JP Sundararajan of Audio Scripture Ministries refers to the group of people they’ve reached in India as a drop in the bucket. However, he is under no illusion that the drop is insignificant. Why? Because that drop is 500,000 people reached with the Gospel.

In India, ASM partners with WCOI to reach various people groups with the Gospel in their own heart language.
(Audio Scripture Ministries photo)

ASM has partnered with World Cassette Outreach in India from their beginning.

Since that time, the partnered ministries have distributed 41,000 audio Bibles. That’s a lot of Bibles for a small ministry. “What’s even more staggering,” says Sundararajan, “is we don’t give Scriptures to individuals. We encourage group listening in India.”

The group listening is what constitutes such a large number of people hearing the Gospel. “These are people who have never heard Scripture in their heart language before, never heard of Jesus. So we were able to introduce this many people to God’s word and to the person of Jesus Christ, and that is amazing in itself.”

The people they minister to are unreached for a variety of reasons. They may be a remote tribal group that has no written language, or they may be blind and unable to read. The final group of people ASM and WCOI ministers to are lepers. These are people that are rejected by their families and waiting to die. The hope of the Gospel is especially poignant for them.

Sundararajan says, “It’s like an iceberg. You have Scripture accessible at the top of the iceberg. But the bottom–the surface that you don’t see underneath the water, that’s the group that we get to work with. And you get to see some amazing, beautiful stories emerge from how God encounters these people purely from Scripture and the Holy Spirit at work.”

The difference between encountering the Scripture in India as opposed to how people encounter it in the West is that in India, it is often a group event. Western life is fraught with individualism and evangelistic efforts are often focused on the individual. “But when you listen to Scripture together in community, when God begins to stir it up, you can transform an entire community almost immediately because you’re all feeling the same movement,” says Sundararajan.

What is so significant about having the Bible translated into these people’s languages audibly is that the Gospel is then presented in what ASM refers to as their heart language.

“Only the people who are nearest and dearest to you speak your heart language, and to wake up one morning and realize the God of the universe speaks your heart language connects you in a very intimate way,” says Sundararajan.

It makes sense that a relationship with God is so profound a concept in a country widespread with polytheism. “In countries like India, when God speaks your language, that’s where it’s at.”

Partnering with ministries like ASM and WCOI  means you are helping distribute the Gospel to people in India. Click here if you’re interested in doing that.

Sundararajan makes one request: “Continue to pray for us. We have an incredible thirst for God’s Word in India, and we just do not have enough Bibles. I often refer to it as this syndrome where I have this basket and I have five loaves and two fish, and I’m looking at a multitude. God is able to use that. But every now and then, we are longing for more loaves of bread and maybe a half fish to go with it.”

Sundararajan says, “It’s an incredible story of God’s Word and the power of God’s Word.”

However, he doesn’t want us to view the situation solely as an “other” country scenario.

He says, “We have the same word in our heart language, here in West Michigan, in America. [If] God can do so much with so little in a place like a leprosy colony in India, what can God do here, with this community we have here?

“Maybe we should start expecting God to do stuff like that here, because we have the same powerful Word at our disposal.”

Keeping stride with the secular market, AMG International reports that their childcare workers are already planning for their Bundles of Love Christmas programs.

Each year, AMG’s Bundles of Love ministry gives essential Christmas gifts to kids and individuals in need. They also hold a Christmas celebration where the message of Christ and the Gospel is presented.

Countries where Bundles of Love are distributed include Uganda, India, Guatemala, Haiti, and Peru. Two of those countries are in the top 20 poorest countries worldwide.

Bundles of Love can be especially needed since many third world countries require uniforms for school. Many kids and their families can barely afford school fees, much less uniforms.

Each Bundle of Love contains items appropriate for the region where the child or individual lives. It may have things like clothing, a pair of shoes, a blanket, toys, or other necessities. If the recipient doesn’t already have a Bible, he or she gets a copy as well.

And ultimately, the clear presentation of the Gospel message at the celebrations is what it’s all about. According to AMG, some of their distribution sites have been attended by government officials listening to the Gospel presentation.

Christmas Bundles of Love celebrations also feature presentations by AMG co-workers, along with songs, and skits by the children.

“They will come for the gifts. They will leave with THE gift: Jesus Christ,” AMG writes.

Bundles of Love are also given to national pastors, national childcare workers, and those staying at Valley of Love, an AMG community in India for people suffering from leprosy.

Please pray for AMG’s childcare workers as they plan for this year’s Bundles of Love ministry. Pray that many will to come know Christ as a result.

Each Bundle of Love costs $20. If you’d like to provide a child or individual with a Bundle of Love and the Gospel this Christmas, click here.

Churches are also invited to join AMG as they rev up for the distribution. You can host a “Bundles of Love Sunday” at your church. Click here to learn how.

Pastor Kiran of Gospel for Asia is reaching out to those who are in unspeakable situations.  Three years ago Kiran began his ministry in one city in India. 

Lepers are often forced into menial work because of their condition.  They sleep near sewers and trash heaps and must eat food that they have begged to receive or have found in the trash. If they have lost body parts such as fingers, even if they are given food it is difficult to eat it.

Kiran is reaching out to those who are in such advanced stages of leprosy.  While providing food for those he meets, he also shares the story of Jesus. 

He's also helping their children who are ostracized just like their parents.  Because of his love for entire families Kiran was able to reach many people.  About 35 lepers are now attending church services on a regular basis. 

K.P. Yohannan , president for GFA says, "Pastor Kiran and his team are doing a tremendous work for the Lord among these very needy people.  I pray that you will continue your prayer and financial support that is helping us bring eternal hope to the hopeless."