Dr. Paul Barreca visited Aurangabad, India, to see S & A (India) in the field that they serve! Thirty village pastors drove 18 hours to arrive in time for an all-day pastor’s meeting that Dr. Paul would be teaching at. Some pastors receive theological training from S. None have received Bible College or seminary training. S first ministered in this region while a student at Bible College. Pastor Frank Marchiano from Faith Bible Church in Vineland, NJ, taught the Share Your Faith series. Dr. Paul taught Inductive Bible Study methods. The pastors learned to go from the text to a sermon utilizing Bible Study worksheets. They studied attentively for 11 hours and then drove home all night.  These faithful servants utilize what they have to reach the many villages with the gospel and build disciples. They enjoyed worship, fellowship, and theological training with Dr. Paul and Pastor Frank. FIM missionary “S” and his family received a full-blown Indian community celebration at the dedication ceremony for the property they just purchased in this small village on the outskirts of Aurangabad, India. Construction of a home will begin in November 2023. This village has 25 Christian families and no church! In fact, the surrounding 14 villages are also without a church or a pastor. When S conducted outreach here, he asked if a property might be available. Donors from Faith Bible Church in Vineland, NJ, had already donated the funds, but no property could be found. Other inquiries had been rejected because S is of the Dalit Caste and a Christian. During the outreach a few months ago, S discovered a property was available! S purchased the property and drilled a deep well, providing the village with its first clean, reliable water source. S shares the water freely. The entire village, young, old, Christian, Hindu, and Muslim, welcomed S, his family, and their visiting friends from the U.S. It was spectacular and organized entirely by the village leaders! The ladies and girls wore the most beautiful cultural dresses. Honored guests walked a “welcome path” strewn with flowers as all the children greeted and shook S and Dr. Paul’s hands. Rings of fresh flowers were given to the honored guests and village leaders, with much celebration. S, his family, pastor Frank, and Dr. Paul joyfully received this outpouring of love. It was quite humbling. Pray for S and this new outreach. He plans to build a church, Christian school, and ministry center for this village and the 14 nearby villages. He will provide training here for pastors from remote villages without theological training. He is praying that the Lord will use these pastors to plant 6,000 churches in northwest India in the next ten years.

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