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Report Date: March 29, 2018

Report from BHW India Partnership Facilitator 

 

very encouragingIn 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.  

 

Santhosh and Rinu, North India

huge impactThe work in this area of North India is interesting in that it is a long established work, set up in the days of the Raj by British missionaries. The primary work is a Bible School which has about 25 male students for a 1-year course. Many of these young people go on to become church planters and pastors in rural villages. 

There is also a large primary school, over 1,000 students, which gives them a great reason to be in the community. BHW's involvement is with the vocational training programme for women. This is a 6-month course for about 40 women. 

At the conference Santhosh reported on the plight of the women in this area and the huge impact of the programme in their lives. They live in a very harsh environment where there are many Santal people. They are very poor and outside the caste system of India. Women are treated very harshly and are often married off in their early teens. They are not educated or aware of anything but a life of drudgery. However, women come from all over north India to be trained and their lives are transformed by the skills they are taught, the education they receive and the Bible training. 

Santhosh spoke very passionately about the work and its impact. There is a very strong demand for more training to be available. The local people are very happy with what is happening. The local Police Chief, a woman, came to visit and was mightily impressed. However, at the same time they are getting a great deal of pressure from the establishment. The local leaders have said they will protect them as much as they can but if central government makes demands there will be little they can do to help. 

encouraging timeThey are feeling the weight of the harsh anti-minority laws that are being introduced. Because they are registered as a Bible school they have lost their FCRA accreditation (ability to receive funds from outside the country). 

Prayer Points

1) For ways to be able to continue getting funds to them
2) For an easing of the central government demands
3) For continued good reputation with the local people and leaders
4) For the selection of women for the upcoming intake of students
5) Pray for the present political situation especially in northern India
6) Wisdom in regard to starting some sustainable income generating programs for women
7) Their desire to raise more native brothers and sisters to teach and lead the ministry