I have been involved in the India work since 1978, full-time since July 1,1985 when the Elders at Manassas, Virginia became my overseers. Manassas pays my salary and that of Juanita with some help from an individual family in another state. We must raise money for our work-fund from interested brethren—individuals and congregations. The budget for our work-fund for 2009 is $175,000 dollars.

"4-T" EVANGELISM

      Our goal is to teach the Word to as many people as possible throughout all of India. In the past we also worked in Bangladesh and Nepal—the wars plus civil unrest have caused us to stop working in those places which have large Muslim populations. We have worked with the idea that the native people are best suited to evangelize their own countries. This means that Americans in the short-time we have to work hi India likely cannot master their languages, cultures, or religions. Therefore, we have established schools of preaching (based on models of schools of preaching here in the states) in which we teach and train the native evangelists to go to their own people with the Gospel. We have a philosophy which we call the "4-T" approach to the work. This may be informative: "Teach 'em...Train'em...Trust'em...and, Turn'em loose." Our goal is to make the Indian brethren full partners with us in the work now—not in the distant future. This must be an Indian work for it to ultimately succeed. They plan the work with us, teach in our preacher-training schools, and are, in fact, doing the bulk of the work. We give them their due credit for their labor for the Lord and His glory.

EQUIPPING NATIVE INDIAN PREACHERS

     The training of our native Indian preachers usually takes place in a school of preaching. Our schools range from one-day per week schools to six week schools, to three month schools, to six month schools, one three year school, and three two year schools. All the schools require some funding—from bus fares to meals, to clothing for the students, to salaries for the teachers who are also full-time preachers. This means that we need a few dollars for nearly any one-day school to as much as $600--$850 dollars per month for the longer more advanced schools with dormitory space for 15-35 students.

   We send these trained men out to do their work.. .their ministries. We follow-up on all of our graduates as often as possible. The follow-up is often done by experienced native preachers since there are just too many men for us Americans to see. I began working with 45 native preachers who had been converted and trained by Brother J. C. Bailey and Charles Scott—both missionaries with whom I also worked. Today, we have a work force of over 20,000 native Gospel preachers. We give all the glory to God. He has done a mighty work hi our day and age. Of these men, we (including 6 other full-time American team members who work with us, and who are responsible for their own India mission work budgets) support less than 200 native preachers. Most get $50.00 per month, a few get $75.00 per month, and fewer still get $100.00 or more per month. Those who are supported are necessary to assist all of the American missionaries in doing our campaign work, in teaching at our schools of preaching, and in serving as our interpreters. Juanita and I support, through the work funds we raise, 25 full-tune native preachers.

     As the work grows so does the need to train preachers. That means we also must construct a few church buildings which double as schools of preaching. We have 5 such buildings under construction (or in the planning stage now) ranging in cost from $14,000 to $65,000 each. We rarely construct buildings for the brethren which only have a single use purpose such as, worship. Most of our over 50,000 congregations are house-­churches and do not have a "church—building" as we normally use the term. Therefore, we can say that most of the congregations are self-supported. Unfortunately, they are very, very poor people and nearly any unusual need sends the brethren running to the nearest missionary from the states seeking help for their "overload." By the grace of God, through your gifts, we are often able to help. We give thanks to God for this.

A TEAM OF EIGHT AMERICANS

   There are approximately 35-40 American preachers who are full-time in the Indian Mission Work. Of these, we work with a team of eight. One of those is Ron Clayton. Ron and I formed our team in 1987 and have worked together in harmony all of these years. Each Team Member is separately responsible for raising his own funds including his own salary. We do not co-mingle funds. We are each responsible to our own Elderships. We co-operate, but are independent. We may work wherever we wish and with whomever (meaning other faithful Americans in the work or any Indian brethren of our choosing) we wish in doing our work in India. This is God's work. We are His co-workers. None of the Indian brethren belong to me or to any other American missionary or team of workers. All of us, Indians and Americans, are God's people and brethren washed in the precious blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.

    Juanita and I go to India twice each year January through March and late July through mid-September. When we are in the states we are busy most of the time fund-raising and reporting to brethren who support us in the India mission work. We would be honored if we may be of service to you in the India Mission Work. If we may visit with you and show you some slides or have a power point presentation of our work we would be pleased to do so. Of course, we seek your prayers and financial help in carrying out this part of the Great Commission. Thank you in advance for your regular gifts and prayers.

"GO... TO THE PLACE OF SANSKRIT...
I WILL BE WITH YOU."

BY JERRIS N. BULLARD

"Go," saith He, the Blessed All Authority.
So like Abram of old,
We left our tents and traveled roads unknown with bags filled with
Vienna Sausages, books, and clothing in folds.

Mission, does it make any sense?
To live and work among people of idols,
Strange chants, and ah" of incense.
Ask Vandanam whose wife of 46 years suddenly lies in the grave.
She who was immersed into her Lord just a few
Years ago by a preacher, who responded to the Blessed All
Authority,
And his life to India gave.

"Go," saith He, the Blessed All Authority,
"Lift me up and I will draw all kinds of people unto myself."
In faith we have gone,
the faith to declare,
Salvation through the blood of the Blessed All Authority,
To Sikh.. .Hindu.. .Muslim.. .and people
of faith, preach we dare.

So like Abraham of old, we have found the land before us to be fertile.
The swift passing of years on wings of a Dove,
have revealed to us the mystery of Mission,
In the land of Sanskrit, ancient villages and cities great,
A harvest white, God's wondrous Fold.

GOD GIVES THE INCREASE RESULTS FOR JANUARY 1 THROUGH APRIL 18, 2009

YOUR REGULAR MONTHL Y GIFTS ARE NEEDED

As well as construction funds and support for schools of preaching, we also need funds for evangelism and benevolence. Benevolence includes numerous needs ranging from food for the starving in famine afflicted areas, eye glasses and surgeries to save sight for poor brethren who have no means to help themselves, and to providing the basic necessities for those who have lost their houses (usually thatched roof huts of the poor) due to floods resulting from hurricanes or monsoons which begin early in June and usually are finished in late October. The work has many other needs such as thousands of Bibles -printed in India in their local languages, bicycles for preachers and sewing machines for their wives. There is a pressing need for communion trays with cups for the many new congregations. We need funds to print 15,000 song books...the songs have been mostly written by our Indian brethren...the editing for this new edition is almost completed.

Grace and Peace.

Jerris N. Bullard, Missionary

P. S. The needs are great. Many are urgent. Will you please send a check today? Thanks.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF CO-WORKERS IN THE WHITEST FIELD ON EARTH—INDIA