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By Esudas Bonthawww.churchofchristindia.com

04/21/23

2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

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Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ!!

I am thankful for this opportunity.I am married to a good Christian woman named Viajay

Kumri since 1988.God blessed us with 3 children. All Of Them Are Christians. I am presently taking care of 50 children in my home. My 20 year old son (Bontha Bharath Bhushan) helps me

preach on Sunday.

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About IndiaRevelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The Hindu god Vishnu and his consort,riding on Sheshanaag, god of all cobras who always worships Vishnu

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About India1.55 Billion people.Population tripled in

the last 50 yearsWe have 28 States.7 union territoriesThey are divided on

the basis of language

There are many languages in India.

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We have 6 major religions in Indiaand many denominations

Hinduim 80.5% Islam 13.4% Christianity 2.3% Sikhism 1.9% Jainism Buddhism

Roman Catholic Baptist Lutheran Living evangelical fellowship Laymen's Evangelical… Total 2.3%

New Testament Christians, 0.5%

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The 4 main castes are:1. Brahmins are (Hindu Priest.)

2. Kshatriya are the (Kings)

3. Vysya are the (business men)

4. Sudra (untouchable people)

There are over 100 sub-castes

The highest population in India are the Sudra, my people

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Our greatest challenge in India

Hebrews 5:12-13 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

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The Endless Cycle of Poverty

A new soul is born

Off to work to help feed the family,Only manual labor or childcare. No time or money for school

Maybe 2 years of school, but can’t read or write

Marry and have children

Without literacy, the cycle will continue forever

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4 Grow up

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Still Chained?In the past, the Bible was chained and people could not have it

Among the Sudra, they may own a Bible but they cannot read it

90%Illiteracy

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We all must grow in knowledge

SAVED

Babe in Christ

Growing in the Grace AND KNOWLEDGE of Christ

1 Peter 2:2as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby

2 Peter 3:17-18beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Child in Christ Mature ChristianElder, Deacon,Preacher, Teacher

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue

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We must study to become mature

Ephesians 4:13-1till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ

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Christians must study the Bible1 John 2:13I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

2 Corinthians 1:13For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand.

Ephesians 3:3-5how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

1 Timothy 4:13Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Revelation 1:3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Matthew 12:3,5, 19:4, 23:31Mark 12:10Have you not read …

“I write to you”…so you must read!

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We must study to defend our own faith from false teachersActs 17:11… they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

2 Peter 2:1-3But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Jude 3 …contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

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But if we cannot read…

SAVED

Babe in Christ Child in Christ

Mature Christians,Elders, Deacons, Preachers,Teachers

Study to show yourselves Approved!

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We can be saved without reading, but…

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Why must we educate first?

Literacy

Well-educated,Better Jobs,Escape Poverty

Bible Self-study,Grow to Maturity,Defend own faith

Spiritually Strong

Mature PersonEconomically Strong

Spiritually Sound

MatureCongregation

Self-supporting

Elders, Deacons,Preachers, Teachers

ProfessionalMen & Women,

Stronger FamiliesCommunity Leaders

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My History in the Lord’s WorkAll to Jesus I surrender. All to Him I freely give.I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.

I surrender all. I surrender all.All to Thee my Blessed Savior, I surrender all

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4 Generations of Gospel Preachers

My father and grandfather were Gospel preachersI have been preaching for 23 years in state of Andhra Pradesh, South India.I work in 3 Districts and have started many congregations.Today my son and I preach for 6 different congregations.

Andhra Pradesh

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Where I first preached

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women Acts 5:14

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EvangelismMatthew 28:18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

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Preaching

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2

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Gospel Meetings

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Baptisms

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16

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Many New Congregations Started

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Preacher’s Meeting

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

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New Building finished in 2010 for Makkenavaripalem church of ChristAfter 18 years of work and prayer

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New Building for the Ramanjaneyapuram church of Christ

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Indian Christian SchoolProverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

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Which is the better way?

Bible Study visit in Home1 hour? 40 minutes?Can hear the Word, BUTcan’t study if they can’t read.Totally dependent on a few preachers for knowledge.

10 years at Christian Home & School

Morning prayerAssembly: singing, scripture, prayerAfternoon prayerEvening: Moral Class (Bible study)Evening: singing, scripture, prayerBedtime prayer

------------------------2 hours each day for 10 years = 7300 hours of spiritual training and study

------------------------Learn to read, able to spiritually feed themselves and shown the Lord’s Way

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Indian Christian School students assembled to pray

Song: God will accomplish His WillWhatever we ask, O LordYour Will will be done.Because of Your Love,The flowers also blossom.So, please give ear to our praying because of Your Love.

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Government Leaders attend 2nd Anniversary Celebration

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Indian Christian School BusGetting the bus was a big step for the school and opened the door to accreditation.

Having the bus allows us to serve 40 more children from outlying regions.

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Current Bontha home and Christian School, 1/10 acre

Future location for Indian Christian School

Land is the Key to the Future

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BenevolenceGalatians 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

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The hungry stomach speaks louder than the preacher

Jesus said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved!”

I am so hungry,when will he finishso I can find some

food to eat?

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Where do 50 children sleep in the same house? Anywhere they can!

And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. Matthew 10:42

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Feeding the sick, elderly and widows at Subbaiahpalem

They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Galatians 2:12

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Suneetha who is suffering with Diabetes

We provided a glucose monitor for this severely diabetic young girl

And the King will answer and say to them, assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. Matthew 25:40

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Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

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My Support Supporting Congregation

Granby church of Christ, Granby, MO Contact: David Hersey david@granbychurchofChrist.org

http://www.granbychurchofchrist.org/ http://www.churchofchristindia.com/

Other supporters Mars Hill church of Christ, KY Montana St church of Christ, TX Sunset church of Christ, AR Kingsville church of Christ, AL Georgia Ave church of Christ, DC Rutherford church of Christ, NC Letona church of Christ, AR Vernon church of Christ, AL Terry Chapel church of Christ, KY

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Thank you for your precious time