URGENT PRAYER REQUEST
Friends,
Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "The Lord
doeth marvelous things in our midst; and we shall rejoice and be glad in it".
I have taken up the task of writing this letter to you with a special purpose.
I appreciate you very much for the support you have been extending to the ministry
of PEFCOC. During the times of distress and hardships in the passage of this
tough ministry (in Himachal Pradesh) you have stood with me and had been a great
comfort and strength to me. You have done it as you love Christ and His cause.
You have done it just like it is an integral part of your desire to fulfill
the Great Commission of our Lord. "He who receives one of my disciples as a
disciple and gives him a cup of cold water would not lose his benefits" Hallelujah!
I have, these days, been realising the compulsion to start a Bible College. I had sported this desire many years back, though not seriously, just like an adventurous event of the ministry. But today the Lord has been opening up my senses to the cause of starting one.
WHY I NEED TO START A BIBLE COLLEGE?
1. Himachal Pradesh Ministry. In nature this ministry involves in Church Planting. We have been struggling in the filed for ten years without significant fruit. Many missionaries have been ending up themselves as 'Drop Outs' from the Mission Field to secular comforts, or light zones in the mission field.
The Reasons:
a. Geographically the place is mountainous with snow covered tops, and extremely cold.
b. Facilities are meagre for a comfortable life.
c. Stronghold of Satan, being the birthplace of all Hindu gods and goddesses. Therefore, the influence of Evil Spirits is visible.
d. People are amiable, but non-receptive to the gospel.
e. Increasing trend of anti-Christian spirit is a discouraging factor.
Therefore, the so-called 'committed missionaries' find it unsuitable for their hidden taste. When they approach us we take them as apprentices, make them stay for three months at the Head Quarters (Rajahmundry), and another three months in the HP Head Quarters (Nahan), and then station them at a needy and suitable place. It takes another six months for the missionary to settle down, like getting acquainted with people and adapt himself to the climatic and social conditions. By then he realizes the difficulty involved in this kind of work, finds a comfortable zone in the adjacent and plainer states, and simply walks off the mission field. It happens every year and every year we are helplessly compelled to start afresh our work in each station. We are running behind the ticking clock.
Then
who are able to sustain on the Mission Field?
Those who have Bible Colleges/Missions Training Schools.
How?
1. As a student, staying with the Man of Vision for three or four years in the
same campus, he or she is able to realize the vision, burden and the modus operandi
of the man. This certainly is inspiring some students to commit themselves for
the ministry with complete knowledge of the place and conditions after graduation.
2. Those students who seek scholarships for pursuing their studies come into agreement with the college (sponsor) to work for at least a few years after completing studies. This opens up provision of generating equipped workers every year. If one works in a specific place for three to four years, under the guidance and supervision of the leaders, one is able to establish work, and it is not difficult for the successors to continue with the work that had been already established. We'd have a flow of candidates every year; options open.
Since we have discovered that our method of hiring missionaries has been a failure, we have reasons to change our system to a more convenient and more fruitful system. I found that it is only the Mission Organizations that have Bible Colleges are successful in this kind of work.
The
Question: There are many Bible Colleges that are preparing students with
similar motivation. Why not you sponsor your candidates to those colleges and
later make them work in your mission field for the fulfilment of your vision?
Ans. The sponsored candidates know the sponsor as a sponsor and a man with a
heart for missions. They will never foresee the mind of the sponsor who is far
away physically, and simply don't feel concern for his ministry except that
they are bound to work with him for a few years under agreement. When one does
not understand the heart throb/burden of the sponsor for missions, and his modus
operandi how can one feel serious concern for his ministry?
Now, as you see the EMERGENCY NEED to start the college, I request you, my friend, kindly to remember this before the throne of the Lord's grace. May the Lord enable us to see the great day of completing the Lord's given task for His glory.
Regards
Rufus