Welcome to Aberkenfig Bible Church; Croeso y Eglwys Feiblaidd Abercynffig
News & Prayer Requests
REPORT ON THE MAGHI LANGUAGE GROUP
BY NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP, BIHAR
The Maghi language speaking area consists of eight districts in the state of Bihar viz., Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Nalanda, Nawada, Chatra, Giridih and Munger. These districts fall within the two regions of Magadh and Patna where approximately 12 to 15 million people speak the Maghi language.
Literacy rate
The literacy rate in this area is about 30% . Most of the literate are men because ladies are not allowed to move out of the village for schooling. There are also very few schools in this area.
Religion
Though the Buddhist and Jain religions have their early roots in the Magadh region, they had no significant effect on Maghi people. The Muslim Moghul Empire also ruled Bihar for sometime, but approximately 99% of Maghi speaking people are Hindu by religion. At present even communism has spread quite widely in this area.
Social scenario
The people of this area have been divided into the caste system and tension is mounting between the higher class and lower class people. Most of the lower class and the middle class are the supporters of communism.
Work of New Life Fellowship
The New Life Fellowship is involved in evangelism, church planting and translation of the Bible in Maghi language. . There are several needs for evangelisation like literature printing, financial support for the workers, training programmes, social upliftment work etc.
Over the past 10 years there are about 500 people who are believers in Jesus. Since Christian literature is not available in Maghi language, the Evangel Bible Translators along with the New Life Fellowship translated the Gospel of Luke, the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospel of John (which has been recently published) and the Gospel of Mark which is about to be published. The translation of the remaining of the New Testament in Maghi language is in process. The recently published gospels in Maghi are well accepted among the Maghi people.
OUTREACH MAGADH
VISION OF NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP, BIHAR
As the work is growing needs in different areas are arising :
1. Needs for the Training Centre
Since there are very few Christians from Maghi-speaking people so there are great needs for the leadership training who could lead the work among their people because leaders from outside are not well accepted because of the language problem, culture problem and for them it is difficult in communication so we feel the need to train the Maghi speaking people to lead the work in Magadh Therefore, we feel the need to have a training centre where we can bring people for short time and hold a short term training programme. They may not be pastors but to make them strong Christians who may be evangelising their own family and own village. So, we are praying for a place for our own where we can have this training programme.
2. Cost for the Training Centre
Cost for the Training Centre including land and building with minimum facilities which will cost approximately Rs. 10 lakhs. (about £13,600)
3. Evangelism among the Maghi
Among the 14 million Maghi speaking people there are still only about 500 hundred that are Christians. Still there are thousands of villages which need to be reached. Our vision is to have two evangelistic teams consisting of 4 persons each which will go to every village and preach the gospel on their own languages. Also we want to start at least one worship centre for 5 villages. At present we have started 5 worship centres among Maghi speaking people in Magadh region and also 3 worship centre in different parts of Bihar where Maghi people are living. We have work among Santhali people also.
In order to have the outreach team there are two important needs we have:
a) Financial support for the team for the each person of the team Rs. 3000/- (3000x8 = 24000/- pm) That is about £325 per month in total
b) Financial support for the person who will lead the worship centre at Rs. 3500/- each person. At present we have got 5 worship centres. (about £48 per month each)
c) Need for a multipurpose Zeep to take the team one place to another place it is impossible to do it without having our own vehicle because there are hardly any transport in that area so we need to have a multipurpose Zeep (Mahindra) which is good for rough mud road. Cost for the Zeep is Rs. 6 lakhs approximately. (about £8,150)
4. Translation of New Testament
Although the literacy rate is very low among the Maghi speaking people still if one person can read and write, he reads the gospel for whole family. At present we have gospel of Luke and also some other literature in Maghi language which is being used for the evangelism. Book of Acts is ready for printing. First draft of the translation of Gospel of Mathew, Mark and John has been done. We are planning to finish the New Testament translation in next five years time.
Need for the translation work
a) More persons to be involved in translation work
b) Financial support for the translators and printing
1. Needs for the Training Centre
Since there are very few Christians from Maghi-speaking people so there are great needs for the leadership training who could lead the work among their people because leaders from outside are not well accepted because of the language problem, culture problem and for them it is difficult in communication so we feel the need to train the Maghi speaking people to lead the work in Magadh Therefore, we feel the need to have a training centre where we can bring people for short time and hold a short term training programme. They may not be pastors but to make them strong Christians who may be evangelising their own family and own village. So, we are praying for a place for our own where we can have this training programme.
2. Cost for the Training Centre
Cost for the Training Centre including land and building with minimum facilities which will cost approximately Rs. 10 lakhs. (about £13,600)
3. Evangelism among the Maghi
Among the 14 million Maghi speaking people there are still only about 500 hundred that are Christians. Still there are thousands of villages which need to be reached. Our vision is to have two evangelistic teams consisting of 4 persons each which will go to every village and preach the gospel on their own languages. Also we want to start at least one worship centre for 5 villages. At present we have started 5 worship centres among Maghi speaking people in Magadh region and also 3 worship centre in different parts of Bihar where Maghi people are living. We have work among Santhali people also.
In order to have the outreach team there are two important needs we have:
a) Financial support for the team for the each person of the team Rs. 3000/- (3000x8 = 24000/- pm) That is about £325 per month in total
b) Financial support for the person who will lead the worship centre at Rs. 3500/- each person. At present we have got 5 worship centres. (about £48 per month each)
c) Need for a multipurpose Zeep to take the team one place to another place it is impossible to do it without having our own vehicle because there are hardly any transport in that area so we need to have a multipurpose Zeep (Mahindra) which is good for rough mud road. Cost for the Zeep is Rs. 6 lakhs approximately. (about £8,150)
4. Translation of New Testament
Although the literacy rate is very low among the Maghi speaking people still if one person can read and write, he reads the gospel for whole family. At present we have gospel of Luke and also some other literature in Maghi language which is being used for the evangelism. Book of Acts is ready for printing. First draft of the translation of Gospel of Mathew, Mark and John has been done. We are planning to finish the New Testament translation in next five years time.
Need for the translation work
a) More persons to be involved in translation work
b) Financial support for the translators and printing
5. In order to have more people read the gospel we need to teach more people read and write. So we want to start primary school in different villages. Some places evening schools. At present we have two evening school and two day primary school going on. Most of the school run in the people houses.
(continued next column)
(continued next column)
Ram Bali Singh, known to his friends simply as Azad, is a dynamic little man on fire for Jesus Christ.
He labours to win souls for Jesus and to set up churches in one of the most difficult areas in the world - a fanatically Hindu part of India. He and his converts are used to opposition, threats, and persecution.Over the past year or so, the persecution has become more violent in many parts of the country.
Much of Azad’s work is among the “untouchables”. Below he reports on the situation among one language group. Older reports are found here
He labours to win souls for Jesus and to set up churches in one of the most difficult areas in the world - a fanatically Hindu part of India. He and his converts are used to opposition, threats, and persecution.Over the past year or so, the persecution has become more violent in many parts of the country.
Much of Azad’s work is among the “untouchables”. Below he reports on the situation among one language group. Older reports are found here
Latest News 20th December 2009
Dear brothers and sisters
Greetings In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ;”who came to save the world and is alone worthy of all the glory “.
We wish you Very happy Christmas and blessed New Year 2010
I hope all of you are in good health and are experiencing His unconditional love and His faithfulness.
Thank you very much for your prayers, love, care and concern which kept me going.
Family News:
I and my family are doing fine by the grace of God. Supriya is doing in final year of mass media ,she has been doing well in study but she has not been keeping in good health for a month or so. God has made it possible for her to come home for Christmas for a week please pray for her health.
Aman is preparing for his Class 12th finals.he has done well in his half yearly exam and is studying hard for his final; please pray that he will know clearly from the Lord for his next study - he wants to do B B A. Pray also that he will grow in the Lord. Sunita has been busy holding the fort while I have been travelling for the ministries .
News from other Churches :
Bokaro :
The church in Bokaro is also doing fine. Pastor Ajit is looking after the work in this area. We had four days special meetings in September25th to 28th where all our bro .and sister from village churches also joind it was a great blessing. We praise God for the new souls which has been added to the church..
Chandrapura
Pastor Babu Chand and his wife are looking after the church in Chandrapura; please keep upholding him in your prayers.
Balidih---- Pastor Jaitun is in charge here also.
Birsabasa-----Bro.Sam &Sister Anna are ministering here. A Primary school is doing very well; about 60 children are attending please pray for some practical needs to be met.
Work in Bihar
Bro. Vishnudayal and Manoj are doing good work in jehanabad and Tehta and two other village .They are also helping me in translation work. Please uphold them in your prayers.
West Bengal
Work in Panagargh is growing now; pray for a full time staff.
Bible Translation
The Translation of the MAGAHI bible is in progress although there has been big setback for us in financial support , but we praise God for his faithfulness by HIS grace I was able to finish the consultant test for the Gospel of Mark and how it is ready for printing please pray that the Lord will provide the funds for it so we will publish it soon. In the mean time I have started the work on gospel of Mathew. Please pray that the Lord will open new doors for the support of this project.
Please continue to pray for these ministries and for our family.
Thank you for your love and prayers and your support that have kept me true to my calling. Please continue to pray for me and my family so that even in the times of great difficulty we might be able to serve Him wholeheartedly.
May the Lord be with you always.
Sincerely in our Lord Christ Jesus,
Rambali&sunita singh
c-4 shreedhar apartment ,Burdhman compound ,circular Road,Ranchi 834001,JHARKHAND ,INDIA.
Tel.0091-651-2562318+00919431552321
Scroll down to donate
Needs for running the schools
a) Financial support for a teacher Rs. 2000/- pm. (£27)
b) Stationary for the school children Rs. 500/- pm. (£7 per class?)
6. As the most of the Maghi people are very poor they cannot afford to go to the Doctor when they are sick because the fee of the Doctor and cost of the medicine is very high. So we feel there is a great need in this area to extend the love of God through helping them in this matter. We have started one health clinic where free medicines and treatments are provided for poor people. This is one way we giving the gospel to them also At present we have one health clinic running. . We want to start more clinics to meet the needs.
Needs for the running of Clinic
a) Cost of the Medicines Rs. 1000/- pm (£13.50)
b) For the Helpers Rs. 1000/-
c) Doctors fee who will come twice a week in the area Rs. 1000/-
Please pray for these needs.
Please give to these needs.
News of Azad