Assignment: SOUTH CENTRAL INDIA
November 6 - November 16, 2007
India
This
Fall the Prisoners For Christ Outreach Ministries team
left the United States for a short term missions trip to the prisons of
Hyderabad, India.
This mission, as are all of our International campaigns, is an extension of
Christian compassion, combining encouragement, teaching and practical helps to
both inmate and local ministry.
We
flew from Seattle directly to
Amsterdam, Holland, and
then directly to Hyderabad (pronounced "hyder - bad").
Last year was my first international missions experience. There, the Prisoners For Christ team ministered in three countries, Rwanda, Burundi, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). A full accounting of that trip can be found here.
On the 2006 Africa trip I participated in ministry by sharing short sermons and testimonies but also was introduced to some administrative and leadership opportunities. Upon return to the states, having seen the needs in Africa, and witnessing the results of PFC's international ministry, I determined to commit to an annual foreign ministry missionary campaign.
This past summer I and other men received specific training to
lead an international team. This India trip I co-lead the
team, along with another international group leader candidate, and with a senior leader backing us up.
In 2008 I am now qualified, according to the PFC leadership, to lead my own team.
A couple of times during this training I asked myself "what in the world am I doing here?" Of course I do know what I'm doing, but the work, inconvenience, disruption to job and family schedule, and even some personal risk, is not trivial. The expenses are large. Even though we have financial partners (maybe including you!) there are still numerous expenses that each missionary bears themselves. An international campaign comes at cost in many areas, but that cost is consistent with the testimony of the Good Book.
PFC has active ministry in the following 11 countries:
Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Russia, India, Mexico, The Philippines, Ghana,
Uganda, Liberia. We have a two-fold goal: to solidify/expand the ministries in
these countries and also begin outreaches in 30 more countries. That's right,
there are 30 other countries on the waiting list who have
contacted us and are asking us to come train them in prison ministry. To do this
we need new group leaders, and by God's help and grace I am now one of those
group leaders!
When I first wrote this I had just returned from speaking at the Snohomish County Jail. We had extra time so I shared a 60-minute message entitled "Two Years." This message describes what every Christian should accomplish in their first two years in the faith. In India, a land whose majority religion recognizes millions of gods, we shared about The Great God Jesus Christ. We had to teach and train effectively, else the hearer may just add Christ to their long list of gods. My specialty is teaching Christian Doctrine and the fundamentals of the faith. I was very excited to be a part of this campaign as it played to my strengths!
A unique aspect of this trip to India is that in addition to ministering in prisons, and in addition to training the local persons in prison ministry, including conducting large teaching seminars, we visited two leper colonies. Chaplain Brown of Chaplains For Christ (a friend from Chicago, ILL) has visited Leper colonies and he told me we would be received warmly and as long as we don't touch open sores we will be fine, and that's exactly how it went. We did indeed preach joy into their hearts, and God blessed the visits. At one leper colony we distributed 32 large wool blankets, at the second we provided dinner. A drop in the bucket compared to the need, but we did what we could and we did it with joy! The two pictures above are of the Hyderabad Central Prison (we were there), the photo below is of a leper colony.
It was a blessing to me for many to assist me on this campaign. The expenses per person are firmed up at are $3,100. This included travel (planes, busses, vans), meals, lodging. I looked to friends who believe in this effort and chose to participate by prayer and/or giving, and praise be to the Lord partners stood with me. Last year was the first time I had ever asked anyone for financial support, and the response was was overwhelming! I wrote a paper on it and the ministry uses it for training purposes! There was enough excess support to allow more in-country humanitarian aid. The same thing happened this year.
The photos at the bottom of this page are from former PFC mission trips to India.
Tax-deductible donations for the mission to India were made directly to Prisoners For Christ, PO Box 1530, Woodinville, WA 98072-1530. Donations were also made on-line by clicking here, and using the pull down menu to select my name. I prayed for each of my donors, by name, on this trip. It greatly strengthed me as I prayed for each person and recalled our friendship and interactions over the years. Remembing all of them pleased me greatly. I am confident that God will bless them in a very special way. It's a bright day in the kingdom of God!
With warm regards,
Bob Jordan
India Missions Donors: Charlie R., Rebecca J., Dr. Clif and Renee F., Nick and Gena H., Ryan J., Jessica J., Dorothy T., Mike O., Dee S., Dr. Perry J., Frank and Marjorie S., Earl and Virginia S., Steve and Carol R., Dan and Anya H., Steve and Deb B., Dr. David H., Bradley and Melody Van P., Mark and Barbie McG., Jim and Melody C., Dave and Luesa J., Randy R., John and Susan M., Don D., Craig and Bobbie E., Shirley S., Rev. Roland and Dottie C., Dr. Bob and Kathy S., Paige and Michael P., Damon and Debbie S., Jeff and Louise W., Greg W., Bruce and Cathy N., Ralph and Marsha W., Brett B., Jill and Bill W.
Team Members (Photos) and Assignments
Email from the International Missions Director
India Daily Itinerary (from Dr. Prim Raj, India PFC Missionary)
International Training Speaking Notes
Volunteer Training Conference Agenda (Long)
Volunteer Training Conference Agenda (Short)
Comments or questions welcome! Just type them in and hit "send." Be sure to include your name and email so I can reply to you, thanks!
Ministry inside the prisons of India...
Prison Ministry Training Seminars in India...
Neighborhoods and People of India...
