LTD Podcast E18: Pastor M from Mumbai, India on Bridge Events
Church planting is the most effective means of evangelism. The best way to start a local church planting is through a bridge event. A bridge event is a valuable way of spreading God’s word and love. A bridge event is incomplete if church planting is not considered as one of its end goals. Using bridge events, we can reach out to places that a typical church could not, opening doors and opportunities while creating and improving connections with the community.
Even in your current church, bridge events could be held for the community of foreign-born internationals near you. A church that simply says “we welcome you” but does nothing is not the best expression of the gospel. Bridge events will help in reaching out to the community within arm’s reach.
An example of bridge events is free medical clinics. After registering, we ask permission to pray with them while checking their weight and height. From past experiences, people usually agree to prayer. By asking permission to pray with them, we do not hide our motive but that is not our sole agenda. Regardless if they agree or not, we will still continue with our medical check-up because we love them unconditionally. Actually, we don’t need their permission to pray for them. We pray for everyone! The permission simply allows us to praying with them. This clinic points them to Jesus Christ and we are there to watch over them. We do not hold theological lessons but simply open the door that will lead to Jesus Christ out of their own free will for He has said “I will build my church” not “you will build my church”. Salvation belongs to Our Lord only and we are here as witnesses.
Bridge events connect us to the community because it is a holistic approach. This is a solid example of both “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care”, and how actions speak louder than words. Of course, we would still include evangelism in the events but the important point is to ensure that there is a balance between preaching and caring. We love, we care and we evangelize. The best kind of bridge event is the kind that reminds us of a railroad: two parallel lines that must be balanced at all times. If both lines are not balanced, the train will not be able to go through. It is the same with bridge events. We must maintain a balance between proclamations and demonstration of God’s love because that will be what will be engraved in the minds and hearts of the community for which we are caring.
As Pastor M has said, the church is the epicenter of God’s love on this earth. His calling is the creation of a church without walls. Just like all the help Pastor M has done to the Red Light district of the city of Mumbai. They had spent years supporting and providing aid to the people of the Red Light district. They were mistrusted at the beginning but they persisted, they showed the unconditional love that God has through their actions. Now, many people in the Red Light district can be seen as part of a church with Pastor M as the spiritual authority of their life. Through hard work and love, they were able to plant a church in the Red Light District of Mumbai.
Just as Jesus Christ established rapport with the people, so too we need to interact and deepen our bonds with the community. Some believed Him and some did not. He loved and died for those who have accepted Him and, just as equally, He loved and died for those who have rejected him. This is the same with our unconditional love. Not all may accept Jesus Christ but we will care and love them regardless. We are all equal in the eyes of God and The Church is God’s body on this earth. This would mean that these bridge events are our way of showing Christ in action.
____________
Global Hope India: For over 20 years we have been watching God radically transform thousands of Americans & Indian Nationals through missions. We’ve taken nearly 1,000 Americans on short-term mission trips to India. We work with 12 long-term indigenous church planting partners located in North, South, East, & West mainland India as well as Northeast India. We empower the Church in India to make Christ known through leadership, child, & village development projects. Global Hope India is a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Morrisville, North Carolina. All gifts are tax-deductible. More about GHI.
About Living the Dream Podcast
The Living the Dream podcast is where Church staff and volunteers get comfortable and aligned with the reality that God is moving millions of foreign-born internationals into our communities. We focus on this incredible opportunity God is giving us to change the world! We know how this story ends! Rev 7:9-12 shows us a Church filled with EVERY nation, tribe, & tongue gathered together worshipping Jesus. Welcome to Living the Dream podcast where we help The Church be on earth as it is in heaven. More about Living the Dream Podcast.
Meet Pastor Kevin: Pastor Kevin is Founder and Executive Director of Global Hope India and your host for Living the Dream Podcast. He’s a poor kid from rural North Carolina, but get this… He just returned from his 50th trip to India in 20 years. If he doesn’t yet hold the Guinness Book of World Records for the most trips to India then he’s got to be close. He’s flown over a million miles to 27 different countries. He’s taken nearly 1,000 people on mission trips to India. Global Hope India has seen thousands of Indian Nationals and Americans radically transformed by God through missions. The miracle continues! More about Pastor Kevin.
GHI Resources & Contact Info:Resource CenterGHI Facebook
GHI Instagram: @globalhopeindia
GHI Twitter: @globalhopeindia
Audacious Generosity Podcast
Audacious Generosity Podcast
About Kevin White
Kevin White is a Christian pastor, international speaker, and an international best-selling author. As a writer, Kevin’s newest book, Audacious Generosity, is a best new Christian Book of 2020. Audacious Generosity was an instant international best seller in India and the United States of America. Audacious Generosity is the New Book to Read in 2021. Look for it among Christianity books on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. Kevin’s why for life is to extend access to Jesus to all people world-wide. Kevin loves to motivate people how to encounter the presence of God in their everyday life.
As a seasoned entrepreneur, Kevin has started and helped start hundreds of businesses, churches, and nonprofit organizations. Kevin is an expert in church leadership and business development. Kevin’s shepherd’s heart can be seen in his speaking and writing. He integrates Biblical principles and worship into everything he does. Kevin’s strategy is to help people transform into the likeness of Jesus. Find more from Kevin White including his blog, podcast shows, YouTube Channel, and Generously Blessed 1MM One Minute Motivational Series at https://kevinwhite.us
Website: kevinwhite.us
Instagram: @kevinwhiteus
Facebook: @kevinwhite.usa
Twitter: @kevinwhiteus
LinkedIn: @kevinwhiteus
Email Kevin
Kevin is Founder and Executive Director of Global Hope India
About Global Hope India
Kevin White is the Founder/Executive Director of Global Hope India, a Christian mission organization focused on sharing the gospel in India and among Indian Nationals world-wide. We facilitate virtual mission teams to India and short-term mission teams in-person in India. These teams empower the church in India with pastoral training, youth pastor training, children’s ministry, church planting strategy, church planting ministry, and medical missions.
Global Hope India is a Christian charity that raises funds for India. 92% of every dollar given benefits gospel outreach projects in India such as church planting, orphan care, clean water projects, bibles, medical clinics, etc. Our partners in India serve the Baptist mission in India, Church of God in India as well as independent Christian churches. We do one thing – advance the gospel in India. We do it in one way – through the local church in India. Join us today by praying for India, giving to God’s work in India and going virtually or in person to make disciples in India. Find out more information at https://globalhopeindia.org
GHI Resources & Contact Info:
Resource CenterGHI FacebookGHI Instagram: @globalhopeindiaGHI Twitter: @globalhopeindia