CURRENT NEWS - OCTOBER 2010

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Hindu/Muslim Strife

It was 4:00pm on Thursday, September 30th and we were proceeding to conduct our conference despite massive social upheaval between the Hindus and Muslims. A decision that has been postponed for ten years, and then postponed again and again recently, was at last being made in the Supreme Court of India. The decision involves the Babri Mosque issue. In 1992 Hindus attacked the mosque claiming the site was Hindu holy ground. The Muslims retaliated and thousands of people were killed in the ensuing riots. Today the decision was being made as to whether the Hindus or the Muslims would win the case. The verdict was expected to result in violence all across the nation. For many days police reinforcements and soldiers have been moving into the cities to attempt to keep peace. Shops were ordered to close and no large group meetings were supposed to take place.

Since no one knew when the date of this decision would be set, we had already scheduled a very important conference to start on this very day, with a team of thirteen people from America. By faith we have proceeded with the program, conducting the conference in a secluded location. We deeply appreciate the courage of our native leader David as well as that of the Catholic retreat center which agreed to host the program despite the dangers.

The final decision about the contested ground was to split the territory between the Hindus and the Muslims so we are hopeful that there will be minimal violence. Please pray for peace during this volatile time.

~ Leanna Cinquanta
International Director

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TellASIA is happy to welcome David and Shari from Portland, Oregon. David and Shari visited our work in North India during a one-month trip in 2007, and now they have returned to India to join our team for one year as volunteers. They will serve in our central office, live on site at the children’s home, and teach at TellASIA’s training events. David has been working as a career development counsellor for more than twelve years. Shari served as a peer-educator for a non-profit wellness organization where she also designed and managed a nationally distributed newsletter. David and Shari have filled a variety of ministry roles in the USA over the last twenty years, and are now excited to be part of the TellASIA team. They are grateful for your prayers as they adjust to a new culture and new language.

Living Water by Keith Mersh

In rural India water is a precious resource and is not piped into the homes but is carried in from community hand pumps. Some villages do not even have this facility. Even where hand pumps do exist the poorest in the community are often prevented from using them. The Dalits, the lowest in the Indian caste system, otherwise called the Untouchables, are very much marginalised. Although India’s constitution has outlawed caste-based discrimination, in rural India the practice still persists and the Dalits are frequently prevented from using local water supplies. It is sometimes believed that if a Dalit touches the water pump then the water would become contaminated! To compound the problem, when people become Christians in North India, they are often oppressed and similarly prevented from drawing water from the hand pump.

Keith dedicating a Hand Pump in Ghazipur district

Samaritan’s Well is partnering with TellASIA to provide wells for the needy and persecuted Christian community. Through the well drilling project we have also been able to reach a significant number of Hindus for Christ. In 2009 alone more than 50 wells have been provided to churches both in Lucknow and Varanasi region. Through these wells thousands of poor people, irrespective of their faith, are getting access to safe drinking water thus providing opportunity to preach the gospel and bring them to the saving knowledge of Christ.

God's Hospital

Here is a thrilling testimony from one of the few pastors in North India who has a mega church with a congregation of 3,500 people.

My name is Rajendra Chauhan and I have been serving the Lord for the past six years in my home village area in Jaunpur District. The Lord has used me to heal many sick people and thousands have given their lives to Christ. Each Sunday around 3,500 people attend church. We don’t have a building; the people just sit on the dirt under a tin roof held up by bamboo poles. So many people have been healed that my church is known throughout the community as a hospital. Some of the local hospitals and clinics have lost a lot of business and two even closed because so many people have been miraculously healed through prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. The doctors are very angry about my ministry because their income has decreased. The Hindu fanatics are furious and want to stop my ministry. A few years ago they beat me up and had me thrown into jail. Along with other ministries TellASIA helped to bail me out and get the false charges cleared. Even today those who oppose me have vowed to kill me if they get the chance and sometimes they beat the believers as they come along the road to attend church. Despite all this I am committed to continue the Lord’s work as long as I have life.

Pastor Rajendra ministering in his church

I was on a 20 day fast when on the night of Sept 17, 2010, at around 12:30, I developed a severe pain in my stomach. My wife took me to a local doctor for preliminary treatment but the doctor was reluctant to treat me and sent me away. My wife and I had to go to a drug store and wake up its owner to get some medicine. In the morning my wife took me to another clinic, but the doctor there also knew who I was and because of my ministry he too refused to treat me. Meanwhile my condition was getting intense and unbearable.

In order to find a hospital that would give me proper treatment, TellASIA Ministries sent their vehicle out to my village and brought me to the big city of Varanasi. Their regional director David considered my pain as his own and arranged excellent medical facilities for me. The doctors back in Jaunpur knew I was sick and wanted to send people to the hospital to tell the doctors not to treat me. David kept my location secret so I would be safe.  The doctor said I had kidney stones and that I need a laser operation but I had no money for the procedure. I was in terrible pain and my abdomen was swelling. I am very thankful to TellASIA for providing the funds for my operation. Now I am recovering and look forward to being back to my ministry soon."

Pastor Rajendra is a participant in the 2020 Network and is reaching a large segment of Jaunpur District for Christ. Please pray for his ministry and for his safety in the face of vicious persecution.

Rinki's Dream

Rinki is five years old and has a younger brother. Her parents are Suraj and Munni Bali. They both work as bonded labourers in a brick kiln. Even though they work long hours, they earn only enough to barely keep the family alive with one meal a day. The kiln only runs for nine months of the year and they can't save any money to carry them through the rest of the year. So those three months are especially miserable for Rinki and her family.  

Rinki and her parents had a dream. The seemingly impossible dream in their hearts was that the children would be able to study and get well educated and come up out of poverty. But they were so poor they couldn’t afford to send Rinki to school. When she saw other children going to school, she felt very sad.  

A pastor from TellASIA Ministries visits Rinki’s village regularly. Through him the family came to know about a feeding program provided by a partnership with Child Cry. Now Rinki gets a plateful of wholesome and nutritious food each day. She has also been sponsored by a caring donor who is giving $30/month for her education. So now Rinki is also going to a good school. She is very happy because now she has a hope of being able to come out of poverty. Rinki’s father says, “I am very grateful to TellASIA Ministries and Child Cry which has both provided food for our children and is enabling them to get a good education."

You can sponsor a village child, or an orphan child in Blue Haven Children's Home. Please click below for more information:
Village Children ** Blue Haven Children's Home

Tackling a Demoniac

Our teammate Robert is mightily anointed in healing and deliverance ministry. He writes the following article about a recent program.

“On September 6th- 7th I conducted a healing workshop and outreach in Jaunpur District as part of the 2020 Network Project.  In the workshop, 92 believers gathered consisting of pastors, house church leaders, and their disciples. Our goal was to teach the people how to heal the sick through lectures, demonstrations and impartation.

Following the 2nd day we had a healing outreach at the same place. 200-250 sick people attended. It was a powerful time with lots of demonic manifestations. One lady was possessed by many demons and was completely out of her mind. From the back of the audience she jumped up andbegan running up the aisle. She was running right at me as if to attack me! Several believers saw what was happening and jumped up and tackled her. We then cast the demons out of her and she was fine.

The main purpose of the outreach was so that the leaders could immediately apply what they had learned in the workshop. They did the majority of the praying and healing. Many people who had never seen a miracle take place through their own hands saw deaf ears instantly opened and mute people speak."

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