What an awesome visit by Sam Thomas, Independent Fundamental Baptist missionary to India! Make this yet another reason I am Independent Baptist, I get to meet a see many of the missionaries I/we support, instead of them selected for us by some missions board without our input.
First surprise. He is Indian, native born in India dispite his American sounding name. College and bible college educated in America, his english is perfect with only the slightest hint of an accent.
Facts we learned:
India is approx 1/3 the size of the U.S. but has a population of 1.2 Billion (thats with a "B") souls. India makes up just 2% of the worlds land mass, but has 15% of the worlds population.
80% are Hindu
13% are Muslim (and rapidly growing)
2.3% are (Christian) but only 0.5% are actual born again believers since the statistic includes as "christian", Jehovahs Witness, Mormons, and other religions that we would not concider as true christians.
There are 28 states in India. There are 22 official languages spoken in India, and 1,600 dialects. Each state has their own language and or dialect, making it difficult for even native born Indians to travel and speak outside of their own state.
Sam and his Brother Paul Thomas are a continuation of the ministry first started by thier father Dr. K. C. Thomas, who was promoted to glory in 1994.
The severe persecution in India against Christians is not sponsored or instigated directly by the government. The government simply "looks the other way" when the christian churches are burned to the ground and their pastors and families are murdered. The government and police forces refuse to offer any protection for the Christians. When we asked if the Muslims are facing simular persecution, Pastor Sam Thomas answered, "the Muslim's are not passive, they fight back, and whenever there is an attempt at persecution, it always becomes a battle with both sides taking losses". Christians however, are easy pickings for the Hindu's because we don't fight back.
Sam and Paul Thomas's ministry has resulted in 118 Independent Baptist Churches all pastored by indigineous local Indians trained in one of the 3 Independent Baptist Colleges also started and run by their ministry. All are taught english, the primary text book used to teach english, is the King James Bible.
There are still vestages of the "caste" system in some parts of India. It is directly effected by education and literacy levels. In Sam Thomas's state the literacy level is extremely high at 98% and therefore there is no evidence of a caste system. In other parts of India some towns are seperated by higher casts on one side, and lower casts on the other, but when they are saved, the cross is the leveler and both caste members meet openly and in good communion with each other.
There are no government restrictions, controls, or censorship concerning radio broadcasts, tv broadcasts, or other modern media ministries, but the licenses for such are so extremely high in cost as to prohibit all but the very wealthy to use these services.
I have many more facts, and can aswer some questions, but I have run out of time for this post before work. I will add to it later or answer questions.
Their website is ibmi.org. His email,
sthomas1971@gmail.com
Bro Garry
in our cushy, blessed, materialistic nations...
