thegospeltoindia.com

Dear Brethren,
As we come to the end of another year, I want to say thank you for your spiritual support of the work we are doing together in India and the surrounding countries. Your monetary support makes all of the work we are doing possible.

All of you have giving sacrificially and faithfully for this work to prosper.  Your gifts make the difference for the souls of people in India. Orphans, street children, widows, the untouchables, the poor and the sick are being cared for because of your sacrifice. Our disaster relief activities have saved physical lives and opened hearts to the healing surgery of the Word of God. Many brothers are being trained as self-supporting preachers and congregations are being established in many places.  Let me close out this year’s newsletter by highlighting a number of things we did together in 2009.In 2009 we established the Delhi Biblical Institute in Delhi, the capital of India. Here we have three schools in progress.  We have a night Bible school that all people are invited to attend.  We also have a school for Christian young men to study two years to become tent making (self-supporting) preachers of the Gospel.  In addition, we conduct an English language school that prepares people to enter our Bible school programs.

Also in 2009 we moved the Theophilus Bible Institute to the city of Dibrugarh, Assam, a northeastern state of India. The school began in August. We have a two year program leading to a degree in Biblical studies for men preparing to preach. In addition each of them is training in a vocational program so they will support themselves upon graduation.

In 2009 we conducted village evangelism in eight states of India and in three countries – India, Bhutan and Nepal. Numerous souls were baptized into Christ and many Christians strengthened. Five new congregations were established in the year.

In 2009 we provided earthquake relief to the people of Bhutan.  We provided goats, rice, medicine and shelter to many destitute people.

2009 saw the establishment and construction of phase 1 of the Mustard Seed Village. The village will hold the Robbie Lee Goolsby Children’s Home for orphans and destitute children, the Jean Field School of Bible Studies for Women, the M.S.V. church of Christ facilities, the Oak Hill Medical Clinic and the Shappley Printing facilities.  To date we have constructed seven cottages, the administration and classroom building, three wells, the kitchen/dining hall.  We have seventeen orphans who will be in the homes by the end of the year.  We will provide a home for approximately 60 children by the end of 2010.

Our plans for 2010 include the completion of the Mustard Seed Village, the planting of congregations in several areas of the Northeast, three major mission efforts into the states of Bihar, Arunachal, and Himachal Pradesh, as well as the continuation of our efforts to establish the church in the country of Bhutan.  In 2010 we will graduate our first preaching students, accept over 50 orphans into our home and hearts and be prepared to enter whatever open door our Lord will provide.

You have an open invitation to travel with me in 2010 and see first hand the work we are doing together.  If not I will continue to keep you informed through this newsletter and “In The Field Reports” as I work in India.

I know we are living in tough economic times in our country and 2010 will be a challenge for all of us. I implore each of you to continue your support in the coming year.  We have much to do and your support will be important as our work grows.  I know you will do what you can and for that I am thankful to God.  In this ministry I am learning more each day to trust completely in God and in His body — the church.

Please read the rest of the reports in .pdf format here