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)