Joy in the Midst of the Masses

I recently had the opportunity to visit with Kamlesh and Ranu of the Good Samaritan Center in India. This is written to describe what God is doing among the people of India.

On landing and leaving the airport, the first impression is people everywhere in great numbers. It is projected that India will pass China in the next few years in total population in a land area which is one third the size of the United States.

The faces around are grim, but generally kind, but seen without hope. Then we see Kamlesh, Ranu and Kushy. They are all smiles and have true joy. They greet us with great excitement and humble concern for our well being.

A major focus of Kamlesh and Ranu’s ministry are two schools. The first one, on the fringe of Ujjain, serves the lowest social and economic level from local villages. There are 130 students presently enrolled with four teachers, including Kamlesh, and one helper.

Classes and activities are conducted in one medium sized and three small rooms. The children are taught knowledge, skills and character using teaching materials and the scriptures.

Some of the students are transported by tempos (motorized rickshaws) as they live too far away to walk. Many walk from nearby villages. These children would not be attending school if it were not for “Jagat-Jyoti” – “Light of the World” school. All are Hindu and are hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The newest school, Jeevan Jyoti English Medium School (“Light of the Life”), is in Ujjain and has 60 students. All are Hindu. They are from families who could not afford to pay full school costs, but do pay a small fee. The students are ages 2 – 8 years and they are divided into 4 classes for studies. There are four teachers, including Ranu, and one helper. The Lord our God is proclaimed in everything with His truth.

The plan is to add a class each year as funds allow for teachers and space to increase. Ranu is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in education, which she will complete in May. She already has bachelor, masters and doctorate degrees in Sociology.

Another focus of the ministry is church planting. Our visits to families and groups of Christians in nine rural villages were times of great joy, fellowship and teaching. Kamlesh and Ranu visit these villages to worship and fellowship with these people monthly. They travel great distance over very bad roads that take much time and bodily abuse. They are faithful!

An 83 year old pastor ministers to the two newest village groups. A young pastor and family are assisting at one village and two evangelists travel to some of the other villages. It is very evident that these Christians are well grounded in God’s Word – praise Him.

Kamlesh and Ranu are very grateful for the Lord’s provision through the partnership with Harvesters, which include a vehicle, a water well with clean, fresh water at the village school and Kamlesh and Ranu’s support.

The next project being planned is a new school building on the site of the village school – the land and a good well are already there. The Harold Stevens Memorial Fund is the beginning of the funding

Please continue to pray for them and for those who have not had the opportunity to hear.

Inside a War: New Ministry Partner in the Congo

If you were passing by two people having a conversation and overheard them say something about the “world’s deadliest war”- to where would you think they were referring? Would it be- Iraq? How about Darfur? In both cases, you would be incorrect.

The UN’s International Rescue Committee has stated that “the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has cost more lives than any other since World War II” (www.irinnews.org). This conflict has received minimal coverage in the world press as it has ravaged a nation that lies in the heart of Africa. Fighting continues today despite a peace agreement that was signed in January 2008 and the deployment of UN peacekeepers.

More than two years ago, a Congolese pastor struck up a conversation with Ed Hirshman, Harvesters’ Director, at the Methodist Guest House in Nairobi, Kenya. The pastor, Athanase Habimana, spoke of the great need and opportunity in his home area of Goma, North Kivu district of eastern Congo. The Guest House is a popular place for Christian conferences and teams, so it is not unusual to cross paths with such people. Likewise, Harvesters is often approached by ministries seeking a partnership with someone in the US.

It is not often that meetings, such as the one between Ed and Habimana, amount to anything. However, in October 2007 a group from Harvesters, Ed Hirshman, Jonathan Lancaster and J. Lucarelli, traveled to Goma, Congo to visit with and survey the ministry led by Athanasi Habimana, The Union of Baptist Churches of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

What the group saw was both eye-opening and encouraging. The level of poverty was quickly evident, as was the graciousness of the people. The encouragement came when the group saw the incredible work taking place through the efforts of Habimana and the Baptist Union and how little they had in the way of financial resources.

Started in 1989 with 1 church and a group of 15 believers, the Union has evolved into a network of 81 churches, more than 6,000 believers, a Christian school educating more than 1,000 students, a small Bible school that trains pastors and a small orphanage of about 35 children. Much of the ministry takes place in and around the city of Goma, located only a few kilometers from the border of Rwanda.

The stated mission of the Union is to “proclaim the Gospel to every Congolese and to plant churches and to promote social and economic development through programs and projects.” This mission is remarkably similar in both scope and execution to that of the Pokot Outreach Ministry in Kenya.

The conflict between Hutu rebels hiding in the forest that surround Goma and government troops has forced the evacuation of several rural areas in which the ministry works and displaced more than 500,000, many of which have taken up residence in refugee camps located outside of Goma.

Upon hearing of the wonderful ministry taking place in Congo that was very similar in methods and purpose of other ministry partners, the board of Harvesters approved the partnership of Harvesters International with the Baptist Union. Harvesters committed to telling the ministry’s story, informing God’s people of their needs and providing financial resources as the Lord provided

It is with great excitement and expectation that we introduce to you, Pastor Athanasi Habimana and the work of the Union of Baptist Churches of the Democratic Republic of Congo.