Saving north India

15/07/2008While lots of ‘Christian persecution stories’ are coming out of India, according to one BMS partner in the country, “the Lord is doing the work of salvation silently and mightily and great battles are being won”.

Church planting and baptisms

So speaks Rev Dr Yashwant Singh, the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Delhi, also known as Satyamarg Baptist Church. In the last 18 years this Baptist church has planted 35 churches in Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and Delhi states.

Recently 70 people were baptised at one church in Baro, Bihar, making a total of 210 people in three years. The story is repeated elsewhere.

Dr Singh says, “In a newly planted church in the Bhojpuri area of Bihar, 55 people are ready for baptism,” and adds, “A lot of encouraging work is being done all around. A lady member of my church planted a church recently. It has over 50 regular believers. We have recently appointed a pastor to take care of this church.

Rev Dr Yashwant Singh

“Our policy is that we appoint an honorary pastor to take care of one church. But a paid pastor or evangelist has to establish at least five to six churches in the vicinity.”

Satyamarg Trust

The Satyamarg Trust was also founded by Yashwant Singh. Satyamarg, whose name means ‘way of truth’, is another way in which people are coming to Christ.

An Indian woman and child
Credit: Dalit Freedom Network

Under the banner of Satyamarg, 60 churches have been planted in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi states.

Baptisms are plentiful here too, including, in March 2008, that of a senior member of the Delhi Police.

Dr Singh reports, “Now 25 to 30 people are ready [for baptism] in Delhi, 14 in Rajasthan and seven in Uttar Pradesh. One of these is a prison officer in Delhi prison.

“The state of Rajasthan is under an anti-conversion act so it is very difficult to baptise people in Rajasthan and we are looking for an opportunity to proceed.”

BMS World Mission financially supports eight evangelists linked to Satyamarg Baptist Church. Dr Singh does not take any salary for his work, either with the church or Satyamarg Trust.

Other ministries

Satyamarg has other ministries, including broadcasting evangelical TV programmes through satellite television, a prayer ministry in which 40 ‘warriors’ pray through prayer requests from 5.00am to midnight, a dispensary offering free medicines and consultation used by 700 to 800 people, youth outreach and training for church leaders.

Dr Singh concludes by saying, “During this period of rising polarisation and fundamentalism in India, our evangelists are facing a tough time. One was recently beaten, another was manhandled and a third was threatened with dire consequences. But all this is not discouraging us as the Spirit of the Lord gives us a new strength every morning.

Satyamarg reaches people through satellite TV

“The opportunities are endless. It seems that the Lord has decided to save north India. I know he will provide [for us].

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