Jossy Chacko

In India, more than 750 million people live in enforced slavery, by dint of their caste. They are known as ‘the untouchables’ – and 70% of Indians fall into these castes. Eighty percent of them are illiterate, they earn approximately 50 cents a day.

They live with no hope, and resigned to their fate of eking out a living performing menial tasks for the higher castes.  By law, caste discrimination is illegal but it rules every aspect of society. Millions of our brothers and sisters are trapped, and cannot find a way out. Watch my video – it will change how you think.

11 years ago, when I started Empart, I thought I knew my Bible and had all my theology sorted out. How wrong I was! Since then I have been in continual instruction at the best and biggest theological seminary in the world: the Asian Church.

My life has been turned upside-down by my teachers in the Asian Church. Many of them are new believers who have only known Jesus for 1 – 2 years; some of them don’t even have a Bible. But their intuitive and cultural understanding of what it means to truly follow Christ, to be a real disciple, is profound.   Every trip I make to North India is like another adventure of faith. It is like walking through the New Testament. These believers in the Asian Church have not only impacted my life but the lives of hundreds of other people who have gone on short term trips with Empart.

Ironically, most people going on short term trips think they are going to give – but almost all of them return home know they have received more than they had given. They leave Asia grateful for the privilege of sharing in the lives of our brothers and sisters. It is these new believers – the poorest of the poor, who have only just learned about God for the first time in their lives but live as radical disciples – who are powerfully impacting the people from the west.

Kathy, a mum from the US, remembers her experience – “My trips to India with Empart have changed how I view missions forever!  I was unprepared to be as blessed as I visited Empart children’s homes where the children sang for us, recited Bible verses and danced and promised to pray for the children in our church in America.  My spirit was renewed by the passion for God’s Word in the young men from the Training Centre.  I was humbled by the hundreds of Pastors at the pastor’s conference who labor faithfully in the midst of opposition and discouragement that I will never experience.  We were inspired by the young women of the Sewing Centre, and thrilled to present them with their Certificate of Graduation and their new sewing machine.  And I was encouraged by the Indian leadership team who serve with passion, skill, and an unwavering focus on the mission – I will never be the same”

Ian, a business owner, also from the US, has just returned from an Empart mission trip to India. “I now think of my Christian faith from an international perspective. The cross cultural worship gave me a glimpse of the future, with the knowledge that I will worship the Lord together with these dear Indian believers in Heaven. My understanding of worship has been changed”

“I saw a demon-possessed girl and was able to pray for her. I saw firsthand how powerful the Name of Jesus is. I went there expecting to leave a mark but instead a mark was left on my heart. The staff really impacted me – their courageous faith and desire for God. God took me on an adventure! He taught me how to be less of a control freak and instead trust Him for my every day. I learnt how to be bolder and more faith-filled,” said Leonie from Australia.

“My trip with Empart to north India was an adventure of a lifetime! We visited the front lines of Gospel proclamation and saw first-hand what a world without Jesus looks like. It is nothing short of life-changing to worship with people who have truly counted the cost and paid the price to follow Jesus. Most of them have nothing but Jesus, and by comparison, I realized how impoverished I am in my affluence. I quickly realized that these Indian believers had far more to teach me than I had to offer them. It was such a privilege to serve and encourage these superstars of the faith. I pray for these brothers daily, and look forward to God opening the way for me to serve them in person again soon,” said Jeff, a businessman from the USA.

Friends, we can learn much from books and theories but there is nothing like meeting people who are on the frontline, and learning directly from them.  Just going to see the Asian Church will not guarantee your learning – you need to go in humility, with a heart willing to learn. If you do, I know you will be changed forever!
My good friend Ps. Bob Roberts from Northwood Church in Dallas says,  ‘The hope for the western church is to learn from the Asian church… they are gaining ground for the Kingdom and we are losing it…’

If you have been blessed through believers in developing counties I would love to hear from you. Where did you go? How did they bless you? What did you learn? write your thoughts in comments.
For more life-changing information about short term trips, please click or in US visit www.empartusa.org

Have a wonderful day – look out for what God may want to teach and show you from people and ways that you may not expect.  Blessings and love in Christ
Jossy Chacko

“Thank you so much for helping me get out of this place. I thought I was going to die here!”
Brothers and sisters, our prayers have been answered. After 15 days of harassment and interrogation in prison, Kusulia, one of our church workers, has been set free. Why was Kusulia thrown in jail? For the simple act of sharing the word of God with some of the poorest people in Asia.
It’s going to take Kusulia a long time to recover – he’s physically and emotionally drained and his body is bearing the fresh scars of abuse and torment. We’ve already organised emergency medical care and counseling for him. He said of his ordeal, “I hope none of our brothers and sisters ever have to go through this.” I just want to thank every one of you who has prayed non-stop for Kusulia’s release, and also for others facing incredible persecution. Your devotion and dedication was worth it. It took much negotiation with the Government, and continued prayer from our Empart supporters around the world, to ensure that he was released safe, and alive.

Although Kusulia is now free, he was released with a warning from local police,” Be careful – next time things might be different”. Kusulia lives and works amongst an unreached tribal people in a remote forest area of Northern India. Despite his work in assisting the untouchables with literacy and education programs, not all are impressed with his teachings. You see, Kusulia, along with our Empart workers, teach the people of Asia the word of God, that they are all equal in His eyes. But not everyone wants to be considered equal with a dalit, especially not those who profit from their enslavement.

This remains the biggest opposition faced by Empart workers – they teach people that they are created in the image and likeness of God; they have equal value, worth and dignity to every other human being. But this teaching cuts to the core of “castisam and re-incarnation” through which India is able to keep 760 million people as ’slaves’. Yet some of these so-called ’slaves’ are no longer bowing to the wishes of the ‘higher cast’. Some members of the higher caste are retaliating, and these workers of God have become the enemy.

Please continue to pray for Kusulia and other Empart workers in these dangerous regions, that they will know God’s peace and presence. The Empart leaders and I remain unfazed, and more determined than ever to continue to take the liberating teachings of Christ to everyone of these 760 million people. Will you consider joining with me so that together, we can bring them the freedom that they deserve? Log onto www.empart.org or www.empartusa.org now to learn just how easy it is to bring the word of God, and courage and freedom to our brothers and sisters in Asia.

Empart worker, Kusulia has been faithfully serving the Lord in his tribal village in Orissa, not only sharing the gospel but helping the community with health education and teaching children to read and write.

The people he is reaching live in incredible poverty – only less than 10% of the people are literate. On 29th January Kusulia was traveling by bus to attend our local monthly meeting. But as he got off the bus, he was confronted by the police. “Are you Kusulia?” they asked. As soon as he responded “Yes”, they arrested him and threw him in a police vehicle.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked again and again, explaining he was a Christian worker and showing them his Bible. “We know you are a terrorist… keep quiet,” an officer commanded. 
In recent times, anti-Christian groups have made false accusations against Christians by using new government terrorist laws to persecute them. Once a person is accused of being a terrorist, they have few legal privileges and are treated very badly. Most lawyers are unwilling to help a “terrorist”. The emotional suffering it causes to the accused is long-lasting.



When Kusulia failed to attend the monthly workers’ meeting, Empart leaders realised that something was terribly wrong. None of the workers would ever miss an opportunity to train and worship together and support each other, unless they were in serious situation. They soon learned that someone had filed a false report with the police, claiming that Kusulia was a member of a terrorist group called Naxalite (an Indian Maoist group). They marched into the police station and made every effort to prove that Kusulia was not a terrorist, but the police are refusing to accept their evidence.

Kusulia is still in custody. Emaprt leaders don’t know what they should do next.  Please pray for:
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Kusulia that he will be filled with the peace of God during this difficult time, that he will be physically and emotionally protected.


The little tribal church members, and for Kusulia’s family that they will know God’s presence and comfort


The police that they will treat Kusulia with respect and dignity and not harm him.


Kusulia to be freed and not harmed
.

Empart leaders to know what they should do and also for other Empart workers, that they will be protected from such false allegations and persecution and that they will be bold and strong in their faith.



Would you please forward this to all your friends and ask them to pray? Please read Acts 4 while you pray for this.
 Also, Empart needs to create a fund to fight these allegations. Last year we had to help fight seven such accusations against our workers. While our brothers and sisters are innocent, the legal cost of trying to prove their innocence is high. I ask that you make a one time gift of $20 or $50 towards helping these precious brothers and sisters in their darkest hour. Please visit www.empart.org and www.empartusa.org (in USA) and make a donation to show your support, or call an Empart office near to you. (Visit www.empart.org/contacts for the phone number and visit our websites for updates of stories like this.) 



Thank you for your love for the Lord and care for your brothers and sisters – whatever you did for the least of these my brothers you did it for me…



For the Lord and the persecuted brothers in Asia

Jossy Chacko




Stay connected with Jossy on Facebook, Twitter or visit his blog www.jossychacko.org


There IS hope for Europe. God has not abandoned Europe. I’ve been speaking at a conference in Switzerland this past week, attended by people from France, Belgium and Switzerland. I’ve also attended a youth conference in Germany and I’ve felt in my spirit, again and again, that God IS there, waiting…

Nor has everyone in Europe abandoned God! There is a group of people, small though they may be, who are in passionate love for Jesus. They want to follow Him and to be His disciples, just as much as He wants them to follow.

I used to accept the popular thinking that the church in Europe is dead. But from the passion and enthusiasm I have witnessed over the past two weeks, I’ve had to change my attitude. And here’s why.


1. Jesus is the founder of the Church – He will not allow what He started to die.


2. Jesus IS building the church – in the present tense, it’s is an ongoing project. While Jesus continues building in Europe, it’s as if some of His workers have gone on an extended ‘holiday’, are having a snooze, or just haven’t shown up to work yet. But that doesn’t mean the project is dead! I’ve already sensed that a group of workers is coming: some young, some old, who are passionate to see this project get moving again. Please pray for them.


3. Jesus is the head of the church. He will not and cannot be the head of a dead body. His body is very much alive… it’s just sleeping!


4 – Jesus is coming back for His church. He will have a beautiful bride in Europe, not a dead one! According to Revelation, people from every tribe, tongue and nation will be there and that definitely includes people from Europe. 



Our challenge is to wake up the church. I love Geoff in the Wiggles, one of Australia’s most famous children’s entertainers. He falls asleep at the most unusual times – when the other Wiggles are singing or dancing or acting up a storm. Children in the audience are encouraged to shout, “Wake Up Geoff”, and he wakes up refreshed, renewed, and joins in the fun again. As Christians, that’s now our challenge.

Here are our tasks:
- to pray for the church in Europe to wake up;
- to encourage European Christians that you meet to be on fire for God;
- to challenge European church leaders and believers to wake up and get their first love and priorities back;
- to strategically help the church and believers to become effective in bringing Europe back to God;

- to continue to speak hope and life over Europe rather than death!



So to all European believers and church leaders – WAKE UP. I’m really looking forward to continuing to do my part to wake up the church here.


Pastor Suraj and the believers were getting ready to celebrate Christmas. For most of them this was going to be their first ‘real’ Christmas as they are new believers. But one evening their preparations were interrupted by 30 members of the Hindu militant group, along with several local officials. “Where is the idol? You people do not fear idols, so it must be you who has stolen ‘hanuman murti‘ (an idol of the monkey god) from our temple…we are not going to spare you…” The group made many threats to Suraj and demanded that they return the idol or give them the money to replace their god – otherwise the situation would be serious.

Suraj explained they had nothing to do with the disappearance and pleaded for their understanding. He asked each of the believers and they were equally stunned by the allegation and insisted they would never do such a thing. None of the militant group seemed to believe them and they left with further threats, ‘Stop all your activities! Give back our idol and get out of our village. If not you will be sorry!’

The idol was made of stone and was on display for worshippers inside the local Hindu temple. When it had been reported that the idol was missing a week earlier, the local believers never anticipated that the disappearance would be used against them!

This happened in a large village with more than 6000 people. No one knew about Jesus until Suraj went there in 2007 after graduating from an Empart Training Centre. God has been at work and in this short time 25 families have decided to follow Christ; many of them have seen the miracle-working power of Jesus through healings and deliverance from demon possession.

People from all around the region had been coming to Pastor Suraj for prayer to be free from witchcraft and black magic and God was working among them. Subsequently, Suraj and church have developed respect and good relationships with people in the region. Now it seems that the church’s growth and miracles has attracted unwanted attention from the local Hindu militants.

Suraj sent a message saying, “Situation is getting worse every day; we need to see the Almighty moving for us in this village, we are praying this may be a good opportunity for the people to realize the truth and know that we love them and that God loves them too. Please pray for us and also for them.”

I haven’t yet heard how the situation will be resolved. What do you think? Should the church stand by their innocence plea but offer to replace the idol for the Hindu worshippers? What would you do in your context?

Thank you for caring, praying and supporting these courageous heroes of the faith.
Blessings
For the Lord and the lost
Jossy Chacko

Dear Friends,
As this year draws to a close, I’ve had the opportunity to pause and reflect on how truly blessed I am to partner so many others from around the world in fulfilling the Greatest Commission given to humanity. As we approach the joyous occasion of our Saviour’s birth, I’d like to thank you most sincerely for your prayers, support and partnership in 2009.

While we celebrate the reason for Christmas, the precious gift of Jesus, millions of people around the world have not been able to hear the Gospel message even once. Your support has enabled us to care for some of the neediest people in the world and share about the hope and new life available to them through Christ.

Let us remember to pray and continue to do all we can to reach out to the almost two billion people who have not yet had the opportunity to hear about Jesus. We are truly blessed to be able to read God’s word, enter into relationship with Him and be a part of His Kingdom on earth and we have a duty to share that joy with others.

Thank you to all who have given Empart Ripple gifts to bless your friends and family. I encourage you to make this a part of your regular giving tradition. Bicycles, sewing machines, Book Kits, chickens and Education Programs are all practical gifts that provide realistic opportunities to benefit an entire community. Remember, one gift starts a ripple, one ripple transforms a community. Visit www.empart.org to learn more about how you can give gifts that will have an eternal result.

Jenni, Jemimah, Jacob, Jasmine, Joshua and I wish you a Happy Christmas and pray you experience God’s richest blessings in 2010.
For the Lord and the lost,
Jossy Chacko

PS. This is how much God loved you, me and the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son – let us celebrate Him and do all that we can to make His name great.

A faithful area leader in India has paid the ultimate sacrifice in his work to save the unreached.        

For the last three months Babulal had been working in an unreached village, not far from his own village. Then, on 24^th November, as he and some other believers left this village and headed for home, they  innocently accepted a lift on a tractor laden with heavy rock. As the tractor climbed a steep hill, the driver released the hydraulic lever. The tractor trolley tipped backward and rocks tumbled down on the passengers.  Babulal was killed instantly.  The sister of another Church Planter died on the way to hospital, and eight new believers were seriously wounded by the falling rock.

Babulal was a victim of his own faith in the Lord. A group of Hindu right wing militants had been watching him, and had paid the tractor driver to kill him off, and stop him from spreading the word of the Jesus.

In Rajasthan, killing believers under the pretence of an accident is the latest strategy of religious fundamentalists. While the militants may have succeeded in taking two precious lives, they can never take the love of the Lord from the hearts of the people Babulal introduced to Him. Empart worker, Saroj said, “They may try to kill all of us, and yes, they have taken Pastor Babulal but they have not taken his vision. We will fulfil his vision”.

Babulal was crushed to death only four days before he was to baptise 25 new believers. Yet Babulal’s work is far from over.  His legacy of his love for the Lord remains. Since graduating from the Empart training centre in 2007, Babulal planted three churches with 225 members, he had already raised up four other workers and had had inspired many others with a great vision to see his whole region reached with the love of Christ.

In his own village, Babulal was well respected as a great leader and a strong organiser. His villagers loved him because of all the opportunities he brought them. He is survived by his wife, Hugli and three children.  To prevent his children facing an uncertain future just because of their father’s love for Jesus, I’ve established a special fund to help them, and other families who have suffered for their faith.  If you feel moved to contribute, log onto www.empart.org

In October, I had the joy of spending three days with Babulal.  Even then, as I left Babulal and these other heroes, I was mindful that this could be the last time we meet.  Now I look forward to the day I see Babulal again, in heaven.

Each day, families, leaders and workers risk their lives for the sake of the millions of people who have never heard of Jesus. Please, remember them in your prayers. Never forget them.

A few days ago Empart had a planning session for 2010 and one of our US partner’s said, “Please make sure that we don’t put events on during the American Thanksgiving time!” He then went on to say that Thanksgiving is the biggest family event in the USA and it is almost impossible for people to get away during this time.

This comment made me do some research about American Thanksgiving and I learnt that this special holiday has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863, becoming a federal holiday in 1941. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God for helping the pilgrims survive the brutal winter and the first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians. Although Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks to God, it is now primarily identified as a secular holiday that is a time of parades, spending time with family, watching grid iron football games and feasting – especially on turkey!

The Bible teaches us to give thanks to the Lord – not just once a year but every day, in ALL situations. But I think it is a great thing to have a dedicated day to count our blessings and to honour the Lord and thank Him as individuals, as families and as a nation. Along with my Christian friends in America, I pray that the nation of America will re-discover the original intent of Thanksgiving. How wonderful it would be to see people everywhere stopping to say thank you to God.

Why don’t you take a few minutes to think about all the things that you can thank the Lord for? If you can’t think of any – well, if you are reading this means you have life, you can read, you have a computer, internet…so just say, “thank you, Lord!”

If you have met Victor you will never forget him, he is tall and passionate, a man deeply in love with Jesus and on a mission to take His love to those who have never heard it.
I first met Victor 10 years ago, a very young man with a dream to see churches planted. He joined my first team of church planters and we have been serving the Lord since the beginning of our ministry.  In a very difficult region of North India God has used him to plant over 120 churches.
Along the way we have seen mighty miracles and also some incredible challenges but nothing like what he is facing right now. On the weekend he went to a special prayer meeting in a remote village. They had an incredible evening of prayer hundreds of people gathered inside and outside of a village hut, Victor and team did not want to disappoint anyone so they did not want stop until everyone was prayed for.  After four hours, exhausted and tired, they got in their vehicle and started the journey home.
It was very dark and all they could think about was a good night’s sleep. They suddenly noticed a group of people blocking the road. They stopped and got out to talk to them  but they did not get many words out before they heard shouting from a distance “yes it is them – kill them”.  Then they heard shots being fired. They started to run but they were caught and beaten up with metal rods, they pleaded with them to stop but then he and Pastor Ashok both were hit with the bar on their heads they both fell to the ground and bleeding heavily, they were unconscious.  Everyone thought they were dead, so someone called the police and reported that some robbers came to rob them and that they took defensive action and it seems that they might be dead please come and get them. So the police came and took them to the office and after four days they are still unconscious and on life support.  Their hands and legs are broken and have serious head injuries and internal bleeding.  And now they also have potential court case because of false accusations that they were robbers.
Friends, please pray for Victor, Ashok and their team as well as for them families and church members. There have been further threats made to believers that if they don’t stop worshiping Jesus they also could face a similar situation.
In this hour we also need to do more than praying, they need significant financial support to help with medical bills and also for the long road to recovery. If you are able to help in any way please make a donation online www.empart.org  or please send your contribution designated to “for Victor and team support”.
Please share this with your friends, family and church and remember them in your prayers.
I am on my way to India, you can find my updates on Twitter, face book also – please stay connected we need every bit of prayer and support that we can get right now.
Thank you for partnering with me – Jossy Chacko