India Pastors: page 5

 

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Raol, Northwest--Originally from south India, this man of God has settled down to work in a dusty, arid, desert area in need of hope. He lives in the very slum where he ministers along with his wife and two daughters. They are able to grow wheat and soy beans on a small plot of land but they live in poverty. Raol has a sister who is also active in the community, working with Mother Teresa's group, the Missionaries of Charity. Raol graduated from Bible College back in 1989 but worked in the private sector for 10 years. He decided he wanted to be a pastor when he met M.A. Thomas and was challenged by his infectious faith. Raol is active in his community, and especially enjoys bridging the gap between various denominations in the name of "getting more done for the Lord." Raol has 20 pastors under his supervision and asks for prayer for all their efforts and support.

Naresh, Central--Naresh is a solid young man with a bright future. He was born into a poor pastor's family in an extremely isolated region. As a boy, Naresh learned all the skills that people in this area have passed down for thousands of years. He's still quite handy with a bow and arrow! He also learned as a boy what it means to serve God and care for people in need from his father. Today, he is helping to care for nearly 100 children in a remote Hope Home, and actively engaging his community in an effort to bring differing people groups together. "I'm here to be a herald of good news. I have hope for a better future," Naresh says.

Jeeva, Central--Naresh's father, Jeeva, has been serving in his remote village area for more than 30 years. Originally from the northeast, his parents brought the family here seeking a better life when he was a boy. Jeeva tells us his family only found more strife, and eventually headed back to the northeast, leaving him alone to find his way in the world. He worked in the jungles and tended livestock as a child, finding his own food and relying on the kindness of others. When Jeeva was a young adult, he fell very ill. He grew so sick he prepared for death. One night, Jeeva says that God spoke to him, and gave him the passage from Jeremiah that says, "Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things..." (33:3). When he awoke, he was shaken to the core, but also noticed that he had been completely healed from his illness. Since then, he has been a faithful leader in proclaiming the good news in spite of every sort of challenge that has come his way.

Vinesh, Central--Vinesh and his wife are working in a very inhospitable area. When we visited Vinesh and his small family, the temperature was a scorching 120 degrees and their tiny home offered little comfort. Their neighborhood is not in any way supportive. This is indeed a difficult place to work. However they are making an impact, one by one. Vinesh's wife has befriended a woman next door, who has become her best friend. And Vinesh is slowly winning approval because of his friendly demeanor and wise actions. Vinesh's worship center, which was abandoned last year because of the difficulty of working in this area, is slowly growing and making a difference in his community. Please pray for Vinesh, his wife and their small child as they continue to faithfully serve.

Palo, South--Palo came to know the Lord way back in 1975. He says he saw a dramatic vision of Jesus while he was asleep and decided to change his life right away. He never looked back. Since then, he has helped build several worship centers and has helped several other pastors in their work. He tells us that he conducted weekly worship in the same thatched hut for 25 years until recently moving into a new structure. He is overjoyed to serve the Lord and the impoverished laborers in his small village.

 

Mohit, South--Mohit is faithfully serving in the same area as Palo. He oversees two worship centers with a total of about 100 members. He graduated from Bible College back in 98' and has been serving faithfully ever since. Mohit was the youngest of 10 children, but 8 of his siblings have passed on. Mohit says he enjoys every aspect of ministry, but his favorite part is visiting people in hospitals and praying for the sick.

 

Basa, South--Basa is a brilliant young man who speaks no less than 7 different languages. He is blessed with the ability to effortlessly switch back and forth between dialects, interpret, and translate for linguistically-challenged Americans. Basa currently oversees 13 worship centers and about 40 pastors. He's helped facilitate humanitarian work in 26 villages at last count. He is a busy man. He also lives in a worship center building with his wife, small child and elderly parents. Basa's got a lot on his plate, but he has an insatiable burden to share the good news he's found with his "brothers and sisters he hasn't met yet."

Yani, Southwest--Yani is a great man doing an excellent work. He pastors a small worship center with about 30 believers, but is a firm believer in the concept of "worship should not be limited to inside a building." With this in mind, he is active in his neighborhood, which is on the outskirts of a bustling city. Yani loves ministering to children, and makes that a major focus of his outreach. He tries to regularly conduct distributions of clothes, food and other aid, but informs us that he does not have enough support to do so very often. He and his wife are both working hard to grow their fellowship and outreach.

 

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