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A veteran mission leader reports that 750 people came to the Lord
through the outreach of his organization's missionaries in northern India during the last
three months.
At least 577 of these conversions took place in the state of Maharashtra. One of the
missionaries there reported over 400 people found Christ as their Savior during the last
three months. Others reported lesser numbers of new believers.
Most of the people came to Christ during the routine ministry of the team of 230 native
Indian missionaries. There were no exceptionally large crusades, though one missionary
conducted a convention for believers attended by 4000 people. The "Jesus" film
was shown in various places bringing a few responses but mostly opening people's hearts
for further instruction.
Probably the biggest factor in people's turning to Christ was healings, direct answers to
prayers, and deliverances from demons. In one place, a man who had been sick for a long
time was brought to the church meeting. When the missionary prayed for him, the demons
began crying out and finally left him.
One family brought a man who had been a lunatic for five years. The family had spent a lot
of money on his treatment and had even tried sorcery, but nothing worked. The missionary
prayed for him, and the man was set free.
Another Sunday three men brought a young boy to the meeting who was demon possessed. The
boy had behaved like a mad person for over a year. He was uncontrollable, and even though
young, could overpower men stronger than he. During the night he would murmur for blood.
He had been taken to many sorcerers, but they did nothing for him. After listening to
their problem, the missionary prayed for the boy and he was immediately set free.
"Those who want quiet, comfortable, traditional worship services should not come to
our meetings," the leader said. "The casting out of demons is sometimes
noisy."
Yet their worship attracts outsiders. One night when the believers were worshipping and
praying, the people in the surrounding houses heard the sound, came to the meeting to see
what was happening, and stayed to hear the Word of God. Some of them accepted the Lord at
that meeting.
After the meeting, a man suffering from a tumor in his nose asked for prayer. The men
prayed for him and he was healed. A woman suffered from severe body pain for several years
and had gotten no relief through medicine or sorcery. Believers prayed for her and she was
instantly healed. Others in various places experienced similar healings and deliverances.
Though the conversions are dramatic and often are a result of a physical manifestation of
the power of God, not all become Christians without cost. After one family in Northeast
India became Christians, the community demanded that they pay a fine of Rs. 10,000
(US$200) for forsaking the local deities. That would be about eight months' wages for
laborers who earn about $1 a day.
The mission began in Kashmir and its work has spread throughout the Himalaya region,
including Nepal and Northeast India. It has planted over 100 churches of its own.
Thousands more have been planted by other mission groups it has birthed.
To learn how you can support this mission in reaching the unreached of India, write insider@christianaid.org and put MI-411 660-HEM
on the subject line.
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