Sharing Joys and Challenges with PPMI in India 

by Danilo Sanchez

At the end of January, I was privileged to join a trip to India with Peace Proclamation Ministries (PPMI), a Conference-Related Ministry. The Conference was grateful to receive the invitation to join Paulus, the founder of PPMI, on this trip and invest program funds for staff to participate. Since 2011, PPMI has sent teams to India to offer eye clinics, borewells for drinking water, and especially to host pastors’ conferences and women’s conferences that teach biblical knowledge and encourage a witness to people of other religious faiths. 

On this trip, we traveled to three regions in south-central India to encourage pastors and their spouses in their ministry. Our focus was leadership, discipleship and looking at Jesus through the scriptures. For the first time, PPMI was able to host a gathering for pastors and spouses in the rural town of Mancherial. About 10 pastors and spouses joined for the day to hear sermons about faith during persecution and how to build up God’s church. We passed out prescription eyeglasses and got to hear about what God is doing in that region. A church building had recently been rebuilt after heavy floods had washed it away, and we were able to talk with the pastor and pray for the building. 

In the town of Khammam, we celebrated with a church that had received help for electrical work from PPMI. We sang worship songs in the Telugu language and raised our voices in thanksgiving. The sounds of praise from voices, drums, and tambourines echoed off the walls. The faith and joy of the people was refreshing to my spirit.  

The next day, we met with 35 pastors and their spouses for a day of teaching. The pastors were deeply encouraged and challenged. One pastor shared that he was struggling with God’s call for him, but this gathering confirmed God’s presence in his life. Another pastor shared that he was ridiculed by unbelievers because he had been struggling financially for many years. But the pastor did not become discouraged; as he remained faithful, so did God. Now his ministry is growing, and he is giving God all the praise.  

The final town we visited was Kondapalli. There we celebrated with a church that was dedicating an addition to their building which would allow the pastor to live there and save his family money. There was also a room for bible study or teaching children. These additions were possible because of PPMI’s support. We enjoyed a delicious meal with the church community.  

The next day we gathered with 10 pastors and spouses for our final teaching gathering in Guntur. Once a month the pastors of this area gather to pray for each other, share updates, build relationships, and grow in faith. The PPMI pastor network is strong and growing.  

As a member of the Conference staff, I was grateful to preach to and teach these pastors and their spouses. Many of them were about my age and we shared similar joys and challenges. My own faith was challenged and renewed. The trip broadened my intercultural capacity, and I gathered new insights for the intercultural work of the Conference.  

The relationship with PPMI as a Conference-Related Ministry helps expand our Conference’s global mindset. I invite you to continue to pray for our brothers and sisters who are trying to live as faithful witnesses in India, because we need them, and they need us.