Tribal Church Planting Movement in India

Read about an exciting movement of God among tribals in Middle India.

 This describes a Church Planting Movement in Middle India  

 

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John Clough Apostle to the Telugu

 

 

John Everett Clough was born in New York July 16, 1836, Died November 24, 1910.

John Clough went to India with his wife Harriet Clough in 1864. He established the Baptist Mission in Ongole.

John Clough baptizes 2,222 in one day in Ongole in the Gundlakamma River which was of the Madras Presidency, July 1878 and 9,000 within six weeks. This happened after many non-productive years, when only a few people favored continuing the “Lone Star Mission” in South India.

The American Baptists began work among the then neglected Telugu in 1840 in Nellore. The first believer was baptized in 1841 and a church organized in 1844. Fruitless years followed and in 1846 and later in 1855 the Nellore mission was in danger of being closed.

A speech by the corresponding secretary and a poem on the “Lone Star Mission” turned the scale and the mission continued. Again in 1862 comparative non-success of the mission put the mission in jeopardy.

One missionary Dr. Lyman Jewett said, “You can give up the Telugu mission, but I will never abandon the Telugus. I will go back to India and die there.” After this one of the secretaries said, “well brother, if you return to die in India, we must send somebody to give you Christian burial.” The mission was continued, but some felt continuing was unwise.

At first John Clough worked with the high caste Brahmins. If outcasts were received the work with the Brahmins would be finished. Clough did not hesitate long to work among the Madigas. While turning the matter over in his mind, he opened a new copy of the Telugu New Testament and his eyes fell on the verse, 1 Corinthians 1:26 “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many are wise after flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.”

Dr. Clough made great advances in 1878 following a famine, and Clough took a contract for a portion of one of the canals that were dug. He gave employment to thousands of Telugus who may have otherwise starved. This practical demonstration won the hearts of the Telugus.

Clough’s Tomb reads: Be Still and Know that I am the Lord.

John Clough was known as: “The Apostle to the Telugu.”

References:

Click to read:  Understanding Church Growth  by Donald McGavran, C. Peter Wagner Page 10-12

Click to read:  Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions by Gerald H. Anderson

Jayaraj, Franklynn. Moses of 19th Century John Everett Clough Published by Centre for Contemporary Christianity. India, 2006

Clough, J. E. Social Christianity in the Orient To Read on-line click here    Macmillan Company 1914

Sharing Christ with Hindus

Hinduism is the major religion of India and Nepal. The diaspora of Hinduism means great populations of Hindus are found in almost every part of the world With one out of every seven people of the world being Hindu there are numerous occasions to share Christ with Hindus. The need for Hindus to hear Christ in the right way is great. The following article is meant to give you some practical suggestions in sharing Christ with Hindus. Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (II Corinthians 9:6)

I)  We Must First Listen
When we share Christ with a Hindu we are eager to tell them the message that will save them. It is the most important message for them to hear that Christ is their God. He loved them. He died for them. It makes sense that we want to share this with them right away.

Think of the Hindu that you are sharing with as a cup of water and think of your gospel message as water that you want to pour into that cup. You want to share your message. But the cup of your Hindu friend is already full. He has his ideas, his philosophy, his religious ideals and convictions. What happens when you pour water into a glass that is already full. When you pour water into a full glass it runs out. Because the Hindu cup is full your message will overflow like water poured into a full glass and will not fill the cup.

If that same glass is half empty you can pour in significant amounts of water into that glass. Think of genuine listening to your Hindu friend as allowing your friend to pour out from their full glass into your glass. If they sense you genuinely are making an effort to understand and appreciate their ideas you have now prepared them to hear what you have told them about Christ.

Chandra was an evangelist among Hindu who would first listen to the Hindu point of view and appreciate what is good before sharing Christ. Hindus loved Chandra because he used examples from Hindu writings. He would highlight the Hindu principles and in suitable ways compare them to Christ. He was always referring to the life of Christ when he interacted with Hindus. When they invited Chandra to speak at Hindu gatherings he would tell about the Hindu saints and compare them to the life of Christ.

Chandra’s daughter shared how Chandra applied this principle of letting the Hindu first pour out when she heard him preach at a Hindu meeting when he addressed a group of Hindu scholars. She observed that Chandra lectured forty minutes but never even mentioned Christ. However, she found that in the last twenty minutes he spoke in such a wonderful manner that he proved Jesus Christ to be the only person having the ability to save sinners. The majority of the Hindus listening accepted his views.

We will always find Hindu more open to our message when we genuinely seek to understand what is there position. We will find a listening ear and open heart when we seek to understand the perspective of our Hindu friend.

II)  Appreciate what is good in Hinduism

What goes hand in hand with listening to your Hindu friend in creating openness to Christ is to appreciate what is genuinely good in Hinduism. One of the factors to closing the Hindu heart from hearing the gospel has been the practice of evangelists in pointing out and emphasizing the negatives in Hinduism. So many times the Hindus are on the defensive when the evangilst focuses on the “evil of idolatry” or the “darkness of Hinduism.” Instead of opening the heart of the Hindu this negative approach brings about defensiveness.

From the vantage point outside of Hinduism we may see Ganesh, the elephant headed god and see an offensive form. It may be our tendency to right away criticize our friend for participating in the Ganesh festival, which centers on the Ganesh figure. Criticizing our Hindu friend for taking part in the “festival of evil” is more likely to bring them to a position of defensiveness.

How can you find something good in such an idolatrous festival? How will you be able to appreciate the good and bring an opportunity to witness of Christ? In many homes the story of Ganesh is told (there are many versions of the Ganesh story) in a way that emphasizes family values. In some stories the boy Ganesh had his head severed (and replaced with an elephant head) as a result of obeying the instructions of his mother. Many teach this as a story to affirm the need for children to obey their parents.

Now we have found something that we can appreciate. The teaching that children obey their parents is a value that we can appreciate. We can sincerely complement the quality of family values and children that are taught to obey their parents found in the vast majority of Hindu homes. One our Hindu friend has sensed that we are able to appreciate what is good in Hinduism they become more open to Christ.

If we have appreciated the family values of the Hindu home we will easily be able to share with them that this kind of teaching we in Christ appreciate. We can share with them that we find that teaching in the New Testament (Eph. 6:1) “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” You will find that not only has your Hindu friend become quite willing to listen to the New Testament on children obeying parents, but also they will, after your appreciating what is good in Hinduism, become open to what you believe about Christ.

Again using the example of Chandra we can see how a Hindu will become more open to the Gospel message when we look for what is good in Hinduism and appreciate those good points. A Hindu Professor, describes Chandra and his preaching. “His method of preaching, unlike the traditional method of locating and pointing out flaws and loopholes in the other religions and harping upon them day in and day out and in all places, was that of placing in juxtaposition the best in every religion and giving a requisite exposition to the comparative excellence in Jesus and his gospel of love and compassion, fraternity and fellow feeling.”

We are not limited to children obeying parents in our appreciation of Hindus. There are many aspects of morality, teaching against alcohol intoxication, opposing fornication and other forms of immorality. Using this approach does mean you never address issues like idolatry with your Hindu friend, but it means you always begin your interaction of a positive first step.

III)  Hindu Community issues

One very real problem we face when sharing Christ with a Hindu is the problem that Christianity in India is perceived as a caste community. In the past those who belong to oppressed social economic communities have sometimes become Christians in mass. They changed their names, taking on Christian names and left behind their caste identity taking on a Christian community identity. There have been a variety of explanations regarding mass movements to Christ from the lower socio- economic communities, but the explanation in part stems from the fact that those from the oppressed classes have seen becoming Christian as a step up on the social ladder.

In contrast the caste Hindu has a very established position in Indian society. Many people who are part of the caste Hindu (includes 600 million people) often want Christ but do not want to leave their community. For them becoming part of the Christian community would be a step down the social ladder. They receive opposition from family, not because of their worship of Christ, but because of the severe social problems that come in a change of community identity.

A Hindu that comes from a vegetarian community often has a change of dietary customs when joining the Christian community that isolate them from their family. We should as far as possible remove every obstacle and stumbling block that prevents the caste Hindu from coming to Christ. We should let the cross of Christ become the only stumbling block for the Hindu, not social issues. (Romans 14:13) We should not make it difficult for the caste Hindus who are turning to God (Acts 15:19).

We need to emphasize to the caste Hindu not to leave their community but stay as an obedient believer in Christ within their family and caste community to lead their family and community to Christ. We have New Testament examples where believers stayed in their community and we can use these scriptures to encourage our Hindu friends. The Bible teaches the believer not to be unequally yoked, i.e. for a believer not to marry and unbeliever. That does not mean that the Hindu believer has to marry outside their community. When the Hindu believer marries another believer from in their own caste community they have a much easier time remaining as salt and light to their community.

God cared about the demon-possessed man from Gerasenes and through him saved his entire family (Mark 5:12-20). When the evil spirits of this demon-possessed man left him, he begged to follow Jesus, but Jesus wanted him to go home and tell his entire family about the gospel. In this way, the family would have the witness of Christ.

When the Italian army officer, Cornelius came to faith he did not come out of his Italian family and community and live as the Hebraic Christians. Cornelius remained in his social network and through him his entire household was saved. (Acts 10:23-25) Cornelius had invited all his relatives and his close friends when Peter came to his home to speak of Christ.

When Paul found Lydia the businesswomen open to Christ in Philippi, she did not forsake her community (Acts 16:14-15). Right after Lydia came to Christ, she led her entire family to faith in Christ. God’s grace came to the Philippi jailer and through him his entire family came to Christ. (Acts 16:31) In the same way God can use the Hindu who remains inside his family and social community. When this happens the entire family can come to Christ.

House Church will appeal to a Hindu who does not want to join a new social community. Many Hindus will be excluded from their social network if they worship in a traditional Christian community church that has non-vegetarian eating customs. The believing Hindu will be in a better position to worship in a house church of believers in Christ that are not identified by their family and community as a separate social community. These house churches follow the New Testament pattern of church. (Acts 16:15, 31-34, Acts 5:42, Col. 4:15, Philemon 2). The family and social community of the Hindu will provide a natural relationship for worship and church group.

IV)  Stay Christ Centered

When we witness to our Hindu friends it is important to put the focus on Christ. A small portion from the book by Stanley Jones relating his experience in India brings out the value of the Christ centered approach.

In writing about sharing Christ with Hindus Jones says, “ I found the battle almost invariably being pitched in three places: The Old Testament, or Western Civilization, or the Christian Church. I had the ill defined but distinctive feeling the heart of the matter was being left out. Then I saw that I could take my stand at Christ and before the non-Christian world refuse to know anything save Jesus Christ and him Crucified. Then I saw this is where I should have been all the time. I saw that the Gospel lies in the person of Jesus, that he himself is the Good News that my one task was to live and to present him. My task was simplified.

But it was not only simplified it was vitalized. I found that when I was at the place of Jesus I was every moment upon the vital. Here at this place all the questions of heaven and earth were being settled. He was the one question that settled all others.

A Jain lawyer, a brilliant writer against Christianity, arose in one of my meetings and asked me a long list of questions regarding things of the Old Testament. I replied, I think I can answer your questions but I do not feel called to do so. I defined Christianity as Christ. If you have any objections to make against him I am ready to hear them and answer them if I can.” (Christ of the Indian Road p.2-4)

In sharing faith with a Hindu bring the initial focus to Christ. Do not become side tracked by other issues. These other question the Hindu has regarding the Old Testament or practices of Christians should be put off until Christ is fully presented to the Hindu.

When explaining sin to a Hindu it is better to avoid examples such as, idol worship is wrong. It is better to use personal examples such as, you may have promised something to your mother and broken that promise. That is sin and separates you from God. A Hindu has no doubt broken their own moral code regarding honesty or respecting parents. Bringing this to the Hindu mind is more likely to bring genuine repentance than a broad statement such as all idol worship is wrong.

Remember that Christ is not a foreign god for the Hindu. Christ was active in creation and Jesus is the creator and maker of your Hindu friend. God created your Hindu friend for fellowship, and that fellowship is broken as a result of sin. Christ loves the Hindu and knows intimately each Hindu and has the number of hairs on each Hindu numbered. He died for them and the image of God in the Hindu is restored when he accepts Christ who loved him and died for him.

V)  Fit the context of the situation

There are a large number of diverse thoughts within Hinduism and a large collection of Hindu writings. The major emphasis in Hinduism despite the large number of ancient texts is by oral tradition. There are thousands of Swamis having their own ashram or spiritual retreat center that emphasize a variety of themes. All of this leads to a great diversity in Hinduism.

Because of this great diversity there is not one theme that can be used in sharing Christ with Hindu. In one situation you may want to emphasize peace as Raju did in this example. Raju wrote: Raman shared at our prayer meeting that Mona has been saying that she needs “shanty”/peace. I told him that my testimony is about peace. So, we went to see her that afternoon. She was so cordial with us. Raman told her that we came to talk to her about peace. As I shared, she listened so intently. At the end, she asked me, what did I pray that I was able to find peace. I was able to share so openly with her. Raman prayed for her at the end. She is very close to the Kingdom!!!

To share the Gospel with Hindus we need to think about what is unique to each situation and adjust accordingly. Just as the example with Mona required a Biblical response in the area of peace the next situation could require a different approach. Beside peace, some common themes for Hindus include, Truth, Vegetarian Diet, Yoga, Herbs, Knowledge, Wealth, purity, Ancient Tradition, One god thousand names, Meditation, etc.

One example that has come recently from the Kamma community is from Prasadrao. He is adjusting his testimony to fit each situation. He has recently led dozens of Hindus to Christ and has planted many house churches among Hindu new believers. Prasadrao shares his testimony adjusting it to the context of each situation.

VI)  Sermon on the Mount appeals to Hindus

The Sermon on the Mount appeals to the religious sensitivities in India. What appeals most to Hindus is the self-denying aspect of the Christian faith. Many Hindu Sadhu (wandering religious holy men) are very self-denying. Because of this the Sermon on Mount, the Beatitudes, and the councils of perfection have an appeal to the Hindu.

In Gandhi’s Autobiography Book, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Gandhi refers to the Sermon on the Mount. He wrote, “Sermon on the Mount went straight to my heart. The verses, but whoever smites you on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man take away thy coat let him have thy cloke too, delighted me beyond pleasure.” Ghandi referred to the Sermon on the Mount as the greatest of all writings.

These words by Gandhi have been influential to a number of Hindus. Two very prominent High caste Hindus came to Christ when after reading Gandhi’s autobiography. Iin a very similar way booth of these Hindu men bought new testaments to read the Sermon on the Mount after reading the autobiography. Both of them came to Christ through reading the Sermon on the Mount

Conclusion
If we do not come with a spirit of criticism or superiority we will find that Hindus are very open to speak on the claims of Christ. We become most sympathetic in or witness when we have many and deep friendships with Hindu.

When you share Christ with a Hindu, commit the occasion to God in prayer; share in the power of the Holy Spirit in Love. God’s desire is for the Hindu to be restored to him through Christ. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

Now it’s time for you to share Christ with Hindus. 

Click here for you free dowloadable Gospel Tract for Hindus

Missions: a wake up call, Galatians 2: 11-14

During the time of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, Greg L. was asked to give a “missions minute” at a large evangelical church on the East Coast. Since he had only one minute to speak, he decided to ask them only two questions. The first one was, “How many of you are praying for the 52 Americans hostages being held in Iran?” 4000 hands went straight up and he said, “Praise the Lord!

Now, put your hands down and let me ask you another question. How many of you are praying for the 42 million Iranians being held hostage to Islam?” four hands went up. He said, “What are you guys? Americans first and Christians second? I thought this was a Bible-believing church!” (Mission Frontiers, May – June 1994)

This rebuke by Greg L. served as a wake up call to the church and helped Mission minded Christians see the need to pray for Muslims. This mission minute was used in a dramatic way to lead to what has been called by mission experts as “the ‘decade of Muslims’ in praying Christians hearts.” (The Commission April 2000 p. 12)

There are times when God uses a rebuke to make significant impact in keeping his people focused on His purposes. One of the clear examples of this in Scripture is when Paul rebuked Peter to his face. Not only Peter, but the other important church leaders like Barnabus and James had lost sight of God’s purpose for all Nations.

Read: Galatians 2: 11-14
11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.
12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabus was led astray.
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, ” You are a Jew, yet you live like a gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

I) The mistakes of Peter
Jesus has told us that he hates the lukewarm Christian. This attitude of being neither hot nor cold would never describe Peter. He was passionate and spoke his mind. Maybe it was the fisherman in him that made him so intense. Whatever the reason it made for Peter being mentioned more times in the Gospels than anyone else, besides Jesus.

When you think about Peters life, you probably remember a lot of mistakes. It is not necessarily a kind thing to do to Peter, but lets just take a moment to remember some of the very colorful mistakes Peter made.

When Peter steps out of the boat on the raging sea of Galilee, he takes his eyes off Jesus to see the wind and the waves. Peter looks at his circumstances and sinks in the water. Jesus words for Peter are, “you of little faith” and “why did you doubt”? ( Matthew 14:28)

Even when Peter asked Jesus a question, he has the ability to put his foot in his mouth. “We left everything to follow you Lord”, He said to Jesus. Then Peter asks, “What will there be for us? (Matthew 19:27) Not only does Peter misunderstand the nature of Jesus ministry, there is a selfish aspect to his question.

This lack of Peter’s understanding of Jesus and his purposes was epitomized after Jesus spoke to the disciples about his coming death. Following Jesus’ disturbing disclosure, Peter took Jesus aside to forbid him to go to the cross. Peter managed to get the strongest of possible rebukes for this bad idea. Jesus scolds Peter with, “get behind me Satan.” (Matthew 16:22-23)

Peter blew it again when the Lord washed the disciples feet. “Never shall you wash my feet Lord,” Peter said. When the Lord corrects him Peter goes overboard in the other direction. He requests Jesus to wash his hands and head as well. He just was not tuned in to the purposes of Jesus. (John 13:8) When Peter asked Jesus to explain the parable of the clean and the unclean Jesus asked, “are you still so dull? (Matthew 15:15-16)

Peter slept after the Lord told him to watch and pray in the Garden of Gathsemene. Then the impulsive Peter cuts off the servant’s ear when the temple guards come to arrest his Lord. Jesus commanded Peter, “put the Sword away!” (John 18:11) Again Peter was not understanding the purpose of Christ despite the fact Jesus spoke to his disciples concerning his death.

The mistake or rather the complete failure that Peter is most famous for is his denial of Christ. This is what caused Peter to weep bitterly when Jesus looked straight at him. Peter remembered the words the Lord had spoken to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times”. (Luke 22: 61-62)

II) The Heroics of Peter
If we would plot Peters life on a seismograph to measure the highs and lows the needle would move all over the charts. Yes, Peter had his failures and they were tragic ones. But as for the greatness of Peter his high points were phenomenal.

We normally think of Peter’s greatness after Jesus resurrection, and especially following Pentecost. We can however, see glimpses of Peters greatness in the Gospels. Peter was in insider to Jesus. Peter was not only one of Jesus chosen twelve, but he was part of the inside three to Jesus.

At times Jesus called Peter dull, but at other moments his perception of Christ was unparalleled. Jesus asked his disciples, the crowds left, will you too depart? Peter answered, “where would we go, You have the Words of Eternal Life”. (John 6:68) Peter made one of the most significant statements of all times in what we now call the Great Confession (Matt 16:16). “You are the Christ, son of the living God”.

Peters heroics at and following Pentecost are numerous. His preaching is filled with brilliant insight into the purposes of God in the Cross. It was incredible insight when just forty days ago he was still thinking Jesus had come to establish an earthly kingdom. Look at Acts 2:39, he preached of all those “far off.” The response to this sermon set the stage for the advance of the early church. People were cut to the heart and 3,000 were saved and baptized that day.

Peter seems to underscore his understanding in his second sermon, (Acts 3:25-26) He said, “Jesus was sent first to the Jews”. Peter took for granted that Jesus was sent next to the Gentiles. (Perspectives, Stott, A-15) Peter continued to preach boldly and many miracles came through him. Peter told the lame beggar, “silver and Gold have I none, get up, in the name of Jesus walk.” When the man leaped to his feet the onlookers were astonished. They released this miracle came by the power of God.

People were brought to Peter so that even his shadow might fall on some as they passed by. (Acts 5:15) His bold theme was “we must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) Peter prayed for Dorcus after her death and commanded her to get up. She did get up and many people believed in the Lord as a result.

Peter is the one who was sent to Samaria when news came the Gospel had reached these despised people. (Acts 6:1-5) Through the ministry of Peter the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17) Peter is great! Who else walked on water and raised the dead? Except for our Lord, Peter is the only one.

III) The Sheet Experience

The early church began with one people group, the Jews (there were more than a dozen sub-groups of Diaspora Jews baptized at Pentecost). God’s purposes for all the peoples was in the process of becoming reality. Following the Gospel reaching the Samaritans comes the account of the Gospel to the first Gentiles. A gentile, Cornelius, an officer of the Roman army, respected by all Jewish people, was about to become the first Gentile recorded in the New Testament to know the saving grace in Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:22)

Cornelius was a devout God fearing and generous Italian. The Lord gave him a vision where he was told to send for Peter. At the same time the Lord gave Peter the sheet visions. A vision intended to get Gods purposes for all people groups through to Peter. Peter had the sheet vision, once then a second vision and even a third time. The purpose was for Peter to understand what he should have already known. He in fact had already been preaching this truth, that the Gospel is for all communities (people groups).

The vision of the sheet came to Peter three times. When you take into account the vision that Cornelius had, there were a total of four visions to underscore the purpose of God. It came to Peter as an, Aha moment, and is expressed in Acts 10:34. “Now I realize that God accepts men from every nation” (people group). This was followed by another experience among the gentiles of what happened at Pentecost among the Jews. (Acts 10:45-46)

Peter should have known already what God impressed on him in this vision. When Peter preached at Pentecost he articulated the very idea that was intended in this vision, that salvation in Jesus Christ is for all People. Everyone who calls on the name of our Lord will be saved.

Jews from 15 different regions, Jews of Diaspora, spoke Aramaic or Hebrew. These Diaspora Jews also knew the gentile languages. They came to Jerusalem to worship in Hebrew. The Acts 2 event with the Holy Spirit coming and all hearing the Gospel in there own language was a symbolic reversal of what happened at Babel, immediately preceding Abram’s call to be a blessing to all the families (people groups) of the earth. (Gen. 12:1-3)

IV) Peter Now Defends the Gospel for all people groups

What a wonderful moment in world history when Peter shared Jesus with Cornelius and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles. God’s purpose in Jesus Christ for the nations (people groups) was underway. This was not, however, such a joyous thought to everyone. As a matter of fact, the first century Christians did not like to see people groups outside there own community come to Christ. When the Christians heard the Gospel went to the Gentiles they criticized Peter for even associating with these Italian people. They took up issue with Peter about this (Acts 11:1-3)

Peter explained the whole situation of the vision and how the Gospel went to the Gentiles. Now even the first century church gets it! The Gospel is for the Gentiles. (Vs 11:18) No further objections. At least not until a church of Gentiles was organized at Antioch.

The Jewish church in Jerusalem sent Barnabus to look into this Gentile congregation at Antioch. Barnabas encouraged them. This is when Barnabas goes off to find Paul, who by now this “Jew of Jews” had been called as an apostle to the Gentiles (people groups). This group of Gentile Christians took up an offering for the needs of the Jewish Christians as a result of a famine. The other great ministry Antioch performs is to send out Paul and Barnabas on a missionary journey to reach other Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas went out from Antioch turning the world upside down. God opened the door to more Gentiles. At this time there was trouble back in Antioch. In Acts Chapter 15 we find Christian Jews from Judea went to Antioch teaching them that one must first become a Jew to become a Christian. This resulted in Paul and Barnabas having a sharp dispute. This time not with each other, but with the men of Judea.

We read in Acts 15 (during what is known as the Jerusalem Council) that Paul and Barnabas reported the ministry among the gentiles. At first this was accepted and then some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees argued the case that a gentile must first become a Jew. It was Peter who was the hero of the hour. Peter convinced the council that salvation is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be it Jew or Gentile. This was confirmed when James convinced by Peters argument, quoted Amos and Isaiah that the Gospel is for Gentiles. (Act 15:16-18) Hurray for Peter and his role in seeing the purpose of God to all the families of the earth be carried out!

VI) Wake up call

Isn’t this the end story, a resolved issue, regarding the Gospel to the Gentiles? No! Even though it was essentially laid out by Jesus in the Great Commission and numerous other times there was further confirmation needed for the early church to really accept and carry this out.

Sometimes Peter understood Christ’s Mission with insight that could only come from the Heavenly Father. Sometimes he was dull. A wave of dullness washed over Peter, even after all that had transpired. It took a vision, three times, for Peter to understand what should have already been so clear.

Could Peter have blown it on the Gospel for the Gentiles after he was so used by God at the Jerusalem council? Yes, there is one last big goof in Peter’s life. This is the reason Paul rebuked Peter to his face.

“We are not told when the confrontation between Paul and Peter took place. The book of Acts makes no mention of it. Some interpreters feel this incident took place soon after the Jerusalem conference. It seems unlikely however that the circumcision party could have recouped its forces and increased its influence so soon.” (Curtis Vaughan, Bible Study Commentary, Galatians p 47)

Why did Paul have to rebuke Peter to his face? Peter completely forgot what he had said in Acts 10:34. If anybody should have been a “Great Commission Christian”, taking the Gospel to all people groups, Peter should have been the one.

A “Great Commission Christian” is a person who’s mission is missions. A person who takes the commission of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 to make disciples of all nations (people groups). Peter is slow to understand the mission of Christ. Again!

Conclusion
This was Peters great mistake. When Peter pulled away from the Gentiles in Antioch, he forgot the Gospel is for all people groups. When he denied Christ, the Holy Spirit had not come. But this time his mistake was made after preaching Pentecost, raising the dead, calling the lame to walk and after his sheet vision.

When Peter separated himself from the Gentile Christians at Antioch (Gal 2:12) it was a tragic mistake. Peter was as Paul said, “clearly in the wrong.” This mistake came after he shared the Gospel to gentiles and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit followed. This mistake came after Peter convinced the Jerusalem council leaders that the Gospel is for the Gentiles (people groups).

If Peter can get off track regarding God’s purposes for the peoples, then we also should be on the alert, lest we get derailed. If we are not doing our strategic thinking in ministry based on God’s purposes for all peoples (The Ta Ethne factor) it will mean missing God’s best for our lives.

The church sometimes, like Peter, is needing a correction and a call back to God’s Great Commission purpose. William Carey was a man who gave a wake up call to the church in his day. His talk of Missions was countered with, “Sit down young man, if God wants to reach the Heathen, He will do it without your help or mine ” Carey did not stay quiet. He rebuked the church much like Paul rebuked Peter. William Carey preached his “broad tent sermon” from where we get “Expect Great things from God. Attempt Great things for God.” He accomplished great things and woke up his denomination, the Baptists in England, along with it, the entire Christian community.

Fast forward from William Carey by 190 years to 1979, the Missions Minute of Greg L. during the Iranian hostage crises. The Lord used that challenge to give a wake up call for the Gospel to the Muslim world. “More Muslims in Iran have come to Christ since 1980 than in all the previous 1,000 years combined.” (Blessed to Be a Blessing, Mission Frontiers, India p. 13)

Today we may again need a wake up call. This time we must wake up and see the challenge in taking the Gospel to the Hindu world. This block of peoples contain over half the worlds languages (1,700 of 3,500). This part of the world contains over fifty percent of the worlds least evangelized peoples. (The Commission, April 2000. Page 12)

When we returned to the USA my wife’s Aunt Rebecca’s told us of her dream. She believed God gave her the dream. In her dream she saw a map of the world. She saw a hand reach out and point to India. The only words in the dream were, “here, here.” When she awoke she thought about her niece and family in India. She thought we may be in some kind of trouble so she prayed for us.

My wife and I both looked at each other when she told us of this dream. We thought the same thing. It is not out of the realm of possibilities that we were in some kind of trouble and God wanted her to pray. But, we thought that if this dream was from God, it more likely was a message that it is God saying this is His time for the Hindu of India to know Him.

Some mission experts now believe that, as the 1990’s was the decade for the Muslims for praying Christians, this will be the decade for the Hindu. (The Commission April 2000, p 12) India and the Hindu peoples is the great need to fulfill the Great Commission. There are thousands of Hindu people groups according to the Anthropological survey of India.

From the life of Peter we can see how we can so easily get off track for Missions. Today let us wake-up and pray for the Hindu world to know the love of Christ. “Only One life will soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Missions: To Where Christ Is Not Known

                                                 

In 1998 there was a celebration in, India. It was the occasion of the twenty-five year, silver anniversary, of the Mission hospital. The president of the Mission Board, came as the keynote speaker. There was also an array of guests related to the history of the Hospital who came for the occasion. One of those who came was W. John. He was the pioneer missionary who actually purchased the land for the hospital to begin the ministry.

There is just something about the pioneer types. W. John was staying at the guest quarters at the hospital during the preparations for the celebration. It just so happened that a cobra snake made the mistake of slithering over the compound wall from the granite quarry behind the hospital. W. John in True Pioneer spirit killed the Cobra with a stick!

Actually, the pioneer missionary spirit is not really about killing Cobra snakes. It is about preaching Christ where He is not known. I asked W. John how the missionary work began and progressed in India. His answer was in the form of an analogy. He said the work began like a river. A river flows where the resistance is less. If the river encounters a rock or some resistance the river flows around that place. Soon a channel is cut and the river is flowing.

This method makes sense to me. Why stop at a hard resistant place when there are easy flow channels right next to the hard place? I thought it was right to do the ministry in India like a river, flowing where the openness was found. But, at that time, I also thought that we do not need to continue to flow exclusively down the same river cut decade ago. It is right to cut new rivers now!

In Romans Chapter 15:19-21 Paul used a different analogy for his work. Instead of a river, Paul uses the analogy of laying a foundation. He laid new foundations. Paul cut new rivers. He preached Christ where Christ was not known.

Read Romans 15:19-21
19 – by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:
Vs 21 “They who were not told of him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

I) Paul’s Pioneer Journeys
Verse 19b So from Jerusalem all the way around Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

When Paul wrote these words he was about to complete his third missionary journey and visit Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-27). By the time he wrote these words he had traveled extensively. There was still more traveling for him to do, but much of his missionary career was complete. He was speaking as a veteran.

There are many people who travel extensively in our day. I travel often and I have silver frequent flyer status on two airlines. I see these same tags commonly affixed to the bags of those rushing about in the airports. Some travelers even have the gold tags. These gold tags tell me that, as much as I have traveled, many others have traveled much more. If there was a first century frequent traveler gold card, I am sure Paul would have earned them for several major ship carriers.

Let’s check out some biblical background on how Paul traveled extensively to build new foundations. Our focus verse gives only a brief reference and we have just a hint here of how Paul journeyed all across Asia and into Europe. After Paul’s Damascus road experience he spent several days in Damascus. At once he began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God. Paul was proving that Jesus is the Christ. This did not go on for long when a plan was hatched to kill Paul. Day and night men lay in wait at the city gates to kill Paul. To escape the situation Paul was let down through the opening in the wall in a basket. Paul mentioned only in Galatians that he traveled to Arabia before he ever went to meet the disciples in Jerusalem (Gal 1:17).

Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:4-14:28)
For Paul it was not uncommon for persecution to arise and for him to be expelled from the region. In Iconium after a great number believed and a plot to stone him arose and Paul fled. At his next destination they caught up with Paul and did stone him and left him for dead. Paul recovered and left there the next day, but then returned there strengthening disciples. In between Paul’s first and second missionary Journey he was sent from Antioch to Jerusalem regarding a dispute and from Jerusalem back to Antioch with a reply.

Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:39-18:22)
When Paul went on his second missionary journey he began by visiting the former places from the first journey. That was only the beginning of his second journey travels. He actually reached the Illyricum that he mentions due to his Macedonian call. In Phillipi Paul was imprisoned. This led to the jailer and his household coming to Christ. In Thessalonica a riot broke out and Paul was sent out during the night. By the time Paul was half way through his second journey in Corinth the Lord spoke in a vision, “keep on speaking, do not be silent.”

Third Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23-21:7)
On his third journey Paul traveled and strengthened his disciples from his first two journeys, but in reaching new areas in Ephesus a riot broke out because of Paul and it became very dangerous. Paul’s traveling companions were taken under siege and Paul and his companions left for Macedonia as soon as the uproar ended. In Greece there was a plot against him. Somewhere about this point Paul described all these journeys with this half verse (Vs 19b). So from Jerusalem all the way around Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. He had much more intense travel ahead with an upcoming trip to Rome.

In considering Paul’s travels I wonder what he would do and where he would go today? I wonder what Paul would think today about Sentenal Island? This island is the home of the Sentenalese tribals. This tribe is considered the remotest people in the world. They are a Paleolithic tribe with a population of only 250 on the Andaman Islands. They do not interact with anyone outside of their Sentenales tribe.

No one is permitted to go onto this Island. Sentenales speak their own language and this language is not understood by anyone outside the island and they do not understand any other languages. It will take a spirit of Paul for such a tribe to hear the Gospel. Paul did more than travel around and write a travel book. He went with a Gospel purpose to the frontiers. To where Christ had never been preached.

II) Paul’s New Frontiers Spirit
Vs 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

In this verse Paul really lays out the central purpose of his ministry. It is to go to the new frontiers with the Gospel. He did not simply track down folks who had heard the apostles preach and try to work on that. Paul went to new places and built new foundations. The nature of his ministry was not to build on another man’s work, but to build new foundations. Paul remained true to what the Lord called him “to carry Jesus name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. (Acts 9:15).

Ralph Winter recently wrote about new foundations in this way, “Anyone can open a door and walk through it, but only a locksmith can deal with a locked door. Missions is “locksmithing” new groups. Once the lock is open (a very special skill), expanding the number of churches is by comparison a relatively simple task. (November-December 2002 Mission Frontiers USCWM•  http://www.missionfrontiers.org/

There will always be a need for the pioneers, like Paul. His ministry came from the moving of the Spirit of God in his life. When we are sensitive to the Spirit we will find He moves us out into new areas. You can to this day find new areas that have never been touched adequately with the Gospel.

The Anthropological Survey of India team concluded that India consists of nearly five thousand distinct communities. With this many communities the majority of the Christians of India come from only about 150 communities. The frontier spirit of Paul is in need today as much as ever.

In many ways there has been a revival in the frontier missionary spirit Paul refers to here. One of these new initiatives has been the emphasis on the 10/40 window. This is because that in this window there are countless opportunities to lay new foundations. That certainly does not mean that there are not frontier opportunities outside this window. One mistake we make is to think so geographic. I refer to this as the missiological fallacy.

Let me give an example of this missiological fallacy thinking. In India there is a perception that the frontiers lie in North India. This is the perception because there are more churches in South India than in North India. Therefore the reasoning goes that if you go to North India you are a pioneer like Paul and if you are in South India you are building on another mans foundation.

What happens is people go to North India and work with tribals or other communities that already have a viable church. North India has had fantastic mass movements of the gospel. Most of the movements that Donald McGavran documents in his book The Founders of the Indian Church are movements that occurred in North India. There are frontiers in North India, but not every ministry in North India is a new foundations ministry.

To further illustrate let’s take Kerala in South India. Could this be a call for the pioneer missionary? Kerala is twenty percent Christian. But the forward caste Nayar are one of the most unreached people groups. The Muslim Mappila are even more unreached. The high percentage of Christians keep the pioneers away from Kerala in part because of this missiological fallacy.

Some missioligists have put the peoples of the world into categories of A, B and C. World C are christianized world B are amidst an evangelized people. The World A people are cut off from the Gospel. They are the frontiers. We are told that even though this World A has one-third of the worlds population they have only one percent of the mission resources made available to bring the Gospel to them. This world A person can exist anywhere. A Rajput of India is a World A person even if he is residing in Dallas. Reaching this person in Dallas is a Romans 15:20 frontier ministry

We must see the hidden peoples that lay underneath the Christian surface. A new foundations ministry is a calling to align your life to this vision expressed by Paul! It can be anywhere and in many ways. In one sense there are always the foundations from those who went before us. Paul to some degree built on Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses even here he is quoting Isaiah, when he made his new foundations proclamation. The key to this pioneer ministry is to take the Gospel where it has never been heard. It may be a new foundation but the Cornerstone is still and always will be Jesus Christ.

III) The Day will Dawn
Vs 21 “They who were not told of him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

We have unfailing promises of God when we go to the unreached peoples. It will happen. God is not going to run out of time. His plan is for some from every people group to come to know him.

Pioneer work is God’s work. Paul spells it out in Vs 17 – 19. It is not by our strength we go to new areas. It is because of the power of God. This ministry is only because of the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

He quotes Isaiah 52:21. This verse that may have been his life verse: “They shall see who have never been told of him, and they shall understand who have never heard of him,” Paul went to the unreached based on the promise of God. The unreached will hear and turn to Christ. This was his confidence to go to all men everywhere. This promise of God was the basis of hope for Paul that thrust him out to those who have never heard.

I remember one very specific occasion when I was considering a change in ministry emphasis that would be more in line with Romans 15:20 and Paul’s new foundations approach. I was looking to change from encouraging existing churches to focusing on the Hindu Lingayats. The Lingayat community has over ten million people but, at that time, only a handful of known believers in Christ among them.

I went to visit a mission leader to ask his advise about such a bold move for my ministry focus. The response the mission leader gave me was, “do not do it.” His reason was that if I continued as I was doing, to encourage the churches, I will see professions of faith, baptisms and new churches started. He said the Lingayats are hard hearted and resistant to the Gospel. There will be no professions of faith, no baptisms, no new churches started among them. This move he warned would result in a fruitless ministry.

OK, I asked his advice. But, I could not accept his answer. The Gospel ministry is a call to the impossible. If I went to my own kinfolk in my own home town to do the Gospel ministry, not even one person could be born of the Spirit in my strength. This is impossible with man. But with God this Gospel ministry is possible. If we are going to do the impossible why should it be only the easy impossible? Why not go for the exceedingly difficult impossible? We must remember how Paul did the work in new areas. In verse Vs 19a he states that it is by the Spirit of God.

Now as for the ministry among the Lingayats God is blessing. It is a joy to, as far as possible build new foundations and preach Christ where he is not known. There are about fifteen districts in South India where the Lingayats are the dominate community. In all of them there are new professions of faith among the Lingayat. We are seeing baptisms and we are seeing churches among them. This is by no means a fruitless ministry. In contrast we are seeing abundant spiritual fruit among the Lingayats.

Now recently I was encouraging a colleague in North India. He was struggling about whether he should focus his ministry on an unreached people group, where no one was working. I told him how a Christian leader did not encourage me. I also told him to expect the same advice. That same day he came to me and said he asked a Christian leader. Well I asked him, what was his response? He said the leader told him that that people was hard hearted and resistant to the Gospel and would result in a fruitless ministry. I told him in my view that was confirmation of a call to work amongst that unreached people group.

Conclusion

We should pray that God will raise up workers who will preach Christ where He is not yet known! May God give you the grace to, preach the Gospel where Christ is not known. That those not told of him will see, and those who have not heard will understand through your ministry.

Paul had an ambition “to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named.” That was his call and his passion. This steadfast purpose guided his life and his gospel strategy. He challenges us to the frontiers by his words and example. He went to the peoples who had never heard the gospel. We now need pioneer missionaries to take the Gospel to the truly frontier people groups.

Paul is a man for the Gospel frontiers. He looks to the uttermost regions where men have never heard of Jesus. His ambition is to preach the saving name of Christ where he has not been named. Paul does not look to build on another’s foundation. Paul is a pioneer for the new foundations. Paul is a man who cuts new rivers. Will you?