Part 2 Regional Issues and Insights - World Evangelical Alliance

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Care for Christian Workers
In India: Dark Obstacles
And Divine Opportunities
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K. K.
RaJendran
It is 12:45, after midnight. I toss in bed, pleading for
sleep to overtake me. I was very tired with all that happened
today. When I finished my evening meal, I went to
bed at 8:30 p.m. I woke up with dust in the air and listened
to the new Indian city phenomenon of FM radio. The old,
melodious Hindi songs were good. After a while, I got bored
and continued to fight my sleeplessness. Insomnia! Or is it
fears to which I have become numb?
It is now 1:15 a.m. I toss in bed, yearning again for
sleep to overtake me. The opportunities for communicating
Christ in India are fantastic. There are 141 member
missions with the India Missions Association (IMA). Persecution
of Christians is daunting in the country, and fanatics
are acting like Nazis, even though India, as a country, is
moving forward. As Christians, we are trying to be positive
with a belief in the sovereignty of God. There is a rat race,
as so many groups are trying to be the definitive voice of
Christians. There are tendencies to attract the “global Christian
market” by the distinctiveness of our organizations. If
possible, we add spice—masala—to increase the flavor of
our organizational descriptions. Or to use another metaphor,
we are willing to play different types of chords to
attract outside interest:
Regional chords such as South, North, and North
East Indians.
The chord of the despicable caste tantrum.
The chord of the church versus parachurch organi-
zations.
The chord, “North India is needier than the South.”
The chord of sending Christian workers versus using
native workers.
The chord of Christian workers feeling that “there
are no good local people to train and carry on the work”
Christian workers in India
are called to serve in some
very challenging places.
Over the last few years,
we have seen the good
hand of the Lord at work
both in and through His
servants, as they minister to
fellow Indians and beyond.
This article focuses on the
various pastoral care
structures, people, and
programs that are emerging
to provide support to
Indian workers as they
minister to others.
There are, in fact, many
good things into which
the Lord is guiding us—
divine opportunities—
to enable us to care well
for His sheep (John 21).
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