INDIA CHRISTIAN

"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15).
Vol. IV
NEW FORWARDING AGENT
As of August 1, 1950, I assumed the
duties of forwarding agent for my
brother, William, and his family and
temporarily for Mrs. Rothermel. My
wife will help v/ith the work. We are
truly happy to have this opportunity
to serve the Lord in the great work He
has given us to do. As this is entirely
new to us, we trust that you will un
derstand if we chance to make a mis
take now and then. We ask your
cooperation in keeping us informed of
any change of address and of any
change in your needs for the India
Christian.
So far as is possible, the India
Christian will once more come to you
at regular intervals.
Feeling that you who support the
work of the mission will appreciate
any effort to economize, we are pub
lishing the paper mostly mimeograph
ed. This will enable us to publish it
more often and to supply you with
more frequent and thus more timely
news. Please let us know what you
think of this plan.
William writes that they are in need
of more funds to improve and enlarge
the work of the Bible Seminasy, which
is described in part on the second page.
Housing facilities are seriously limited,
and they are unable to pay their na
tive help enough to meet the rising
cost of living. As it is, they are living
from hand to mouth and are usually
in debt. The Seminary is the center of
the work of the mission, training
young men to preach to their own peo
ple. Four evangelists are now employ
ed by the mission. The need is here,
and the urgency for immediate gifts is
strong. Many are supporting the work
now. We call upon others to help as
much as possible. Make all checks for
the Rolands, Mrs. Rothermel or for the
general work payable to Clyde P. Ro
land. Receipts will be sent by return
mail.
As we begin our work with you, it is
our prayer that we will become well
acquainted with each individual and
each church who has a part in support
ing the Christian Mission to India and
that we may continue together in this
labor of love and service for the Lord.
Clgde P. Roland
Griffin, Indiana
OCTOBER, 1950
1
No. 1
HINDU IDOLS
To the left is an example of the idols
worshipped by the Hindus. Their idols
are almost numberless. Anywhere one
goes he sees a temple, concrete block
or a pile of stones where a god is
placed. Others are simply rudely
shaped stones to resemble some god.
This is a picture of the mondey god,
portrayed victorious over his adver-
saiy. The image is on the side of a
building in Dalip Nagar, a village 24
miles from Kanpur, where a Hindu
family recently accepted Christ. The
eldest son, Puttu, is studying in the
Bible Seminary this year and in time
will be able to go back to the village
and tell them of the Christ, who can
free them from their idol worship. On
the next page is an article about the
work of the Bible Seminary, where
several students just like Puttu are
studying to equip themselves to help
combat the many evils of paganism
and bring to India the light of the
world, even Jesus.
NATIVES HOLD EVENING SERVICES
Below is a picture of a typical evening service held by some of our native
men among their countrymen in nearby villages. While on each Lord's day
the Communion and Worship Service are usually held in the early morning
and Sunday School in the evening after the heat of the day, last year the
church members decided to have both services in the morning and then to
have groups of men go into the villages for services such as this. The men
seated in the background are some of the native Christians who went along to
help with the singing. The villagers in the foreground are huddled around a
charcoal fire to keep warm. There have been good crowds at most of these
meetings, and there is evidence that the gospel is having its way with some.
The services are similar to those in America. Songs are sung (and the natives
love to sing), the gospel is preached and discussed, prayers are said and there is
the common fellowship. So the Lord's simple plan is presented in a simple
and impressive way, with the sole purpose in mind of winning men to Christ.
Such work is extremely slow, but with the help of the Lord and the prayers
and support of our Christian friends in America we have the courage and will
to carry on. We are hoping that this type of work will bear much fruit for
the Savior.
THE PIBLE SEmN'ARY
b;/" W5.11:.a!r. Boland
Page 2
Our main piirpose in condnr^ tc- Iridia was to open a Bible School in which
to train young men and wojnen for Cjiristiari Service. Upon arrival at landour, we
began our studies in Hindi, which have contirraed until just recently, .xlong with
language study during the first tivc years, we made two unsuccessful attempts to
start a school, /it that time we were teaching in English. It was not long, however,
until the young men whom we were teaching either had co be dismissed or decided to
to elsewhere. In January, 1949^ Babu Lai, a recent convert from Hindiu-sm, came
asking that wc send hbn somei'/here to Bible School, Instead of sending him elsewhere,
v/e decided to make another attempt ourselves. Babu Lai, however, did not know
English, so v.-e put the teachiiig in the hands of tv/o of our very capable Indian irorkers
and Krs, Rothermel, Instead of teaching ourselves, v;-e concentrated on learning Hindi
so that we could start teaching in that language as soon as possible,
SUCCESS AT LAST
During the past spring and early summer we~were busy making arrangements for a
full course of study and for the arrival of new students. July Uth was Convocation
Day, The following day classes began for the second full year of the Ragaul Bible
Seminary, We had anticipated only about three or four new students, but our expec
tations were more than satisfied. We now have 13 students; 12 are nev/, 9 men and
4 v'omen. Five of the men were sent by >ir. Barter from Hamirpur and will be sup
ported by him, Mr. Barter was also ijifluential in getting a young couple to come,
and Mrs, Lav/rence. Mr, Lawrence worked in Ragaul for a short time as an evan
gelist with Bir, Fred Smith, Another of the students, Puttu Lai, comes from the new
work started last summer in and near Kanpur,
HOUSING FACILITIES LBiTTED
Our housing facilities hei'e in Ragaul. are very limited. The loss of the build
ing by fire has made less room for living 'quarters, because we have had to use
some of the houses for storerooms. Others have applied for entrance into the Sem
inary, but we have had to turn them av/ay foi* la-ck of houses for them in which to
live. AS it is, the five men from Hamirpur are crowded into one room with a small
place for a kitchen. It is nob possible here in India for students to live in some
family's spare room and board with them. The homes of the people are usually small,
and often a family with married sons lives in-one house of two or three rooms. Ncr
are there rooming houses available in rural India, At present we are holding class
es in the Maudaha Church building. It is quite adequate now, but next year, when
we have more classes and more students, it will not be suitable. We are trusting
the Lord to supply funds so that we can build adequate facilities soon. We are sor
ry that we cannot take more students, but we are happy that the Lord has given
to teach.
The tv/o Indian men and I are teaching seven classes, basing them on material
from both Old and New Testaments. Five of the students are planning to take only
one year of training, so that they can be better witnesses in secular work, Jean
plans to have a short course vdth them on Personal Evangelism later on.
The Lord's Word is being taught and proclaimed daily; v/e are trusting Him,
with your help, to uphold our hands. You can be well assiired that whatever you
give to the India Christian l4ission will be-used'to strengthen and enlarge the work
and make it possible for more to hear the gospel message.
BAPTISE
"Mrs, LaVfTence, do you believe th .t cfetius in the Son of God; and that He is
your Savior?" "Tes," "Bai ji_, do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God; and
that He is your Savior?" "Yes, He is Savior,"
So two more wore buried with their j.ord in ChrivStian baptism at Ragaul on
August 6th, Mr. and >irs, Lawrence are two of our 3ible Seminary students, Mrs,
Lawrence was a "Christian," a member of the Church Missionary Society, a mission
of the Church of England. Through the Seminar^" classes, and by conversation with
Chr5.5bians here she realized that the sprinkling she had received was not according
to the Lord's command.
The other woman was Babu Lai's iaother. Since Babu Lai became a Christian in
194G, he has continued to pray and work for the conversion of his parents. Miile
thoy i-zere living in Hamirpur there were indications that they were becoming inter
ested in Christianity. It was a shock then, to Babu Lai, viien he got word last
January that his father had died fi*om a mad dog bite. In as much as it was then
Pabu La.l's respcnsibi.lit3'" to take care of his mother, he brou/^ht her here to live
vdth him. Since she came, one of the Bible Iflfc^men has been teaching her almost
every day.
The seed was planted, it found fertile soil, it has bornefruit. The same
gospel can have the same results the world around, Me ^ill rejoice in the vic
tories for the Lord. May these two continue to grow, with the help of the prayers
of each of us.
TEACHING THROUGH HELPING
by Jean Roland
hliile in the hills with Mother and the children, I received a letter from
William on July 21st, saying that he was having another attack of malaria and
needed me. Leaving Mary Esther and Charles with Mother, I took David and left.
From Lucknow I wired Vlilliam that I would arrive by the night train. Upon advice
from a doctor friend in the hills, William left immdiately after I arrived to go to
the English doctor in Kanpur, He was to return by the night train, the day after
he left. As the night hours passed and William did not come, I became uneasy.
Soon after mid-night, a messenger came with the infoi-mation that William was at the
government hospital and was safe. He was at the hospital, not for himself, but
to help a stranger in need* Some traveler had been sleeping ou the edge of the
platform. When the train came into the station, the man got flustered and fell
between the train and the tracks, He was not killed, but was cut badly and some
bones were broken. VJhile the man suffered and pled . for relief of his pain, the
station master and other railway employees were trying to decide who was to blame,
the railway or the man. No one was too concerned about helping him, William and
the other Christian men finally got the man to the hospital. The doctor had ma
laria, so did not even come to see the condition of the patient. The compounder
did vrfnat he could for him. A relative of the injured man was amazed that a Sahib
had bothered to help a poor villager like that. We hope that through such doeds
of kindness doors may be opened for preaching the gospel.
Treatment for William
In the excitement I nearly for'i'ot about the doctor's verdict. When he felt
of William's spleen and saw how enlarged it was, he said that he could tell v/ith-
out a blood test that Williara was "loaded" with malaria. The blood test verified
his declaration. He put William on a series of medicines and tonic, which we hope
wiJJ. make him feel better. As long as he is in India, he must take Paludrine tmce
a week to ward off re-infection. We enlist your prayers for him.