Today on the Evangelism Podcast I interview Pastor John Isaac, a minister working to spread the gospel in India despite the growing persecution of Christians in the region. We discuss the challenges of evangelism in India, where churches are being burned and pastors attacked, but also the incredible resilience and boldness of the Indian church. Pastor John shares how the body of Christ can best support and pray for the church in India during this difficult time.
Summary:
- Persecution against Christians is widespread in India, including burning of churches and killing of pastors
- Despite the persecution, Christian leaders and churches in India are continuing to preach the gospel boldly
- The ministry focuses on community transformation through practical help like healthcare and education, as well as maintaining good relationships with local leaders and officials to be able to share the gospel.
- Prayer is requested for boldness for Christian leaders to continue preaching the gospel, for resources to reach people holistically, and for unity among churches and pastors.
- The host expresses belief that a great harvest of souls will happen in India despite the persecution, and encourages the pastor to continue serving the Lord
Transcript:
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (00:00):
Welcome to the Evangelism Podcast. I’m Daniel King. I’m excited about telling people about Jesus today. I have a very special guest with me, John Isaac. Is that right?
Pastor John Isaac (00:10):
Yes.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (00:10):
And how do you say your last name?
Pastor John Isaac (00:12):
John Isaac
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (00:14):
Okay. Now tell me, what are you doing in India? Come over here. I can see what is God doing in India right now?
Pastor John Isaac (00:21):
Okay. We have been working towards community transformation. India have persecution in India, everywhere. Nowadays it previously, it used to be North India, but now spreading to even South India. So it’s very hard to preach the gospel there. But spite of all these persecution challenges, God is really moving powerfully. God is surrendering pastors, leaders, children, workers, youth leaders, so everyone, and they’re preaching the gospel boldly, even though they face persecution, but they’re preaching the gospel with boldness. So yeah.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (01:03):
So even in the midst of persecution, you’re continuing to talk about Jesus.
Pastor John Isaac (01:07):
Yeah.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (01:08):
Now what part of India do you live in?
Pastor John Isaac (01:10):
I live in under Pradesh, south India.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (01:12):
Okay.
Pastor John Isaac (01:13):
Yeah. Previously wouldn’t have persecution, but now even within our state, we are experiencing persecution everywhere.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (01:22):
I’ve heard that in some parts of India, churches are being burned.
Pastor John Isaac (01:25):
Yes.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (01:27):
Pastors are being attacked that
Pastor John Isaac (01:29):
Are being killed. Pastors killed. Yeah.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (01:31):
Wow.
Pastor John Isaac (01:32):
Yeah.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (01:32):
And what can the body of Christ do to pray for and support the Church of India?
Pastor John Isaac (01:40):
Yeah, pray that God will strengthen and use Christian leaders in mighty way because no is, it’s very hard to reach the people with the gospel directly because of government. But if we approach through different methods, like practical help like healthcare, and through education, through however we reach the people, the emotionally and physically, so that could bless them, even special news. So yeah, nowadays we could bring holistic development so that communities would be transformed. So we are approaching physically, emotionally, spiritually. So that is how doors are open to the gospel.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (02:33):
Now what type of ministry do you do?
Pastor John Isaac (02:37):
I work with children at risk in the communities. We work with the leaders, we connect with the local leaders and church pastors because persecution, some pastors get discouraged and disappointed. So that monthly ones, if we get connected with the pastors and everyone, they share their problems and challenges, persecution, so that we can pray for one another, increase one another, bless one another, and influence and also political influence should be there. What I would do is maintaining good relations within the community because at present situation, there is much persecution going on. Unless we maintain good relationship with the community and connections with some politicians, our officials, we cannot preach the gospel. So we need to balance, so do the ministry and have maintain relations with other community people like Muslims in those whatever, and also have good connections with the officials also as well.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (03:45):
What would you like to say to the body of Christ about India? How can we best pray for you as a minister in India?
Pastor John Isaac (03:58):
Yeah. Even if we pray, stop the persecution, it still go on. So pray that even though we face a persecution, but boldness, we can preach the word with boldness and no one can stop. Because even though persecution is going on, no one giving up the ministry. So they’re still pressing towards the goal and pressing towards what God has called. I’m happy for that. Even pastors, Christian leaders, they’re not giving up the skill still keep going on, and prayers are like practical help approaching through different strategies that could help and prayer that God bring resources and to reach the people, every group of people through practical help, so that doors are open to share the gospel,
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (04:57):
Amen,
Pastor John Isaac (04:57):
And unity within the churches and among the pastors. Because of persecution, we need unity among all the Christian organizations and pastors, leaders. So pray for unity.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (05:08):
Well, I love India. My wife Jessica, lived in India for two years. I visited India 11 times and we’ve seen God do great things there. It’s a huge harvest field, 1.2 billion
Pastor John Isaac (05:21):
People. Yeah. Still so many people groups are unreached there
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (05:25):
And there’s so many people that need Jesus. And so I want to encourage you continue to preach the gospel and lead people to Jesus. I believe that one of the greatest harvests in history will happen in India.
Pastor John Isaac (05:38):
Amen.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (05:38):
And the persecution will ultimately make the church stronger.
Pastor John Isaac (05:42):
Amen. Yes, exactly. As
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (05:43):
You continue to serve the Lord, God’s hand of blessing will be on you, and I believe that you will see a great harvest of souls.
Pastor John Isaac (05:52):
Amen, brother. God is moving there already, and in coming, God will move there powerfully. I believe that many Christians would come up, rise up, and many would hear the gospel because of God’s grace. Amen.
Evangelism Coach Daniel King (06:08):
Amen. Thank you so much for being on the Evangelism podcast.
Pastor John Isaac (06:11):
Thank you so much for.
