Known for their coral reefs, lush forestland and translucent waters, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been called a tropical paradise. Officially part of India, this little-known “paradise” lies more than 600 miles off its east coast, in the Bay of Bengal. About 350,000 people call the island chain home—inhabiting less than 40 of its 500-plus islands—but only about a fourth call themselves Christian. Sixty-four percent of the population is Hindu; and the Muslims (8.6 percent), Sikhs and Buddhists need to be reached as well.
That’s why Gospel for Asia missionaries Vincent and Sunil are daily following God’s call to reach precious souls tucked away in this remote area of the world. They work among a diverse population, with its own unique ministry challenges.
The majority of the population immigrated to the islands from the mainland and have no common language. Others descend from the islands’ original inhabitants—nomadic tribal groups who moved from island to island using the bow and arrow to hunt for food. Even today, a few resist contact from the outside world. And reaching them with the Gospel is made even more difficult because the government requires anyone traveling to the islands to get a special permit, with some areas entirely off-limits to visitors.
The rainy season brings heavy mud and power outages, creating added challenges for ministry. Leeches are also a problem. Two GFA missionaries recently had to leave the island because they were constantly getting malaria.
But today, as Vincent and Sunil continue to carry out their God-given calling in these tucked-away islands, strengthened by His power they are finding hearts receptive to the Gospel. To date they have planted at least two Believers Churches and 18 fellowship groups.
Gospel for Asia has also started a home Bible school on the island to train more such laborers for this harvest field. Nine students have graduated, and 20 others are currently in training.
At a GFA Bridge of Hope center, 100 children enjoy the love and nurture of the staff—and the after-school tutoring that helps them improve in their studies.
When the 2004 tsunami hit the islands, damaging coral reefs and killing an estimated 7,000 people, GFA missionaries reached out with Christ’s love to hurting survivors as they gave out food and clothes.
Please pray for the work God is doing on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Pray for all missionaries and pastors laboring for the Gospel there, for God’s special protection and a fresh vision each day for ministry. And pray that all the children in the Bridge of Hope center, and their families, will put their trust in Jesus for salvation.
Yours prayers mean so much. Praise God that we have this privilege to join Him in the work He is doing in this remote region of the world.
To read more about the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, please click here.