IGL Follows Global Trend: indigenously
This is the second in a series of articles regarding First Fruit Foundation’s “Global Trends Analysis.”
In the Global Trends study done by First Fruit, Inc., the first area of study had to do with the growth in Islam and Christianity. The following conclusion was drawn as a result of their analysis, “Christianity will grow in the Global South, primarily driven by Pentecostalism and indigenous missions movements.”
The work of the India Gospel League in India and Sri Lanka validates this statement. Through a network of more than 6,000 barefoot pastors, we are seeing nearly 600 churches planted each month. God is moving in an incredible way in the rural villages of India. I met a pastor recently who planted a church 11 years ago. In that time he has baptized 7,000 new believers and planted an additional 22 churches.
I recently shared this report with a group of church leaders and one of the men in the meeting stated, “That’s impossible! You must have a very creative way of counting!” While not creative, we do have a strategic, measureable way of arriving at our numbers. In order for us to count a church as such, its congregation must meet regularly, have identified leadership and have at least 20 baptized adults in number.
Pray that God will continue to pour out His blessings upon the Global South. I ask you to pray for India and Sri Lanka.
Over the next few days I will be traveling in India and Sri Lanka to be a part of our Decadal Celebrations. More than 2,000 leaders will gather for this time of thanksgiving and celebration. God has blessed their ministries abundantly over these past 10 years. I plan to update the blog during these meetings, so stay tuned.
-Dr. David Rice
