Story number 4 for 10 Apr 2003

(India) — Meanwhile, violence against Christians in India isn’t stopping Bible clubs from reaching millions of children. John DeVries, founder and President of Mission India says their Bible Club program is filling a void in the lives of children. “These kids have never, never heard about Christ. They’ve heard about Coca-Cola but never about Christ, and are just so open.” DeVries says over one million churches have used their Bible Club material. “The first year they come into the program they study ‘My life, My Choice,’ which is a challenge to follow Christ. And then the second year when they repeat it the next summer it’s ‘My Life, My Family’ and then the third year it’s ‘My Life, My Community.'” DeVries says last summer almost three million children attended one of their Bible Clubs, with half becoming converts. The Bible Clubs blanket the country in 22 languages. The students are also given an opportunity to join one of 41-hundred after school programs that provide follow up material to the Bible Clubs.