SEND! magazine Third Quarter 2007: Youth Quake

India’s Young People Transformed

Waking up each day in a tiny, dilapidated apartment hidden away down an alley in Delhi, India, is reality for Janya. Her frame is small and frail from lack of nutrition. At first glance, most people think she is only 7 or 8 years old, but she is 13. Her 20-year-old brother, Daiwik, is not much different—unassuming and thin as a rail. No one would guess at first impression that the power of Jesus resides under their weak exteriors. But with their passion for Christ and the lost, it’s just a matter of time before these young people send a shockwave of revival throughout India.

These two young people stepped into the kingdom of God less than a year ago and, through Gospel for Asia’s youth ministries, have learned to walk a narrow road. Chatura Gagan, GFA’s children’s ministry leader for the northwest region of India, noticed the deep struggles many young people in India, like Janya and Daiwik, endure. He recently began several specific ministries to reach them. The response to the outreach is incredible, completely changing these youth from the inside out.

Transforming a Lifestyle

Daiwik lived entangled in a wild, gang lifestyle that included fights, drinking and smoking. His family barely hung together; an alcoholic father and a mother struggling to just survive provided Daiwik with little to no guidance or encouragement. Then, when life seemed to be crumbling down around him, he began noticing a change in his younger sister, Janya. Once belligerent, she had become someone filled with love and respect.

“We were always fighting, and she quarreled often with me. She also did poorly in her schoolwork,” Daiwik says of Janya. “Then I saw a tremendous change in her life. She was always reading her Bible and praying, and she started spending time with me.”

Without her brother’s knowledge, Janya had begun attending a Sunday school class for young people led by Chatura and other Gospel for Asia missionaries. It was not long until everyone saw the amazing transformation. Not only was Janya more tenderhearted and gracious, but she also became disciplined and studious, soaring to the top of her academic classes.

Finally, Janya let her secret out; she had chosen to follow Jesus. Once Daiwik realized what was making the difference, he too began attending the Sunday school class. Then, one night at a youth camp in November of 2006, Daiwik received Christ into his heart as well.

Offering an Option

Many young people in India encounter struggles similar Daiwik and Janya’s. Living in shattered families, surrounded by peer pressure or wrestling with serious issues and addictions, these young people often have nowhere to turn. With the age of technology bombarding the country through the Internet, satellite television, mobile phones and more, India’s youth have been introduced to whole new worlds of ideas and lifestyles.

Traditional Indian culture does not allow open conversation about many of these new concepts, however. Most young men and women are forced to process all the new options in their lives and make behavior decisions on their own. Today, an entire generation is looking for honest answers and clear direction. The Gospel offers these teenagers and young adults hope and a future.

“I believe the future of our ministry relies on how we are teaching the children and young people today in our churches, because these young people are going to be our Christian leaders in the days to come,” Chatura shares.

Several Sunday school programs for children about 12 and under were recently started in GFA-related churches. Although still in the preliminary stages, the programs have been a huge success. Seeing the large number of children who attend the classes, many churches have added youth classes as well. As young people like Janya poured in, the missionaries caught their first glimpse of what God was about to do.

Chatura and other native missionaries decided to host a youth camp for the young people from some of the GFA-related churches. They also invited unchurched students from the area. When the doors opened for the first session of the camp, 70 youth walked through. Out of those, 23 made a profession of faith in Jesus. Daiwik was among them.

The camp included sessions such as “Forgiveness,” “Standing for the Lord,” “Quiet Times,” “Relationships” and others that dealt with subjects relevant to youth. There were also in-depth question-and-answer sessions, so the students could get honest solutions for issues not usually discussed in Asian culture.

“These youth have a lot of genuine questions they feel they cannot ask their parents. So they receive most of their direction from movies and television,” Chatura explains. “They are struggling with temptation, and they want to grow in the Lord, but they do not know how to deal with it.”

The missionaries set up a box where the young people could anonymously leave their written questions. Each time the missionaries looked in the box, there were several more questions added, and during the Q&A sessions, each question was answered from a biblical perspective.

Shaping the Future

Since the first youth camp, Chatura and his team are doing everything they can to follow up and disciple each student. Several Bible studies have been started as a result, and college ministry groups are starting to offer a time of fellowship, a cup of coffee and Christian counsel in a relaxed environment.

Because Chatura wants to provide opportunities for the young people to gain hands-on experience with ministry, responsible youth are encouraged to help out with the children’s ministry. Daiwik often participates in outreach alongside Chatura, sharing his testimony with everyone he meets. He also leads prayers, Bible stories and action songs for the children’s Sunday school classes.

“About 65 percent of the population of India is under the age of 30,” Chatura says. “So if we want to reach India, we should have some specific ministries for this majority.”

Through the growing youth ministry in Delhi, Daiwik and Janya have become shining lights for Christ in their neighborhood and home. They continually pray for their parents and encourage them to come to the Lord. They—and others like them—will be the missionaries of the future. Janya has already decided that she wants to attend a Bible college and follow the Lord in full-time missionary service. Daiwik is being discipled by Chatura.

Gospel for Asia leaders like Chatura look forward to seeing how the Lord will impact India’s youth through these new ministries. With their dedication and spirit, these young people have the potential to turn their world upside down.

Read more stories about how God is moving through Gospel for Asia’s youth ministries.