Posted by Anthony Adams

I have a little time to update on our time here. It has been non-stop in many ways. And now a pastor has just arrived from Agra, who I am going to talk with shortly. But what can I say about the last few days?

The hunger of the people for spiritual nourishment is striking. Only yesterday when I was feeling ill and supposed to be speaking to a group of many new believers, my host said – don’t worry, just do a short one, maybe only an hour! People want to be fed.

Schools – I visited a school which my friend is managing. It is part Christian Junior School, and part Government-Aided Senior school. We interviewed for the position of an English teacher for the senior school, hence my involvement, since it is rumoured I can speak the language.

Having been involved in interviewing for teaching posts many times in the UK, this was something of a learning curve. First of all, of the four interviewed, only one had enough English to have a conversation with me, even of the most basic kind. And that was with a thick accent. One of them even admitted that he could not speak English but would like to learn it. Secondly, having established who was the best candidate, the Principal and I had an odd conversation where he seemed ambivalent about appointing him. It became apparent that the school had almost no money and would not be able to afford him. The school Principal was only in a position to offer 1500 Rupees a month, and he said he would need 6000 as he lives a distance away. He was hardly being greedy. Rs. 1500 is about £20 a month. His request for Rs. 6000 was only asking for £80 a month. Hence the Principal explained that he knew he was the best, but he would just have to appoint a bogus English teacher (his words) because this man would not be likely to accept the salary offered. This is a school in a very poor area, where the people often cannot access higher level education, and this will only be compounded if he is forced to appoint people who cannot actually teach! Makes you think. What do I earn again?

Next we were out to a remote village and met with a group of house church leaders, many of whom have only come to faith in the last 3-4 years. 10 years ago there was nothing in these villages and now there are new churches springing up all over the place. I spent the time I had encouraging them to be faithful shepherds who both feed the flock and guard the flock.

Next we were off to Allahabad, where a number of churches from across the region had gathered to have a joint baptism service. 284 believers were baptised. I have never seen anything quite like it. At one point 6 of us were in the large baptism pool, as the new believers just came in a constant flow down the steps and one of us would baptise them and then another and another and another. Much more rough and ready than your traditional baptism. Grab the believer and dunk them. One very large Punjabi man who was baptising was grabbing them and dunking them before they almost had a chance to catch a breath. So many new brothers and sisters.

Whenever I have had the opportunity to speak to new believers like these, I have tried to encourage them that they are part of God’s great plan for the world. You are kingdom people now, part of the family of God, living out the characteristics of Matt 5 1-12, and as you do, you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. God is changing the world through you. Communities of light all over the planet, in towns and cities and villages across India, and England, and Pakistan, and Cambodia, and Russia, and everywhere else. This is how God’s kingdom is growing. The local church is the hope of the world. We feel weak and unknown but we are the means through which God will advance his kingdom. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

It is a privilege to be a small part of it.

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