Report from BHW India Partnership Facilitator 

In January 2018 Bright Hope World ran a summit in Bangalore for all our Indian and Nepalese partners. This was an amazing time which almost every one of our partners attended. In total we had about 40 people from India and Nepal and another nine from New Zealand, England and the USA. 

We prayed this would be a time where our partners met one another (many for the first time), learned from each other, were encouraged in the Lord, and went home inspired to keep serving the Lord in their communities. The Lord answered our prayer. 

It was so encouraging, and inspiring, to listen to every partner share their ministry’s story. From those who have been serving in ministry for 30+ years, to those who have just started in the past 18 months, every story impacted this gathering of believers. 

Running the conference in Bangalore meant I couldn’t visit each of the partners in their own environment and so I am only able to provide a brief update from each of the partnerships. 

Delhi Bible Institute, Delhi and North India - Isaac and Gloria Shaw

It was wonderful to see Isaac again at the summit in Bangalore. Gloria Junior (his daughter) also attended as her mother was unable to. It was great to see the passion for ministry flowing through the next generation of Shaws.

Isaac presented a clear summary of the vision of DBI, the challenges and the highlights. The latest summary of DBI's ministry can be found in their annual report, we have provided a summary below:

“I am grateful to the Lord to report that Delhi Bible Institute had another fruitful year 2017 in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through 340 different discipleship, training, and vocational programs, we equipped 9,808 disciples. These new disciples were a witness to the transformation, reconciliation and restoration with God and men that the gospel provides.” Isaac Shaw

The work of DBI never ceases to amaze us. There are now seven ashram training centres established throughout North India. The Church is now meeting in 153 locations all over North India, and the stories of lives transformed continue to be told.

Sewing Centres

Bright Hope World has partnered with DBI for many years now, particularly in the area of training women to sew. 218 women completed the sewing training in 2017. 

Historically DBI has strongly believed in men leaders and this is clearly seen by the thousands of men they have trained during the years. It has only been in recent years that there has been more emphasis on "the priesthood of all believers" and they have been intentionally trying to get women to join their courses and be part of the exciting journey the Lord is taking them through, till North India hears the Gospel. The biggest problem they have is getting the women to come to church where it all begins. Having the sewing centres in church buildings has enabled them to invite many women who otherwise would not set foot in the Ashram. Many of them have believed in the Lord Jesus, have been baptized and are joining the 1-year course.  

Some of the reasons why they believe it is very important keep the sewing centers running are; 

1) The sewing centres are a platform to share the Gospel with unbelievers.

2) They are giving women skills so they can earn money for their families.

3)  Because the course is for 6 months, they can not only share the Gospel but if ladies come to know Jesus they can disciple them if they are not allowed to come to church on Sundays.

4)  As the ladies come to the sewing centres, they have found out that they also do not know how to read and write. They have taken this opportunity to have adult literacy classes for them and for their children.

5)  The biggest expense is the support of sewing teachers and secondly the machines. We are very grateful for the provision of both.  (BHW funds seven teachers)

6)  Very poor ladies can come and learn because they waive their fees. Other places have very high fees for learning sewing. 

7)  It is a place where Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian ladies can meet without any barriers.  It brings our communities together in a neutral place where they don't feel alienated.         

8)  It is a bridge to share the Gospel with the ladies and invite their families to other church programs such as Sunday meetings, Sunday School, childrens Summer Bible Camps, youth programs, Christmas and Easter Functions etc.

9)  Many times the ladies ask them to come to their homes to pray for their families. The pastor's family is able to visit them and pray for them. 

10)  The ladies who finish the course usually go and bring others with them.  It is an effective way to multiply the teaching to others. 

11)  Many have gone out and started home businesses. They get paid to do small sewing jobs to begin with and as they get better they start earning a regular income to support their homes. 

Personal Stories (names changed)

Sunita comes from a Hindu background. She has parents and four younger brothers and sisters. The problem was her parents did not care for her before. There was always shouting and fighting at her home. She was very weak with her studies too and the teachers always discouraged her and said “you cannot do anything in your life.” The year before last she joined our sewing centre and slowly-slowly she shared with us about her family and about her life. She always said I cannot do anything but by the grace of Jesus Christ she was very good in sewing and she learned it very fast. She started to come to church and other programs at the Ashram. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour and Lord. Because of this her cousin and her sister also started to come to the sewing centre and give their prayer requests to us.

Now she is confident and doing her study well. Her parents tell her to pray for the family. Babita’s mother got healed by prayer from her sickness. She is thankful to the mighty Lord Jesus.

Neeta comes from a Hindu background. She is grateful for the sewing training.  A year ago she heard the good news and started praying for her and for her mother. Since then God has transformed her life. She is a member of another church and through her pastor’s wife she heard about the DBI sewing centres and started coming here for sewing classes. Along with sewing she is also learning about God and growing in prayer. She is praying for her mother that she too would give her life and have complete faith in Christ. Please pray for her mother’s life. She said I am praising God for the stitching conference.

Priya belongs to a Hindu family. She heard about the Lord Jesus Christ through her sister Mina and believed that Jesus is Lord and her personal Saviour. God has transformed her life and she believes that God will use her to save many lives for His kingdom. She is doing the one year Ashram course. After the sewing course she will help her sister Tina in her sewing classes. She is thankful to God for the opportunity to learn valuable skills through the stitching conference. 

Comments  

Isaac reminded us all that ministry is a journey that requires constant review and reflection before the Lord. We need to continually ensure that the focus is still right. The diagram below illustrates the journey DBI has taken since 1954 through many changes. 

We are looking forward to visiting the Shaws again (hopefully in 2019), and visiting some of the Ashrams to meet and hear the stories of those being impacted by this wonderful work.