Missions
Christ for India
Contributed by Rev. Dr. Rick Mortimer, Christ for India - Director of Development
November 8, 2008
Christ for India is a ministry that was established 26 years ago by an Indian national, the late Dr. P.J. Titus. It's primary four-fold mission is to 1) teach and train pastors through our completely accredited Seminary, 2) to plant churches in unreached villages throughout India, 3) to administer humanitarian aid through our Jyothi General hospital and medical camps to the surrounding villages, and 4) to prepare future leaders of India through our Nava Jeevan Public school and Children's Home. One of the best things about this ministry is that 99% of the ministry in India is accomplished by Indian nationals, avoiding any cultural barriers that might be present should Western missionaries try to do the same sort of work.
Currently the ministry is led by Dr. Titus' wife, Mary, and her two sons, Johnson and Jameson Titus. Johnson lives full time on the campus in India administering activities there. Jameson travels 6 months of the year to raise support among our partners throughout the world. Since August of 2007, Jameson has asked if I would assist him in raising awareness and funds needed for this ministry. It seemed good to us and the Holy Spirit that I should accept that invitation. Raising my own missionary support, I now visit with pastors, churches, and individuals in order to invite them to become partners with us in reaching the one billion souls of India.
September has been very busy attending conferences and meeting with supporters in many locations throughout the Mid-West. However, my trials and travels are not all that newsworthy.
Last month I shared the distressing news of persecutions going on in the state of Orissa. By now most of you have probably heard that not only has it continued, it has intensified.Many ministries and congregations in that state have been assaulted. losing property and lives.Christ for India has had two churches and a Bible training center burned. Most of the church members have fled for their lives. Unfortunately one ill lady did not survive and was burned in her bed. The survivors are taking refuge in some government run relief camps, but the extremists have tried to reach them even there. There actually HAVE been a few demonstrations by the general populace in support of the rights of the Christians, but these are largely ignored, and the government has not done very much to deter the Hindu extremists. The pastors of those two congregations are hiding elsewhere, and their location or welfare is unknown even to us.
While this most recent outbreak is in Orissa, the extremist Hindu groups are growing bolder in other areas as well. I have spoken with other missionariesworking in other areas, and they too have expressed concern over the rising degree of resistance and persecution they are facing. One might expect as much in the difficult northern state of Bihar, but it is somewhat surprising in the stronger Christian area of the southern state of Karnataka.
Thankfully, our campus is located in Andhra Pradesh, the next state to the south of Orissa, and east of Karnataka, and things are calmer there, and we continue to operate as usual. We are seeking to gather funds for relief efforts to our folks in Orissa. Information for directing your contributions electronically is listed below. Otherwise send your gifts to the Dallas office and we will see that the aid goes directly to those effected.
On a much brighter note, we held our annual fund-raising banquet in Dallas on September 12. It was a major risk since we moved to a new, larger location. But we had the largest turn-out ever, with the greatest amount gathered and pledged ever. All of this is really needed given, not only the persecutions, but the on-going US economic woes that has its' ripple effect throughout the world - dramatically rising commodity prices, lower exchange rate for the US dollar to Rupees.
Please continue to remember us in prayer. If you have not contacted me to become part of the Cover the Campus prayer initiative, please do so, and I will link you up with a student, staff, or faculty member that you can bring before the Lord by name.
And as always, I am more than willing to present the ministry of Christ for India to any of your churches, mission committees, small groups, Sunday School class, etc., etc. Please let me know how I can serve you.
For more information, please contact the EA National Minister.