Persecuted For The Sake Of Christ:
Independent Church In India (ICII) has been working to reach the unreached people groups in remote areas of India, Pakistan, and Africa. Our missionaries have been going to unreached tribes, building relationships, gaining their trust, and bringing them the Gospel message. They have planted churches in many of these areas among groups who never knew about Christ before they came. Often, as these tribal people come to faith in Christ and leave their traditional ancestral beliefs, they suffer persecution from the rest of the tribe.
“We are fools for Christ’s sake… Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.” (1 Corinthians 4:10-13)
Christian Families Forced To Flee Into The Jungle
Recently, our team leader in the Indian state of Odisha told us about a group of believers belonging to the Adivasi people group in his area who speak the Kui language. The ICII pastor has been working there for the past two years and has led many of them to Christ. Because they became Christians, some extremists got angry and turned their own village against them. They were barred from the village shops and even from getting water at the well.
When one night they heard about an enraged mob on the way who intended to burn their houses, about fifteen Christian families fled for their lives into the jungle with their children and little else but the clothes they were wearing, leaving everything they own and had known behind. These families are now living together in the jungle. They have been struggling hard to find food, and must walk over a mile for water. With the help of a few other Christians in the area they put up makeshift tarp tents, but the monsoon season has begun and in the heavy rains they leak constantly, making life miserable and sound sleep impossible.
Thanks to God’s grace and the help of ICII’s supporters, we were able to take these desperate families food and put up some sheet roofing to provide them with better shelter so they can stay dry during the torrential monsoon rains.
One man from the group shared: “We all ran to the jungle and left many of our belongings so we could save our lives. The reason for all of this is because we don’t want to deny Jesus. We all love Jesus! Even if we die, we will die as children of God. Many days after we accepted Jesus, we were being pressured to deny Him and worship idols instead. But we had come to know that Jesus is the only true God. After we came here we started to lack food but now we surely believe God is providing our needs through you. Thank you much for showing the love of Jesus to us in this time of need. We will always be faithful to Jesus our whole lives.”
These persecuted families are clinging strongly to their new faith, worshipping the Lord together and putting their trust in Him to sustain them as they live in the jungle.
A Whole Family Accepts Christ Through VBS
ICII Missionary Rajesh shared, “This summer I thought we cannot conduct VBS because of the lockdown, but God opened the door for us to start it in many remote villages. Many children were unable to comeoutside of their villages, but we went inside through the help of the village people and we shared the gospel to many children. One girl told me; ‘I was really sad because many people are dying with COVID. I was angry at God about why He allowed this to happen if He loved the people in this world. I was also afraid of death. I thought that if I get COVID I may die, and what will happen to me next? But you shared about Jesus in the VBS and now I understand how much Jesus loves me and this whole world. I learned a lot about Jesus and I have decided to follow Him until I die’. The girl brought her mother on the fourth day to the VBS and she also heard the gospel. Since then her whole family is now following Jesus!”
Rebellious Teenager Comes To Christ
Viki is a fourteen-year-old boy, and was already addicted to some bad habits. Every time ICII hosted a VBS in this boy’s area, he would come out and sit outside his house and listen. After two days, he finally approached one of the VBS team members, and shared with them how he had lost his mother at a young age, and how his father is an alcoholic. Viki told us he was very unhappy with his life. He continued by sharing with us how, the night before, Jesus came to him in a dream. He told Viki that He loves him, and he should turn away from his sinful habits and follow Him. Viki has now repented and has come to accept Jesus as His Lord and Savior! He continued coming to VBS.
God Provides A Jeep To Reach Tribes In Africa
Through ICII’s supporters, the Lord has provided a Jeep for the gospel team to reach places in Kenya, ok, and Tanzania not reachable by a regular car. A few days after Pastor Calvince, ICII’s leader in Kenya, went to purchase the Jeep, he and his team drove it to a hard-to-reach bush area to bring the good news of the Gospel to those who have never heard.
On the first mission trip with their Jeep, eleven people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior! God has provided an answer to four years of diligent prayer by the team in Kenya. They prayed for a Jeep so they could reach souls that cannot be reached any other way. God has answered and fulfilled this prayer for ICII’s African Gospel team!
Saving Lives as COVID-19 Pandemic Devastates the Nation of India
Full lockdowns were reinstated in many states to try to curb the disastrous spike of COVID cases which has been devastating the nation since this past March. Many families have no reserve supplies at all, and with no work, they have no money to buy daily food. Often already undernourished, the situation quickly becomes very desperate for the extremely poor, especially for those with children. Many of ICII’s pastors and missionaries are struggling themselves, but through the love of Christ are doing whatever they can to help the families of their churches and their villages. Often this means sharing what little food their own families have with the desperate people who come to their doors having nowhere else to turn. At the time of this writing, through ICII’s generous supporters we have been able to provide help for some 1,900 pastors, missionaries and their families in nine states of India since the surge began. Here are a few of the many testimonies that demonstrate how God will never forsake his people.
God Provides for a Pastor’s Family in Madhya Pradesh, India:
A pastor from this state shared: “I have been doing ministry for the past ten years with my whole family. Our calling is to reach out to remote villages that have never heard the name of Jesus Christ. During the COVID-19 outbreak, I saw increased suffering and hardships in these remote villages. The people in these villages have become so desperate that they worship and perform rituals to a god that they believe will cure them of COVID-19. The mortality rate from COVID-19 in these villages had become so high that sometimes people, upon contacting the virus, commit suicide out of fear. Many of the villages are also experiencing food shortages, leading to starvation. I often worry that my four children will have enough to eat each day, so we pray to God, and He hasn’t forgotten us during this time of famine. I am thankful that God has provided my needs through you. My family and I are praying for you every day. Thank you for thinking of the needs of Gospel workers who are reaching out to these remote villages!”
Saving Tribal Missionaries’ Lives in Maharashtra, India
A pastor in Maharashtra shared another incredible testimony: “When I was only four years old, my family moved to a tribal area to preach the Gospel to the residents. I remember my father moved to this area with only a single box containing all of his clothing and possessions. When we first came, we had no food, and had to search for food in the jungle. We didn’t know anyone who would help us. Since then, we now have many churches in this area, and we are branching out to reach the surrounding Barela tribal groups. All of our missionaries in this area, who were trained by my father and I, are reaching these tribes.”
“Since the COVID-19 lockdown, many of our missionaries were starving. In the surrounding tribal regions, people have been severely affected by the COVID-19 virus, and have even built stretchers by hand to take family members to hospitals in the city, but, because it is a long journey, most never made it. The ICII team arrived to our area at the right time, and supplied our monthly and medical needs. It is only through their help that many of our missionaries are alive today. It is through your help that God sustained the needs of His servants during this lockdown period. Thank you!”
Providing Food for Leprosy Colonies
ICII was able to deliver food to several leprosy colonies where people were on the brink of starvation due to the COVID outbreak. Here is a letter from residents of a very grateful colony.
A Letter From Thankful Colony Residents
“Dear friends, after the COVID-19 outbreak, we lost many of our loved ones due to not only the virus, but also because of starvation. We all make our living day to day by going to the city and begging. Since the lockdown, no one wants us wandering around the streets in the city, and if we do, the police will beat us. Because of this, we have no means of getting food, and many of us were starving. One day, ICII missionaries came to our colony with a full month’s worth of rice and other things for our colony to eat! This was during the time we needed it the most, and it may be the only reason we are alive today. Our whole colony was sealed off as a restricted area, so no one was able to bring food for us, but God sent you to keep us alive. Thank you so much for helping us!”
Isolated and Persecuted Family in Pakistan Receives Help!
The nation of Pakistan has also faced lockdowns due to COVID-19. ICII’s missionary team was able to provide help for many families during their time of need. Due to the dangerous environment for believers in their area, a family of Christians had been hiding because of their faith in Jesus Christ, but still they could go out and work to earn a living. Now, during the COVID-19 lockdown, they were totally isolated, and had no way of finding food. During this time, they have been praying to God to provide their needs. At one point, this family had only two days worth of food remaining, even though the lockdown was supposed to continue for another whole month! Upon hearing this, the family was very upset but still put their trust in God, and lifted up their prayers to Him, knowing that He would provide all of their needs. The next day, missionaries came to their area and provided bags of food for them. The entire family was weeping with tears of joy, thanking God for His provision for them!
I Don’t Have Words to Express my Gratitude!
ICII tribal Pastor Udayakumar whose ministry is to preach the Gospel among unreached people groups told this: “I don’t have words to express my gratitude! Currently, I am doing ministry in tribal areas. My wife was affected with COVID-19, and was in critical condition. At one point she needed oxygen so we rushed her to the hospital, but none of the hospitals had any room or any oxygen for her. After three hours of searching, we finally found a place that would take her, but the expenses were very high. We had to sign a paper agreement making me liable to pay all the expenses, even though I have no money nor any means to repay it. With tears in my eyes, I prayed to God and trusted in Him, believing that He would provide my needs. The same day my wife was in the hospital, I got a phone call from ICII, informing me that all my bills have been paid for! I want to give you my sincerest thanks for supporting my wife’s medical needs during this time. Without your support, I may not have been able to save my wife’s life. I am praying for you always!”
For more information please contact us:
Independent Church in India
PO Box 238
Fredericksburg, PA 17026
Email: info@indchurch.org
Phone (717) 865-7885