Master Trainers Making an Impact Among India's Unreached

Out of India’s 4,635 people groups, only a few hundred have a witnessing Christian presence. Until 10 years ago, 90 percent of evangelism endeavor was focused on just 10 percent of the people groups, the so-called “receptive” groups. Because of ministries like our partner Joshua Vision India (JVI), more emphasis is being placed on India’s most unreached people groups.

Because the task is so great, JVI’s program focuses on multiplication. They recruit Christian leaders from all throughout India, train them as Master Trainers, and then send them out to train other leaders called Harvesters. Partners has been investing in this outstanding training program since 1996. Here are just two examples of how your support translates into incredible impact on the field.

Santhosh and his wife Mercy were both trained as Master Trainers. Hailing from West Bengal, Santhosh was commissioned in July 2002 and Mercy in November 2001. They started their ministry with one believer, and now they have registered a ministry called Malda Christian Fellowship and have 18 evangelists working with them. They have planted 65 churches among 15 people groups, including the highly unreached Brahmin caste. They have trained more than 100 Harvesters who are now serving with other churches and missions.

Yesudass is from Karnataka State. He was one of the first Master Trainers commissioned by JVI in 1998. After his commissioning, he started Paul Vision with a vision to to reach the unreached in his region of India. Today, his organization is working among nine people groups. His primary focus is a gypsy group called the Hakkipikki from which he has baptized 1,800 people. His ministry includes caring for lepers, conducting health camps, and providing relief to the needy. Making use of his training at JVI, he generates income for his ministry through kitchen gardening and fish ponds.

“From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank all our partners, donors, encouragers, and enablers for your faithful service over the years,” said JVI founder and coordinator Dr. B.E. Vijayam. “Through your faithful and sacrificial gifts we are able to equip an Indian mission force with cross-cultural communication skills and contextual technologies for income generation. Together let us bring unreached people groups in India into Christ’s fold.”

JVI is in need of more support for their incoming class of trainees. Give a training scholarship today!

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