Serving Despite Fear

By Pastors Thomas* (State Director), Raj* (State Director), Joshua* (State Director), and Priya* (GATE Director)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

My (Thomas’s) team wants to thank those who have been praying for us, so that we could go further in our ministry.

We are also praying for them and for their families, that God will bless them more. With support from Harvest Bridge in 2025, we were able to equip missionaries, provide Bibles and ministry resources, respond to urgent needs, and expand ministry work that would not have been possible otherwise.

For me (Raj), one of the most encouraging aspects of 2025 was a renewed spiritual hunger, especially among young people, new believers, and those returning to faith after many years. Many leaders observed increased prayer gatherings, greater openness to Bible study, and honest questions about faith, purpose, and truth. This reminded us that God continues to draw hearts even in uncertain times (John 6:44). Many leaders learned again to trust God as Jehovah Jireh, though it was not easy.

One of the hardest realities of 2025 was deep fatigue among pastors and missionaries. Many experienced constant pressure to remain strong for others, limited space to share personal struggles, and emotional exhaustion from caring for hurting people. Rising prices increased stress on pastors’ and missionaries’ families, anxiety about providing for family while serving faithfully, feelings of guilt when personal needs competed with ministry needs. One scripture that deeply encouraged us was Proverbs 3:5-6, reminding us to trust the Lord fully and rely on His guidance in every decision.

In our country, people are very afraid. Because the people who are enemies of Christians want to see that our work is stopped, and they are taking actions towards that. Since the government made a new [anti-conversion] law in [my state], the missionaries are very scared. Because if they are arrested, then they may have to stay in jail for 20 years. This is why conducting a meeting in an instant is difficult. Some meetings were conducted during Christmas time, but otherwise we’re in a challenging time. I (Thomas) have given them encouragement to be courageous. God is with us, and we have to do ministry with caution. God will lead us and protect us.

One missionary, Ashish*, explains how God was at work during the conflict between India and Pakistan
in April:

“We want to thank God for His supernatural protection during the time of high tension between India and Pakistan. As news reports spoke of military buildup and the possibility of war, fear spread quickly through our town. People were stocking supplies, schools were closed, and many expected the worst. Our hearts were also troubled at first. But then we remembered our calling as believers: to trust in the Lord and not be afraid. So, we gathered as a team and began to seek God through prayer and fasting. We declared His promises over [our neighbourhood] and our families. While drones flew overhead and the threat of war felt very near, we experienced an unusual peace. After, there was no damage, no loss of life in our area. It was as if the hand of God had covered our town. Through this situation, our faith has grown stronger. We now have more opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel with others. Our survival is not just survival, it is a testimony. We are alive and at peace because Jesus covered us. All glory and honour to Him!”

2025 was a year which brought a great unity among all the Christians in my (Joshua’s) state, irrespective of all denominations.

It was a great blessing and encouragement and it revived our stand for Christ. The cause was the persecution that was unexpectedly around. Usually believers think that persecution will not take place in our district. We all Christians stood as one to encourage the persecuted missionaries, pastors and believers, and also helped financially and materially. We also approached the district administration [of our church] to seek justice and give moral support.

In [a village] one church was attacked and demolished by antisocial people. When this was spread among our local Christian missionaries, pastors and people—all of them united together to fight for the Christians there. By seeing our unity, the district administration took immediate action and gave us full support. Through our Christian fellowship contribution, once again the church was rebuilt. This unity broke all barriers of denominational feelings.

The oppositions that came, we were able to stand against them. Our (Thomas’s) team faced many issues, but we were able to continue on and go ahead. God helped the two brothers [who were imprisoned on false accusations] and brought them out from jail, and we were able to support their families during that time.

“Our survival is not just survival, it is a testimony. We are alive and at peace because Jesus covered us.”

When they [pastors] go to share the Gospel in the communities, some local people attack them. This is because our pastors are stopping children from going for begging and encouraging them to live a better life.

And because the men outside the communities are very much interested on the girls. If the girls come out of the colony, they can use them, abuse them, or they can touch or kiss them. So whatever they want, they can do [to these girls] because they are low-caste. But the pastors are protecting the children and teenage girls, encouraging them not to go outside for begging or prostitution.

In 2025, the most difficult part of my (Priya’s) ministry was to argue with the government for the building of houses for [three] Gypsy communities who have a legal right to it. Gypsies were without houses for so many years. It is with a very, very deep struggle that I applied for the housing project. Every day I cried and every day I prayed for this because I had a very big wound in my heart, because I see many deaths during the flood times. They need homes. Many struggles I faced—many scolded me, many attacked me. But also, I never stopped with the prayers. I went to political people. They wouldn’t answer my requests. Finally, I knocked on the door of the media. Then finally, the government people came and asked me, “What is the purpose of you giving so much complaint on the media about us?” I said, “Please provide the houses for the Gypsies.” So they did for me for 256 families. Finally, this year, with the prayers.

“In [a village] one church was attacked and demolished by antisocial people. When this was spread among our local Christian missionaries, pastors and people—all of them united together to fight for the Christians there.”

Another thing is incredible. Yeah, I will say incredible, because God is changing people. The Gypsy people are growing in the Lord spiritually.

Actually, the women are earning more through the economic development projects, so they have, like, a confidence. At home, before they don’t have a meal to eat, and the children are crying for food, and they cannot concentrate. The economic development project helps the family to build their confidence level and build the women’s power and the children’s education, and they are eating three meals a day. So now the women are very proudly saying, “I am living by myself independently.” Now that the economic thing is developed, they are more confident in themselves, including spiritually.

Earlier, a lady missionary was conducting Bible study in [two communities]. Due to her family situation, she is no longer able to continue this. However, one of the ladies who was learning in the Bible group has now stepped forward and become a leader of this group. So the women, like apostles, are coming from inside the community. Gypsies do not know how to read and write, but nowadays they are asking the children to read the Bible every day with them as a family, so that they can hear the word of God. They are saying, for example, like with Psalm 91, “can you read it for us?” So they are reading from month to month to month. Now, the women are knowing how to say the word of God without seeing the Bible. They can memorize, and then they can spread it to other women.

Earlier, I cannot even say “Jesus” in the colony. Now, the women are spreading the Gospel door by door. That is a spiritual thing I have seen with my eyes. If there is something that happens in the family, immediately they say, “Okay, all kneel down.” Before they asked a pastor, “Can you pray for me for a few minutes?” Now, they are not asking pastors. They are kneeling down by themselves. They are praying when other families have sickness—they go to the other family: “Can I pray for you?”

I’m so happy that the women are so happy to spread the Gospel. That is important. They are saying it from their deepest heart, you know? No one is telling them to do it. So that’s so amazing for me. I feel like they tasted the truth. You know, Jesus is the Word. The Word is the truth. So they believe the Word and they tasted, so that’s why they are saying, “Oh, this food is good. You can eat it.” So like that they are saying, “Oh, Jesus is very good. Please taste Jesus.” Like that, they are spiritually grown up.

“The economic development project helps the family to build their confidence level and build the women’s power and the children’s education, and they are eating three meals a day.”

Whatever we are doing now, we have to think and plan about how to do it. If we are doing anything, those opposing us say we are [forcibly] converting.

They are saying we are brain-washing people and converting them. There are challenges about how we will go to new areas or regions. The full surveillance of the government is upon us. I (Thomas) told the others how to be safe as they do ministry. Financial problems are not the main issue. The main issue is how we can go to others. Because there are enemies all around. Before we could speak freely, but now we have to withhold or monitor how we share. We cannot gather many people together. We cannot be sharing with someone for a very long time. This is very difficult.

For all of this, we have been doing fasting prayer and we sat with God. God has strengthened us and given us help. The Lord has shown us the importance of personal relationship with God. Meeting with God, being in God’s presence are so important for us. We went to new villages and new regions for ministry. We have been teaching new people the word of God. For meetings, a few people come together and share with one another. In this time, people are learning about Christ and coming to salvation, but we are not giving baptism, and we have completely stopped doing baptisms now. As long as the government is as it is, we will be doing things this way. There are those who are experiencing healing from sickness, and are coming to know Christ, so great happiness is happening also. I (Thomas) am excited for God’s work to grow, and for those who are newly coming in Christ.

We wish that we could preach more quickly, but it’s not that easy. In India, there is not money, but there is ministry. In the midst of persecution, we are continuing the work, and that is a big thing. If the Holy Spirit is not with us, then we cannot do this. If the Almighty God is not with us, then we cannot continue to grow. Everything is the Holy Spirit’s work, and your prayers, so that we can go. Both prayer and financial support are essential. For us, whatever happens, we just want to see God’s work grow.

Devotional

In the India report, we see courageous ministry made possible through a posture of trust. Their verse for this year is “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

1. Leaders like Priya trust God as they step into complex and potentially dangerous situations to protect women from exploitation. How might God be inviting you to pay closer attention to power dynamics in your own community and to act in ways that protect vulnerable people?

2. The pastors describe the tremendous risk under anti-conversion laws. How does this deepen your understanding of religious persecution, and how does it contrast with the safety of Christians in the United States?

3. Raj shared about a renewed spiritual hunger, even as pastors quietly carry exhaustion and financial stress. How does trusting God include not only perseverance, but also receiving His permission to rest? How can we provide space and resources for leaders in our own communities to rest?

4. The leaders continue their work slowly and faithfully, even when growth is hard and resources are limited, saying “whatever happens, we just want to see God’s work grow.” Where is God inviting you to trust Him with the outcome and simply remain faithful to what He has placed before you? What would it mean for you to release your timeline, your need for success, or your sense of control, and to trust God?

View the full 2025 Impact Report below.