Participants:
Series Code: DTF
Program Code: DTF000106S
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00:00 Previously on Destination 1040.
00:02 This is Nirobindu das, and for the last five years 00:05 he has been the Gospel Outreach Coordinator for West Bengal 00:09 here in India. 00:10 Both Nirobindu and his wife Rita, are passionate 00:13 about spreading the Gospel to the people of India 00:15 and have devoted their lives to missionary work. 00:18 In a country like India, friendship 00:20 evangelism is really going to be one of the most effective ways 00:24 that you can reach out to your neighbors. 00:26 So back in 2013, one of the Gospel 00:29 Outreach Bible workers started a small home church, 00:31 and as it continued to grow, there just wasn't enough room 00:34 for the people to meet in the home. 00:36 So what did they do? 00:37 They built a church out of bamboo and plastic. 00:41 Now they are quite literally running out of room 00:43 in this church behind me And that's a good problem to have. 00:46 But the exciting thing about this story is 00:49 the Lord has blessed someone donated. 00:51 So right behind the plastic church is a new church 00:55 that's being built for the believers. 00:58 Are we ready to lay it all on the line for Jesus? 01:02 Are we prepared to lay down our lives for a friend? 01:56 They have started the process 01:57 of putting the pillars in for the new church here. 02:03 Up until now, as you know, they've been worshiping 02:06 in this plastic church behind me. 02:08 But every year it always gets destroyed 02:12 or at least damaged 02:13 with all the cyclones that they have in this area. 02:16 And so they're finally getting a more permanent structure. 02:21 When it's rainy season apparently, the water will be up 02:26 to the height of those pillars. 02:27 And so once they have enough donations, 02:31 they will have the floor up at that height to prevent 02:35 too much flood damage during rainy season. 02:39 Someone graciously donated enough money 02:42 for them to build pillars and put ten on the roof 02:46 for the church. 02:47 And then as money comes in, they'll continue building 02:50 and adding more brick and finish it to be an actual structure. 03:26 Missionary life! 03:29 Are you washing the clothes from the water in this pond? 03:32 I am. 03:35 This pond is utilized 03:37 for a lot of things. 03:51 Everybody's watching this event. 04:05 Well, what do you think of your new hair? 04:07 I love it so much. 04:13 So that evening, 04:14 13 of us piled into a vehicle only meant to hold four 04:18 and traveled 30 minutes to an area 04:20 where our Bible worker and his wife have started 04:22 a home church. 04:30 What this couple is doing here in West Bengal is the perfect 04:33 example of what the Gospel Outreach model is all about. 04:39 Showing kindness to others, 04:43 introducing people to Jesus, raising up new congregations, 04:46 and then training others to lead and to raise up new disciples. 04:51 This is a Bible worker's job description. 04:54 So we just traveled 17 kilometers to the Bay of Bengal, 04:57 and we're in a little village right now. 04:59 And I want to show you what a home church is all about. 05:24 Wants a new congregation 05:26 is well established and self-sustaining, 05:28 this gives our Bible workers the opportunity to move on 05:32 to new, unreached areas and to continue their work. Yes. 05:52 The man knows what he's doing. 05:56 Nirobindu's wife Rita holds 05:59 multiple degrees in nursing 06:00 and has spent many years working as such. 06:03 She has used her knowledge in this area to teach and train 06:06 our Bible workers in West Bengal 06:08 to provide basic health services to their communities. 06:12 This has been an invaluable tool for our Bible workers 06:15 who have been able to show the love of Jesus in this way. 06:18 As we know, medical ministry can be an entering wedge 06:21 into sharing Jesus with others in a country like India. 06:25 Oftentimes, this is the only way that you can connect with 06:28 your neighbors. 06:41 Sunday night markets are some of the busiest 06:43 and craziest things I have ever seen in India. 06:47 Within just a couple of hours, a town square can turn into 06:50 a bustling market straight out of Bible times. 07:14 He's played a couple of times. 07:19 Our vehicle has arrived. 07:22 Where are we going Joy? 07:23 Mousuni island. Mo, say it again. 07:26 Mousuni island. 07:28 Mousuni? 07:28 Mousuni Island. 07:44 So that's the boat that we're taking to the island. 07:47 And the island is actually really close. 07:49 I can't imagine it's going to take very long to get to that 07:52 island. 07:56 Here's the drone. 07:57 Are we going to fly the drone? That's up to you. 08:00 You are the flyer of the drone. 08:01 The pilot of the drone. 08:03 Do you think we should fly the drone? 08:05 I don't know. What do you think? 08:26 This is the path of natural disaster. 08:29 Every year, at least once. 08:31 There will be cyclones. 08:33 In 2020, there was a super cyclone known as Amphan, 08:38 during which thousands and thousands of houses 08:42 were blown off their roofs. 08:45 We saw 08:47 people in the boats leaving their island 08:50 to nowhere kind of, they did not know where to go 08:53 because part of that island had submerged. 09:00 At least 84 09:01 people are now known to have died 09:03 in one of the most powerful 09:04 cyclones to hit India and Bangladesh for years. 09:08 Cyclone Amphan has hit northeastern India 09:10 and Bangladesh, where millions 09:12 are hunkering down in emergency shelters. 09:15 The massive storm is packing a dangerous hurricane 09:17 force winds and authorities say 09:19 it could trigger devastating floods 09:21 along the low lying coast. 09:23 Uprooted trees, brought down electricity and telephone lines 09:27 and flattened houses in the western states 09:29 of West Bengal and Odisha and south west Bangladesh. 09:33 Our volunteers Gospel Outreach Volunteers. 09:36 Global Mission Volunteers, Workers. 09:38 We contributed and collected some funds 09:40 from some rich people. 09:42 We were able to feed those migrants for a few days. 09:48 People are very resilient. 09:49 Even though there are cyclones, yet they live here. 09:52 Sometimes I think 09:53 knowing the natural disaster that it would come every year, 09:57 why can't the people move away from here? 09:59 But they're 10:00 attached to this place and they have nothing else to do. 10:04 Fishing. Fishing. 10:05 They survive with fish. 10:15 Every time they rebuild. 10:16 And you probably have seen the poor people 10:19 their huts made of clay and bamboo sticks, 10:23 and the roof, they are sometimes tin. 10:28 When people provide them with tin tin, 10:29 Everybody cannot afford. 10:32 Having gone through all these things 10:37 they survive happily with meager food and water. 10:41 And another difficulty they have, as we say 10:44 water, water everywhere but there is no water to drink. 10:48 There's no water to drink salty water. 10:51 After less than a ten 10:52 minute ferry ride, we're on the island now. 10:56 So the story goes that we actually have a GO Bible worker 11:00 that lives just off the island and she works here, 11:05 but she's being trained and mentored by two of our other 11:09 GO workers, the ones that actually started 11:11 the plastic church. 11:13 And it's just created this awesome team. 11:16 And this island is learning about Jesus because of this. 11:24 Washing the feet of a visitor 11:26 is very traditional in this part of India. 11:29 We are here visiting a church members house 11:31 where a small group of Hindus meet multiple times a week 11:34 to learn about Jesus. 12:05 I was humbled when I realized that many of these people 12:08 cannot afford their own Bible or their own hymnal, 12:11 and so they will copy songs from our Bible Workers hymnal. 12:15 They will copy 12:17 their favorite passages from our Bible workers Bible 12:20 so that they can keep those things close to them. 12:23 This is something that I will never be able 12:25 to relate to in my life, and it made me realize just how 12:28 blessed I am. 12:32 Now, as you may have noticed, this home is very new, 12:34 and that is because 12:35 the previous home was destroyed 12:37 a little over a year ago in a typhoon. 12:39 Once the home was destroyed, 12:40 the new believers had nowhere to meet. 12:42 And so they were meeting just outside 12:44 under a tree in the dirt. 12:46 The owner of this home 12:47 was very distraught 12:48 and she prayed to God, asking him what she should do, 12:51 as she did not have enough money to build a new home. 12:54 After praying earnestly, it was impressed upon her that 12:57 no matter how many materials she could afford, 13:00 that would be enough. 13:02 So trusting the Lord, she went and purchased as many materials 13:06 as she could afford and hired a builder 13:08 to come and build the home. 13:10 When the builder arrived, he laughed at her and said, 13:12 There are not enough materials to build this house. 13:15 With this much, You can't do it. 13:18 You need more. 13:20 She said, Don't talk to me like that. 13:21 Do that It must be done. 13:23 It will be done with what I have brought. 13:25 And my God will help me build. 13:27 She said this one stick was extra. 13:31 One thing was extra. 13:34 The one who makes house. 13:38 He said, I have peace after making your house. 14:37 So how are you feeling? 14:39 Tired, but good. What have we done? 14:41 We had a nice day of visiting an island 14:43 and seeing the church members over there. 14:45 They meet in a member's home. 14:49 A very small island. 15:10 This morning 15:12 we are leaving the plastic church and we are headed south. 15:16 So far south, in fact, that we're actually leaving 15:18 land, We're taking a boat to an island. 15:24 You know, as Christians, we 15:25 are supposed to be a different kind of people. 15:30 And so when we go out into the communities here in India 15:34 and you meet with these Hindus and you meet 15:37 with these Muslim people they recognize 15:43 that our community here and the people who come to 15:46 church here, they are different and they can see that 15:50 and that is the most effective discipleship 15:55 method of all, is living a life 15:58 that reflects Christ. 16:48 So this is the ferry that's going to be taking us 16:50 about an hour ride to an island where we're going to spend 16:54 two or three days meeting with one of our Bible workers 16:57 that's working on that island. 17:55 Oh, hello, How are you? Good. 17:57 We have arrived. We have arrived. 18:01 Sagar Island. 18:32 For hundreds of years, Sagar Island 18:33 has been a yearly pilgrimage for so many Hindus. 18:37 Some will walk for hundreds of miles with no shoes to partake 18:40 in the holy dip that takes place each year in February. 18:44 The economic structure of this island only exists 18:47 because of the over 2 million people who flock to this place 18:50 every year. Yes, you heard that right. 18:53 Over 2 million people for many months in advance. 18:56 This island 18:57 with no more than 212,000 people, will begin to build 19:01 a temporary infrastructure of bamboo and tarps, fields, 19:05 empty streets and even alleyways will transform into markets 19:08 and sleeping quarters for the tourists who will visit. 19:12 This is arguably the largest annual gathering 19:14 of people throughout the world. 19:18 Despite the demonic forces at work, 19:20 Gospel outreach is blessed to have 19:21 three Bible workers 19:22 here on this island, along with a handful of churches 19:26 spreading a message of hope in an otherwise dark place. 19:32 Yeah, of course I want you to drive that. 19:35 My question is, are you going to kill us or. 19:39 But you may ask yourself, how do you reach a people group 19:42 that is so invested in this idol worship 19:44 and ritualistic behavior? 19:51 My name is Arati Dasadhikari, 19:54 and I've been with the Gospel Outreach for ten years now. 20:15 For the last two years 20:17 I have started working here on this island. 20:20 When I first came to the island, I struggled 20:23 to connect with the people. 20:25 Many are very strong in their traditions and culture, 20:28 making it impossible to effectively spread 20:31 the name of Jesus. 20:33 This is when God gave me an idea. 20:35 An idea to simply show people the love of Jesus 20:39 and leave the rest to him. 20:42 I decided to start offering 20:43 tailoring lessons to the women of my community. 20:47 This only started with two, but grew quickly as word spread. 21:16 I was gifted a sewing machine 21:18 and my ministry expanded even faster. 21:21 I started multiple classes in different homes 21:23 throughout the island and soon had dozens of women 21:27 learning under my care. 21:32 These women were confused as to 21:34 why I would provide such a fine service for free. 21:37 This opened the door to religious conversations 21:40 and Bible studies. 21:48 Some of the husbands of my students were upset at first, 21:52 but once they recognized the change 21:53 in attitude for their wives, they became more open 21:56 and accepting of what I was teaching them from the Bible. 22:03 I now have three sewing machines 22:05 that I have strategically placed throughout the island. 22:09 I have started seven influence centers 22:11 where I meet with groups of women 22:13 every week for Bible studies and some classes. 22:17 These women are also learning how to love people like Jesus 22:20 by working to provide free clothes 22:23 for widows and homeless people. 22:41 So she comes up with a lot of 22:42 different things on her own as she continues she learns. 22:46 Some of my students are also widows and use the knowledge 22:51 of seamstress work to make clothes and sell them 22:54 to help support themselves. 22:58 Many of the women in these classes are married 23:00 with children at only 16 or 17 years old. 23:05 Life as a woman in these cultures 23:07 can be a very demeaning and demoralizing life. 23:10 From a very young age it is your duty to do as you are 23:13 told and marry the man chosen for you by your father. 23:17 A women's ministry like this not only gives 23:19 these women self-worth and confidence in a skill, 23:22 but also allows them to provide for themselves 23:25 if they are ever left as a widow. 23:29 Living for self is so 23:30 easy, but living for others is much more rewarding. 23:34 I am thankful to be living for others and encourage 23:37 everyone I come in contact with to do the same. 23:52 Oh, let's see. 23:54 Oh boy! 23:55 Does she come from a teaching background? 23:59 No no! 24:31 I want to talk to you 24:32 about some of the challenges that I'm facing here in India. 24:35 I'm just going to be brutally honest with you. 24:36 The devil is working 24:39 really, really hard right now in my life, in Lexi's life. 24:43 You know, we're running into a lot of challenges both 24:46 spiritually and even maybe somewhat physically. 24:50 And so we definitely need prayers. 24:56 People don't understand 24:58 the effort that it takes to actually create 25:01 some type of quality content quality video. 25:04 We want to take you 25:06 and we want to put you in a position 25:08 where you can understand what it's like 25:10 to be one of these Bible workers. 25:12 And the only way that we can actually effectively do this is 25:15 if you get to actually live with them and experience 25:19 what they experience and see what they eat, 25:21 see what they do on a day to day basis. 25:23 And the only way that we can actually capture 25:25 that is we have to do that as well. 25:35 When I see the great need, both spiritually 25:38 and physically, I can oftentimes become very discouraged. 25:42 The pain here is great people living in the dirt 25:45 who can hardly afford to eat, still spend money 25:48 that they don't have on idols for their homes and offerings 25:51 for their temples. 25:53 The fear of the unknown can be seen 25:54 in the faces of these people, and I long for them 25:57 to have the peace that we take for granted. 26:04 You know, I've heard it said that 26:05 Jesus spent 26:06 two thirds of his time 26:08 on this earth healing and ministering to people. 26:11 I think sometimes we forget that reaching people with the hope 26:14 of Jesus isn't simply about 26:16 having the right message or presenting it in the proper way. 26:20 We are to be a living example of what true 26:22 love really looks like. 26:24 Now, This shouldn't be a gotcha concept, 26:27 but it only becomes that way 26:28 when we attempt to take over the Holy Spirit's job. 26:35 Now we currently have three 26:37 Gospel Outreach workers on Sagar Island, 26:40 and we were so impressed by the true outpouring of love 26:43 they show to the people around them. 26:46 Like these workers, I never want to feel 26:48 as if I have an agenda. 26:50 I want to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit and nothing more. 26:56 So my question is, 26:57 what's your motivation? 27:31 if you have made it 27:32 to the end of this episode of Destination 10/40, 27:34 we want to thank you for watching. 27:36 If you've seen the show and you want to donate 27:37 to Gospel Outreach because of this show, 27:40 we want to ask that if you donate online at goaim.org, 27:44 that you just leave in the description box 27:46 when you donate the words Destination 1040. 27:49 The same thing if you send a check just right 27:51 in the memo line Destination 10/40, that way we can keep 27:54 track of how much money we have raised from the show. 27:58 Because one of the things 27:59 that we are wanting to do from this show 28:01 is we want to raise $100,000 over the next six months 28:04 while we're 28:05 traveling for Gospel Outreach to support Bible workers 28:08 and $100,000 will support how many Bible workers? 28:11 55 for one year. 28:13 And we are sorry if this has been loud because 28:17 we are in India. 28:23 okay, bye. |
Revised 2023-11-08