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By Blair Goodman
ORISSA, India’s poorest state, is perhaps the
last place one would visit in India – especially considering the
persecution which has happened there recently. But for me, it was the
first. My February trip left me with many vivid memories.
From the train window, the area appeared to have a
hilly terrain topped in thick brush, with rice fields below. I didn’t
see any armed Hindu radicals – just women washing at local wells and
men riding bicycles along well-worn roads.
Doctor Susanta Kumar (pictured with me) invited me to
see his mission work. He sat quietly beside me, deep in thought. He
didn’t seem concerned about being hauled off the train and
beaten by Hindu extremists, so I relaxed and tried to think about how to
start a school here – with only two weeks, and the few hundred
dollars I had saved.
I’d been told that India was a country of stark
contrasts – and I certainly found it to be true. The colours, the
culture, the food and sounds filled my senses. Evidence of
development was everywhere – even in Bolangir, the city where Susanta
and his family live. Road work seemed to be the government’s focus;
however, I was interested in the schools.
Susanta, in the four years since he finished his
doctorate in missiology, has successfully started 10 small churches. His
ministry often involves praying, and he has attained some popularity as a
healer.
He carries a cellphone, and spends time each day
praying for people, in addition to teaching college students, and helping
orphans and widows.
Because of all this activity, Susanta told me he has
become “a target of the radical Hindus.”
Susanta had a two week itinerary typed out for me: a
day for each village church, one day with his college students, and a day
with his own church. This left one day for Padiabahal village, where
my school would start.“One day to start a school,” I thought.
“I’m going to have to seriously talk with him.”
As we travelled by car or walked, I shared with him my
strategy for a school, and how it could evangelize a whole village. I
also explained that, in Canada, school meetings, paperwork and reports are
important. As Susanta walked slowly and patiently listened, I was reminded
that I wasn’t in Canada.
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Everywhere we were greeted in a similar way. As we
waited at the edge of each village, a handful of local believers paraded
out to us in song and dance. One of them would pour water at our
feet, bow before us and then lay a flower necklace around our necks. Each
time we were paraded back into the village, I wondered about the risks
these groups took in their predominantly Hindu villages.
As we travelled back from his churches, I asked Susanta
to stop at public schools along the way. It was sad to see how
dilapidated they were – no lighting, water, books or desks.
Attendance was sporadic, even for the teachers.
Finally, we went to visit Padiabahal, a village with no
school and one Christian family.
Joshua, who had accompanied us for several days, would
oversee this new school. After explaining the project to the interested
families, the long-awaited moment came.
Would they accept the idea of being involved in their
child’s learning? Would they allow a Christian worker to come into
their homes for encouragement and guidance? Would they allow their children
to gather for Bible stories and learning?
Their answer was positively “yes” knowing
that a teacher (Joshua) and a curriculum would be provided.
The school started last April, the same time as
India’s public schools. On May 27, Susanta sent me an email, stating:
“Joshua is working hard. I am visiting the village [from]
time to time, to see how things are going on. Students are very
interested in studying, and the parents are also encouraged. Joshua is
teaching the students one hour every day, and visits . . . the parents and
[tells] them how to guide the children in the home during study. He spends
time with the parents, and takes the opportunity to share the
gospel.”
Susanta wrote September 14: “Joshua is visiting
Padiabahal, and teaching the children and guiding the parents. The
Christians in Bolangir have been given threatening letters by the Hindu
leaders attacked and killed on the 23rd. Do remember us in prayer.
Personally, I am not afraid to face such persecution. I am ready to die for
the Lord.”
In Susanta’s most recent email, October 1, he
said he and his church building have been given police protection.
The worst persecution is still 100 kilometres away from Bolangir.
Blair Goodman attends West Coast Christian Fellowship
in Vancouver.
November 2008
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