23 Jan Why India?

Why India?

Why is this nation so important in the strategy to fulfill the great commission?  It is so far away from my home, my church and my culture.  Why should I or our church get involved with people that we know so little about?

About 14 years ago I was planting a new church in Buffalo, New York.  I asked the Lord in prayer to show me where on the planet I should roll up my sleeves and get personally involved in missions.  We were giving and sending teams to other parts of the world.  But I felt called to pursue a personal, God-given assignment where I would get involved in a deeper capacity, knowing that others would follow.  Where? I did not know. 

Then one day I received an email from a Chicago friend who finally met a ministry leader from South Carolina that I had been wanting him to meet. Without my help, they met randomly eating at the International Dining Hall of Hindustan Bible Institute (HBI) in Chennai, India. I had never heard of the place.  And to think, they met on the other side of the world.  Awestruck by the strange coincidence, a still small voice whispered, “This is your assignment.  You will eat at that dining hall.”

Since that moment, I have eaten hundreds of meals at that dining hall.

Why India?

I had no knowledge, no experience, and no relationships prior to that day of anyone or anything related to India.  Yet God seemed to be calling me to investigate.  Within the year my daughter and I were on our first trip with my friend from Chicago.  To date, that was the first of ten.  

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION: 

1) THE POPULATION OF THIS NATION DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION.

One-seventh of the world’s population, 1.3 billion people, live here; a population growth that will soon pass China to become the largest population in the world.  If the gospel is to be preached in all the world as Jesus said, then we better get busy.

2) THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION OF THE UNREACHED IS IN INDIA. 

An unreached people group is an ethnic group without an indigenous, growing church movement.  There are 7,040 unreached people groups worldwide (Joshua Project). One third, 2,276, is in India.  Is it not the heart of God to call His church to partner with this nation?

3) MANY HINDUS ARE OPEN TO PRAYER AND HEARING ABOUT JESUS.

The uniqueness of Hinduism is that they have 33 million gods.  Why not learn of the one called Jesus?  Yes, there are radical Hindus that reject and persecute.  But don’t underestimate the hunger of a Hindu for God’s grace only found in Jesus Christ. 

4) THE OPPORTUNITY IS NOW.

There is a current movement of unparalleled church growth in India.  The government says that 2.3% are Christian.  But unconfirmed reports show a recent surge to be as high as 15%.  This is phenomenal growth in the middle of the 10/40 window, the darkest part of our planet.  There is a potentially huge impact on the surrounding Islamic, Buddhists, and atheistic nations. 

5) WE COULD LEARN FROM THIS MOVEMENT.

Indian church leaders believe they will fulfill the great commission in India, maybe in their lifetime. They ask: “What will India look like when the great commission is fulfilled?”

The first time I heard Bobby Gupta say this at a pastor’s conference, I could hardly contain myself.  Who thinks like that? Not enough of us, I assure you. They see it finished and will not stop until it is. One Indian church planter is responsible for planting over 500 churches in his lifetime. This is a modern-day Apostle Paul in an early-church-like movement.  Our leaders need to go and catch the fire that they have caught. 

Let me challenge you today…

Open your eyes to the vision of Christ for the “uttermost parts of the earth”.  Being on the other side of the world does not reduce our responsibility to pray for and seek involvement, both for us and for our churches.  Call or email us today for more information on how you can get more involved to help us fulfill the great commission in India and beyond!

Let’s fulfill His mission together!

 

Craig Mcleod

National Director

HBI Global Partners

P.O. Box 3037

Broken Arrow, OK 74013

https://hbiglobalpartners.org/

(887) 424-4634