The 2019 Asia Covenant Consultation was held in Pune, India, and we visited the country from October 8 to 12. About 70 participants from Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa, Nepal, America, and India joined the conference. Pastor Kou gave the main lecture on the theme of “Unity and Diversity in the Church.” Each participating country gave its report, and Taiwan’s Pastor Wu presented on his vision. We also heard presentations on various ministries. Worship was led by Japan’s Pastor Ochiai, Pastor Seino, and Pastor Hiyoshi.
During a tour of outreach sites, we visited places in the Equator area where employment training for women and church-based nursery schools were conducted. When the conference ended, most participants returned home but we went to a house church in the slums, introduced by church leaders of HCC (Hindustani Covenant Church).
House of Hope, where women can receive employment training.
Besides these ministry sites, 3 HCC staff took us to tourist sites and shopping centers. Two of the staff were HCC pastors, and we were able to ask them about various ministries. We were also taken to see the Okayama Friendship Garden, as Pune is a sister city to Okayama, and to Aga Khan Palace where Gandhi was arrested.
We also learned about five poor families who live in dwellings built above public toilets. The rooms were only about 8-tatami-mats in size, and the kitchens about 4-tatami-mats. Some of the heads of these families, however, had experienced healing from Jesus and were led to faith. We were inspired to see how they had opened their homes for Christian gatherings.
House church gatherings in the slums
Due to a plane transfer, we spent a day in Delhi as well. In Delhi, Pastor Samuel (father of one of our IBF members) invited us to his home, shared his testimony, and talked about church history and evangelism in India. Recently, Hindu fundamentalist parties have grown in number and begun to call strongly for India to return to its former caste system, united by Hinduism. Some have also said there is no place for Christians in India. Hearing this, we returned to Japan with the realisation that India needs prayer: for God’s protection for Christians, for their good works to spread, and for the church there to be blessed.