Newsletters - A Living Partnership
continued from front page
Craig and Jodi Bowser, members of Living Word Fellowship (LWF), had a heart for missions. In the mid-1990s, their church wanted to support a new mission, but didn't know the best place to turn.
Mark Tindall, then also at LWF, had heard an Indian pastor named Parishudha Babu speak at a church in Eugene, Oregon. When the Bowsers mentioned their missions desire to Mark, he introduced Babu to them. Like Mark, the Bowsers were so impressed by Babu's sincere passion for his ministry, called Orphans Faith Home, that in short order they put themselves on a plane to India, in order to experience the OFH ministries first-hand and report their findings back to their church.
In 1997, the Bowsers arrived at OFH during a regional pastors' conference. They helped mentor pastors during the day and took in the open-air gospel conventions at night. The Bowsers have many great stories to tell, but the bottom line was that they were mightily impressed with Babu, his wife Vijayasree and all of OFH. They eagerly reported their experiences when they returned to Living Word Fellowship.
Based on the Bowsers' glowing report, the church added OFH to their mission budget. At the same time, church families also adopted the OFH community more literally. Before the Bowsers left India, Babu asked if Jodi would find sponsors at their church for over 20 local widows. Jodi shared the widows' needs during morning worship. You guessed it: every last widow was sponsored that day.
Since then, LWF's involvement has branched out. We mention just two items here: partner hosting and volunteer teams.
Partner Hosting
Hosting the directors of our partner organizations when they come to the U.S., says Bobbi Beech, cofounder of LWF's Missions Department, develops the face-to-face relationship that their church so cherishes. Learning about a partner's ministry direct from the source gives their church a sense of the ministry that written reports and statistics cannot fully convey.
And, notes Bobbi, the hosting and financial support of a partner agency is an efficient use of mission funds. For example, she says, $40,000 annually could support one American missionary abroad, or it can support one entire indigenous ministry in India, directed by dedicated leaders who know the local needs and who already speak the language.
In fact, says Bobbi, LWF families are so blessed through their hosting that there is friendly jostling among them for the privilege! The one-on-one time with the partner fosters mutual understanding through dialog and encouragement through prayer.
Volunteer Teams
In addition to hosting, members of LWF have traveled to India on volunteer teams, serving the ministries they have come to know so well. Recently, Pastor Keith Hansen and member Bill Stevenson, while preparing for their trip, shared with the church that they were going to use colored bead bracelets to share the gospel story in India. Hearing their plan, the congregation used the bracelets to share the gospel locally.
Your Church Can Help
- Travel on a Volunteer Team. People from your church can form a team or apply to serve on an India Partners team. Returning team members say that they come home renewed with an expanded perspective of their faith. So consider supporting people from your church on a team trip to India, or pray whether God is calling you to serve in that capacity.
- Adopt a Project. Your church could befriend a sister church in India as Eastside Faith Center did (see our May issue); perhaps, like Central Lutheran Church, it could help fund a kindergarten for the underprivileged (June); or like Living Word Fellowship, your church could include India Partners in its missions budget. We would be happy to discuss ways in which your church can get involved.
Tools for TeamsMany tools are available to help volunteer teams minister effectively. Here is a sample of tools for the gospel and for service. Tools for the Gospel
Colored Gospel bracelets come in a variety of styles. The beaded bracelets that the Living Word team members used in India are available from ChristianFarmers.com. A colored gospel wristband is available from E3Resources.org. Perhaps you want to use them in your own Sunday school or Vacation Bible School.
Or you may donate for India Partners team use. Suggested donation of $20 is appreciated. 
EvangeCube. This clever puzzle cube unfolds the story of the gospel in pictures. Purchase one for youself from E3Resources.org,
or donate $30 to India Partners for the gift of five cubes to use
in remote churches in India. Tools for ServiceReading glasses to the poor. India Partners teams have helped thousands of Indian adults by providing low-cost, high-quality reading glasses. The easy-to-make glasses are assembled onsite by team members. GlassesForMissions.org provides materials to assemble 150 reading glasses for $220, including setup materials. 
That’s just $1.46 each. Each additional set of 150 reading glasses is $110, just 73¢ each!
Your donation of $14.60 to India Partners will provide clear eyesight to 30 people. $73.00 will help 150 people— bargains anywhere. Thank you for your support! |
Read Our Newsletters!
Documents are in PDF format. Download a free PDF reader here: |
 |
If you would like to subscribe to our mailing list in order to receive newsletters in hard copy or via email notification, please click here. Please note that newsletters in hard copy are only available to residents of the U.S.A.
2008 |
2007 |
2006 |
