The Evangelical Church of India

The Evangelical Church of India (ECI) continues to be a vital force for Christ – all Indian leadership and pastors, but with an accountability both within India as well as a separate board of partners stateship plus some oversight from Samaritan’s Purse.

The ECI continues to grow – from 1,000 churches in 1998 to over 1500 currently. The area of most rapid church growth is in the state of Andhra Pradesh where Freeman Bible School is located. There are now 400 churches which are pastoral lead by graduates of Vijayawada Bible School. There are currently 40-50 students who are already involved in additional church planting endeavors in their villages.

Vijayawada Bible School Report

Origin of Vijayawada Bible School

Vijayawada Bible School (VBS), situated in the City of Vijayawada in the South Indian State of Andhra Pradesh, was founded by Evangelical Church of India in February 1989. VBS was established to meet the growing need of Biblically trained pastors and evangelists to shepherd the burgeoning ECI congregations in Andhra Pradesh. The Bible School has 8 dedicated teachers with rich experience in the ministry. VBS has been upgraded by the Senate of Serampore (University), enabling the graduates from this Bible School to pursue advanced studies at the university level. Every year, about 50 pastors are trained in VBS and posted to serve in various ECI churches in the State.

Curriculum

VBS strives to maintain a high standard of spirituality and the selection of students are based purely on the commitment to the Lord and His ministry and on their educational achievements. A very good practical ministry is encouraged as part of the academic curriculum. The curriculum is designed to produce pastors who would serve the congregation with a servant attitude. Students are encouraged to interact in the class and are motivated by every teacher, who often ends his or her lecture with a challenge to commit their life for the sincere service to the Lord.

Every weekend, students are sent for practical ministry in nearby areas to expose them to practical preaching. Once in a year, a field trip and a crusade is arranged by the students themselves to reach the people with the message of the Gospel. This gives an opportunity for the students to acquire leadership and organising skills. The curriculum is so designed that every student who comes out of VBS is equipped to pastor the congregation he is assigned to, with a heart of a shepherd.

Report on Students’ Ministry

On weekends, the students form themselves into small groups and go to various places in the vicinity of the Bible school to disseminate the Good News. God has hitherto been protecting our students from the physical attacks from Hindu fundamental groups like the RSS (Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh), who are responsible for the persecution, death and rape of Christian workers and nuns, ever since their political wing BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) came to power in India. Of course, the VBS students too were their targets at times, but by the grace of God they have hitherto escaped physical assault and He has been immensely blessing their evangelical efforts. The weekend ministry of VBS has so far resulted in the baptism of 15 converts in two different places this year.

A Miracle

A young man from a Hindu community wanted to join VBS. He had a great desire to become a Christian. His name was Veera Venkata Sastry born in a carpenter’s family. His father was Rama Murthy and mother Tulasamma. His parents were orthodox Hindus. But sensing the boy’s intense desire to become a Christian, they left him to his choice. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was shared with this dear brother and he accepted Christ as his personal saviour. He was named Ezra Sastry after his conversion. But evil spirits continued to trouble him, day in and day out. One night as he suffered great agony when the evil spirits tried to strangle him, the Director and some members of the Faculty, rushed into his room on hearing him scream. He was gasping for breath as they prayed for him. After several hours of prayer the evil spirits began to talk. When the VBS Staff bound the Devil in the name of Jesus, the evil spirits left him. Ezra is doing well now and is in the second year of his Bible training course. Praise God and please do pray for this brother.

Conversion of a Hindu Woman

Jetty Nagendramma hails from a Hindu community. One day she came with her granddaughter to attend one of the worship services conducted by the VBS students during their weekend ministry. They told the students that they had a lot of problems in the family and they were contemplating suicide. It was then that they had heard the worshippers sing and were drawn to the worship service conducted by the students. After listening to the Lord’s message that day, Nagedramma and her granddaughter were eager to know more about Jesus Christ, whom they now believed would resolve the problems in their family. Nagendramma and her granddaughter began to attend the weekly worship services of the VBS students regularly. Soon the Holy Spirit convicted Nagendramma and she gave her heart to Christ and was baptised. Now she is serving the Lord in VBS as a cook.

NEEDS: We need to expand the library facilities at VBS. A van is also needed to transport the students for weekend ministry

Above all, VBS needs your continued prayers