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April 2004 NewsletterFrom:
Alvin H Lange [ahlange@juno.com]
INDIA MISSION SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Volumn 5 No. 1 April 20, 2004
Our Mission Statement As a group of Lutheran Christians, we intend to aid God's mission in India through the prayers and offerings of people who want to see India won for Christ.
Our Activities are Directed. . . 1. to support the ministry of Concordia Theological Seminary, Nagercoil, with prayers and gifts. 2. to support Gospel proclamation and church-planting efforts in India. 3. to encourage church workers in the India Evangelical Lutheran Church 4. to enable new outreach efforts in India. 5. to provide information to the wider church about what God is doing in India through newsletters, speakers, etc. 6. to solicit and receive funds to support the activities of the society.
Brotherly greetings to all the saints who pray for the conversion of India to Christ!
Nagercoil Seminary News The Rev. Dr. Joshua Siromony was appointed the Principal-in-Charge of Concordia Seminary, Nagercoil, upon the mandatory retirement of Rev. Joy in February. Professor Daniel Monikaraj was awarded the D.Th. degree from the Serampore Seminary on February 7. On March 21, fifteen graduates were awarded the B.Th. degree. All of them, plus an additional five who graduated from another seminary, have chosen to plant new churches in their three year vicarage period which begins in June. Over $6,000 has been received so far toward the goal of $10,000 for the establishment of an endowed professorship in O.T. Studies at Concordia Seminary, Nagercoil, in honor of the Rev. Dr. A. Rajaian, former Principal of the Seminary, who was called to his eternal home on October 25, 2003.
Report on the Elections All Circle (Zone) elections have been completed and now the three Synods (Districts) are having their elections. The Ambur Synod has completed its elections and the new administration is functioning. The Nagercoil and Trivandrum Synods are having their elections during the last days of April and first days of May. Fifteen days after the Synod elections are completed, the India Evangelical Lutheran Church will have its elections for its new officers. Pray that God would bless these plans so that there will soon be a unified and functioning sister church in India working together for the glory of God and the spread of the Gospel.
Church Construction Report The following is a list of projects that have been funded by the faithful contributors to the IMS. These projects are in various stages of completion. September 29, the dedication of the Thengumcode Community Hall. (The Indian government gives permission to build "community halls" but not churches, therefore the unusual terminology.) October 26, the cornerstone laying of St. Peter Lutheran Community Hall in Kodungulam. December ?, the dedication of the Thazha-Meenkulam Community Hall. December 21, the dedication of Nazareth Lutheran Community Hall in Chenbagaramanputhoor. February 24, the dedication of the Karl Linsenbardt Memorial Hall in Owaiyar Nagar. Annakarai, Abigiripattarai, Kamaraj Nagar and Nekkundi are in the process of building community halls. You can well imagine the joy of these congregations who are now able to worship together in a building dedicated for that purpose! Many thanks to all who have made these places of worship possible! With approximately $15,000 land can be purchased and a church building built in India. Think what you or your congregation could do! Please pray about it.
Report on the Probationers (Vicars) The Rev. Dr. Monikaraj is responsible for the Probationer Program. He writes, "By God's grace the mission projects work very well in all the places where our Probationers work. The Probationers are assigned in places where we envision a good harvest. They are not only confined to new areas, but also in areas which were abandoned for one reason or another for years.
"Almost all the centers in the Ambur Synod are new in character and the ministry is flourishing in every place where we have Probationers at work. The response is very good, and there is no objection to building churches. The number of worshipers range from 50 - 95 in each center. Within one or two year's time some of these centers can move to self-reliance. Other centers will need some more time to reach that stage.
"In the Nagercoil Synod both new mission fields and old centers are included. There is fast growth in many of the areas. At Kamaraj Nagar five families took Baptism, and in Anakkarai by God's grace 15 children and adults were baptized. At the present time 10 are being prepared for Baptism there and 20 for Confirmation. In this area there is strong opposition to conversions. Hence, there is a dilemma still prevailing whether to receive Baptism or not. Both the pastors and the persons to be baptized are in a panic due to the government threats. But yet the work goes on.
"In the Trivandrum Synod most of the centers were abandoned for years due to so many problems. Probationers were assigned to these places and now they are growing! There are three new centers where the ministry is thriving remarkably!
"I am very happy to report to you that this Project, designed by Dr. Herbert Hoefer, assigning the Probationers to new fields with the aim to plant church, works very well and we have more than ten churches planted in new areas. More than ten congregations which were neglected and literally abandoned have been revitalized and restored to their former status as live congregations. It is hard work to bring people back to church after several years of negrlect. They did not have workers, sites or building in which to worship, but now by God's grace they are having workers living among them, sites on which to build buildings and some already have gotten buildings with the help of the IMS. The kind of help that we are able to receive from the IMS makes us, especially the Probationers, go ahead with the work trusting the Lord. But for the hlep of the IMS their hard work in the new fields due to opposition from all corners could have gone to waste. In the past we have had some bitter experiences. Our workers worked very hard and started some house churches and the effort to buy a site for erecting a building did not materialize. One fine morning some other denominational people come and erect a building and own the center. Many congregations were lost in the past. Thank God for the IMS which has helped and continues to help with this project!
"This is how God is leading us wondrously in our ministry of new evangelism. The Probationers are very happy to work in the new fields. They express their sincere thanks to the IMS for the support both in prayer and in kind to establish the centers as congregations. I, as the person in church of the Probationers, take this opportunity to thank the IMS for everything that you do to plant new congregations."
Yours in His Ministry,
D. Monikaraj
( Dr. Monikaraj's report describes the work of all 21 Probationers in detail. It is fascinating reading! 20 of the Probationers worked as Church Planters. They opened 39 new centers during the last three years. Their probationary period has now come to a close, and all 21 either have or soon will be ordained. Some will stay and continue to work in the centers they have begun, others will accept calls to established congregations. The new Probationers will continue to develop the centers that have already been opened and will initiate new missions as well. With your help, IMS has provided stipends for a number of these Probationers these past three years. Now, however, another group by the name of "Jesus is First" has committed themselves to providing stipends for all the new Probationers. If any of our readers have an interest in helping underwrite this work, please contact Rev. Glenn O'Shoney at his e-mail address drglenno@aol.com or write to PO Box 84, Walburg, TX 78673.)
Recent Disbursements by Treasurer $6,500 to Owaiyar Nagar Community Center 100 to Deaconess Lilly Sangeetham, a designated gift 1,000 to Rev. Rajendran for surgery 2,000 to Dr. D. Monikaraj, a designated gift 2,300 to Zion Lutheran in Enayam for families involved in tragic Christmas caroling traffic accident 500 to Josepin Lal, another person seriously injured in the accident above 500 to Rev. Jaya Alin, injured in a separate auto accident 500 to Rev. Suseelan for the construction of a house for Rev. Joy, a designated gift 75 to Deaconess Satyanesan, a designated gift 2,000 to Ted Kober of Peacemaker Ministries to cover training costs for Peacemakers in the IELC 500 to the wife of Rev. Chacko P. John for funeral and living expenses 250 to Rev. Thavamony Rao who has had serious illness 250 to Rev. James Sundaradhas who has been hospitalized 100 to Rev. M. Babu to help with expenses for cancer treatment for a family member 4,000 to Abigiripattarai mission for its building 5,000 to Anakkarai mission for its building 1,000 to Stanish Stanley to help with his studies at United Theological College, Bangalore
There have been a number of special needs which church workers and others have experienced due to death, illness or studies. Your gifts to the IMS can be designated for whatever cause or project you would like to assist. Some projects to consider are the following. 28 pending requests for either land purchase or building support or both from the centers started by the previous class of Probationers. Rev. R. Johnson is seriously ill and urgently needs a bone marrow transplant. Surgery will cost $22,000. (Health and life insurance are out of the question for church workers who receive a salary from $50 - $100.) Rev. Joy, former Principal at the Seminary, has no house of his own. He needs at least an additional $5,000 to build a house. You may be interested in providing funds for a Seminarian's room, board and tuition for a year at the cost of $350. Gifts of any size are urgently needed and thankfully received. Your gifts can be sent to: India Mission Society, c/o Dr. Mark Appold, 27 Overbrook Dr., Kirksville, MO 63501. The IMS is a tax-exempt organization, and the total amount of each gift is sent directly to our contact in India for distribution.
Exerpts from Area Secretary Hoefer's Updates from His India/Sri Lanka Trip "I had good meetings with the Lanka Lutheran Church leaders. With the help of LCMS World Relief, they are hoping to add 5 pre-schools a year over the next three years. The work here is among the tea plantation workers. It's spectacular scenery, but the workers are right at the survival level. They started two new congregations last year in the plantations where they began pre-schools.
"Another initiative they are planning is a one-year training course for lay evangelists. We struggled to figure out how to make the program self-supporting, as the 30 congregations here can't support even the workers that they presently have. We've thought to provide a stipend for 3 years following the course, but in that time each evangelist would be expected to work out his own means of self-support. The program comes to $10,000 a year, so I hope we can get the funding. If the church is going to be able to respond to all the invitations from the plantations, they will need these additional workers.
"Another major need they have is musical training and instruments. We need to send talented youth from each congregation for training and then provide them with harmoniums (small, hand-pumped organs) and tabala drums. Music is so important for uplifting worship, so I hope that we can carry the program out. . .
(From India he writes), "We had an interesting conversation with a church member as we were leaving Chennai the first time. He spoke how his ancestors had lived in "a caged land" as outcastes. These people are so grateful to the church and the Gospel for the dignity they have in life. This man was from a family of nine children, and all have come up in life; whereas their grandfather had been a despised untouchable. He joked how I had taken his father in my missionary car, and now he was taking me in his car.
"As we were with the students, I asked him to share what he felt was the secret of a happy life. He said, "Family devotions." He went on to speak of Ps. 103:1-2 which Christians here say at the end of every prayer and function. They particularly emphasize the phrase, "forget not all his benefits." What a difference it makes in life when you see things with a grateful eye. Christianity brings hope and the desire for progress, primarily through education, for the oppressed. All they need is an opportunity and some encouragement in the Lord and all their abilities blossom.
"The Ambur Synod is now about 90% self-supporting. They also are very active evangelistically, with each pastor reporting 30-50 baptisms last year. The pastors work so hard for so very little salary. I meet so many of them to hear their struggles, and they are justs grateful to have someone care - even if there is so little that I can do to help or change things.
"We had another uplifting experience among the Christian villagers. Their worship has so much vitality. They sing with such gusto and devotion. In all the struggles of their oppression and poverty, this faith is what gives them hope and strength. The pastor said that about one-fourth of the worshippers are Hindus. They hesitate to convert, however, because they will lose all the government benefits (scholarships, reserved seats in colleges, reserved government jobs, etc.) if they get baptized. . .
"I am now in rural Punjab giving a 3-day seminar on Lutheran theology to a group of churches that are considering to become Lutheran. The group is amazing. The pastor has had several visions guiding his work, from his call to his place of residence to his church location. Twice radicals have sought to kill him, but now his work has gained spiritual credibility. The breakthrough came when there was a girl close to death whom God healed in response to his prayers.
"At the start, he didn't have credibility because he and his wife did not have a child for 3 1/2 years; "If your God cannot provide such a basic blessing, why should we convert to him?" Then he had a vision that he would have a girl first and then a boy, and that their names should be "Vision" and "Witness," which is what happened and what they are named.
"Jesus is not just a suffering Savior among these people. he is a living, ascended Lord. he is present and powerful. That is the Gospel that they proclaim. Their worship is enthusiastic and emotional. They want the solid theolgocial underpinnings that a Lutheran theology can provide. i certainly don't want to undermine their powerful, Spirit-filled Christian life, however. Most of us staid theological Lutherans could use the spiritual vitality they have.
"Several people I have met here and in South India were well-placed professionals. They left their secure, well-paying jobs to set off in faith in mission work. Several are working among the most downtrodden of the society - which is a switch from the intellectual and professional and business lives that they had been leading. Some have also delayed their marriages so that they could do this ministry and hopefully get themselves financially stabilized in ministry before getting married.
"Why is it that these Christians can be so self-sacrificing and dedicated, whereas we in the West are so self-absorbed and complacent? Maybe it's just that they see the needs so starkly before them, but we only see them on TV and in magazines. We have so much to learn from them about a meaningful life."
God bless,
Herb
(We will include more of Herb's "Updates" in the next Newsletter.)
Dr. Lu Meinzen to Teach in India This Fall The Gurukul Seminary has invited Dr. Lu Meinzen, a member of the Board of Directors of IMS, to teach seminarians during the fall semester there. He will be teaching from September - December. If you would like to help support this worthwhile project, please get in touch with him at Lumeinzen@juno.com or at 18002 Shepherd Valley Rd., Glencoe, MO, 63038.
Kodaikanal News Ending a dispute over a 6.48-acre tract of land at Loch End, Kodaikanal, the Madras High Court has ruled that the Kodaikanal International School is entitled to retain the property. The Judge ruled that the school was forcibly dispossessed of the piece of real estate. The Evangelical Lutheran India Mission purchased the property in November, 1912. It consisted of 15 buildings, including a church, classroom building and a staff residence. In 1930, the mission handed over the premises to the school. In 1975, the mission created a trust for all property owned by it in Tamil Nadu. It specifically mentioned that the Loch End property would remain with the school "so long as the school requires." However, contrary to the decree, one of the trustees, in April of 1991, signed a sale agreement for the sale of the property. On July 1, 1991, when the school was closed for the summer, the agreement-holder trespassed on the premises, locked the gates and took possession of the land. Now that the school is legally back in the hands of the IELC, the Kodaikanal International School must pay rent to the IELC. Praise God for this favorable judgment and pray that the International School will honor the debt it owes the Church.
May God bless you in your important Kingdom work.
Your editor, Alvin H. Lange, Pastor Emeritus |
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