New Delhi, INDIA – Despite persecution and even with India’s religious freedom under attack in Rajasthan and in various other states of India, Bibles For the World’s Mawii Pudaite is happy to see the change happening across India by the words proclaimed by their missionaries.
Pudaite said, “This is harvest time in India, and our missionaries are having the times of their lives, reaching out, sowing the seeds and harvesting souls for Christ and His kingdom."“The hunger for God's Word is great; people throughout India are asking for Bibles. Many lower caste leaders are discussing Christianity and large numbers of people are embracing Christianity.” Pudaite said adding that, this is an encouraging trend, and a prime opportunity for sharing the Gospel and leading people to Christ.
Pudaite recently visited India to speak at their annual general assembly of churches. Along with Pudaite a team of Americans visited India and during their stay they shared with natives a unique ministry opportunity.
"The beautiful thing is that when they embrace Christianity, then we have the unlimited opportunity to reach them with the Gospel. While they were in another religion, you and I have very little chance to reach out to them. We do it with great difficulty. But once they have come 'in the fold,' then we have the privilege of explaining to them what it means to be a true child of God."
Missionaries of Bibles for the World do experience persecution, yet Pudaite says that God is working even through those hardships. “One missionary was attacked and left for dead, but recovered. Three of his attackers have since come to know Christ, and this missionary had the amasing opportunity to baptise these men,” Pudaite said.Taking advantage of low costs in India, in order to send out more Bibles, Bibles for the World have started to print, package and mail Bibles right from India. Pudaite explained, “Postage from the United States was more than $4 per Bible, but, within India, we can do it for two dollars and 25 cents. And so we can do double of what we could do from here, so we have moved our operation as far as the printing and the mailing, the distribution, to India."
They have also started to provide jobs within their distribution centre to the 'untouchables,' who are not able to get decent jobs elsewhere because of their low caste.
That's where the body of Christ is needed, to help with financial costs of distributing Bibles. Pudaite says it's a team effort, "One person's gift might not send very many Bibles, but together many homes will be reached with the Word of God."
Bibles for the World now has a network of 300 churches in Northeast India and currently, there are 13 national Bible for the World missionary families serving throughout India. Christians account for less than three percent of India’s 1.1 billion people.
[Editor's Note: Vishal Mathews reported from New Delhi, India for this article]
Vishal Mathews
Christian Today Correspondent
