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A Tale of Two Pastors

What does Christianity look like in India?

It’s not every day you are invited to India to speak to two hundred and fifty some pastors eager to soak in your message. It is even rarer you are able to literally carry out Jesus’ desire that we carry the Message to all ends of the earth. But, every once in a while life gets interesting. God says “go”, so you pack your bags and tell yourself curry won’t kill you. That’s just in your head! So you fly over the North Pole to arrive in India, the land of Asian elephants and dazzling saris, Hinduism and the Taj Mahal. In a land that is 81% Hindu, Christianity is certainly a minority culture at 2.3%. Nevertheless, this means it is home to approximately 24 million Christians.

Gary and Milan

This is the situation in which pastors and Compassion Connect founders Milan Homola and Gary Tribbett found themselves in late September of 2014. They were thrilled to visit the enormous subcontinent to share biblical foundations of church unity and service at a pastor’s conference. Each Indian region represented was asked to brainstorm about what it would take to implement unity and overcome barriers such as a rigid caste system, envy, lack of vision, and flawed leadership. These obstacles represent significant challenges to the men and women seeking to build the Kingdom, but they remain undeterred. They want to serve one another, they want to come together. They heard Gary and Milan’s words and gears began to turn…

Serving in your community is not only for your own personal growth; it is also a tool for local church unity. Many times churches can’t unite over the style of worship and other things. However, they can unite in building a school, in feeding the orphans. In serving its neighbors the Church has an opportunity to work together.

On the ground

Through a local ministry, Gary and Milan were also able to visit a boy’s orphanage and a Bible School for young women. These women sacrifice everything to learn more about Jesus. Coming from strict Hindu homes, the risk of discovery is disownment and possibly worse if the family knows they have converted to Christianity. As far as the families know, their daughters are happily situated at secular universities, and the secrecy causes the girls some anxiety. But they bravely risk everything to learn more about Jesus and follow truth. They don’t know what the future holds but they lean on God to shape the future and lead them in love. They are an inspiration and a promise that God is at work in India!

Aside from teaching, preaching, and meeting inspiring youth, Milan and Gary had another mission for their trip—laying the groundwork for a Spring 2015 Compassion Clinic. Be on the lookout for Compassion India updates in the coming months! And don’t forget to pray the work began in India gathers momentum and transforms its communities and its people!

Compassion Connect over and out.