CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.— Christians in India are suffering significant persecution, with 80% of the country’s population reported to be Hindu. Due to this heavy oppression, Indian Christians are often marginalized by society. A large reason for the persecution of Indian Christians is the concept of “Hindutva,” “an ideology that disregards Indian Christians and other religious minorities as true Indians because they have allegiances that lie outside India, and asserts the country should be purified of their presence.”
However, people in India are still learning about the love of Christ in the midst of such severe persecution. The Tide® (www.thetide.org) ministry, a unique global outreach ministry that sends evangelical radio broadcasts in local languages to over 20 countries around the world, is incredibly encouraged to hear stories and testimonials from listeners who have heard the radio broadcasts and found hope in Christ.
The Tide® Director Don Shenk stated, “In areas that have such severe persecution, the need for the Gospel is even greater. People are desperate for the hope of Christ, and we at The Tide® ministry are so blessed to be able to reach the lost through our radio broadcasts.”
The Tide®ministry receives dozens of responses from listeners across the region, thanking them for sharing the Good News and commenting on how their lives have been impacted by the Gospel.
One listener wrote, “One of my friends asked me to listen to your radio program, and I came to know the value of life and the importance of knowing God from your program. The messages were heart touching. One day, a pastor invited me to a church meeting. Out of curiosity I joined it, but I never knew that it would change the course of my life. I have received real joy and peace through faith in Jesus in my life.”
“One day, I saw a great change in my husband,” another listener wrote. “He had totally given up drinking and stopped beating me up. His talk and behavior totally changed. He told me that he trusted Jesus after hearing your program and his life changed. I wondered how this happened but for sure his life was not as before. After hearing him, I too started listening to your program and my life got transformed as I put my faith in Jesus. We dedicated our life to serve Christ at any cost as we listened to the word of God explained to us clearly.”
Another wrote, “Recently it just happened that while I was trying for some station, I stumbled into your radio program. I felt very happy after listening to the program. Since then, I have been listening to the program with great interest and believe in Jesus Christ.”
“Praise God that people are responding to the message, despite the persecution, and this is just the beginning. We will continue to be diligent in proclaiming the Gospel throughout the region until every last person has heard the Good News or Christ returns,” Shenk declared.
For more information about what The Tide® ministry is doing in India and the surrounding region, click here.
Looking ahead to the next seven decades, The Tide® ministry and its partners will focus on the core foundations of “The Tide Diamond Vision”:
- Amplify – The Tide® ministry will increase ministry initiatives so that more people can experience God’s grace.
- Magnify – The Tide® ministry will work to grow its support base to an expanded demographic.
- Solidify – The Tide® ministry will develop and supply more resources to help new believers to grow in their faith and live in right relationship with God.
- Verify – The Tide® ministry will measure the effectiveness of its activities to both manage them well and to demonstrate the efficient stewardship of resources.
- Glorify – The Tide® ministry will strive to ensure that all it does to achieve its vision will bring glory to God.
For more information about The Tide® ministry broadcast projects, history, radio programs around the world, special year-long campaigns, the weekly Global Update radio features or other news, visit its website at www.thetide.org or its Facebook page.
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To schedule interviews with Don Shenk, director of The Tide® global radio ministry, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
To inquire about airing any of The Tide® ministry radio broadcasts, contact Michael Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 101.