The
number 1 billion (1,000,000,000) is hard to comprehend: a billion galaxies,
a billion dollars, and a billion hamburgers all translate the same.
The number is staggering in scope and impossible to imagine.
Two nations on our planet, India and China, each have populations
in excess of 1,000,000,000 people. Considering the spiritual needs of
these two nations boggles the mind. Yet both are in desperate need of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
God
has already graciously opened the door for our ministry into India through
a dynamic partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ. For
seven years, Faith Studies International has been conducting evangelistic
tours throughout South Asia.
In
2002, as part of “Extending the Vision,” Dr. Bierle’s books Surprised
by Faith and The FaithSearch
Guide were published and
made available in India, along with the FaithSearch video series.
The 2003 FaithSearch training events
were offered in four cities in southern India.
These
books are offered in conjunction with training in the use of FaithSearch
resources. Last year, over 1,100 pastors and lay leaders attended
seminars to learn how to use these tools in their ministries.
In this, the second year of the training strategy, the books
and videos were translated into Hindi (the official, national language
of India) and Tamil, greatly expanding their effectiveness throughout
India (see sidebar on languages of India). Toby Travis and Denny McKeever
conducted the training events as part of another whirlwind tour, involving
events in four different cities.
Denny, who recently returned to Faith Studies as an evangelist
and director of international ministry, was catapulted to the front
line before he had even unpacked. “I considered it a privilege to have
joined the trip right away,” he said. “I was pleased to meet the people
we are working with in India, and to help train pastors in the use of
FaithSearch. I wish everyone who loves, prays for and
supports our vital work for the Kingdom could have been with us to see
the response and hear the comments from the pastors.”
Over
700 pastors were trained during ten days, and their comments were very
encouraging. These wonderful men of God spoke of the overwhelming
blessing of having such a powerful tool for the sake of the Gospel in
their hands for the first time. They shared of the impact FaithSearch
would have, not only on themselves but also on their congregations.
They envisioned believers witnessing with confidence, and unbelievers
coming to Christ in significant numbers when brought face to face with
the evidence provided by FaithSearch.
Denny McKeever conducted FaithSearch training
to over 700 Indian nationals in April, 2003.
This
year, events were also conducted for community business leaders. Following
one of these sessions, a prominent Christian businessman named David
said, “This [FaithSearch] is the most effective tool with
which I have ever been exposed in my personal witness for Christ.”
He refused to leave that evening without assurance that he could receive
additional quantities of Surprised by Faith for distribution.
One pastor commented that he had not wanted to attend a seminar during
Holy Week (the tour dates were April 10-21) but when he saw it was sponsored
by Campus Crusade he new it would be good. He went on to say, “This
training has rekindled my passion and confidence in witnessing for Christ.”
One
after another, pastors and business people repeated these testimonies.
Also
new this year was the opportunity to train Campus Crusade staff at their
Great Commission Training Center. Toby trained some forty staff
members, as well as a number of guests in attendance, in the use of
FaithSearch. This included the first use of the Tamil translation of
the video series.
Charlie
Abro, who coordinates the training events for Campus Crusade, is already
going to work on a plan to provide FaithSearch in every state of India—twenty-eight
in all. Toby said, “His idea is for us to return to all of the major
cities of India, and to provide training for trainers who would then
take the material into all twenty-eight states.”
Pastors and lay leaders eagerly received their free FaithSearch resources.
How
do you reach a billion people? It is impossible for us alone. But by
multiplying the effectiveness of people like these dear pastors and
lay people through our resources, training them to use FaithSearch and
to train others, tens of thousands — dare we say millions? — can be
added to the Kingdom. Isn’t it wonderful to be part of this great partnership
in reaching our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Amen.
Languages
of India
Surprised
by Faith and FaithSearch videos are
available for the following language groups in India.
| |
Estimated
Population
|
| Total
Population |
1,045,845,226
|
| English: |
200,000,000*
|
| Hindi
– official language (as primary): |
313,753,500
|
| Tamil
(as primary) |
61,527,000
|
*Conservative
number: Estimates vary from as little as 3-5% to “virtually everyone.”
