AsiaStories

From Music City, USA, musician and songwriter Jeff Bourque made his way to India to share the basics of songwriting for a congregation with Indian believers. The mission was to write songs that would speak to the uniquely diverse culture of India. Bourque’s fellow songwriters came up with four original songs. Hear these songs and read about their efforts learning to write.

In India, the devadasi (day-vah-dah-see) system, a Hindu practice of temple prostitution, has existed for more than 5,000 years. In the state of Karnataka in southern India, starving families dedicate hundreds of girls each year to the goddess Yellamma. The children are forced to begin a life of prostitution at age 11 or 12.

Kathleen Jones* visits India’s brothels five days a week to share Christ’s love with the women working here. She is 69 years old and has been working in the red light districts of India for over three years. With four children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren at home in the United States, coming to India was not an easy decision, but Jones says she knew it was what God called her to do.

Fletcher Lonsdale’s vision is to use theater to change the way people see the world and ultimately God. For him, theater is not just a play. It’s worship. Theater helps Lonsdale share the Good News with South Asians who may not otherwise listen.

Delhi is a sprawling, energetic intersection of old and new, wealth and poverty, religion and science. People from all over South Asia come for jobs, education, and asylum. Some come willingly while others are forced here.Even though I’ve lived and worked in South Asia for years, I am easily overwhelmed by the city and want to know it better. Join me on a prayerwalk though the Delhi.

Katti hopes her coworkers will notice the Bible verse on her desktop when they pass her cubicle so she can share her favorite Bible story: Daniel and the lions. This young believer, who works for a major IT company in Bangalore, India, has a heart for sharing the gospel with her peers in the IT business.

Ten college students and two short-term volunteers from Crosspoint Church, Clemson, S.C., came to India as part of a six-week missions and discipleship program. They came to partner with a local house church and IMB representatives through the six-week summer program called, Laborers Impacting Nations for the Kingdom (LINK). This is Crosspoint’s second year to serve in India. The students, who attend or attended Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., spent many of their days in shopping malls — sharing the Good News with anyone who’d listen.

When Micah Watson came to India for the first time, he never thought he’d be back, let alone recording a music video with his band here one year later.

The daunting task of sharing Jesus with 22 million people in one city haunted him so much so that for an entire year after his trip, all he could do was talk about it. He shared with his family … his friends … and even his audiences attending Micah Watson Band concerts.

Ajanta Gupta* turned to prostitution to feed her children. Now, she depends on God to meet her needs and share His Word.

Volunteers offer free medical clinics to prostitutes and their children. Want to see each person as “Jesus sees them” — beautiful and whole.

Sex-trafficked woman says she has “no name;” worker explains that Jesus knows it.

National pastors and international workers still struggle to build “Church” in Kolkata, India nearly 200 years after William Carey’s initial ministry.