“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.” Isaiah 54:2

The following is a report from the representative of Messiah Missions International in India, who visited the ministry that has been added to our work in that country, located in the area of Andra Pradesh. Praise the Lord for opening new doors to support and come alongside His servants!

MESSIAH MISSION MINISTRIES IN INDIA—ANDRA PRADESH

MESSIAH MISSIONS has been working in the villages and town of Andhra Pradesh in INDIA. This state of India is second largest and most populated state in the southern hemisphere of the Indian subcontinent. Messiah Missions has been working among the poorest of the poor people classifying children work, women empowerment, pioneer evangelism, philanthropic efforts and church establishment. Recently MESSIAH MISSIONS’ Representative from its Headquarters in Nanjangud town went and visited many of the pastors and village churches in the Districts of Kammam, Warangal, Nallakonda and Hyderabad Districts of Telengana area of Hyderabad. The churches and pastors were scattered in the Dornakallu, Kothakudam, Badrachalam, Kammam, Nallapakka, Nurum Nagar, Moula-ali nagar, Hyderabad, Saraipakka, Ramaseetha nagar and another village called Manti Kunta.

1. Pastor Yesupadam

Pastor John Mohan, MESSIAH MISSION’s representative in India had an itinerant evangelistic effort in Andhra Pradesh, which is the second largest and most populated state in south India. Nevertheless, it is the gateway and link for the North south main passage. The capital of this state is Hyderabad. Big buildings of the Moghul Dynasty as if in Old Delhi give us a look of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth century view of this old City. Big Air Force stations and Barracks and the military Training Schools as well colleges give us the look as if we are in Second World War Period. The Char Minar and the Hussain Sagar Lake attracts tourists from India and as well as International Tourists.

But there is a hidden face also for this State of India. Poor children deserted and less cared for women hamlets which does not have a cup of water to drink make life very miserable in this area.  Roads linking towns and cities are good but at the same time the narrow roads and water less lakes make the summer in this area suffocating for a fresh air. Some of the Evangelists of the MESSIAH MISSIONS here used to walk miles to get a bottle of drinking water to show the minimum amount of Hospitality to their Christian visitors.

Take for example brother Yesupadam, he lives in Manti Kunta Village of Kammam District. This District is notorious for the Leftist Violent Guerilla Attackers called the Maoists. This brother has wife and a son. The son got married to a committed Christian girl. He does not have a resource for water in his village. Some two hundred meters away there is a Bore well that belongs to the Upper caste man. People are discriminated here because of caste and creed and Christians are not allowed to take water from their Bore well tapes. So he went two kilometers away to bringing a bottle of water for the visitor to show the smallest courtesy.

Here some twenty people gather on Sundays; all are very poor people but strong believers who have come to faith through what God has done in their lives. They were criminals before but hearing the that son of god came to earth to give a sacrifice of His own life to save them from eternal fiery punishment of hell made them to repent for their sins and try to live as others do. They sing melodious songs with classical rhythm and praise God. But the evangelist here has to suffer up to next Sunday because on Sunday only he can see some coins and notes in the offering boxes. Newlywed couple does not sleep inside the prayer halls. so his son and daughter in law has to go under a tree and spend the night there standing or sitting because of the fear of snacks and wild animals or the Terrorists called Maoists.

A bore well, if dug here, can give water for the Pastor and some believer families. But water level is very down here comparatively. We have to dig four hundred to five hundred feet at the rate seventy rupees for feet is nearly a large amount for the poor pastor or a believer family here. They look forward to the Lord to provide some help from above in their everyday prayer.

2. PASTOR ANDREWS

I have found the most energetic servant of God in Brother Andrews. One is situated in Badrachalam Town. This town is a very famous one. It has a big Hindu Temple with twenty feet high Hanuman Statue. Though Century old Temple attracts tourists, the people roaming around it give a miserable look with hopeless faces and foodless stomachs. The great River Godavari in length and breadth gave a dangerous look without much water.

Beside the Godavari River the road to Nallappakka is there and we travelled thirty kilometers on bike to reach the new Prayer Hall that was dedicated last month. It had a brick wall, asbestos sheet roof, and the floor is decorated with Vitrified Tiles. But there needed too doors for the building, five new fans etc. These we cannot supply because MESSIAH MISSIONS helps to reach the gospel to the unreached places and we have to look for the orphans and the destitute. Anyhow I sang without knowing myself, “Oh Lord of hosts, how amicable are thy tabernacles.” (Psalms 84:1)

Brother Andrews has wife and two children. He came to this area with a Macedonian call’s answer, and the past two years showed him how faithful is the LORD in His calling. Presently twenty families come here for prayer meetings and Sunday Services. They all have come from heathen back grounds, seeing and experiencing God’s power in their lives.

David, presently a believer, came there for prayer for his son which had a limp on his chest. God delivered the child from that deadly situation and David gave sufficient land for the church and took initiative to construct the building also.

Mr. Nagesh was any how sitting there with some grief. We asked why and he told that his cow had gone to the forest nearby months ago and had not come back. Pastor John Mohan opened the Bible and said, the Bible says, “Cast your burden on the Lord; He will sustain you He will never allow the righteous to fall.’’ (Psalms 55:22), ‘’Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture; delight yourself in the LORD and will give you the desire of your heart’’ (Psalms 37: 3,4).

After the meeting was over, there came provisions for 5 fans and two doors for the newly constructed building and all from the local believers itself. He uses a BAJAJ DISCOVER VEHICLE for reaching his two churches and to be back as the Lord provided it.

3. BROTHER DAVID RAJU

Venkatapura is the main village where Pastor David Raju is working. There are 30 families coming together here on Sundays. They are coming together from miles away. So he prepares food for them as supplies last.

Paul Raju has daughters which had been given in marriage. But he looks like a boy and always smiling. His wife also has the developing smile and she prepared good tea for us as soon as we reached his house. Another village where Paul Raju is working is another 3 kilometers away.

There he has a feeding center. The ‘’uppuma’’ here is very tasty, prepared by Gangamma. Mid-day meal is also provided. A day’s meal cost them 6 USD including all the children. A girl is helping to teach alphabets to the small children. The children are from Tribal scheduled background. But no help is given from the government side. The believers in surrounding areas give some food stuff to share to the children here. The children seem to care for nothing. They want to hear more and more about the Saviour and Lord Jesus.

So here was arranged the Pastors and Elders meeting. It was 1 pm when we reached there. The meeting continued up to 3 pm. Pastor John Mohan encouraged them to stand fast in the Lord amidst many problems, persecutions and Maoist threats. Once Lord Jesus comes He will wipe away our tears and He will take us home.

This Pastor has arranged meals for all the Pastors and elders cheaply by community cooking method. That means available things are brought to church and the cooking is done by our brothers. The extra amount incurred was matched from the MESSIAH MISSIONS account. The menu included rice, tur dal curry, chicken kuruma, buttermilk, and pickle. We are planning to have 5 days of Bible classes here for these pastors and evangelists because these young workers are poor in their Bible knowledge. I want to tell something about the Prayer hall here. That is a bamboo building and roofed with thatches. No drinking water available in the vicinity. Believers have to walk miles to get a bottle of water.

4. BROTHER HEMANTH KUMAR

He is also one worker near Badrachlam town. This place is called Ettappakka. Many youngsters gathered here. We conducted Bible studies to this young people up to late night. The youngsters continued to stay back without any murmurings. It was very interesting that these young people both boys and girls coveted personal prayer and counselling from the guest speaker.

Pastor Hemanth has wife and three children. He has no vehicle for his conveyance. Presently his house Veranda is used as church and he wants to have walls around. Pastors prayed for that need to be met with local participation

5. ROOFLESS CHURCH IN ASWAPURAM

Brother Lazurus is working in this village. He has one thatched building as house and 10 families as believers. They have donated a 30 x 40 land house site for the church and he has constructed a prayer hall here. The walls have come up. The beams have been erected. But no roof was seen there. 50,000 Rupees are needed for the roof, plastering of cement and painting purposes. The visiting pastors encouraged them to continue the good work and prayed earnestly so that God will work miracles for the need is great. He has wife and an 8 year old daughter.

Mrs. Chowdhuri has come to the Lord from high caste Hinduism and she wants God’s people to pray for her son Karthik, daughter Kiran mayi. Keerthy, the elder girl is doing her bachelors in Chemistry but wants to go for Police Department. This people welcomed us with great love and their hospitality was incredible.

6. JOHN MARK

John Mark has work in two villages. In one village he has a church. This village is away from the main road up to 4 kilo meters where we met a number of interesting Christians.

Thank you Jesus John Mark has Sunday Service in another village where he is put up with wife and two primary children.

7. EVANGELISM IN THE FOREST

This village in the ANDHRA PRADESH FOREST is the mirror for the need of Missions in INDIA. The signs of the Savior is the good news being preached to the poor people, and it is happening in India and elsewhere in which our Missionaries go do outreach and work for the Lord.

At least a couple of hundred people live in this forest without proper houses or food or water. Nobody will identify them as refugees. But they are refugees from landlords. When they ask for more wages, they are mercilessly sent out and come and put tents in places like this.

Chatthisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh area is full of leftist militant people and they do not know what to do. On one side, the exploitation from the landlords which want to take away their lands for the big projects coming up. On another side, the Government is not giving sufficient compensation quickly because of red tape and blue gowns.

They found trust in the Forest and dwell there. Here their main income generation program is boiling arrack. Every house becomes a small distillery when they do not have their home and house. The thing is alcohol has many sisters like adultery, stealing, robbery, quarreling etc. This becomes a social problem.

Our missionaries visited this area and gave salvation tracts and visited each and every tent they have erected in this area. At first, these people ran away as soon as they saw us. Later they came back. Then we can talk to them.

The interesting thing is that they used to get pamphlets from the Maoists, a leftist militant gang inviting them to join them and also from the Forest department giving notice to vacate the forest land as soon as possible because the reserve forest area cannot be allowed to residential purposes. These poor people can not give ear to both of them.

The only way out is to listen to the Word of God and we helped them to have some readable faith building articles. There is a proverb in India that Christians teach them to how to read, and Communists give them what to read. But our pamphlets are designed to lead the readers to salvation and dedication. We had counseling to give to some people.

The sad thing is children are not sent to school but sent to slavery. They call it Jeetham. A Jeetham means “a landlord purchases the boy or girl for a small amount”. The boy has to work for food in the landlord’s house for life time or else up to the time when the amount in full is paid without any dues.

Please pray for these poor people that many of them come to Christ to find a living new life. in the Lord.

8. CHILDREN WORK

MESSIAH MISSION works with children in the age group of 4 to 16 years old. Play materials have been provided to children in NALLAPPAKKA village to the children exclusively which are from the church members houses.

In Hyderabad city we are working among the rag-picking children. This children are forfeited their primary education and have to roam on the street to a square meal for them and also to help their parents. Snacks and biscuits are provided to all the participating children who are taught songs and Bible verses. Such children works are continued in Moula-Ali Village, Jn nrm village, Charlappalli village and Kapila pet area.

At least 10 per cent of the children in the city of Hyderabad are rag pickers. They have to start in the morning and toil and boil in the hot sun picking rags and collecting plastic cans and wastes from road sides and street corners. Some of them have their father or mother went to Jail because they are criminals. Such people have to look after their siblings also after coming from rag-picking. They have to boil rice and make curry and feed their younger ones… Proper education is a mirage for these unlucky young ones.

Messiah Mission pastors visit them and share with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encourage them to come to our Literacy classes where they can learn more. They have to learn read and write at least to get out of exploiting traps from other people. We provide with slates, pencils, instructor and even snacks for refreshment.

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Brother Kumar riding the Jesus power auto rikshaw was very helpful to reach places. Brother B.V. Paul co-ordinates the MESSIAH MISSION INTERNATIONAL work in Andhra Pradesh. He covets the fervent prayers of God’s people. We thank our International Director Rev. Dr. Steven E. Ray and Mrs. Johanna P. Ray along with those in the Board, for their encouragement and continued support to the “COMPASSION OUTREACH TO THE DESTITUTE” people irrespective of caste, creed and colour. We thank all the MESSIAH MISSION prayer partners for their continued co-operation. The time is running out and we need to go a long way before our LORD’s coming. So we look forward to working with you with great zeal.

Sincerely in Christ’s love,
MESSIAH MISSIONS MINISTRIES IN INDIA