Where He leads… Mission trip to India (Fourth annual convention of ALC Ministries of India). Christian Monthly 5/1998.
Brothers Richard Barney and Richard Juuti were selected by the Foreign Mission Board to attend this years convention of the ALC Ministries of India. Brothers Jered Niemela and Alvar Helmes also offered to participate in the trip.
We arrived at the ALC Ministries headquarters in Tuni, Andrha Pradesh State…The first three days were spent in conducting the seminars. The seminars were attended by more than 100 pastors (40 of them associated with the ALC Ministries)…At the Pastors Seminar, our Altar Book, translated into the Telugu language, was dedicated and distributed to the pastors…As part of an outreach ministry a free medical clinic has been established…Following the pastors seminar, convention services were held in four different locations. On Sunday, Jered and Alvar visited the Yanam region, about a four-hour drive from Tuni, where two of the pastors live…Two public schools are functioning under the ALC Ministries…We met with the Central Board of India. We were encouraged by the dedication and sincerety of the leaders of the Church and the pastors in spreading the Gospel…The Central Board of India thanked the Church in America for their prayers and financial support.
Visit to Attiriba District, Orissa State:
For several years we have been invited to visit this area of India by pastor S.P.Limma…At one of the services, the Principles of the Doctrine-booklet (translated by pastor S.P.Limma into the Orya language of Orissa) was dedicated and distributed.
Yesuratnam, K.: Apostolic Life Ministries of India. Where He Leads…Foreign Mission News of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America 1/1999.
The Apostolic Life Ministries (ALM) of India is a daughter-church of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America. The ALM has different wings of ministry, such as a church ministry, literature ministry, free medial clinic and children`s home (orphanage). The ALM Ministries managing committee consists of Pastors K. Yesuratnam and M. P. Ratnam and Dr. K. Syam Kumar.
The church Ministry
There are 12 congrecations spread in the central part of East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh State where the Telugu language is spoken. There are approximately 2000 believers in these congregations, and seven pastors attend to their spiritual needs. The Word of God is proclaimed to to people throughevangelistic night services, personal and door-to-door evangelism, tract distribution, street preaching, etc. We also have set Bible study hours, belivers `fellowship, prayer hours and Sunday schools.
The literature Ministry
Literature is one of the best channels to reach the people in India. Through the support of the ALC of America, we have recently expanded and repritend our Telugu Hymnal called Spiritual Songs that is used extensively in our congregations for praise and worship of the Lord. We also publish a bi-monthly magazine called Spiritual Food.This magazine uses articles from the English Christian Monthly and is sent to seven states in India.
The demand for our literature is great with reguests coming to us on a daily basis. As people write us with a request for our literature, we send it by mail. Sometimes we may go in person, taking a load of literature with us. We try to do our best in supplying the literature to meet the needs of the requesters. (see Literature Ministry for other Telugu-language translations.)
Apostolic Lutheran Free Medical Clinic:
The Free Medical Clinic is run by Dr. K. Syam Kumar. The clinic is used as a channel to bring people to the knowlwdge of Christ as Dr. Kumar first preaches the Word to them before beginning to medical exams. The majority of the patients are Hindus.
The Free Medical Clinic was opened in June 1998. Since that time more than 25,000 patients have had examinations and treatment, with the limited amount of medicines available, and listened to the Word of God at the clinic. Once a week the clinic becomes a mobile clinic, traveling to a village in the interior to treat patiens.
ALM Children`s Home (Orphanage)
The orphanage was startet to educate and give shelter to the orphan and destitute children. The capacity of the home is 25 children. The children are taught Bible stories in morning and evening devotions. Our prayer is that these children will become future preachers and will spread the Word in other parts of India.