Mission To India
Capital: New Delhi
Population: 1.252 billion
Prime minister: Narendra Modi
President: Pranab Mukherjee
Official languages: Hindi, English
People Groups: 2,153
India is a vast South Asian country with diverse terrain – from Himalayan peaks to Indian Ocean coastline – and history reaching back 5 millennia. In the north, Mughal Empire landmarks include Delhi's Red Fort complex, massive Jama Masjid mosque and Agra's iconic Taj Mahal mausoleum. Pilgrims bathe in the Ganges in Varanasi, and Rishikesh is a yoga centre and base for Himalayan trekking. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country and the most populous democracy in the world.
Geography
Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west;[d] China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.
Religion
India's constitution provides for full religious freedom of worship and witness for all religions. The rise of Hidutva extremism resulted in a hate campaign against Muslims in the early 1900s and against Christians in the late 1900s. Anti-conversion laws and legal restrictions on Christian activities have been strongly demanded. Some states have enacted such laws and condoned a rising wave of violence and even murder of Christian workers.
Economy
The Indian economy is the world's seventh-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialised country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, corruption, malnutrition, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism. A nuclear weapons state and a regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks ninth in military expenditure among nations.
Politics
India is a federal constitutional republic governed under a parliamentary system consisting of 29 states and 7 union territories. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and a multi-ethnic society and is the world's most populous democracy.
Mission to India
Mission Fellowship International partners with SLM (Servant Leadership Ministries) and Dr Deena in Asia with bases in India and Nepal. Currently, they are working with leaders and pastors from the following nations: Bhutan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Tibet.
This year's SLM seminar for Asia was held on what was the farm, in Siliguri, india. Here is the story of the farm.
What follows are some pictures telling the story of how what was a pig farm in 2011, then became a cow and fish farm to raise money for the spread of the Gospel? Our regifting Christmas program began on the Farm in December of 2012. Several Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist children and parents accepted Christ as a result of the gifts. There is a school & a Church on the Farm now. God is using Pastor Sonam Bhutia—our SLM Director for Asia—and his Team of Pastors to plant & develop 2015 began with great excitement for SLM Asia. SLM Seminar (over 120 Pastors/Leaders from several states in India as well as from Nepal &.Bhutan). The Grace and Presence of the Lord made much difference. The team worked well together. Thanks for your prayer and support. Re-Gifting Christmas 2014 on the Farm, which has been transformed into church, Sunday School, & School Buildings.
More mission trips will go in this region soon, so watch this space.
Christina on Mission to India / Nepal
Christina Farr heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" and she said, "Here am I! Send me." Isaiah 6:8. A committed Christian married with 3 beautiful children responds to God's call to serve the poor and marginalised a journey and adventure with God! Christina having served several other missions, travelled to India& Nepal in February for a 6 weeks mission. It has always been her desire to go to India & Nepal as she felt a purpose to serve in that nation. God has graciously opened this door for her to be in Lalitpur which is a rural part of Northern India (about 7 hours from Delhi by train). She will be there for 6 weeks leading volunteer teams from the UK, while supporting and working on two projects at the Harriet Benson Hospital and Emmanuel Hospital. Although the hospitals are open to all, the poorest people do not have access to these medical facilities. This Christian community hospital provides essential care for the most destitute in the local communities. With many patients suffering from chronic diseases, they are totally reliant on the dedication of the hospital staff, the Outpatient Department and Consulting Rooms which over the recent years have suffered neglect and needs major repairs and restoration of vital services. Christina and her teams will be working to renovate these areas in order to create a safe and clean environment for both patient and staff. They will also go out into the local villages with the Palliative Care team, offering care and compassion as well as letting people know that there is a place they can receive medical attention – something many of them don't realise.
Please pray for Christina and the team for God's work to be done. India and Nepal are nations in need of God's presence and power reaching lives. We thank God that we can be His hands and feet, showing His love in Action and supporting our brothers and sisters. Without the help, financial support and prayers from you my brothers and sisters in Christ this work would be very difficult to do.
Your love gifts, donations and support would be greatly appreciated. Christina's vision and desire is to help the poor and to share Gods amazing love to these precious souls. Her heart is to see the sick healed and people experience the love of Jesus Christ!!
Please support Christina in this mission by your prayers and giving, that her life and her arm out stretched over lives will be supplied to meet the needs.
We aim to raise £4000.00 in support of this Mission; please give that we may facilitate this work in its lifetime.
God bless you and thank you!
David
