GRACE BIBLE COLLEGE UPDATE
Two GBC boys set up a screen in a village to show the Jesus Film.
By Dr. Pramod Tantarpale, Principal of Grace Bible College
INDIA – The month of March started off well and was going quite enthusiastically as there were many things lined up for April. But on March 30th, 2023, everyone was shook by the terrible news of Pastor John leaving us and gone to be with the Lord in the heavenly abode. Though the news was unsettling for all those who loved him, with a heavy heart we kept going, continuing the vision Dr. John and we had.
Before students went for their summer break and practical work, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter were celebrated with all enthusiasm. GBC family and the church members, who join us from outside, celebrated these events with all joy and special lunch was served on Easter Sunday. On Palm Sunday, 13 people were baptized out of which 3 belonged to Christian backgrounds, remaining 10 were new believers.
On April 12, we held a Memorial service for Dr. John W. Cook. GBC family, board members, church members, local Pastors and Christians, all who knew and loved Dr. John, attended the memorial service and dinner was served to all.
A poster with the plan of salvation in Hindi, including Romans 6:23, John 3:16 and John 1:12, that teams are sharing in their practical ministries this month and next in India.
To encourage new believers as well as old ones, we not only come together for Sunday services, but gather together weekly every Wednesday for Cottage Prayers at each Church member’s house consecutively. In other special news, one of our faculty, Mr. Suraj, was engaged on April 23, 2023.
PRACTICAL MINISTRY:
The students started their practical ministry on April 16. Our special outreach ministry team is working in various villages on the border of Maharashtra and Gujarat, among the tribes of Bhil, Mavchi, Konkani, Warli and Kulambi. This team includes two of our faculty (Mr. Suraj and Mr. Abhijeet) and five students. So far, they have covered 15 villages and are still going on. They are distributing pamphlets which we prepared at GBC, sharing the gospel both orally as well as through the means of media, also screening Bible movies like the Jesus film and others, in every village. Thus far, 1200 New Testaments, both in Hindi and Marathi language, have been distributed. On Sundays, they have been invited by the churches nearby to preach and share about Grace Bible College.
The Jesus Film being shown in a village. There are always positive faith responses to these showings; would you pray for our students, and for those who respond?
Our other faculty, Rev. Ruben and Rev. Ashish are on a tour, visiting churches in the districts of Akola, Nagpur and Amravati, for preaching and sharing about the Grace Bible College ministry. So far they have visited eight mainline churches. The rest of the students are doing practical ministry in their respective places, churches and organizations they are connected with. 2 Timothy 1:12 “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” – Dr. Pramod Tantarpale, Principal