By S. Prakash, India

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, Father of mercies and comfort as he strengthens us through tribulations. Though unworthy to be called his children, He chose us by his grace for this ministry. Thank you, BMA churches, pastors, and friends, who have prayed for us as you send the gospel to the nations. 

In 1969, I met Prakash, who I only saw once before we married. Gulbarga was an unknown place for me and my family. The people were strangers to me. There were no direct trains or buses, and the heat was unbearable without any fans or air conditioners. But God helped me adjust soon. 

At that time, Prakash was working in a school run by the Methodist church. I worked as a teacher in the same school, but in 1970, Prakash got an opportunity to study theology in Dallas Bible College and was appointed as BMA missionary, so we came back to India. We could have started our mission work in any big city, but Prakash’s desire was to serve among his own people so they would know Christ and experience salvation. 

We returned to Gulbarga in 1973, rented a small house and began our mission work. We had Bible studies since Prakash knew many students. Because his background was Methodist, many people opposed our ministry. Though it was a hard time for us, we stood firm in the Lord. We began visiting village people who were very happy to listen to the Word of God, and many received Christ as Savior. 

Then we started planting other churches among them, and in three to four years, were able to construct church buildings. The first church was in Balwad where Prakash’s family lived. A big tree in the middle of the village was where they had built a square platform, so we used to have worship services there. That‘s the way many churches were established around Gulbarga City. 

When Prakash was a small boy, he was educated in a Methodist school until his 10^th standard (American grade twelve) and was very grateful for his education. In those days, there were no schools in the villages where there

were many poor people without schooling. But he remembers his parents begging authorities to get admission. Prakash’s vision was to help poor children attend school. We were able to build a three-to-four room school in 1978 so children nearby could learn about Jesus Christ, sing songs, and learn scripture. 

We started the Children’s Home with 20–25 children. At first, they were with the government schools, but we were not satisfied with the teaching so a brother from one of the village churches came to us as a warden with his family and one sister, Sulochana. She came to cook for the children. But her husband was not a believer, and because of that, she left her family and came to stay with us with her three children. She had firmly made up her mind that her children would not worship idols but know only Jesus as Lord and Savior. Because of her dedication and prayers, all of her children are now saved and living a good life. 

Pastor Joseph is one of those children. He was six years old when he came to us, but now he has his BA degree, and two years of Bible teaching. He pastors our main church in Gulbarga. His younger brother is also a pastor and his sister is a registered nurse. She works in a private hospital and takes care of the Hope Home and Children’s Home kids. 

As our own children were studying in the government school, we were not satisfied with their education so we thought of opening a school as they were having educational degrees. So in 1980, we opened a school with government permission and named it “Jeevan Prakash” which means “life enlightening.” 

The school started with twenty children, and as we were having educational degrees then outsiders started coming. Soon it became known as one of the good Kannada medium schools in the city. Many came including those who are pastors, teachers and workers with us today in our ministry. Some are doctors and engineers working in government in many cities. This was Prakash’s vision that came through.

Today, we have 1,200 children studying in our school, where we also conduct revival meetings and worship services. Many village families come back. I ask pastors, teachers, ministry leaders, and missionaries every year to come to Gulbarga and help us train new believers and conduct Bible classes. 

Prakash suffered with cancer for a year and went to be with the Lord on September 11, 2000. It was a very hard time for me. We were always together, and I mourned him greatly. Sadly, almost all the churches left us, thinking, “Prakash is no more, so how can this ministry continue?” Their three children are in the U.S., and his wife is not from this place, so she will go and settle with one of her children.” 

So I just prayed for God to help me do what I can for this ministry. And God did wonders. 

Joseph stayed with me as my spiritual son, and we began visiting many villages. We three families started having worship services in the school building, inviting God’s servants to preach for us. One of my maternal uncles who was a pastor in Bangalore Baptist Church encouraged me and helped in preaching, worshipping and training Joseph and even conducting revival meetings in Jeevan Prakash School compound. 

We have established four training centers that Joseph takes care of. In this way, God has renewed and revived our ministry. My son and daughter-in-law came back from the States permanently, and since she came from a missionary family she is very hard working. Faithfully, they are involved in our ministry. They take care of churches, Children’s Home, and Bible Training Center. 

Now they are second generation missionaries. I have given them the torch in their hand. Please pray for them and let God be the glory and bring more souls to Christ.