World Of Witness - India

Ministry

For over a century, starting in the year 1900, Mennonite missionaries have worked to establish a church in India. Today India is home to a large number of Mennonite churches. According to Mennonite World Conference statistics (2003 world map) there are about the same number of Mennonites and Brethren in Christ church members in India as in Canada (over 127,000). Mennonite Church Canada Witness supports the training and development of leaders for the church with a Bible and theology teacher at the Union Biblical Seminary in Pune. Ben Wiebe, Witness worker and former pastor and teacher, has completed several special assignments at Union Biblical Seminary in Pune. This seminary continues to be an important centre for the training of Mennonite church leaders.

Celebrations

• The Bharatiya General Conference Mennonite Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Parrapat Mela in February 2008. This is a Christian festival and retreat centre that serves the Mennonite churches in central India.
• After numerous previous teaching assignments at Union Biblical Seminary, Ben Wiebe was able to return to UBS in January 2008 for another two-month teaching assignment.

Challenges

• The Mennonite churches continue to face a myriad of challenges arising out of the complex Indian society of many tribes, castes, religious, and economic forces.
• Providing adequate biblical and theological training for pastors of Mennonite churches continues to be a challenge.

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