India Mission

India is in transition; politically, socially, and spiritually. Economic growth and a massive youth population are pushing India into regional and global prominence.  As the country modernizes and takes on a larger political role in the region, the poorest people in the country are being pushed aside and forgotten.  India is a federal parliamentary republic, but despite sharing a similar constitution and laws with the West, the country still struggles with overpopulation, environmental devastation, extensive poverty, and widespread corruption.  Long-standing religious divisions also continue to play their role in the country’s well-being.  Though many praise it as a spiritual paradise, many Christians are feeling the pressure of the growing popularity of Jesus and His church.  People of India are hearing, and responding to, the Gospel in record numbers.  Some in the country don’t want to see this happen.  These realities weigh on those who give their lives to spreading the Good News of Jesus.

Anil Kumar Missions: Feeding India’s hungry souls and stomachs for Jesus, while uniting mission-minded Christians around the globe.

Our brother Anil Kumar faithfully serves the lost souls and needy people of Southeast India.  His heart for Jesus and the people of his community leads Anil to tirelessly preach, teach, travel, feed, console, serve, and baptize.  His year is full of countless sermons, seminars, meetings, Vacation Bible Schools, hospital visits, celebrations, classes, and baptisms.  One particular mission Anil started was a night school to serve the poorest children in his community by providing them physical, mental, and spiritual food.

My congregation, in Oregon City, supports Anil and his ministries, and I've been fortunate enough to develop a friendship and partnership with this great man.  There are several things I’d like to accomplish during my month-long trip to India, in May.

  

  Encourage Anil.  I hope to support Anil and the local congregations by traveling with him, teaching, and serving the physical and spiritual needs of the people.
  
  Teach.  I hope to help organize and run a Vacation Bible School for the community kids while working extensively with the Night School.  I also plan to work with Anil to teach the local ministers from the area.
  
  Record & present Anil’s ministries.  I hope to help Anil tell his story, and present this to American congregations.  I would like to interview & film Anil, while also capturing his ministries, and life in India.

Jesus: The Greatest Teacher

(originally posted in Arise February 3, 2019)

As I was going through my studies to become a teacher, I would often catch myself reading about a strategy or principle and thinking to myself, “Hey, that’s what Jesus did!”  It makes sense.  Jesus was the best teacher!  Many times his followers would call him “Rabbi”, and as his followers, we see him as our most authoritative teacher.  So, what is it that made Jesus such a great teacher?  

1.  Jesus had a clear objective.  A teacher is nothing without an objective.  Jesus knew what his purpose was, and everything Jesus did was moving Him, and his students, toward that objective.  Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. (John 8:28)     

2.   Jesus knew and cared for his students.  Much like teachers are nothing without an objective, they are equally nothing without students.  Duh!  But more importantly is caring for them.  Research reveals that teacher-student relationship is one of the most important indicators of student success.  The old adage that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care, remains true.  It was just before the Passover Festival.  Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (John 13:1)  

3.  Jesus used interactive strategies to connect His students with His objective.  Research shows how interacting with what you’re learning helps strengthen and deepen understanding.  His teachings were frequently supported with interactive, sensory experiences and connections.

- Stories: Jesus told stories, and it’s no surprise that stories help us understand and retain information.  Jesus’ parables gave his disciples concrete, earthly examples of abstract, Heavenly realities, while he also used allegory, hyperbole, humor, imagery, and wordplay.

- Senses: The more senses used when engaging a subject, the more information that will be understood and retained.  Jesus used the physical world around Him to connect His message to His students’ lives, including food, songs, foot-washing, visual-aids, and tangibles.

- Discussion: Jesus asked questions, and had discussions with his disciples.  “Who do you say that I am?”  “Do you want to get well?”  Discussions allow students to wrestle with difficult and complex subjects.  Sometimes the question can act to just start a conversation in the student’s head, like “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan?"