Laymen Ministries began working in South India 27 years ago! The Lord led us to some pastors who would end up being the key players in our varied endeavors.Pastor Shadrach Samuel started working with us in 1994 and then Pastor Swamimdoss Johnson came on board in 2001. In the early days we focused on public evangelism, along with the translation and publishing of 1000s of books and pamphlets in various languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, along with English. Back in the early 2000s we realized that in order to potentially reach India’s population of over 1 billion, we needed to use television broadcasting. All across India, from a grass hut in a village to a nice home in the city, everyone has a TV!

In 2003, Laymen Ministries India decided to begin a television ministry and we became the pioneers of Adventist television production in India. There were no Adventist media studios, so we hired commercial studios to record programs, which was expensive and came with many headaches. We then bought air-time on a few TV networks. At first Pastor Samuel was our main speaker. He is powerful and articulate and our programs soon became popular. We later added Pastor Johnson to our program list. He is also a powerful speaker, and is an honest, dedicated, and effective business person. He handles all our legal matters, building projects and overseas all the workers. We called the Laymen Ministries India programs a Tamil name that would be culturally adapted and express our mission: Kakkum Karangal. When translated, this means Saving Hands.

In 2013 we decided to build our own television production studio. This way we could have more control over our programs. Today, the studio team produces many types of programs: cooking shows, kids’ programs, talk shows, sermons, Sabbath school lessons, mission stories, music videos, and live streaming on YouTube. We are now on several networks in various languages that cover India. Many of these programs are also broadcast around the world via satellite. Our Tamilan TV program is called Your Questions and Answers, focusing on questions about the Bible from the Christian population of India. We also have TV programs on Good News Network in Telugu and English languages. Telugu is one of the largest spoken languages in South India along with Tamil. We are currently broadcasting on Vasanth TV, Tamilan TV, and Subhavaartha TV networks.

Around 1996, we began training and employing Bible Workers. At first we supported 12 workers with one pastor overseeing their activities. As time went by, we expanded until today we support 52 Bible workers with a couple of pastors to oversee their activities. These dedicated workers go in pairs, door to door in a chosen neighborhood, talking and praying with people, handing out literature. They let people know they are connected with our TV programs. Because of this, they are almost immediately accepted by many people. Howbeit, they are also sometimes accosted, chased and have stones thrown at them — mostly by Hindu fundamentalists.

To sponsor a Bible worker costs $120 per month. They work 6 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their practice is to work in one location for 4 months in preparation for evangelistic meetings and church planting. By God’s grace, we are successfully working in many areas in South India.
Every year we schedule 5 evangelistic series and plant at least 3 new churches. This is always in connection with the Bible workers first visiting and studying with people in that area. To hold an evangelistic series featuring native speakers such as Pastor Samuel or Pastor Johnson, costs only $1,500.

We erect houses of worship in various spot where meetings have been conducted. This is very important to establish a “home” for the new believers and to train them for ministry. It is, of course, a place to witness and worship in the locality. Over the years literally 1000s of people have been baptized and have become solid Church Members.

Our work has reach the uneducated in the villages to the high-caste, well-educated in inner-city areas. The process is simple: TV program prepare the way. Bible Workers follow leads through our prayer hotline or mail, and by going door to door. Friendships are made. Bible studies ensue and groups are formed. Evangelism comes to help bring people to a decision. Congregations are formed and churches are built.

Sharing literature nurtures new believers. Books like Steps to Christ, The Desire of Ages and The Great Controversy always help build strong believers. We currently have several printing projects, including a monthly magazine for TV viewers with a focus for helping nonbelievers and others unfamiliar with the Christian faith to understand God’s Word.

Please pray for our work in India. We could use your help to cover the expense of TV air time and video production for both TV and social media. We would also be thankful for your help to sponsor Bible workers and pastors, or to print literature and supply Bibles to our contacts.