Bible Faith Mission, India

Partners International supports the work of Dalit pastors and church planters as they evangelize, baptize, and plant churches among unreached Dalit communities. Of the more than 140 BFM pastors, half work in completely unreached areas while the other half work to strengthen existing churches, mobilizing them to start daughter churches. Fellowships typically begin with BFM pastors surveying an unreached Dalit community and later sending evangelistic teams that will begin building relationships. Often a ministry to children develops and as the number of believers grows over time, BFM introduces Bible studies and programs for women and youth.

Currently, BFM has planted 150 churches and 60 house churches in Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. These churches form a strong network that facilitate the development of Dalits on a broad scale. This year, BFM’s goal is to plant 19 more churches, including seven in a new area of outreach for BFM—North India. Partners would like to invest in this effort by providing partial support for BFM’s workers. On average, the cost to support one pastor is $180 per month. Join God in His powerful movement among the Dalits by supporting a Dalit pastor.

For Dalits who have been denied dignity for centuries, a church building of their own is more than just a place to worship; it is a visual, powerful symbol of God’s love for them. Though the people live in poverty, the congregation and BFM jointly contribute nearly one-third of the cost by donating land, labor, and a portion of the cost of materials. The growth of the Church among the Dalits has been so dramatic that many newly planted congregations have no place for fellowship other than their own houses, which do not have the capacity to hold large gatherings. In addition to worshiping the Lord, the buildings are often used for other ministries such as Sunday school, youth ministry, women’s ministry, and community events.

Because they have no proper place to meet, a number of congregations are seeing their numbers dwindle. Your support will enable BFM to begin construction on these long-awaited buildings. Eight congregations are in immediate need of building or renovation funds.

Bible Faith Mission has long hoped to expand their ministry to new states of India and have been praying for God’s guidance and the provision of resources. In recent years BFM has finally seen this dream become a reality. They began working with a Dalit Christian who is ministering in the border areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Through this connection, God has provided an opening for BFM to expand into North India where a large number of Dalits and tribal people live.

Their hope is to lead people to Christ, establish new churches, and implement socio-economic and educational programs that will bring holistic transformation to local families and communities. This year, BFM hopes to see 13 fellowships planted in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh and to identify leaders who can be trained to lead women and youth programs. Gifts to this project will provide salary stipends for the ministry coordinator and five co-workers as well as construction costs for five simple sheds that will allow new fellowships to meet together.

Established in the 1950s, Partners’ Sponsor A Child program works to help very poor children around the world attend school and learn about Jesus Christ. Together Partners International and Bible Faith Mission assist about 325 children through sponsorship. In addition to providing school fees and supplies, the children are taught cleanliness and hygiene, a pressing need in an area where poverty and illiteracy have long prevailed.

Bible study, praise songs, and Scripture memory are all encouraged at Bible club programs for the more than 3,000 children who attend Sunday school at Bible Faith Mission churches. Children are able to recite many Bible verses, plus references, from memory. Extracurricular activities such as games, sports competitions, essay writing, singing, preaching, and Bible quizzes are used to help the children grow not only spiritually, but in all aspects of their lives.

Children from both the BFM school and the rural government schools are in need of sponsorship. Fifty new sponsors are urgently needed. The cost to sponsor a child is just $30 per month or $360 per year.

Sponsor A Child

Since 1943, Partners International has invested in the lives and ministries of indigenous Christian leaders all over the world. We’ve found that as important as financial resources are, they are only as effective as a ministry’s capacity to use them. Our vision is to help our partners develop their ministry and organizational capacities. As our partners are equipped, their ministry impact increases exponentially.

Sponsored by Partners International, staff and pastors of Bible Faith Mission will take part in a series of capacity-building training events in 2012-2013. These events will include training on the topics of Scripture storytelling (evangelism and discipleship of non-literates), mission partnerships, community health education, Christian family, board governance, and children’s ministry. In all, seven training events will be held engaging 195 people involved with the Bible Faith Mission ministry. These training events are requested by BFM leadership to develop their staff and pastors in areas of critical need.