SEND! magazine First Quarter 2005: Church Buildings in Asia: A Day of Celebration
Church Buildings in Asia: A Day of Celebration
"Being there in that place and watching their enthusiasm—and seeing the simplicity of the structure—I wanted to join with them in dedicating myself for more ministry, more service, so that more churches like this could be planted."
I heard a Gospel for Asia U.S. staff member share these words shortly after returning from Chhattisgarh, India, where she attended a special gathering of a Believers Church congregation. In anticipation of the event, GFA Pastor Sudeep and his wife, along with other believers, had fasted and prayed for 20 days on the construction site. The building was not quite finished, but eager believers gathered that day to worship, for the first time, in a place of their own.
I was deeply moved to hear of this. Little did I know I would later visit the area for the dedication of the completed building.
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| Q.How much does it cost to construct a church building? A. $11,000 |
This church, located in a village at the foot of a mountain, is the fruit of Pastor Sudeep's faithful ministry since 1997 in a spiritually dark area—a place where Christians have suffered much persecution. For Pastor Sudeep, the dedication service was a joyous occasion, a landmark. "This is, for me, a happy and exciting day," he expressed.
Pastor Sudeep remembers when the flock of new believers would meet for worship in homes—well over 30 homes total. Many times, the change in location was directly due to persecution. In one home, church members were scattered in five or six rooms, tightly packed. Pastor Sudeep fervently prayed for a place to accommodate his growing congregation.
Through the gift of a GFA donor, the Lord provided. "We were praying for this church building," Pastor Sudeep said. "And now, the answer has come."
For Pastor Sudeep's young flock, having a church building is significant because it establishes a presence in the community they want to reach. "Through the construction of this church, many non-Christians have found out about our congregation of believers," Pastor Sudeep shared. "Many people came to us and asked about this church, so we know that because of this facility, many new people are going to join us."
The GFA leader for Central India, present at the dedication event, also expressed joy at knowing God would use the building to draw hearts hungry to hear about Jesus. "Where there is a church building," he said, "many people from the villages are coming to hear the Word of God. It's wonderful to see a church dedicated for God's glory. I pray, 'Lord, give us grace to build thousands of churches in India.' That's what we pray for."
That day, a group of us from GFA's home offices in the West, along with the congregation of more than 100 Asian believers, gathered at the front door of the church for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. We entered the church together, singing the Savior's praises. Though different languages were represented, hearts were united as one voice in worship. "It was special to be able to enter praising the Lord," one staff member reflected. "Victory, after so many struggles."
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