls Home and the Medical Clinic. The girls need people to spend time with them, love them, and help them learn English as a second language. The Medical Clinic needs specialists to do dentistry, vision, cardiology.
At Home with the girls of Pune
Are you willing to say, Send me?
Planning for 2018 and Beyond
India Connection was founded on the belief that the church needs to reach out to the lost both locally and globally. Our mission is to take the Gospel to those who have not heard, encourage believers who are being persecuted for their faith, and equip those in the body who do not have the resources and opportunities that we enjoy.
But the model that we operate under, where Christian churches send money to support the church in India, is now threatened by the actions of the Indian government. They have already stopped the flow of money to Compassion International, and we could be next.
American missionary meets the girls!
So how can we make India Connection self-supporting, less dependent on funding from America? Our leadership in the US and India have prayed over many ideas and considered a variety of options. Right now we are in the process of praying over two options, though we remain open to consider anything the Lord puts on your heart.
Option 1: Raise a $500,000 endowment, deposit it in an Indian bank where it will grow at an Interest rate of around 7%. After some number of years, we will begin to use the Interest to fund the Girls Home and possibly the other ministries.
Option 2: Open an English language, International-level school for grades K through 12, phased over a period of years. This would generate enough income to support all our ministries. We are currently working on the initial investment needed to embark on Phase 1 of this project.
Lord guide us through this season of change
Worship with students at the Koinonia College of Theology
God works all things to His purposes, but we must have a well-thought-out plan. We must pray over it with faith that God is in it. We must share it with others, presenting a clear vision that will stir people’s hearts and fuel their passion for this great work of the Lord.
Would you pray with us and help us prepare for the changes we are facing? It is an exciting time that is stretching us all. Join us on the path of prayer and help us stand on the faith that we will see God work in miraculous ways once again.
May our Lord guide us through this season of change as we look to him for flexibility, direction, continuous vision and passion to reach the unreached and teach the untaught.
Your love, prayers and support throughout this year have made it possible for us to serve in India and bring the Gospel to many. We love you, pray for you, and covet your continous prayers and support. May you and your families experience the joy of our Lord this Christmas.
In His Service,
Pastor Ben
