Hyderabad (Part 2): Hope and Purpose

Photo credit: Sundeep Goel

As I had mentioned in my previous post, I spent my first week in Hyderabad working with a sports ministry team teaching volleyball and playing games. After the team left to return to the States, I remained in the city where I spent the next two weeks with the Indian organization we had been partnered with.

During the rest of my stay in Hyderabad, I was able to further explore the organization and participate in its ministries. On my first day (which was a Saturday), I was asked to share at a women’s Bible study, so I prepared a study on John 15 and what it means to abide in the True Vine. It was a joy to fellowship with the group of ladies and to hear testimonies of God moving in the hearts of women in India.

The next day, I and another intern attended church with the family who founded the organization. I was surprised by the fact that the church service so closely resembled a Western megachurch service in the stage setup, service format, use of English as the primary language, and utilization of American and UK worship songs. But, I thoroughly enjoyed the service and the ability to experience another facet of the lives of Christians in India.

Over the week, I spent my days visiting skills training classes and assisting where I could. I spent several mornings in the English class, where I was able to assist in teaching. It was a pleasure to teach the adult learners. In the midst of those few days, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak on a couple of occasions with one of the students who was from a Hindu background, but had questions about Jesus. He wanted to know why Jesus had sacrificed His life on the Cross as well as how to study the Bible and pray. I shared the Gospel story, suggested some sections in the Bible for him to read, explained how to pray, and then joined with him and a couple ladies to pray for each of them. It was amazing to see God moving!

On the following weekend, I and the other intern planned and implemented a children’s retreat, which was so much fun. We had Bible stories, songs, games, and crafts. On Sunday morning, we again attended the large English church. This time, they were having their 34^th anniversary celebration in a massive tent on the land where they are currently constructing their new building. It was a wonderful time of worship, thanksgiving, and fellowship.

During my last week in Hyderabad, I was able to teach two sessions in the organization’s Bible College, one on basic biblical hermeneutic (study and interpretation) and the second on servant leadership. I absolutely loved sharing the knowledge I have gained through my own theological education and ministry volunteering as well as my experiences as the daughter of a pastor.

Overall, my time in Hyderabad allowed me the chance to explore some areas of ministry in India that I may very well pursue more long-term in the future. The reality is that I love teaching. And from my experiences both in the U.S. and India, I know that I have truly found my passion in teaching the Bible, ministry and English (in addition to my writing, of course!), specifically in a cross-cultural context. For me, this is significant because I have wrestled so much over the past fourteen years with the calling God has placed on my life to serve Him in ministry. There have been so many things that cropped up during those years which could so easily have led me far away from God and His will for my life. And in fact, I very nearly did walk away. But God, in His great mercy and faithfulness, did not abandon me to painful circumstances or my own ideas, but chose to give me a vision of hope and purpose.

The same holds true for the men, women and children to whom the organizations I worked with are reaching out. God has stepped into their lives as well to provide opportunities for the future and the message of the Gospel, which brings hope and meaning to their lives not just in this life, but also in the one to come. I am humbled by the fact that I could meet some of them and even participate in their learning. It is my hope and prayer that more people in India and around the world will be able to have the same kind of experience; that they will come to know Jesus and receive education which will allow them to sustain themselves and their families.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 

plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

~ Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

India 2017 (Part 6)


Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.