India (MNN) — Despite a growing number of anti-conversion laws in India, Christians continue to boldly share the Gospel.
Raina Miller with Mission India explains, “This time of year, we get really excited because 10-day Bible clubs are running in India, and this is a special program that’s 10 days long, and it’s full of fun, singing, games, and learning about Jesus.”
Image courtesy of Mission India
She says that local Christians run these clubs during the summer to minister to children from poor families. Many of their parents are day laborers who work from dawn to dusk to feed them, which means the kids are left unsupervised all day. This increases the risk that they fall into drugs, theft, or just plain loneliness. The Bible camps step in to provide structure and, most importantly, the love of Jesus.
The Good
Miller gives two very different stories about the response to these clubs this summer. The first came from the state of Odisha, where a retired ministry worker was asked by locals to organize a VBS program for nearby churches. Since he was familiar with Mission India, he used their curriculum.
“There was a huge turnout,” Miller says, “and there were tons of kids from all across town that got to hear about the love of Jesus. This is happening beyond what we had even planned. It was just a matter of some local Christians [who] knew of our curriculum and decided to use it.”
The Bad
The reception is not always so kind in other areas. In the state of Telangana, a very different response came to one of Mission India’s Bible clubs.
“There was a 10-day Bible camp that was going well. Kids were learning about Jesus, and some anti-Christian activists showed up and surrounded the Bible club and intimidated the leader, who was a young lady named Mondi,” Miller says.
Image courtesy of Mission India
“They insisted that the kids hand over their Bible club books, their curriculum. The Bible club ended up having to be canceled.”
Pray for the Gospel to Spread!
Mondi is an indigenous believer Mission India equips to share the Gospel. Despite the camp closing, she can continue to have a quiet influence on the kids in her area. God is at work in India, even as it becomes more difficult to share faith now that 13 of India’s 28 states have passed an anti-conversion law.
“So no matter what the legal situation is, the gospel is being spread. Passionate Christians in India are eager to spread the gospel — so eager that they’re going above and beyond, welcoming kids in unofficial formats to hear about Jesus long after their training with us has ended. That is something to celebrate,” Miller says.
Pray that Bible clubs happening the rest of the summer would see peace, direction, and open doors for the Gospel. Disruptions like the one in Telangana are always possible, so pray against these intrusions. You can visit Mission India to help make these 10-day Bible camps possible. Just $1 allows a child to attend the full 10-day club, helping to cover teacher training, leader training, club materials, and activities.
Header image courtesy of Mission India
