INDIA 2009

India, a country of thousands of gods, is replete with every imaginable thing to worship. On every street corner, in the poorest of villages, in the middle of a field, in every shop, there is an opportunity to worship "things carved by human hands". Children are named "elephant", "cobra", "adder" because these are the names of the gods of India. Hinduism, an ancient religion, is the main religion of India. Approximately 80% of Indians are Hindu while evangelical Christians account for 2.5% of the population. True followers of Christ are called "Believers" because to be born into a Christian family gives you the title "Christian". When a Hindu converts to Christianity, he is typically called a converted Hindu.

Our annual trips to India take us to the remotest villages, even into mountainous areas where the people have never even seen our colored type faces. The people are born into the group called "untouchables", the lower than the lowest caste, doing the menial tasks and degrading labor of the unmentionable. As we minister to them, touching their wounds, their formerly leprous limbs, their blind eyes, Jesus Christ reaches down into their formerly untouched heart and opens their blinded eyes to the truth of the Gospel message: that He loved them so much He died to pay for their sins; He lives today; and He offers them the free gift of Eternal Life in Him.

Through the 55 American Missionaries, wonderful Christian Translators, your support and prayers, our team recorded over 4100 new decisions to follow Christ as the One True God. At HOLY WINGS (a World In Need of God's Salvation), where 2 teams of ministers were led by Hugh and I, we recorded over 1400 decisions for Christ in 18 villages around the city of Korukonda in southeastern India.

Thanks for your prayers and support! We love you and appreciate you being co-laborers with us in this ministry.