Alliance churches in India are experiencing a new era in their life and ministry across Maharashtra and Gujarat states, as the work of evangelists and pastors yields spiritual fruits in towns and villages.
Despite the difficulties the COVID-19 pandemic caused, the National Alliance Fellowship of India (NAFI) was able to hold its conference virtually. More than 100 people participated, including leaders from other countries. Their time together was a blessing, and they truly understood the theme “Festival of Praise.”
The second wave of COVID-19 in India is taking a toll not only in its healthcare system and the economy, but on the lives of the people. Pray for our Alliance family in India. May the church bring hope and shine the light of Christ in the midst of darkness.
As Alliance family, we are grateful to the Lord for your participation in the AWF Global Response to COVID-19. We were able to assist more than 170,000 brothers and sisters among Alliance churches around the world.
Dholka, a city in the Indian State of Gurajat, has been affected not only by the poor quality of cultivable land but also by the high number of children growing up homeless and in extreme poverty. Dholka Alliance Hostel and School has served this community for 117 years.
India is the country with the second highest number of COVID-19 cases, behind only the United States. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 100 families in Kolkata and Maharashtra have received aid for basic foodstuffs.
Almost 50 Alliance pastors and leaders from the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam and Kolkata gathered at the conference around the theme, “Deeper Life and Missions.” The conference was the third NAFI (National Alliance Fellowship of India) meeting, and attendance doubled since the second gathering. Many leaders from Maharashtra joined for the first time.
Reverend Stenly H. Christian is the new President of the Gujarat Synod. He would like to see young people growing in their faith in Christ, pastors and missionaries trained, and all members involved in the mission and evangelism work for the growth of the Alliance church in Gujarat.
More than 25 Alliance pastors and leaders from various ministries connected to the Christian and Missionary Alliance in India shared their present ministry and future plans to plant churches and conduct mission among the large unreached people groups of the country.
The Gujarat Synod of India and the National Alliance Churches of Myanmar will hold General Assemblies in February and March.
As we enter into this New Year, it is only natural for us to reflect on what God has done over the previous year and consider all that was accomplished by His mighty working power. The blessing of a solid and strong partnership with the leaders of the member-countries of the APAC (Asia-Pacific) region was a precious gift the Lord has given His churches in blessing His ministry.
Praise the Lord for the Alliance Youth Convention that was held in India in May 2018 and for the 22 young people who committed their lives to Christ.
In the May AWF Prayer Requests, we prayed for the first National Alliance Fellowship of the India (NAFI) Coordinating Committee meeting. God answered our prayers and the leaders present had a fruitful and blessed time together.
The Blockhouse Bay Community Church of the Alliance New Zealand has organized a Vision Trip to India from September 29th to October 13th, 2018 under the leadership of Rev. Andrew Marshall, National Director and Senior Pastor of the Alliance in New Zealand. The team will travel to Hyderabad-Mumbai-Delhi. Pray for God's outpouring of blessings for a fruitful ministry, financial abundance, unity, protection, and good health for the duration of the trip.