The Conversion Agenda

"Freedom to convert" is counterproductive as a generalized doctrine. It fails to come to terms with the complex interrelationships between self and society that make the concept of individual choice meaningful. Hence, religious conversion undermines, and in extremes would dissolve, that individual autonomy and human freedom.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Report On Gospel Missions of India

Organization

Gospel Missions of India (GMI) is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax exempt, religious organization based in Michigan, USA to support Christian workers and ministries in India associated with the Brethren assemblies.

Memberships
- GMI is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and Christian Ministries Management Association, both of which stand for financial integrity and public accountability.

Support qualified national missionary workers and ministries engaged in the task of carrying out Christ’s great commission in India.


Mission

• Supply needed funds, facilities and equipment to produce radio programs in different Indian languages.
• Provide Bibles, literature, and follow up materials.
• Print Christian literature in different Indian languages.
• Support efforts to translate the Bible into Indian languages.
• Provide resources for Indian Bible schools and colleges.
• Begin and maintain Christian libraries with books and equipment.
• Construct new church buildings.
• Provide means of transportation for missionaries and gospel teams.
• Train local believers for village evangelism.
• Distribute Bibles in various Indian languages.
• Encourage Indian believers outside India to get involved in the work.
• Create awareness among American Christians concerning the need in India.
• Provide relief work to the most needy brethren.




Belief


• The Bible - We believe the Bible, composed of 66 books, is the divinely inspired Word of God; is inerrant in the original autographs; and is the supreme and final authority in faith and life.

• The Trinity - We believe in one God eternally present in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

• God the Father - We believe that God the Father, the First Person of the Divine Trinity, is Spirit—infinite, eternal and unchangeable in all His attributes.

• Jesus Christ - We believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ—that He is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Divine Trinity. We believe in His virgin birth, death, bodily resurrection, present exaltation at the Father’s right hand, and in His personal and imminent return. We believe that He is true God and true man, and that He is the only and sufficient Mediator between God and man.

• The Holy Spirit - We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Divine Trinity, and that He convicts the world of sin, regenerates the sinner, indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers all believers for godly living and service.

• Man - We believe that man was created in the image of God, but a sinner; that the fall and lost estate of man—his spiritually dead condition—makes necessary the New Birth.

• Salvation - We believe in salvation by grace through faith in the substitutionary death and shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

• The Church - We believe that the Church the Body, or Bride of Christ—consists only of those who are born again; of those for whom He now makes intercession in heaven; and, those for whom He shall come again.

• Resurrection and the Eternal State - We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost: the saved unto everlasting joy and blessedness in perfect union with Christ in heaven; and the lost unto everlasting punishment separated from God.

• The Great Commission - We believe in Christ’s great commission to the Church to go into all the world and preach the great Gospel to every creature, baptizing and teaching those who believe.


Projects



GMI is engaged in several projects. To find out more about specific projects or ministries, please contact GMI.

The Lord’s Workers - There are currently over 1600 Indian missionaries from Brethren assemblies serving the Lord in India. They look to the Lord for their support. You may consider - supporting them financially to fulfill any of their following needs:
• Expenses and needs associated with the ministry such as literature, and transportation.
• Family and personal needs such as housing and children’s education.
• Medical care for the workers and their family members.
• Widows of late evangelists who need to be supported.

Bible Schools
- There are several good assembly Bible Schools in India that are engaged in training and equipping missionary workers in Doctrines and Evangelism. You may consider sponsoring a Bible School student, or contributing to cover the expenses of operating any of the schools.

Orphanages
- Provide a home for abandoned children and children from very poor families. Room and board, as well as clothing, schooling, medical care are provided for them. There are many orphanages in different states and a good number of them are run by missionary workers as an extension of their ministry. Over the years, Christian Orphanages have proven to be a very effective ministry. Often children raised in these orphanages go on to serve the Lord among their own people.

Radio Programs
- GMI works closely with established radio ministries in India to support their programs. Currently programs are aired in eight different languages (Hindi, Oriya, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Marathi, Chhattisgarhi and Nepali). These fifteen minute programs are broadcasted weekly. The airtime cost is just $75 for one language each week. Follow up with interested listeners is done using Bible correspondence courses.

Literature Ministry - Large quantities of gospel portions, tracts, booklets, New Testaments and Bibles are needed to support outreach work. GMI is working to meet this need by supporting a literature ministry based in Mumbai. This ministry purchases and supplies large quantities of gospel packets based on the requests from missionary workers and assemblies. This literature is then supplied free of charge to the requesters.

Assembly Building Construction - Construction of assembly buildings remains a large need throughout India as new assemblies are planted and existing assemblies grow. In many parts of India it is difficult to rent facilities for the purpose of holding church meetings.

Gospel Outreach Teams - Several ministries in India organize outreach teams to visit different locations in cooperation with the local missionary and conduct short term gospel campaigns and distribute tracts and literature.

Tribal Ministries - Several missionary workers are engaged in ministering to various tribal groups. Work among the tribal groups involve Bible translations, literacy programs and running orphanages.

Medical Ministries - Several ministries are engaged in running hospitals, clinics, mobile medical facilities, and ministry to people suffering from AIDS. Medical ministries focus on meeting the physical as well as spiritual needs of the people being served.

Child Evangelism - Child evangelism is a very effective tool in reaching many with the Gospel. GMI is involved in supporting a very effective child evangelism ministry which produces and provides materials and training for conducting Bible Clubs and Vacation Bible Schools.


Current Evangelistic Trends

The Indian assemblies have learnt to adapt to the changing circumstances, and as a result there are numerous types of evangelistic ministries.

Open-air preaching is becoming increasingly difficult, but still continues to be an important method for sharing the gospel. In recent decades there has been an increase in house-to-house visitation and sharing of the gospel. In a society where women are averse to visit the houses of strangers, sisters' teams go for house-to-house visitation in southern parts of India and receive a warm welcome from the unchurched. The results of such a personal approach have been gratifying.

Literature evangelism plays an important role in India. The high literacy-rate has produced a minimum of 500 million people who are functionally literate, and open to literature evangelism. Many assembly ministries and evangelists use this opportunity, and use literature produced either by them or by other agencies such as the Bible Society. Of late, assembly-based movements like SBS (Evangelistic fellowship for Children) have started targeting unreached and unchurched Indian children through VBS and Children's Clubs. Others use the Internet, Radio, TV and even CDs for evangelistic activities.


India The Challenge of reaching the people of India with the Gospel

  • Within 20 years India will be the world's most populous nation.
  • There are more people in India than in North and South America combined.
  • While the Christian Church in India is estimated to be growing by 5,000 people per day, the nation grows by 55,000 per day.
  • India contains the largest block of unreached people in the world.
  • India is one-third smaller than the size of the United States geographically, and four times bigger than the United States in terms of population.


A LOOK AT INDIA

Many nations (people groups) make up India's 900,000,000 people. Some 3,000 people groups in India speak at least 1,652 languages. Beyond the complexity of language exists different religions, varied cultures and a society divided by caste-together creating a grid of barriers to the spread of the Gospel.

Undertaking the religion of India's 900 million people is not easy. Regionalism and religious fundamentalism are on the increase. On the other hand, India has a sleeping giant of 36 million Christians. Pray for a revival among them and for a frontier mission vision.

BARRIERS

The Indian church is thriving in some people groups but may not spread beyond that group. Why? Because of barriers such as language, culture, and caste. Furthermore, most Christians lack the vision to reach beyond their own group.

Cross-cultural mission work is required to penetrate each people group and start a church that can then make the Gospel available to the whole group.

BREAKING BARRIERS

Most people groups in India have not had a chance to hear and do not have access to the Gospel. The purpose of missionaries is to go where the church is not present rather than expand the church where it already exists. Some so-called mission work in India is really evangelism and is growing the church in an already reached people group. This is good, but it does not directly affect unreached groups.

REACHED AND UNREACHED

The world's highest concentration of Christians is found in some areas of India, and yet India also has vast areas of more unreached groups-people with no access to the Gospel-than any other country. One such area is the Punjab-home of the Sikhs. Punjab was closed to foreigners until recently due to unrest arising from the efforts of some to have Punjab recognized as an independent homeland. Today there is much opportunity for Christian outreach.

MISSIONARY VISION

It is not enough for the church to grow within a people group. There must also be obedience to the Great Commission. In the past, progress toward world evangelization has been slowed because many missionaries failed to establish mission-minded churches. What happens when mission fields become mission-sending churches? A terrific example can be seen in the Mizo peoples of India. Missionaries took the Gospel to them 100 years ago, and now this group is sending over 1,700 missionaries of its own. The best way to reach the peoples of India is to mobilize the existing Christian groups to be like the Mizos.

Gospel Network


  • AD2000 & Beyond Movement

    url: http://www.ad2000.org/

    The AD2000 & Beyond Movement is a global, informal network of Christian missionary
    agencies, denominations, churches and individuals committed to world
    evangelism.


  • Abide In Christ International Ministries

    url: http://members.aol.com/njcnewsgrp/aicim.htm

    Welcome to Abide in Christ "Foundation of Christianity" International Ministries,
    and New Jerusalem News.


  • Agni Ministries

    url: http://www.agniministries.com/

    A ministry started by Sadhu Chellappa, a powerful speaker, who was in the forefront
    of evangelism in Tamil Nadu.


  • Althea International Ministries (AIM)

    url: www.althea.org

    An evangelistic ministry doing seminars on Biblical subjects focussed
    to young people and to equip Christians for witnessing. AIM also do
    Church planting and charitable mission through Althea India Mission
    (AIM) based in Karnataka state of India.


  • Bible Times

    url: http://www.bibletimes.com

    The premiere Christian web-site, Biblical resource, and source of nourishment for the eternal part of you- the soul.


  • Blessing Youth Mission

    url: http://www.blessingyouthmission.org/

    Revival camps are conducted for christians to experience the renewal and
    restoration. Bible Study Programmes for and training camps are organized for
    the growth and maturity of the believers.


  • Christ For Asia International

    url: http://www.christforasia.org

    A non denominational Christian Gospel outreach ministry conveying
    Christ in the native languages to Asians and Asian origins with an aim
    to bring as many as souls to Christ before He returns.


  • Christian Aid Mission

    url: http://www.christianaid.org/index.htm

    Preaching the Gospel in some of the hardest-to- reach areas on earth.


  • Christian Bible Fellowship - Andhra Pradesh, India

    url: http://www.ourchurch.com/member/b/barbmindia

    Christian Bible Fellowship is an evangelistic ministry in Andhra Pradesh, India.
    Come & see the miracles of changed lives!


  • Christian Life International Bible College

    url: http://www.clibc.edu

    Christian Life International Bible College offers a complete External
    Degree Bible program in English, Tamil, Telegu, Hindi, Gujarati, French, and
    Russian. Included in this program is a complete Bible Commentary that covers
    over 3000 pages in material. The price for the External Program is extremely
    reasonable.

  • Evangelizing India For Christ

    url: http://members.tripod.com/EIFC

    The mission of Evangelizing India For Christ shall consist of Evangelism, the
    proclamation of good news about Jesus Christ; Establishment of Churches, the planting
    and nourishing of churches ...


  • Faith Ministries for India, Unreached People Missions

    url: http://www.fmfi.org/

    Our aim is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout India. Our primary
    strategy is church planting, followed by numerous methods of effectively communicating
    the message of Jesus Christ ...


  • Good News India

    url: http://www.goodnewsindia.org/

    To preach the gospel and make disciples among the unreached areas of North India.


  • Good News for India

    url: http://www.goodnewsforindia.org/

    Good News for India is a Christian interdenominational organization dedicated
    to training native believers to spread the gospel to the unreached parts of
    India.


  • Gospel For Asia

    url: http://www.gfa.org/

    Gospel for Asia. "Reaching the most unreached." Welcome to Gospel for
    Asia's home page! Together we can reach our generation for
    Christ.


  • Gospel Missions of India

    url: http://www.gospelmi.org/

    Gospel Missions of India (GMI) provides an opportunity for believers here in the
    United States and Canada to continue the Gospel work in India from their homes.


  • Gospel News for All Nations

    url: http://www.keralanews.com

    Gospel News for All Nations from Poruvazhy, Kollam, Kerala, India


  • Gospel for India

    url: http://vcu.org/gospelforindia

    Gospel For India is a Christ centered,Bible based missionary organization.
    Engaged in evangelism and Church planting among the most unreached people groups
    of India by training,equipping, and sendingout natives of India.


  • Grace Fellowship, Jaipur, Rajasthan

    url: http://netministries.org/see/charmin/CM01783

    Reaching South Asia for Jesus! To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness
    to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins,
    and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith


  • HBI Ministries International

    url: http://www.gospelcom.net/hbi/

    HBI GlobalPartners exists to glorify God by enabling the North American church to
    develop partnerships to reach the unreached of India and beyond.

  • House of the Good Shepherd Ministries

    url: http://www.houseofthegoodshepherd.org

    This Candadian ministry is involved in setting up a permanent drop-in
    style Christian outreach center in Delhi.


  • Immanuel faith Ministries International

    url: http://ifmi.homepad.com

    Christian Missionary Ministry


  • India Full Gospel Mission

    url: http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ifgm/index.html

    India Full Gospel Missionary Institute, Bhopal India Full
    Gospel Missionary Institute (IFGMI) is situated in Bhopal, the
    capital of India’s largest state, Madhya Pradesh. This institute
    in Govindpura, Bhopal is the headquarters of India Full Gospel Mission
    (IFGM), which was founded nearly 25 years ago.


  • India Prayer & Fellowship Association

    url: http://www.geocities.com/athens/troy/2836/

    India Prayer & Fellowship Association is a registered trust in India and started our
    mission from 6th Jan. '98. We are doing evangelism among non-believers.
    We do door to door ministry area wise and have close friendly relationship with those who
    responded for prayer and lead them to salvation. We start prayer cells and Sunday Schools
    area wise so that the children of our contacts get regular teaching also.
    We have regular free postal follow up to those who are double minded. We provide free
    literature, tracts and Christian comic books. As the number of contacts are increasing
    day by day we are looking for sponsors to support evangelists / counsellors, supply of
    material, etc.


  • India Rural Evangelical Fellowship

    url: http://irefusa.org/

    Evangelical Christian mission bringing hope to rural India by child sponsorship
    for food education, and operation of orphanages and by sponsorship of native
    evangelists spreading the gospel of ...


  • Indian Evangelical Team

    url: http://www.pgv.com

    IET has experienced phenomenal growth during the past 24 years. The missionary team
    itself has increased from P. G. & Lilly to 976 and the number of mission stations
    from 1 to 367.


  • Inter Collegiate Prayer Fellowship

    url: http://www.icpf.org/

    Inter Collegiate Prayer Fellowship, born in a student convention in 1980 In a humble
    way, with only a handful of groups and a few committed voluntary workers in Kerala,
    the southern state of India, has grown to its present position with over, fifty staffs.


  • Jesus Calls Ministries India

    url: http://www.jesuscalls.org

    The 19 facets of Jesus Calls ministry carry Christ's love, compassion
    and His divine power to the people, who live in sorrow, around the world.
    Every month, millions of people receive abundant blessings from the Lord
    Jesus through these ministries.


  • Life and Light Ministries

    url: http://netministries.org/see/charmin/cm01400

    MINISTRY FOUNDED IN 1994 WITH VISION TO REACH THE SOULS IN
    INDIA,ESPECIALLY THE STATE OF KARNATAKA.
    CURRENTLY WE HAVE SEVEN FULL TIME MINISTERS AND
    WORKERS IN SEVERAL PARTS OF KARNATAKA.


  • MARANATHA GOSPEL FELLOWSHIP

    url: http://www.geocities.com/maranatha_fellowship/

    Evangelistic Christian site with focus on Missions

  • Mission 21 India

    url: http://www.missionindia.org/

    Mission 21 India is an agency which seeks to reach India with the gospel of
    Christ through motivating, equipping and training national churches to plant,
    grow and multiply new churches through India in a systematic and measurable way.


  • Native Missionary Movement of India

    url: http://www.nmmindia.org/index.htm

    Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

    Founded 1981 by Pastor Thomas Mathew. Have 600 Native Missionaries and 600 Local
    Churches. Mission work among 45 unreached ethnic groups.


  • North India Missions

    url: http://www.nimissions.org/

    The purpose of North India Missions is to evangelize the northern part
    of the sub-continent of India, leading men and women to faith in the
    Lord Jesus Christ, then assist in the start up of churches to teach and
    equip these to lead a solid spiritual life according to the Bible.


  • Proclamation Ministries

    url: http://www.proclamationministries.org/

    Proclamation Ministries is an evangelistic organization dedicated to proclaim the
    good news of God's salvation, His glory among the nations, and His wonders among
    all peoples.


  • Project India 2000

    url: http://www.jesusfilm.org/pi2000/

    Through the use of the JESUS film, a powerful multi-language
    presentation of the gospel, Project India 2000 plans to reach the diverse
    populations of India.


  • Real Audio Gospel messages

    url: http://www.i-am.org/south_asia.htm

    Real Audio messages of God's love and grace in several major Indian languages with an easy to use map interface.


  • Sports Outreach India

    url: http://www.mtoak.org/soi/

    The Sports Ministry in India has seen unique happenings since its inception. The
    movement is built on inter-denominational Sports Chapters.


  • To the Utter Most Part - The Call to North India

    url: http://www.ad2000.org/utermost.htm

    Why North India? North India is strategically important in completing the
    unfinished task of world evangelization


  • Voice of Calvary International Ministries

    url: http://www.geocities.com/athens/7834/

    We are an international missions organization
    which is working to train and send missionaries
    into the unreached people groups of India.


  • Voice of Gospel

    url: http://www.thecore.com/~clf/webp/vog1.htm

    Voice of Gospel is an indigenous, Full Gospel, missionary, non-profit organisation
    established on the foundation of the fundamental truths of the Apostolic
    creed.


  • 1 Comments:

    At 10/27/2010 09:40:00 PM, Anonymous Rachel said...

    Society for Women Enlightenment Awareness and Relief (SWEAR)


    Welcome to our website! “SWEAR” is a non-profit, charitable organization established in Andhra Pradesh with a vision to “Reach the Unreached” with the Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ and to Transform the lives of children, women, families and communities living in poverty and injustice. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and governed by a responsible board of directors and Mission Director comprising of born again men and women of high Christian virtue, integrity, and caliber.


    We at SWEAR want to thank you for taking time to visit SWEAR India website.
    We pray that you will be inspired to be part of making an impact in our Country. As you read you will find we have a dynamic vision for helping people, encouraging people and sharing Jesus.
    With individuals like you from around the world who value integrity as our partners, we will continue to bring God’s word to a dying world.
    Dear Friends please visit our web page and respond to the call of God in your life
    I am looking forward to hear from you
    With love and Prayers
    Rachel. A .Sumedha
    www.swearindia.org
    swearnellore@yahoo.in

     

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