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.

Vision

The vision is that the unreached tribal people of Orissa India come to Christ as Revelation 7:9 prophecies, and that when the gospel is preached to the whole world then Christ will return. This ministry is one small part of the Great Commission that will hasten the return of Jesus Christ in great power and glory.

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.

Overview

The bible school was started in 1990 by Praveen as an indigenous pioneer work among the tribal people in the Sundargarh district of Orissa state in India. Orissa is the second poorest state in India. Now there are 12 churches including Sundargarh, with over 300 believers. There are 6 evangelists ($20/ month). 12 bible students each year over six months, food per month per student $10. The students get two very large meals of rice and vegetables per day plus breakfast and tea, meat once per week and eggs twice per week. One full time teacher ($35/month), teachers house rent $10 /month. Ministering among 18 different people groups (7 dialects) two languages (Oriya and Hindi). Mainly tribal animists rather than Hindu. Scheduled tribes and castes (untouchables, lower castes of Hinduism) 60 km radius of Sundargarh. Cost of building rent, teachers and putting 12 students through the bible school is about $3,000/year. The conditions are fairly primative most of the tribal people live in mud houses with no electricity. The water for the bible school comes from a well. There is now an orphanage with 10 orphans, each orphan cost $100/year to support. We are planning to build a new church, bible school and a hostel for outreach to students.

Objectives:

To equip the saints to do the work of the ministry
To build character, discipline and holiness
To send out graduates into full-time evangelism and church planting.
To support the graduates in their work until they have established independent and self-supporting indigenous churches

The harvest is ripe but the laborers are few.

The tribal people are generally open to the gospel but there are few people working among this group. Our vision for the bible school is based on Rev 7:9

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.

Rev 7:9 makes it clear that there will be representatives from every tribe in heaven and therefore we believe that work among these tribal people is important. Jesus will not return again until the gospel has been preached to the whole world.

(Mat 24:14 NIV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Many evangelists prefer the easier life within the cities and finding people who are willing to work in the harsher rural environment is more difficult. Some of the graduates from the bible college go on to be evangelists and start churches.

Final remarks:

As you can see from the figures quoted it is very cheap to support local workers ($20/month for an evangelist). The harvest is ripe but the workers are few. It only costs about $1,100 to build a local church building (20x40 ft). Currently I am the main supporter of the bible school. Indians are not very good with money but I have found Praveen's stewardship to have been good over the last 8 years. I visited Praveen in Jan 97 and in March 2000 and found things going smoothly. I gave the address at the wedding of one of the girls I met when I first went to India in 1990, this was a great honour. I also gave the address at the graduation of the group of students that year and did some teaching. Matthew is no longer the director.

If anyone else wants to join me in this support I am sure that Praveen will be pleased to receive additional income. Please email me at rossuk12@hotmail.com for details, donations can also be made to Good News for India who also support the work (Please specify 'Sundargarh Bible School').