Countries Where We
Assist Native Ministries
Overview
Persecution of Christians is on the rise throughout South Asia, as radical Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists seek to “purify” their countries of religious minorities.
Despite this persecution, Christianity is rapidly growing in this region. Today in India, between 15,000 and 20,000 people are baptized every day. Northern India still contains the world’s largest number of unreached people groups, however. India’s Christian leaders are beginning to collaborate on how to reach these groups.
In the Islamic country of Pakistan, radical Muslim groups flourish. Many Christians are falsely accused of violating Pakistan’s “blasphemy laws” and imprisoned. Islamic extremism has significantly increased during the last 10 to 15 years due in large part to Islamic education centers where 40 million children are taught to persecute religious minorities like Christians.
Christians comprise less than 2 percent of Pakistan’s population and are at the bottom of the socio-economic strata. Likewise, Christians are typically the poorest members of society in India, where the gospel is taking root among the low-caste populations. Though India is the world’s largest democracy, more than 300 million people in India still live below the poverty line.
How You Can Make a Difference
Ways To Give
Evangelism & Discipleship
Workers with one Christian Aid Mission-assisted ministry South Asia have planted a total of 600 churches, which are attended by approximately 24,000 people. The ministry’s theological institute trains and equips native believers for Christian service. Church-planting missionaries settle in urban and rural communities, establishing relationships to win souls to Christ. This ministry has established a church in every major city inside of its country. GIVE NOW to help evangelistic and discipleship ministries like this one in South Asia.
Community Engagement
Since 1974, a Christian hospital has provided medical care, along with the gospel message, to poverty-stricken people suffering from ailments such as leprosy, tuberculosis, blindness, and malnutrition. The staff conducts free eye camps in the villages surrounding the hospital, performing simple surgeries to restore sight to thousands of people who would otherwise be severely limited in their ability to earn a modest living. Every year, the medical team screens approximately 10,000 patients at the eye camps and performs around 2,000 surgeries, mainly for cataracts. A hospital chaplain shares the gospel with patients and 30 gospel workers have established fellowships in several outlying villages. The hospital has helped construct church buildings in many small communities. GIVE NOW to help community engagement ministries like this one in South Asia.
Compassion
Human trafficking runs rampant in India. Every hour, four girls enter prostitution, three of them against their will. Girls as young as 10 years are trafficked from economically depressed neighborhoods to major prostitution centers. An indigenous ministry is successfully rehabilitating survivors of forced prostitution back into the community as self-sustaining citizens who love the Lord Jesus. Through basic life skills, education, vocational training, counseling, and help with housing, survivors of trafficking are finding healing and restoration. GIVE NOW to help compassion ministries like this one in South Asia.
Exclusive Stories from the Mission Field
Support Critical Outreach To Hungry Families in Sri Lanka
Because of a native ministry’s food distribution program, families in several villages have been able to feed their children. These families often do not have jobs because finding employment is difficult, and as a result, they do not have the income necessary to provide for basic necessities.
Reach Indigenous Tribes With The Gospel in Bangladesh
Missionaries from a native ministry have worked tirelessly among eight indigenous tribes, sharing the gospel and baptizing 1,940 people during a six-month period. Their work has had a transformative effect on many villages as people put their faith in Christ.
Share Christ’s Saving Message in MENA
A prisoner stumbled upon a Christian magazine and, as he read through testimonies of those who had put their faith in Christ, his curiosity about Jesus grew. “The more I read, the more captivated I became by His transformative power,” he said. “His message resonated with the longing in my heart.” In his prison cell, the man gave his life to Christ and began to study the Bible daily.
Comfort The Poor And Oppressed in Pakistan
At a school run by a native ministry, 225 children from families who work in brick kilns are able to receive an education free of cost. These families are mired in debt bondage that often stretches back for generations, and ministries such as this one not only support these vulnerable children, but they also share the gospel, distribute Bibles, baptize new believers, establish Bible study groups, and teach Sunday school in the brick kiln villages.
Spread The Gospel Through Community Engagement in South Asia
Part of a native ministry’s outreach includes helping with people’s basic life necessities and expenses that many would otherwise not be able to afford. During the last three months, the ministry assisted seven people with medical expenses, nine with house payments, and six with motorcycle maintenance so they can travel through difficult terrains.
Encourage Persecuted Believers To Stay Faithful in South Asia
A native ministry organized 20 trauma healing workshops in various locations and in six different languages to encourage and support Christian workers and first-generation believers who have been persecuted for their faith. One of the workshop goals was to train counselors to help address the challenges Christians across the region face as they try to live out their faith in places hostile to the gospel.