This last April was my sixth trip to India. Much of our travel was grueling—like our 18-hour train ride from Kerala to Madras. Our visit was worth every minute of the noise, difficult travel, lack of sleep, and risks. Laymen Ministries cannot boast of thousands of baptisms, but we can say that millions of seeds are being planted, and those who are baptized are solid conversions—we seek quality and not quantity. These converts, in turn, become workers for the cause of Christ. After all, that is the heartbeat of Laymen Ministries—that each converted soul is called to ministry for Christ.

Pastor Samuel picked us up at the airport, and we were whisked through the streets of Madras late at night, with all the common sights and sounds (not to mention the smells) of India—people sleeping in the streets, dogs digging through garbage pits, rickshaw drivers sleeping in their front seats, and stray cows wandering the avenues looking for something to eat.

Reaching Millions!

The Lord has blessed and we are now sponsoring television broadcasts on JAYA TV, one of the major satellite stations covering all of India and 23 other countries, reaching a viewing audience of over 73 million. The program is a joint effort between Pastor Johnson and Pastor Shadrach Samuel. Hundreds of letters are coming in, mostly from a Hindu viewing audience. The programs begin with a health talk, then a special music selection, followed by a Bible topic. Bible correspondence lessons are offered with the Amazing Facts lessons translated by Pastor Samuel. The exciting thing is that many local church members are teaming together to help and support this work, as well as Indians from various other parts of India and abroad.

Laymen Ministries had been trying to launch a TV program for nearly two years in India, but at every turn we ran into obstacles. Pastor Johnson, a faithful pastor and long time friend of Pastor Shadrach Samuel, struck out not long ago with the help of his local church and some friends and began a program titled “Kaakum Karanghal,” which translated means Saving Hands, meaning the hands of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Johnson asked Pastor Shadrach to be part of the team a few months ago and now, following our visit, Pastor Johnson has agreed to expand this program to be a joint project between his church, the viewers who support the program, and Laymen Ministries, which will ease the heavy burden his church has been carrying. We are now laying plans for Pastor Johnson and Pastor Shadrach to come to our studios in America to produce some very high quality programs for the air in India. (The control room of the television studio that is being used for filming in India is shown top left in the title picture.)

More Help and More Publishing

An early item on our agenda was to examine the new printing of the book, The Great Controversy. Both Elder Ron Watts, Southern Asia Division President, and Jan Paulsen, General Conference President, received copies and were happy to see the new edition available for the people who speak the Tamil language. (In the title picture, Elder Paulsen receives a fresh copy of The Great Controversy from Laymen Ministries sponsored Pastor Shadrach Samuel. Elder Watts stands behind Elder Paulsen.) We have coming to press soon Testimony Treasures (selections from the Testimonies) and several other books for outreach. The Forgotten Commandment, by Danny Shelton of 3ABN, has just been translated and will be printed shortly.

Phase two of our publishing work in Tamil Nadu is to print millions of small booklets and tracts on various subjects that can be distributed like the leaves of autumn. In India, such printing is very inexpensive and small booklets are easily read by people waiting in train stations, bus stations, or handed out at various meetings or on the streets. Some of our booklets are designed to help give vision to church members about outreach ministry; others deal with issues confronting the church; and most important of all are booklets leading the unconverted to Christ and the three angels’ messages.

One must never forget that Karl Marx never visited China, yet a small group of men translated his Communist Manifesto into Chinese—and what was the result of spreading his secular work like the “leaves of autumn”? China is now Communist! How much more could be done for Christ if we had the zeal and determination of these atheists!

Finding Historical Roots in Kerala, South India!

Kerala, in Southwest India, has a long standing history of Christianity. Historians say the Apostle Thomas traveled from Palestine around 52 a.d., arrived at Coromandel coast and preached in North Kerala, where he established seven churches. It is a fact that for literally centuries there were Sabbath keeping Christians in this area, long before the Portuguese Catholics came in the early 16th century, or European missionaries in the 19th century.

These Sabbath keepers were later corrupted by the traditions and persecutions of the Catholic Church of that era, thus many conformed to the precepts of the Roman Church and became Sunday keepers. The Portuguese priests confronted the St. Thomas Christians in the area of Goa and Cochin, saying, “These churches [of the St. Thomas Christians] belong to the Pope.” The native people replied, “Who is the Pope? We have never heard of him....We are of the true faith, whatever you of the West may be; for we came from the place where the followers of Christ were first called Christians [Antioch].” —Christian Researchers in Asia, p. 60 (1813).

“The title of Mother of God was offensive to their ear; and they measured with scrupulous avarice the honors of the Virgin Mary, whom the superstition of the Latins had almost exalted to the rank of a Goddess. When her image was first presented to the disciples of St. Thomas they indignantly exclaimed, ‘We are Christians, not idolaters!’”

In fact, both the St. Thomas Christians and the Syrian Christians of that area, both of whom claim St. Thomas as their founder, were all, at one time, Sabbath keepers. Their influence was spread throughout many parts of India, so Sabbath keeping and other true Bible teachings were also seen in these areas. Their faith led to them being called “Judaizers” and thousands were burned at the stake, or fled for their lives, relocating in other areas of India. Now the Catholics claim the history of St. Thomas as their own in the founding of their faith throughout India. Even the shrine of St. Thomas Mount, located in Madras in South East India, where Hindu fundamentalists supposedly murdered Thomas in 72 a.d., is used as a propaganda tool. In the church built on this mount there hangs a picture of the Virgin Mary, which supposedly has healing powers. It is claimed that St. Thomas brought this with him to India and it was miraculously preserved all these years. How time and deception change the true story from what the St. Thomas Christians really thought of the adoration of the Virgin Mary as a god!

It is of historical significance that Laymen Ministries is now printing literature in the city of Cochin that is calling these dear people back to their historical roots as found in Scripture. It is exciting! To this day, about 30% of the population in the State of Kerala is Christian, and strangely enough, the controlling political party in this state is the Communist Party!

In Kerala State, we have printed and distributed about 125,000 books, pamphlets and tracts. Such titles as: The Journey to Heaven, which is about the Law and the Gospel, and Daniel and Revelation and Adam’s Birth Place, both by Pastor C. N. John. The second title has 17 chapters dealing with Creation, the origin of sin, salvation, the 10 Commandments, the Sabbath, Sunday worship, and the change of Sabbath, with the history of Sabbath observance in the Kerala region through the centuries. It also covers such subjects as the Protestant Reformation, origin of the papacy, the final warning message, the second coming, and other key Christ-centered teachings. There are many other tracts on all types of subjects, and even a straight forward “present truth” magazine in the local language.

These books have been given to pastors and church members for evangelism. They are distributed at meetings in the form of prizes for daily attendance. The members also are engaged in selling some of these at a low rate for two reasons:

1) Those who buy them read and appreciate them when they pay a small sum, and the members earn a little for their livelihood.

2) The proceeds from the books are set aside in an account for further reprinting.

Amazing Seed Sowing!

Interestingly enough, the Jacobite Christian Seminary students studying for the priesthood are encouraged to read Spirit of Prophecy books for their studies. And even more interesting is the fact that recently a Hindu professor from Nair Service Society received some Spirit of Prophecy books, and then announced to his students that they should get and read the books of Ellen G. White!

As we look back over all the events of this last trip, we see the Seed of Truth being sown in many hearts—seeds that will spring forth into a large harvest of truly converted souls in whom, when the final events of earth’s history transpire, will look steadfastly up into heaven and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us!”—Isa. 25:9.

High Tech in India

In our office in Madras, we set up a new high-power computer system for making Video CDs (VCDs), and doing faster layout and design for books and small tracts. We brought with us a high speed CD duplication system (which God miraculously let us take into the country duty free!) so these VCDs could be made by the thousands to be used by Tamil speaking people all over the country and in other countries, like Malaysia. Amazing Facts has given us permission to convert all of Doug Batchelor’s sermons from his series in India to VCDs. We have also converted Mark Finley’s India series, as well. Soon our own programs, which are now being produced in India, will be converted into these little CD preachers.

All classes of society use the VCDs. In the medical college at Vellore, India, students and doctors freely distribute them to students and professional friends. In study halls, where students have access to computers, they watch these “present truth” presentations. In the Hindu ghettos, faithful laymen take small portable VCD players and invite people into a house, packing it full of interested viewers. After the presentation, questions are raised and personal Bible studies follow. Among Christians of other faiths, including pastors, these VCDs are watched at home with intense interest, as the “seed of truth” is planted in eager and willing minds. Baptisms have followed. Others are studying and thinking. The seed of truth falls into fertile ground. We are excited to see what is happening with this inexpensive technology. We can purchase good quality blank CDs in India for as little as .75 each! If we buy in larger quantity, the price comes down even more. What is needed now is more of the simple little VCD players to be used by laymen. The cost? One of these little units is only $130.00. We could use several hundred to be spread to faithful laymen around India.

Pray for India

Our heartfelt prayers go to the peoples of India. As we look at the current events taking place there, it should awaken us to our responsibility to help these dear people come to Christ and gain an understanding of the Three Angels’ Messages. We just want to thank those of you who have helped with the purchase of the equipment, with the printing of books and other literature and for the sponsorship of faithful workers. Some have sacrificially given $5 or $10. Others, larger amounts—but in the end, these amounts add up to a sum that really makes a difference. Without all of us cooperating as a team, these efforts would not be possible. God bless you for your prayers and support.

Longtime friends, Pastors Samuel (right) and Johnson, are collaborating on the satellite television program, Saving Hands, now broadcasting from India to much of Southern Asia and the Pacific regions.

St. Thomas Mount, where Hindu fundamentalists supposedly murdered the Apostle Thomas in 72 A.D., is a shrine to the images and traditions of the Catholic Church. Thousands of pilgrims from India and all over the world visit this shrine every year.

The Apostle Thomas is said to have traveled to India around 52 A.D., where he raised seven Sabbath keeping churches in the North Kerala Region. These St. Thomas Christians were later persecuted for many years and corrupted by the traditions of the Roman church.

Above) Because of his interest in Spirit of Prophecy books, and the fact that he recommended that everyone attending this religious conference should read them, Rev. Fr. C. I. Joseph was presented with a free set of the books in Tamil.

Below) Jacobite Christian Seminary students studying for the priesthood receive Spirit of Prophecy books (in Malayalam) for their study.

Above) We were able to bring this high quality, high speed VCD duplicator into India duty free! Bible lessons and other teaching programs on VCD are becoming very popular, and are easy for almost anyone to use.

Below) All of Doug Batchelor's Amazing Facts seminar presentations, as well as Mark Finley's India series are being produced in Tamil for distribution and use by laymen.