The Founder of Independent Church in India
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The founder of Independent Church in India is a man of God named Pastor Britto Joseph. His ministry is located in the state of Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India, located in the town of Vadipatti near a large populated city named Madurai. In Pastor Britto's nation, there are many ungodly religious beliefs and much opposition to the Gospel, but in the midst of it all God is doing miracles through him and his ministry. His ministry has reaped and is still reaping a harvest of souls for God's kingdom. |
Pastor Britto - A Man After God's Heart
Pastor Britto has given his whole heart as a humble servant to fulfill the call of God upon his life. In December of 2002 the Lord has provided a small vehicle for his ministry, enabling them to reach many more villages each day. Before this, Pastor Britto and his Gospel teams traveled from village to village, riding old bicycles. Most of his ministers still do not even have the luxury of an old beat-up bike, but must travel on foot, carrying their ministry equipment long distances in a very hot climate.
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Associate Pastor Richard preaching the
Gospel to street kids. Click here to learn and
see more pictures of Pastor Richard doing ministry.
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They go proclaiming the love of Jesus to all who will listen; it may be by showing films, sharing the Gospel and providing needs for street children, or distributing Bibles and tracts.
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The Lord has given Pastor Britto the burden to reach 800 villages this year through personal evangelism and Gospel film ministry to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
To see more photos of villages where we have preached the Gospel -please click here.
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Pastor Britto's associate pastor, Richard (who is also his brother) is an overseer of many of the outreaches they conduct in hospitals, for the sick, blind, and lepers. |
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The Lord has also given Pastor Britto a call and many opportunities to support poor pastors, churches and missionaries. He has training discipleship programs to equip the youth and send them out as Gospel teams to proclaim the Good News.
To see more photos of our Discipleship Training Schools -please click here.
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Youth seminar during a time of worship.
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Believers worshipping the Lord in unity.
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On top of all this, God has used Pastor Britto to pioneer seven churches. He has appointed men of God over six of these churches, while he and his brother Pastor Richard now oversee and pastor the church at Vadipatti. They faithfully shepherd their people through Bible study and discipleship training programs.
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Pastor Britto's desire to serve the Lord does not stop there; he has made many painful sacrifices for the call that God has put on his life. Many trials and tribulations, both physical and mental, have come his way. In August of 2002, Pastor Britto and four others in his youth ministry team were preaching the Gospel and distributing Gospel tracts at a bus station. For their faithfulness, they were assaulted and beaten by some Hindu cult members, causing much pain to their bodies and many medical bills. Weeks later, Britto was still not fully recovered in health, but we were informed by one of his other ministers that he was back out preaching the Gospel at the crack of dawn. This persecution has only increased his faith. He has shared his heart with us that he is willing to die for the Gospel. But this is not the first time Britto was exposed to this kind of opposition. At the beginning of his ministry, another pastor was persecuted for preaching the Gospel and, having no money to buy medicine, he died. After learning of this tearful incident, Britto sold his only piece of land for money to provide for other poor pastors' needs.
A Testimony
"In my name shall they cast out devils" (Mark 16:17)
Pastor Britto has many testimonies of miraculous events that have happened through the eight years of his ministry. One example is the case of a woman named Ambika. Ambika was possessed by a spirit of divination that had been passed down through her family. The whole village where she lived worshipped her like a god. Hearing about this from a friend, Pastor Britto went to share with Ambika about Jesus' love but she rose up bitterly against him. That did not stop him. He was led of the Lord to go back to Ambika a week later. This time he even shared more about Jesus Christ and told her honestly that she was possessed with a devil spirit that she called god, but it would end up destroying her. Afterwards, the Holy Spirit began convicting Ambika and she went to Pastor Britto's church the very next week. During a powerful time of worship, all the demonic spirits went out of her and she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior!
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Britto giving Ambika supplies.
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After this, the whole village rose up against Ambika and Pastor Britto's church, looking for a chance to beat them. The village people destroyed all Ambika's things and burned down her house. After this misfortune, Pastor Britto's believers helped Ambika by supplying many of her needs. She is now a very active believer in his church. To those who used to come to her for divination, she now testifies about Jesus Christ her Lord and Savior. God has used her to help Independent Church in India to reap over 20 souls in that area!
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These are just some of the miraculous and life-changing fruits that "Independent Church in India" has been bearing for the kingdom of God.
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"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).
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