THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA

The first Christian to arrive in India was probably the Apostle Thomas, about 50 A. D. He began to witness in the city of Cranganor on the coast. 17,000 people were baptized and became disciples  of Christ. The churches that Thomas founded have persevered under persecution through almost two thousand years in the South of India. Today they are called the Church of Mar Toma.

During the first ten centuries, Christian missionaries planted hundreds of churches in India. However, in the 12th century, the Muslims killed  most Christians. After the year 1500, the Portuguese established the Roman Catholic Church in the state of Goa on the West coast of India. This survives today. From 1700 onward, evangelical missionaries have planted many churches in India, but only in certain areas. In 1857, Hindus, lead by the fanatical Nana Saheb, killed more than 1,500 Christians and missionaries. However, the evangelical church continued to grow. The Bible has been translated  into  36 languages in India. Another 25 have only the New Testament. About 289 languages have neither  Bible  or New Testament.

The Church in India was started by:

• The Apostle   ( )
• The Apostle Thomas ( )
  Many Christians in India follow Thomas’ example. They evangelize their own people with boldness and sacrifice. However, there are hundreds of millions of people who have no church or any understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ. Soon India will overtake China in population.

The authorities of India do not usually grant visas to people coming in as “missionaries” from abroad to reside in the country. However we can plant churches if we work in another occupation. Some set up a business, go in as students in the universities, or work as sales people. A tourist visa lasts only for six months.

A missionary to India usually has to:

• Dedicate himself just to preaching. ( )
• Go in with a secular job. ( )

Only missionaries who work in an occupation that the government wants to introduce into the country (such as a business person or engineer) can reside in India.

• With all respect for your sincerity, I think that so much tolerance in your religion is dangerous. As we are now friends, please let me tell you why. We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and not through works as so many think. Jesus Christ bore the guilt of our sins on the cross when he died. Do you believe this?
• Of course! Christ is one of the ascended masters. He was very holy. He discovered another good way to the Absolute God.  (The article will be continued in our next issue)    Previous article:  https://huongdionline.com/2016/04/09/evangelizing-hindus-and-buddhists/