The Brethren Church

A letter from your Executive Director (about the Feb. 2008 Missions Trip to India):

India Travelers,

An update on the India trip … I got the OK from Prasanth to go ahead with the itinerary that I suggested to him. He says it will work perfectly, so we’re good to go as far as planning the flight schedule.

The travel agency I have used in the past has been great. However I just found a new outfit that can take care of us with more of a deposit and final payment thing. The original agency will want all of our nearly $1800 plane fares up front and in full, which might be difficult for some of you. So bear with me and I’ll let you know what we find out. I want to get things going at the first part of next week.

Here’s what I need from you at this point…

* If you are willing to commit to the trip, I need to hear back from you directly with your name and passport number exactly as they appear on your passport. If you do not have a passport, you’ll need to get started with that just as soon as possible, and let me know of your intentions anyway!

* I’ll also want you to let me know whether or not you can forward the plane fare in full. If that is not a problem, good. If you’re one who will need to do some fund raising first, then do let me know and we’ll figure out a way to get your seat reserved anyway. I don’t want the finance part of this to get in the way of your plans, so please advise me on your financial preparedness and we’ll plan accordingly. The rest of the cost of the trip won’t be needed for quite some time yet. Again, I’m working on trying to find an agency that will let us lock in with just a deposit at this time.

Additionally, let me say that most all of the tentative plans as set forth in the previous letter are working out. I’m very pleased with the way things are coming together. The 40th Anniversary Celebration, dedicating several churches, and various other special features of this trip will make it a wonderful experience. It looks as though James & Jenn Pinto and several of the Park Street worship team members who shared with us in Richmond will be joining us if all goes as planned. This will of course add even more to the experience, to be able to share in this way with our family in India!

As soon as I hear back from you I will begin to develop a roster with contact information. That way, you’ll be able to talk back and forth as you make plans. This will allow us to solidify the group, and we can begin to work more intentionally with our fund raising, including our church family on this experience, and our own spiritual preparation. Along with that I’ll be giving you some instructions on a planned conference call that all of our group can participate in. We can in this way meet and greet each other, begin to share our story and collaborate for a successful experience.

Exciting! Let me hear back from you as soon as possible. And as always, if you have questions be sure to email back or call.
Ken Hunn
Executive Director
The Brethren Church
524 College Ave.
Ashland, OH 44805
419-289-1708

CLICK HERE TO READ DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE MISSION TRIP (Dates, Cost, Itinerary, Preparation, Etc.)

The Kumar’s oversee the Brethren Mission in India.

Dr. K. Prasanth and Nirmala Kumar as pictured at the 2008 Brethren Church General Conference.

Rev. K. Sudhir Kumar (pictured here at the 2008 Brethren Church General Conference), and his wife Latha, assist in the Mission responsibilities.

CLICK HERE FOR THE (OCT. 2, 2008) PRAYER REQUEST FROM THE KUMAR’S OF INDIA

For more information about the Brethren Mission in India, please read the information posted at the right of this page.

THE MYSTIQUE OF INDIA …

How can one describe the mystique of our most successful ministry, foreign or domestic?

• A ministry that has a nearly forty year history of continued growth.
• A ministry that is half again as large as the total membership of The Brethren Church in the United States.
• A ministry that yearly baptizes approximately 500 individuals.

What description of The Brethren Mission in India might serve as a guide for all of our ministries? Let’s examine three key aspects of this crown jewel of our ministry and see if we can find some lessons for each of us – wherever we may be serving the Lord.

The Brethren Mission in India is built on prayer. The most recent yearly report from India does not even mention prayer as one of the main activities. It doesn’t need to, for prayer is at the heart of everything else they do. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, a visit to the Brethren Mission in India always begins at the Prayer Tower. The “prayer ladies” will be summoned to be the first to greet you on your arrival. They won’t say much because they don’t speak your language, but they speak God’s language! These diminutive souls make sure that God is hearing from us on a 24/7/365 basis.

The Brethren Mission in India is built on evangelism. The Kumar’s have been quoted to say that evangelism is all we do. In reality they direct a multi-faceted mission to transform Rajahmundry, India. However everything they do is organized around the desire to reach people for Jesus Christ. A quick glance over the Sewing School students reveals at least several with the characteristic marking on the forehead. This subtle sign is an indication that in addition to teaching sewing techniques, they are teaching a way of life that is based on the life of Christ! Additionally the Kumar’s require each pastor to take a witness to at least one new village each year. “We don’t care if you stand in the middle of the street and sing a hymn!” Somehow, some way the Word of the Gospel goes to a new village each year.

The Brethren Mission in India is based on service to the community. In this way our mission is always sure to model the life of Christ who came with a service mandate. Our mission is involved in two different levels of Bible training for vocational church leadership, manages an orphanage for approximately eighty-five children, does training in literacy, has a sewing school, a keyboard school, manages a Charity Hospital, and does mobile medical clinics to outlying villages as often as possible. In addition each pastoral couple is able to provide vocational training, literacy studies, and health care along with their normal pastoral duties. The service orientation of our mission gives a wide-open door to share the Gospel in every situation.

• What can we learn from India?
• We must make prayer the first, last, and foremost of all of our activities.
• Evangelism must get the bulk of our efforts in the local church, and all other activities be evaluated in light of their relationship to evangelism.
• Our goal is to transform our communities. We have little to say if we do not begin with actions. Find your local needs and let your actions be a doorway for the Gospel.

New for 2007, highlight videos have been made for our mission fields to better relate us with the culture and the life they live everyday. Dr. K Prasanth & Nirmala Kumar and Rev. K Sudhir & Latha Kumar are our March highlight from the country of India. Please be patient as the video loads.

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