India
The Land and the
People
India is a land of great diversity in cultures, ethnic groups, languages and religions.
Religion
India is the birthplace of some of the great religions of the world. Hinduism is the largest, with about 650 million followers. Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism also owe their origins to India. India's Muslim population exceeds 100 million, making it one of the four largest Muslim populations in the world.
Past and Current
Work
Baptist Mid-Missions started its ministry in northeast India under the leadership of Dr. and Mrs. Galen Crozier in 1935. As more missionaries came to the field, a Christian hospital and nursing school was established near Alipur and a leprosy colony at Makunda. The ministry expanded to include Baptist churches, a Christian Literature House, translation work, other clinics, and the Northeast India Baptist Bible College and Seminary.
During the 1960s the Indian government implemented its policy of restricting the entry of missionaries. The renewal of visas was also restricted, so that the missionary force gradually declined. Ministries were handed over to national Christians. By the early 1980s all our missionaries had been required to leave the Assam region. This opened up the opportunity for outreach through the National Church. Partnership Missions assists the churches with a free Bible Correspondence Course, scholarships for students training for ministry, and church planting. The ministry has since expanded to other countries, assisting national believers in the fulfillment of the Great Commissionin limited-access and no-access countries. For more information visit www.partnershipmissions.org
Today, BMM ministry is primarily in South India. A missionary couple began work in 1977 in Thiruvanthapuram (formerly Trivandrum). Their plan for reaching Kerala State for Christ began with a correspondence school, which has grown to service over 30,000 students. Bible study groups were organized with the aim of establishing churches. The First Baptist Church of Trivandrum was organized in 1980.
BMM missionaries have organized three Baptist churches in the Bangalore region: Grace Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church of Kolar Gold Fields, and Bethel Baptist Church. Bethel Baptist Church has launched two other congregations who share their building--these churches conduct services in the Tamil and Nepali languages. A third congregation is being started for the Malayalam language.
Baptist Seminary of South India--a two-year resident course leading to the degree of Master of Theological Studies--is also in Bangalore.
There is also a couple reaching the villages around Jonnalagadda in Andhra Pradesh. They are involved in a Bible training institute in the Telegu language.
Goals
Challenges
As great changes take place in India, the policies regarding the issuance of visas to foreigners remains uncertain. It is unlikely that missionary visas will again be granted. Business visas, student visas, and tourist visas, however, do provide other options. Given the temporary nature of a missionary's residential status, consideration must be given to ministries that train nationals to do the work of evangelism and church planting. One other source for missionary personnel is the large number of Indian nationals who have settled in the United States that could be challenged to return to India with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Workers needed
Bible college and seminary instructors are needed to help the Indian church with educational needs. Church planters, including national pastors, are also needed to reach Indians for Christ.