Dr. Ralph Winter of the U. S. Center for World Missions has stated that “…India presents the greatest missionary challenge.” Indians worship over 330 million gods, goddesses and demons. It is the second most populated nation, consisting of more than 3,000 “people groups” and over 500 languages. It is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Hainism, Transcendental Meditation, Eastern Mysticism, and Yoga, which are all elements of the New Age Movement. Less than 2% of the Indian population consists of Bible-believing Christians and approximately 70% of the over one billion Indians are children.
In recent years the government of India has changed the names of some of its cities. Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is one of these.
Kolkata is home to over sixteen million people. As many as one million of these live on the streets. Mustard Seed, through our partners, sponsor a ministry of eight schools, four mobile schools for street children and an orphanage in this teeming city. Known by many Christians as the mission field of William Carey, Mother Teresa and others, it is located on the northeastern coast of India.
India will soon overtake China as the most populated nation in the world. With that distinction come the fact that many of India’s people are suffering in abject poverty and have no hope. In the midst of a Hindu dominated culture, that in many ways is hostile to and harasses Christians, the Lord is doing a miraculous work. Mustard Seed and our Indian partners are reaching out to the people of Kolkata in a powerful way through numerous acts of Christ-like compassion, kindness and love. Some three thousand children and their families are impacted daily through the ministries of Mustard Seed in Kolkata.
Please consider what the Lord would have you do in reaching out to a world in need of a Savior!
The doors to present the Gospel are closing as new laws are being enacted against conversion and to restrict missionary activities by the pro-Hindu government. The mission of Mustard Seed International is to “Make His Name Known” in the lives of those people we have the privilege to touch.
