Lausanne World Pulse – WORLD PERSPECTIVES – Passion for Madurai Glimpses the Spirit of God at Work in India

By Dallas Anderson

Our guide asked us why we had come to India. One of the young evangelists was able to engage him in deep discussions concerning his beliefs. As we talked with our young guide, he shared that he was searching for answers and felt like traditional religions were not giving him the answers he sought. What a joy to tell him that truth is not found in a religion but in the person of Jesus Christ. He asked us to pray with him and we did so—right in the middle of the Hindu temple! He promised to read the Bible we handed to him. The next day I came back to look for him and found him not chasing after people to be their guide through the temple, but leaning against a tree reading God’s word in his own language. Later I took a local pastor to meet him who then helped connect the young man to a local church.

Hindu Temple Swamis hear the gospel.

3. Religious Teachers Turn to Christ
While we were teaching several men and pastors in one of the villages, a number of men dressed in orange showed up and sat down to listen. One of the local pastors told us they were religious teachers/seekers from the Hindu temple. As they sat and listened, it was obvious they were interested. When we finished our teaching, we asked them if they wanted to hear about Jesus, to which they responded enthusiastically. One of our evangelists explained the way of eternal salvation and six of them gave their lives to Christ. Hallelujah!

4. Miracles inside the Local Church
During one Sunday morning service, I was preaching in one of the local churches. My hope was to encourage the people in their walk with the Lord and to impress upon them the need to reach out to their community. It was amazing and thrilling to feel the vibrancy of their faith and passion for our Lord. As I preached I felt the Spirit of God nudge me that there might be some there who never surrendered to the Lord. I took a few minutes and explained the gospel message and asked if there was anyone who wanted to surrender their life to Jesus. Near the back of the packed room a young girl (in her late teens or early twenties) stood up. I heard a noise behind me and I turned to see tears streaming down the pastor’s face. My interpreter explained that this was the pastor’s daughter who had previously abandoned the faith. I was reminded of the book of Esther: Who knows but for such a time as this that God has put you in the place you are right now!

Social, cultural and political changes in India are leaving many people spiritually hungry and without hope. There is a growing sense of despair in the present systems to answer their deepest needs. While the young people are turning to education and high-tech jobs for hope, they are also feeling the emptiness that it brings.

However, God is moving powerfully across the great nation of India and I believe the nation is moving into a time of great harvest for the kingdom of God. The hopelessness of the caste system and the increased disparity between those who have and those who have not is leaving an open door for the sowing of the good news of the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ. The Church of India is alive and at work. She needs our prayers and our assistance when and where it is appropriate. As India moves to become the most populous nation on earth we must be prepared to work as if her salvation depends on us but also pray knowing that it depends of the living God. India is a land of great contrasts but none greater than the light of Christ as it stands against the darkness of all other religion.  

Dallas Anderson is national facilitator of evangelism for the Mission America Coalition. He also serves as director of proclamation ministries for the Institute of Strategic Evangelism at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois, USA).

Comments on this article

Description of today’s India is accurate and fair. Keep up the good work.

SHAKINA PRIYA :: 4 Jun 2006

This is an excellent memoir of the India trip. Thanks for sharing it.

Leslie :: 7 Apr 2006