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India Highlights
- Volunteers on site in April for three-week period
- Teaching English and basic computer skills
Visiting India
India continues to be a challenging, but much blessed mission field. With a population of more than 1 billion people, India is estimated to surpass the number of residents in China by 2025. Hinduism and Islam are the primary religions in India, with only 2.6% proclaiming to be Christian. It is sometimes difficult for national pastors and gospel workers to proclaim Christ when Christianity is often looked upon as a 
“foreign” religion. Church workers of the national church sometimes face opposition when they try to spread the name of Christ.
The national church, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Ministries (CELM), has about 118 congregations, 36 preaching stations, and serves more than 8,500 souls. The CELM Seminary in Guntur, India, remains the central focus of the mission work with 22 national pastors having graduated thus far and more than 60 men presently enrolled. In India, speaking English is a sign of a learned person. Therefore instruction at the seminary is done in English, with the help of interpreters for the first few years for those still speaking Hindi and Telugu, two of the common languages still spoken. Knowing English also allows the use of other resources like Internet and theology textbooks to be introduced for further training.
Money from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) given to the Christian Aid and Relief Committee, helps the friendly counselors working in India develop good relationships by supporting local humanitarian efforts. Currently funds are available for digging fresh water wells, building toilets, and assisting with medical supplies and equipment for hospitals and rural health clinics. Money also goes to fund 10 orphanages supporting roughly 350 children and a Christian elementary school reaching about 280 students with a Christ-centered education.
Kingdom Workers has been supporting the mission work in India by sending visitors to the mission field.
Friendship evangelism is the best means for sharing God’s Word in India.”
Once there the visitors interact with the men from the seminary helping them hone their English skills. They also spend time at the orphanages interacting with the children and playing games.
Friendship evangelism is the best means for sharing God’s Word in India, but it does take a long time to develop relationships and trust. The joys are witnessed daily though the sharing of lives between friendly counselors, visitors, and the Seminary students. Seeing faith grow through difficult times is a testament to God’s great goodness.
