Learning from Evangelism in India

The context of mission in India highlights the needs for a holistic approach to our proclamation, as well as illustrating some of the tensions that exist.

For many Indian Christians, the very term ‘proclamation’ has come to mean speaking out or speaking about faith and belief particularly to those who are not Christians. For others, though, the concept has led to feelings of uneasiness about what that sort of proclamation might look like.

1. The Christian Youth Fellowship (KTP) of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church has as its motto, ‘Saved to Serve’, and they follow four objectives:
- to lead young people in the faith and likeness of Jesus Christ
- to prepare young people to be the instruments of the church
- to fulfil the tasks of the church
- to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.

However as 99% of those who live in Mizoram are already Christians, evangelism is understood in terms of spiritual renewal or revival of those who are already believers, as well as bringing back those who have ‘strayed’ from the church. Open-air preaching is a primary feature of their proclamation, accompanied by music, singing and offering prayers in the homes they visit.

2. The Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI) also engages in evangelistic work, but takes a rather different approach. They are concerned to address some of the issues faced by young people in their society and nation (globalisation, global warming, deforestation, women’s issues, etc.) and invite members of other faiths to gatherings which present a Christian perspective on these issues without propagating Christianity or trying to convert anyone! The meetings do, however, begin with prayer and Bible study, and a small number of young people have begun to attend church as a result of this initiative.

3. Campus Crusade for Christ, based in Bangalore, believe that evangelism is about fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28.19. They focus their efforts on those who are college students because, apart from anything else, they see these youngsters as the greatest source of manpower for spreading the message of the Gospel across the nation. But, in small groups and short, 20 minute presentations (involving games, drama and testimonies) they encourage the non-Christian students to ‘give Jesus a try’ and emphasise a relationship with Christ rather than a ‘conversion to Christianity’. CCC also put together seminars on issues such as HIV/AIDS, or discussions of films such as The Da Vinci Code. In this way they are able to reach 600-700 students each year, of whom 10 or 20% become Christians.

4. The Youth Fellowship of Wilson Garden Methodist Church, also in Bangalore, encourage college students to visit villages on the outskirts of Bangalore to share the Gospel message with the non-Christians there. Interestingly, however, of a group of 20 young people who engage in this ministry, 3 are Hindus! The villagers with whom they have interacted have shown some considerable interest in the message they have shared.

5. The Youth Department of the Karnataka Central Diocese of the Church of South India primarily sees the need for its young people to be encouraged in their spiritual lives, and sees it as important that they meet together with youngsters from other churches in order to be spiritually ‘re-vitalised’. They also encourage the youngsters to visit hospital patients, old people’s homes and orphanages.

Interestingly, the concept of ‘Freedom of Religion’ causes some tension for all these groups (we may not agree with other faiths, but we must defend their right to hold their beliefs)! However, each one of the groups has a strong sense of ‘mission’, although their approaches and contexts are very different: holistic mission, evangelism, and the explicit proclamation of the Gospel are all emphasised (and defended!) by different Christian organisations working among the youth of India.

Unfortunately, in engaging in her study, the researcher who presented a paper on this subject at the Bossey Seminar (see earlier posts) discovered that it is sometimes easier to be polite and respectful to those of other faiths than it is to our fellow Christians. In this context, there is an urgent need for an effective ecumenism, understanding and respecting the contexts and approaches of other Christians as they engage in mission.

Kindness, consideration, thoughtfulness, courtesy and the ability to be non-judgemental must play a vital role as the church considers ‘Mission as Proclamation of the Gospel’ in this new century. After all, there is no single correct approach to mission or evangelism; no one church or tradition is ‘right’. Rather, in order to reach the variety of cultures that exist in all our communities, a variety of strategies are needed. There is a place for explicit evangelistic preaching to non-believers, as well as a need to meet the needs of those in society who are marginalized and suffering. There is a place for engaging in dialogue and debate with members of other faiths, as well as presenting Christian perspectives on issues that affect all people.

This is exactly why an effective ecumenism is vital if credible mission is to take place. Where one church or tradition is seen to be criticising or undermining the mission strategies of another, the Gospel message is discredited and almost certain to be rejected. But where Christians and churches can work together, supplement one another, and respect the diversity of gifts and approaches to mission, a holistic, effective, credible proclamation is possible.