Benjamin Francis, BMS associate regional team leader for India, (right) recently gave an encouraging update on the impact of the BMS-funded boat, which has been reaching villages in the Sunderbans region since the start of 2011.

“At this point over 50 new villages have been touched because of the boat. By the end of this year, we should have been somewhere around 100 villages. The boat is a catalyst and, through it, we see the Lord glorified and magnified.”

The boat is sent out by Big Life Ministries, of which Benjamin is South Asia Director. The evangelism work is carried out by Indian church planters and is boosted on occasions by teams sent by other organisations, including BMS.

Last month, a BMS Church Team from Faversham Baptist Church travelled with Benjamin and other Big Life workers to one particular village, but arrived later than the school day. No-one was around, so everyone prayed.

Benjamin continues the story. “Suddenly there were 180 people, getting involved in our sports activities. The Church Team did a prodigal son skit, a small message from the parable, then one of our local planters asked if anyone wants to receive Jesus as a personal friend. At least 40 people prayed.

“By the time they were leaving people came and talked to our planter and said, ‘One of our planters spoke of baptism – can we do that today?’

“This is just the first day of evangelism. And this actually shakes me up. Wow, what just happened, I have no clue. But I know God is at work.”

Members of the Big Life team returned a few days later and four people in that village were baptised.

 

Hear Benjamin speak about this in a podcast on the BMS site: Magnifying God; multiplying people | BMS World Mission.