Country in Focus: India

This subcontinent with the second largest population in the world – over 1 billion people – is more than just one country. There are 28 states and 7 territories, but there are also 18 different official languages, written in different scripts. So, although India is officially one nation, the large variety of cultures and languages do separate the people. The caste system, officially abandoned years ago, is still very much evident.

Officially India is 80% Hindu, 13% Muslim and only 2% Christian. The main opposition is that the government is a very pro-Hindu one and the fanaticism of many of its members regularly leads to persecution of people of other faiths (both Muslim and Christian). CBSI is active in three of the states so far: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and, just recently, Maharashtra.

Quick Facts

Size: 1,269,346 sq miles (about 1/3 the size of the United States)
Population: 1,132,446,000
Religious Affiliations: Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 2% (CIA World Factbook)
Official Language: Hindi, English
Government: Federal Republic

Leadership

Regional Director: Peter Hanscamp
Number of Bible Studies: 120+
Numbers of people participating: 1685
Languages of Operation:

• Telugu

• Tamil

• English

Needs

• There is a constant need for funds to keep ministries going. Many of the CBSI leaders seek to reach out into communities that are poor.
• Calebs are needed in all the states of India.

Prayer Concerns

• For wisdom how to help the poor, without creating the impression that people are being bribed to become “Christians.”
• For protection from physical harm for believers and especially leaders. Hindu militants are constantly harassing believers, especially in the rural areas.
• That the Tamil classes will soon be established.
• That the initial work of translation into Marathi and Hindi will proceed quickly, so that classes can be established in Mumbai and the northern states.

Special Projects 2009-2010

• More translation of studies into Tamil.