Bhejgoan Mission, Gadchiroli, Nagpur
A team of members from the diocese of Mumbai visited Bhejgoan Mission in Gadchiroli , by travelling from Nagpur. Mr. Gangaram and his wife Rekha are working at both Bhejgoan and Yejgoan under the Supervision of the Promotor Mr. Pradeep. Rev K. C. Chacko with the help of Rev. Roy Thomas are conducting the sacraments and giving spiritual leadership to the communities. The evangelist and the members are supported by the Mar Thoma Parish, Mulund, North Bombay. They have bought one acre plot there which is now an agricultural land. The parish is planning to develop the property for regular spiritual activities and mission work.
The members came together in the evening and welcomed all the guests with garlands and shawl. Some believers from Chandrapur also came to participate in the meeting. They all sang spiritual songs with musical instruments and gave an introduction to the mission activities there. The Diocesan Bishop gave a devotional talk which was translated to Marathi by Mr. Pradeep.
The work started in the field by the year 2001. God is adding members. Meetings are conducted in the home of a believer. His wife died recently. She came to the belief and later-was suffering from cancer. When the doctors told her that she is terminally ill, she said that she will live praising God and upholding her belief in Jesus. This strengthened the faith of her husband and to this day, his house is open for spiritual gatherings. Her death was a witness, when all in the village and from the neighbourhood came to attend the funeral. They all heard the Gospel and witnessed how a funeral is conducted with faith and hope.
The Evangelist Gangaram is reaching out to 11 villages nearby. Person to person evangelism is conducted and many people are coming as seekers. There are 64 baptized people and another 15 are asking for baptism. Regular worship is conducted at two places. The evangelist is conducting Bible Study, prayer fellowships and fasting prayer during the other days. Children and youth are active in the fellowship.
Mr. Martin came with the visiting team representing the Mar Thoma Parish, Mulund. He is instrumental in conducting VBS for children and Youth camp for young ones. These are conducted every year and they include children and youth from other places as well. The youth need counsellors to guide them in choosing the career in life and also to plan their future including marriage and settling. The future is bright when they are guided properly.
The Evangelist Gangaram comes from the Dang community of Gujarat. He studied in the Santi Niketan Hostel of Ahwah, when it was managed by the IEM. He is ITI trained. He used to search for the guidance of God by being in lonely places like the nearby forest and decided to go to yuvatmal for Seminary training. He committed his life to become an Evangelist and was absorbed by the Mar Thoma Church. He is a graduate in BA and met Mr. Pradeep and Chacko achen. He with his wife Rekha is stationed at Bhejgoan and reaching out to the people in the villages.
The meeting at Bhejggoan was a blessing. Rev K. C. Chacko concluded the meeting with prayer. The Lord’s Prayer was said in unison. The Benediction was given by the Bishop. Everyone came forward to receive the blessing while a song of Thanks giving was sung.
Mar Theodosius+
