India (MNN) ― The state of Bihar in North India is home to nearly 83 million people. The name stems from the word "monastery," and the region shares a long history with Buddhism.
Today, according to Gospel For Asia, Bihar's population is 77 percent Hindu and 15 percent Muslim, with ethnic religions sharing another 5 percent. Christians make up less than one percent of the population, and because of the area's resistance to evangelism efforts, it has become known as the "graveyard of missions."
Bibles For the World is focusing its attention here. BFTW's Mawii Pudaite says beginning this week, "100,000 Bibles are on their way to families in Patna in the state of Bihar in India. The need is so great to share the Gospel. Let us pray that the Lord will prepare the hearts of the people to receive His Word with gladness."
Though statistics indicate that at least half of the state is not yet evangelized, there are signs of greater openness to the Christian faith. "People are hungry for God's Word, even though they don't know that it's the Word of God that they are hungry for. 85% of the people worship two million gods and goddesses. It shows that the people of India are deeply religious."
Around 30 major Christian organizations are working in Bihar. While the Gospel is attractive to some, to others it represents the threat of change. In some areas of Bihar, mission agencies have been violently confronted by people who want to stop the spread of the Gospel.
Open Bible distribution can put those who are searching for Christ at risk, or result in people being afraid to accept a Bible. Pudaite says, "The genius of this project method is sending the Word of God by mail. They receive them in the privacy of their homes, without the fear that someone might be watching them."
Once people begin to respond to the Gospel and begin to ask questions, she says they turn to another partner who handles the discipleship. "We are working with a very sound organization who will do all the follow-up and all the response letters that we will pass on to them. They are involved in evangelism and church planting in that region."
The name of the region celebrates the dedication to the pursuit of a faith. The roots are deep. People are naturally searching for truth.
What can you do? Pudaite says, you can help. "Do you know that you can reach a family with a copy of God's Word for only $2.25? Truly, no child of God is too young or too old, too rich or too poor to have a part in this program."
