Sundargarh Bible School
Rev 7:9 (NIV) After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.
Latest news:
Aug 2000: Praveen was invited to the Amsterdam 2000 meeting in which over 10,000 christians around the world participated. I met up with Praveen on his way back to India.
Visit Mar 2000: I visited in March 2000. To see the pictures click here. I preached on the 'Christian and the State' - God has instituted the State. Christians should give honour when it is due and taxes when it is due. But when the State demands that which belongs to God then it becomes the beast of Rev 13. The result will be imprisonment and death for Christians. The Hindu party is trying to crack down on evangelism.We must obey God and not man - and preach the gospel.
Things are coming on smoothly. There are 12 local churches with about 600 believers and 8 pastors. We have started a building program and I laid the cornerstone for two churches and an orphanage building while I was there. The churches will be 20x40 feet and hold 200 people. They are built from local materials and cost about $1,200 each.
Typhoon in Orissa - this has not affected the Bible School which is inland.
Persecution: The recent upsurge of persecution against Christians, in which three western missionaries working among lepers were burned alive, only 200 km from Sundargarh, has not affected the bible school, except that the work is done with greater vigilance. Local pastors have been affected but so far the bible school has not been affected. Apparently the murderer has been captured by police. There are anti-conversion laws that may affect the work.
(Mat 10:16-20 NIV) I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. {17} "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. {18} On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. {19} But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, {20} for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Orphanage: Praveen has just started a small orphanage with ten orphans. The cost is $100 for each orphan for a year ($8.33/month). They have six acres of land and the plan is to grow food so that the orphanage can be self-sufficient in a few years time. They have a house father to look after them and a cook. They live in a building 10x30 ft.
Church building: There are twelve churches founded by the bible school and two church buildings have been built and one is in progress. The building holds 200-300 people, there is a small house for the pastor and the buildings have a wall around them. The cost is about $900.
Future Plans
Praveen wants to build a hostel for students at the local secular college, this would provide an income for the bible school as well as develop outreach to the students in the hostel. In addition to the hostel he wants to build a church and locate the Bible school there as well. Total cost about $10,000.
My comments:
With a Hindu party in power (the BJP) the Hindus have the upper hand and persecute the Christians. There are anti-conversion laws that threaten the outreach work. However the tribal and scheduled castes, many of whom are the 'untouchables' are open to the gospel. Currently Orissa state, which has the greatest number of temples in India, is a hotbed of Christian activity because the harvest is ripe. It is significant that the people who are the poorest and the lowest of the low (according to the Hindus) are those who are coming to Christ. While the Hindus consider themselves unworthy of eternal life, those who are outcasts and untouchable are entering the kingdom of heaven. rossuk12@hotmail.com