Student Volunteer Movement - Jharkhand

“Student Volunteer movement”

“Engage ‘09” – Jharkhand Student mission conference

Jesus said, “Then saith He (Jesus) unto His disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;”

It is true even today. God loves the students of Jharkhand state. There is an urgent call from the Lord, “who will go?”

Dear friends of Jharkhand state, we at a point in time where we can fire the student volunteer movement in Jharkhand state. From the 6^th through 8^th , Engage India will be hosting the first ever Jharkhand Student Mission Conference, with 32 denominations, mission participating, and 450 students registering for this event. This Student mission conference is an opportunity of a life time for us to mobilise the young people of Jharkhand with the challenge of reaching the unreached and unengaged people groups of India. We need to give them a national and international challenge. The world is hungry for the gospel and they have a responsibility. If the regions of the world have to be reached with the gospel, we have to pray for this conference. This conference has the potential to imprint on their hearts the mandate of Jesus Christ.

The speakers are 28 in number and represent various civilizations and regions of India. They love the Lord passionately and are involved in the ministry of sharing the gospel. The motto of the conference is “whom shall I send, who will go? Isaiah 6:8”.

We are all set and waiting anxiously for the event to kick off. There is going to be a blast on the first day as the Band from Chennai led by David Livingston will lead worship. Today’s young people want it hard and loud and they will get that. They want to be challenged, they want to invest their lives for a noble cause. And we will give them the greatest challenge of all, to share the gospel to those who have never heard the gospel before.

We will also give them an opportunity to be contected to a leadership training program for those who want to be involved in pioneering evangelism. We will also help them connect with missons that suit their area of mission interest.

Thanks for praying for this fantastic event.

Daniel Ponraj

Is our Theological education cutting edge!

Yesterday's paper said "CMC makes it a first". "Vellore (TN), June 18: In the first ever across the blood group transplantation in the country, a youth here has undergone a "successful" kidney transplant from a donor with a different blood type at Christian Medical College Hospital. The operation was done on April 23 on 21-year-old Anbarasu, whose blood group is "O" positive while that of his donor mother is "A" positive. Both were recovering well, a hospital press release said." Source

This is fantastic to me, because a private, christian, and for the poor medical institution is at the cutting edge of their work. CMC hospital is amongst the top five hospitals in India, i can safely say the top most in the "private funded" minority sector. It has lived up to being Christian, and all christian institutions have a lot to learn about how any Christian Institutions can stand up for christian values in a non Christian world, providing the highest of quality services.

What has caught my attention is the training of Doctors in the hospital. They study for a little over 5 years and practice as an intern for one to three years. And apply to the PG program and there is a continual training program from there on. What is solid in their training program is that the faculty, teaching staff and students are all practicing doctors at the hospital. Any body who is teaching is practicing cutting edge technology and treating some of the most complicated medical cases. What the students get in the classroom, is up to date, cutting edge, in practice knowledge. When not in the classroom the students are practicing their profession with their senior doctors. What the students are also getting is not only just some text book stuff, which was written years ago, but also reflecting and practicing the knowledge in today's situations. This is fantastic to me. Well you might say that this is what happens in the medical world, this is old stuff.

But for me this matters so much because some of the Theological training in India has a lot of catching up to do. Our classroom learning does not reflect and is irrelevant in today's situation. Some of the theological training in India is amongst the finest in the world, but for sure not standing up to the realities of today and not preparing students for the challenges of today's mission field. How many of the teaching faculty are practising church planters, or counsellors, or administrators or principals of educational institutions or world class leaders or revival leaders. How many lecturers, professors and teachers of theological institutions are addressing the practical issues of today - i mean at the cutting edge of today's Indian Church, while they are teaching. How many of them are church planting, leading churches, top Indian evangelists. How many of them have been in the thick of the fire like persecution, revival, national disasters and come back to their classrooms and reflect with their students on these issues. This is my desire for our evangelists training school, the Jharkhand School of evangelism. I would like to see all the teaching faculty be at the top of the profession by practicing and being at the cutting edge of their ministry. CMC hospital is a shinning star and at the top of its league, I have a lot of catching up to do, and probably Theological institutions can learn some lessons from this.

Daniel, Engage India - www.engageindia.in

Ps. Sheila will have her second suture on Tuesday the 23rd and will have to rest for 10 days. After that we are expecting 2 months of Radiation therapy for complete healing. We are still in need of prayer and finances. Thanks for supporting at this time of need.

Daniel Ponraj - Engage India - Visit - www.engageindia.in

Experiencing God in Suffering!

The last 30 days have been a beautiful experience. This is an irony considering the pain and suffering my family and extended family has experienced. From the first day we discovered my mother had cancer, it has been a bumpy ride. first the doctor in Chennai has not diagnosed the cancer, in spite of the medical report that said cancer. Then we came to Vellore and we spent about 15 anxious days in diagnosis. Then when the doctors finally decided on surgery, we were stomped by the odds against it. The doctors and our family had to make the call, a hard call, if we should go ahead or not. It was a 50-50 chance. We prayed and decided we should go ahead with the surgery. We did and it was successful. The last month has been hard, but I have experienced the love and power of God. At every juncture i felt the Lord was close to me. The most wonderful moments where in the waiting, waiting for the doctor for the endless hours, waiting for appointment dates, waiting for payments in long queues, waiting for coffee, waiting for the lift, waiting for a transport from the missionary guest house to the hospital, waiting for the surgery to be completed, waiting for the nurses to clean the wound,waiting for my wife to join me in vellore after 22 days. In all of this waiting the Lord has been talking to me. He has spoken to me about my 10 years in ministry. April 2009, it marks my ten years in ministry and the Lord is steering my heart again. He is renewing me for another 10 years in ministry, where i can impact more unreached unengaged people in India. I had paused my dreams, i am dreaming again. The last 22 days being apart from my wife and children in the midst of a lot of challenges has also helped me introspect a great deal. very honestly i missed them so much. They were supposed to join me earlier, but their ticket for the train stayed on waiting list and they could not board the train. I was devastated. So was my wife. As the days approached for their arrival i felt the minutes move like hours. And finally when they arrived i went to Chennai to receive them and what a joyful moment it was. Our relationship has got stronger. I have experience God during this hour of pain and suffering. It has drained me, but i am feeling renewed again.

Daniel P.

Note: My mother is recovering from the surgery and she will be discharged from the hospital on Monday, I want to thank you for praying for her.

THE GIFT OF CMC HOSPITAL & MUT

In the 3rd week of May 2009, after a visit to the doctor, Sheila Ponraj was diagnosed with Cancer. She has served 38 years in ministry in the remote villages of India. She has served and defended people who could not fend for themselves. We at Engage India were shocked at this development. Questions were ringing in our head. What next, which hospital, what about funds, why did God allow this. When we could think clearly the first question was which hospital. Apollo Hospitals are considered the best, but they are atrociously expensive. Then the Tata hospital, but where do we stay in Mumbai. All doors were closed. In our discussions with friends and mission leaders, CMC hospital, Vellore was most often recommended. That was the break. Many things coincided with CMC. It is a christian institution that leaned towards subsidary for missionaries, and it is among the premier insititutions in India. That was just the beginning. We got a contact in a Christian missionary doctor at the Gynecologist department in CMC. We got many friends who were gracious in giving us hope that she could be treated there. That was all the encouragement we needed. But what would we do about stay? We needed a place near the hospital and it has to be affordable. Then the name of MUT (Missionary Upholder's trust) came up. That was another ray of hope. In 5 days she was traveling 2000 kilometers to this low profile town and in time she was standing at the door of the MUT office. The people were so helpful and they showed her a room furnished with four beds and with every single thing that is needed. The next morning she was assisted by a medical person who assisted her with all the procedures of the hospital and in about 3 hours she was in the office of a senior gynecologist consultant. In the next 2 weeks she had made more than 25 visits to doctors in different offices. In the process countless counter and doctor visits and tests have been done. The hospital has about 85% of patients from different parts of India and every single person from the gate keepers, receptionists, nurses, MROs, MBBS students, to doctors at every level, speak Hindi. They have responded and have adapted to Hindi speaking patients. As I drove around Vellore town I realize that the hospital has in every way changed the lives of the people in the town. The town and its people reflect the pride of the hospital. Doctors work over 60 charts a day from 8 in the morning to 8 at night. The place is overcrowded - (Close to Calcutta railway station), not to say it is not managed well, but just that the place is so sought after. Of all that I saw, what touched my heart was the work ethics. They reflect the love of Jesus in them. They serve. It is a professional institution, the most sought after, but you have to be dumb not to see the love of Jesus in every worker, the campus, the atmosphere and all that happens there.

MUT and CMC hospital, Vellore is heaven on earth. I have experienced it.

Daniel

Sheila Ponraj is the president of Engage India/ BCSD that preaches the gospel in villages of India, where it is not known. Visit www.engageindia.in to be involved.

Training Indigenous Church Leaders!

Training Indigenous Church leaders - Timothy school of Discipleship

 “Men were His method” – (Master plan of Evangelism - Robert coleman )

 “I have been transformed through this school, my understanding of the power of the word and my responsibility to oversee the new believers has come through clearly.”  – Usin Hembrom, Student

 In the 3^rd week of April 14 indigenous church leaders of indigenous newly planted churches completed their first semester in “church leadership”. These are leaders who are shepherding the newly planted churches among the Santal tribe. The Santal Church is focused on leadership training for the newly planted churches in unreached regions of Santal Pargana. Without this focus the churches would die. 

The Timothy school is built on 4 foundational lines of teaching, Biblical knowledge, Life character development, Skills for planting new churches, methods of shepherding new believers. The next semester will focus on further subjects which will teach the 4 basic foundations. 

The students in the last 6 months have shown tremendous growth in their learning. They have also exhibited ability in leading the local church. Most of them are oral learners and we are using oral methods to teach them. Scripture in Use (SIU) has some excellent materials that we have used to train our teachers. Any group working with oral learners cannot overlook the information that SIU has to offer.

 We are also successfully using the BILD methodology of training which is Church based theological education. This has been very effective, where the church has exploded in growth. To keep up with the church discipleship the BILD philosophy has been very effective. We call these groups the timothy groups. It is fascinating to see how the word spreads through these groups.

 You can pray and be a partner in the ministry of reaching the unreached people groups of India. Visit www.engageindia.in . Write to me at office@santaltribe.org .

 Daniel

(For Engage India/ BCSD) 

The Gospel saves Munsi from Evil Spirits!

Munsi's wife was sick with an illness and she was at the point of death. They heard about Jesus  for the first time and they went for prayer. By the power of prayer she was healed. Church leaders told her about the saving power of Jesus Christ and how He could give their family a  new life. They did not have to be afraid of the evil spirits any more. Munsi and his wife believed and they have been  added to the church. This is a story of the amazing power of Jesus Christ and how it is transforming families in unreached tribes in India. It is going to places where the gospel has not been made known.  There is an open door for the gospel among the unreached tribes. The evil spirits have oppresed people and their hearts are right for the sowing of the gospel. At Engage India, Indigenous evangelist proclaim the gospel from village to village. At every village where they host a gospel meeting large groups of villagers gather to listen to the gospel. If you are prayer partner I want to thank you for your prayers. You can visit engageindia.in for many opportunities of partnership in the gospel. 

Gospel Team, Engage India

visit www.engageindia.in or write to office@santaltribe.org .

Santal Tribe Children Make History in High School!

Making a better world for Santal tribe by empowering children through education:

5 Santal tribal boys, first generation christian children, are the first ever in their region of 300 villages, who have made it through English medium high school. In any known previous generations their forefathers have never been to school. The Santals are an oral culture. Over 150 years of known Santal culture, the Santals have been oppresed by "outsiders" like the British appointed land lords, tax collectors, and upper caste groups. Their innocence, and illiteracy has been exploited. They have lost their lands, family members and livestock. Many had even become bonded labours. The Santal tribe had waited for the dawn when their children will be educated and they will be able to defend for their rights. Today five Santal boys, have just got passed their high school exams. They know Jesus Christ as their personal saviour. They understand that it is because of the church that they have got this opportunity of education. They are role models and a hope for their community. They speak fluent english and grasp legal issues. They are a voice for their Santal community. This vision has been fullfiled because of the persistent effort of the president of Engage India, Rev.Sheila Ponraj. Through the Shalom group of Schools, there are over 1000 students in training who will be champions of poor communities. They are the hope that their children will come back some back, with the power of knowledge to stand up against injustice and oppression.

Go to http://www.engageindia.in/ and read more life changing stories and how you be contribute and be a part of this movement of reaching the unreached people groups.

Daniel, office@santaltribe.org

Unreached Tribes Movement - Jharkhand, India

Providing unreached access to the gospel :
Missions come together to reach the unreached:
310 of the unreached unengaged people groups are in India who have no access to the gospel. In the state of Jharkhand we presently have identified 8. There are other 20 people groups that are unreached and have little or no access to the gospel. On the 27th and 28th a group of 12 top mission and church agencies will come together to engage in a dialogue. At this meet they discussion issues will be tools, needs and opportunities for the preach of the gospel where it has not been preached. There is a lot of excitement for this cause. I want you to pray with me on this. There will be special presentations too at this meet, which will be orality, Unreached peoples list, Church based theological education and BILD, and also success stories of ministries. I will keep you updated on this, Thanks for praying,
Leave your comments or write to me at daniel@santaltribe.org

visit http://www.engageindia.in/ for further information,

Daniel, for Engage India/ BCSD

Santal Medical Camp - Where there is no doctor!

From Witch Doctors to Medical Care !

A free medical camp was held at Ruthvadi Village where 200 Santal tribal people came and were treated for free and medicines were given. Engage India held this camp in parntership with Operation Blessing India and Rotary Club Madhupur. The Santal are an animistic tribe that go to the witch doctor when they are sick. The
call on their evil spirits to make them well. They offer expensive blood offering to their gods, and most often this gets them into debts. Through this medical camp, we were able to promote awareness among them about the benefits of going to the doctor. In that region of 15 villages there is a medical centre that is 15 kilometers away and a place that few people use. This was an excellent camp where people participated and were able to get treatment for a wide range of sicknesses. we have received some wonderful reactions from the patients. "I have been sick for 3 years, and only today i come to realise that i have Tuberculois that needs medical treatment". "I would have never got medical help, if it had not been for this camp, because over generations we never go to the doctor". "We have been in debt and this camp has given me medicines that i could have never offorded." We have also had some wonderful reports from the doctors, "This is the best camp i have never been a part of." "I have been a part of many camps, but this is a unique camp, because of the extent of the impact and local participation."

Daniel
(For Engage India/ BCSD)

Engaging the Bedia tribe!

My visit to the hondru water falls was a wonderful experience where i revisited the vision to reach the Bedia people with the gospel. I remember when i visited the place for the first time and walking down the steps to the water falls. It was my first meeting with a Bedia person and i was like a 4 year old. I was asking him where he lived, how many villages were there, what was their living and food habits, can i come and stay with him for a night, i asked him all kinds of questions. I went back home to our hotel rooms with an excitment i had never known. i was standing there and i reconfirmed my commitment to the 150 thousand Bedia tribe, where the name of Jesus has never been made known. There is no know Bedia church nor a mission working to evangelise them. It is my passion that the Bedia should be reached.