Dear Friends,

Prayer remains the most important and impactful thing that we can do in the work of Christian missions. In his letter to the Colossians, Apostle Paul asked believers to pray for those who are in the field, asking the Lord to open a door for the Gospel message. This is our prayer for the Christian workers in India, that a door may be opened for the Gospel, despite the many hurdles.

India is a country with a rich history, and many religions. When India became an independent nation in 1947, its new Constitution promised freedom of religion for all its people. As we have seen in recent years, that promise of religious freedom is being tested, and broken, in many parts of the country. On August 15, India marked its 79th year of independence, and celebrations took place all over the country. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, where IEM is running an education center for poor children, our Coordinator organized an Independence Day program where the children were taught the value of freedom and responsibility. He also used the opportunity to share a Christian message and pray with the children. The children had a wonderful experience singing, dancing, and enjoying sweets. On our campus in Kerala, the Bible College students likewise had a special program commemorating the holiday. Pictures of these celebrations are included in the insert.

Many believers in North India do not feel completely free to exercise their Christian faith. Local governments and anti-Christian fanatics often bring pressure and various forms of discrimination, despite the country’s constitutional claims of freedom. Yet, these Christians boldly gather on Sunday mornings to worship with other believers in the local church. Through your prayers and support, we are encouraging these congregations. Recently, several churches asked for help to buy small inflatable pools to be used for baptisms. Because of the danger and scrutiny involved in conducting baptisms in public at the river, some churches are using inflatable pools--normally used by little children--to baptize new believers immediately after Sunday services. We helped to purchase the pools, and God-willing we will be able to share some pictures of baptisms soon. We have included in the current insert some photos from Sunday worship services taking place in three different states of India.

We are excited for the upcoming banquet in Southern California on October 10th, where we will celebrate 60 years of ministry in India. We have sent you an invitation to this event, and we would love to have you join us for a time of fellowship, remembrance, and mission challenge.

What a joy it is to partner with you as we devote ourselves to praying for India, being watchful and thankful. May God continue to bless you and your family.

In Him,

Dayan V. Mathai