Mission in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Revd.Randolph Vickers

At the beginning of January 2012 The Northumbrian Centre of Prayer for Christian Healing based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne was invited to co-lead a conference in Kolkata, India. The Centre was represented by its founder the Revd Randolph Vickers. Here is his report.

In 2002 Pastor Bobby Das and his wife Rita took two children off the Kolkata streets and began teaching them in their living room. Today, this simple school has grown and thrived now teaching up to 500 children every day. The school is a real labour of love, with teachers working for about a fifth of the usual national teachers’ pay – and sometimes for no pay at all! Open five days a week, the school not only educate the local children, it also provides them with a much-needed hot meal every lunchtime.

The school is not the only addition to this area of the West Bengal state capital. Back in 2002 Christian Sunday services were held in an open field with worshipers having to brave the heat, dust and rain. Now, only 50 yards from the school is the pristine 400-seat Agape Fellowship Church, the venue chosen to host the recent 4-day teaching and ministry conference.

The conference, for all the churches within the Agape Fellowship, aimed to join together the pastors and members of the various groups to share ideas and explore ways of promoting unity and furthering the works of the church in the region. (?) Open to all, representatives from other religious groups also found their way into the conference including a high ranking civil servant and practising Hindu.

As the principal religion of Kolkata, the strength of Hinduism is made clear by the temple that dominates the city. Surprisingly situated next door to the house of Mother Theresa, the temple honours the Hindu goddess of death and destruction ‘Kali’ and holds great sway in the city with crowds often queuing to worship to her. Prostitution is legal at the temple and stories also abound of infant sacrifices, things many local Christians find uncomfortable, even though many converts used to visit the temple and fast and pray to Kali.

The high ranking civil servant was a lady named Dolly who, intrigued by the posters, followed them to the church to find out what it was all about. Attending every day from then on asking many questions about the church and our faith and on the third day, she like many others received healing and witnessed the power of the Lord. On the final day Dolly decided to accept Jesus as Lord in her life and converted to Christianity. For a Hindu in Kolkata this was quite a change. To move from her cultural and traditional way of life is a huge step and Dolly risked being alienated by her family and friends, and could even put her job at risk. For us in the UK used only to non-believers accepting the faith, it’s hard to comprehend the full impact of Dolly’s decision. For her part though Dolly seemed ready to accept the challenges, cheerfully and resolutely praying for repentance asking Jesus to be Lord in her life.

Although English is widely spoken a simultaneous Bengali translation ensured everyone was fully able to be part of the conference and follow the ‘Theme of Kingdom Living’ message. The inspirational teaching and ministry was enhanced by what can only be described as professional standard musicians, singers and dancers. The colour and choreography of the traditional dances was particularly stunning. The contemporary and “street” dancers were really entertaining, with the fantastic gymnastics of the Street group quite breathtaking.

The conference was a great chance to meet many interesting people, including a young Canadian called Monique. Twelve years ago Monique and her husband realised that God was calling them to mission in Kolkata and so with the help of their church moved to India. They established a ministry to help prostitutes, many of whom were from the temple, and through befriending, nurturing and teaching many have become Christians and moved away from their previous lives. In addition, Monique and her husband have established a jewelry making business that provides income and gives the women they help some financial independence. The work is challenging, and Monique said she and her husband were extremely glad to have two helpers; two girls who had volunteered to come out and work with them straight from university.

While at the Agape Fellowship conference a number of attendees were invited to attend a meeting of Feed the Hungry International. As its title suggests the FHI is an international relief organisation overseen from Washington DC by the Very Reverend Koo, Tuk Su that works in a similar way to Oxfam. As well learning about the works to the FHI, meetings were held to discuss the establishment of a branch in West Bengal. This would give the organisation greater scope to reach out into neighbouring countries such as Nepal. For The Northumbrian Centre of Prayer for Christian Healing this was the first time we had been able to work alongside such a worthy organisation and no doubt it won’t be the last.

The purpose of the trip was to teach, but as always we learned so much more from these people. They have such great faith and belief that God will provide all that they need whatever the situation. The fact that Pastor Bobby and his congregation started with practically nothing is proof of the amazing rewards faith and devotion delivers. And his ever- growing congregation continues to praise and give thanks for all the Lord has provided.