Jossy Chacko

In 2007, Jani came to an Empart Training Centre in Orissa with the vision to reach a remote and unreached forest-dwelling tribe in Orissa that had never heard the Gospel. After he graduated, Jani built a small home and a church and began ministering there. God blessed his obedience and the church began growing. But on July 18th, Jani’s church and home, along with four other houses, were completely destroyed when a herd of elephants charged through the village.
In the dark of night, everyone was woken by the sound of an earth-shattering elephant stampede. They got up and run to the forest. When they returned in the morning, all that remained was a pile of sticks. Pastor Jani is devastated by the destruction but he is very grateful to still be alive. “Thank God our lives were spared” he tells me. “I am sad that we lost everything but I know that God is in control”. They even laugh about it, saying “It looks like the elephants had a good time playing!”

Friends, please pray for Jani and the believers as they cope with the aftermath of the stampede. There are no houses available to rent because of their remote location in the forest. A temporary shelter has been created but the rainy season is approaching and our brothers and sisters are worried. In 2008 they dealt with severe persecution and now they have to rebuild everything again. However, they are trusting in God for another miracle and have requested your prayers.

Thank you for partnering with faithful Church Planters like Jani who have incredible vision and passion to take the Gospel to the least reached people on earth and help them practically. Without your prayers and financial support, they would not be able to go through such difficult situations. I thank God for you and want you to know that, together, we are changing lives both now and for eternity!
For the Lord and the lost,
Jossy Chacko
P.S. Visit www.empart.org/donate to donate to the Rebuilding Orissa Fund. We can rebuild for just $3000 per house and $15,000 will rebuild homes and churches affected by this devastation.

Brothers and sisters, I’ve spent the last few days in Singapore, meeting with business leaders and motivating them to lead a life of significance… it’s impressive, probably one of the most organised and cleanest cities in the world. 

Then the contrast – today I’ve woken in Lucknow, North India, it’s noisy, polluted, and it’s SO hot. There’s no air conditioning, but my hotel is still better than 90% of the homes in India.  I pick up the newspaper and its headline grabs me at the throat – “Not Enough Food… So Children Learn To Eat Mud.”

 The mud is laced with silica, it fills their distended bellies so for a brief moment, they imagine they are full. I think of my own four children, especially Joshua and Jasmine, aged 3 and 5. As a parent, how would it feel to watch your children eat mud because they are starving? You are helpless because you cannot feed yourself.

 Yet this is what is happening in one of the fastest growing economies in the world, a country with more millionaires than the entire population of Australia.  The song, “What a Wonderful World’, enters my mind but it’s an irony. How can we live in a world of such contrasts, a world with riches and excess and success, while one billion of our children live, and die in poverty? That’s one out of every two.  Asia, alongside Africa, accounts for the majority of underweight or stunted children. 

This is a huge problem. But not too huge that we cannot offer solutions.  There’s more than enough money in the world to solve all of the problems of poverty and health. But is there enough political and moral will?  Are there enough people willing to share their wealth? It made me think, if I had a billion dollars, what would I do?  Where would I spend it first? Who was most needy? It still wouldn’t be enough… the problems are insurmountable.  It’s all too hard…

But then I realised I was doing what we all do – getting stuck on the big problem, on the macro. We think about the big problem and become trapped… so we reach the conclusion that we can do nothing. The solutions required for such a huge problem are exactly that, HUGE.

Instead, we should be asking, what do I have, and what can I do?

 Today, through Empart’s initiatives, more than 3,500 children are cared for, given education, food and hope. And that’s because there are so many individuals who haven’t been overawed by the bigger problem. Instead they care to give and share what they have, rather than being paralysed by what they don’t have.

 So here’s what I can do – I can ask you for help – for the children who have to eat dirt. Go on, do a stock take of what you have? Take a chance – decided to use your skills, your gifts, your passion to change the world.  Could you tell me now, via this blog, commit in writing, what you’re willing to risk?  With this image of a little girl eating a handful of mud in your mind, what will you do?

Log onto www.empart.org and learn how your skills and your passion can help immediately.  In eternity you’ll be so glad you did.

Our Students' Precious Bibles and Tracts, Now Burnt

My friends, I’ve attached some photos of the destruction left by the Hindu militants on the Chhattisgarh training centre – you may have seen them on the Empart website.  These images will leave you speechless, perhaps in utter despair. I know that’s how I felt…

Yet it was the wise words of our Regional Leader in Chhattisgarh that gave me comfort, strength, and a focus of the ultimate task before us – to go out and spread the word of God to those whose hearts or hardened, or who are isolated from the power of the Gospel.

The Regional Leader said,  “Jossy, the enemy will try to stop us making disciples and training leaders but he can not and will not stop God’s Kingdom expanding. We will not stop no matter what happens. Please ask everyone to stand with us in prayer. We are not going to run away. God has sent us here and we will continue to share God’s love in words and deeds but we need you to stand with us. Don’t be worried for us, just pray for us.”

Bedrooms were trashed, bedding and clothes destroyed

This was the Local Coordinator's Room. He Was Bashed and Had To Be Hospitalised

Dear Friends,
I want to share an exciting opportunity with you! A friend of mine has made an amazing offer. For every bicycle you buy for our Church Planters/social worker  in India, he’ll buy one too. That’s right – for every $125 you donate for a bike, he’ll match you – up to 1,100 bikes. That means 2,200 new bikes for our Church Planters.

Praise God for our friend’s generosity, which will make such a difference to the daily journeys of our brothers and sisters in India. These bikes are not a hobby or for sport and fitness. In most places this is the only means of transport – a vital means to reach those who have little or no access to Jesus, education and much needed love and care.

In the Bike4Bike DVD (click here to view) I share with you Gautham Lal’s joy when he received his bicycle from me. It was such a privilege to give him this ministry tool. Two months later, I received the following letter from him. “Because of this incredible gift of the bicycle, I’m now able to reach three new villages. Already 15 people have come to Christ”.

He’s so confident that he’ll be able to plant a church in each of these three villages, reaching out to a combined population of more than 18,000 people. What an eternal return on an investment of $125!

Will you please help us buy bicycles? Act now and your gift will be doubled. And please, will you ask your church or friends to consider buying a bicycle as well? You can give online at www.empart.org or in the US www.empartusa.org

It is my personal goal that all of our workers are appropriately supported. They are willing to sacrifice their lives and take the gospel into regions bristling with hostility. The least we can do, as brothers and sisters in the West, is to ensure that they are supported appropriately.
Thank you for helping those on the front line – in eternity you will be so glad you did.
May God bless you and reward you for what you did for the least of these.
For the Lord and the lost,
Jossy Chacko
PS – Click here for our Bike4Bike powerpoint presentation – a valuable tool to share with friends and colleagues.

“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.

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.

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

I was so encouraged by this story from one of our Empart church planters, as to how the Lord is able to bring something good out of a bad situation.

Jagthar graduated last year from an Empart training centre and the Lord sent him to a village in Punjab. The Lord began to do some miraculous things and people began to be saved. Very soon he had no more room in his little one-room home for everyone to meet for worship.

Jagthar approached a local government officer and was able to get the use of the local government building – free of rent. The church continued to grow and things were going very well until the news about the growth and impact of the church reached some antichristian people. They began to create problems for Jagthar and last month he had to give the building back. With no place for worship they were not able to have a church service.  They were so disappointed by this antagonism – they had done so much to bless this village.

Disappointed but not giving up, Jagthar and some of the believers started to fast and pray. Then, just last week, one of the village leaders came to Jagthar and said, “You people are so good and you have been a blessing to the village. You have helped many of our widows and young women through the tailoring programs; you have educated us about health and hygiene; many people with alcohol and other problems have been helped. It is shameful on us all that you have no place to worship. So I want to give you 1000 square metres of my land so that you can build your own church and have freedom to worship your God.” And this village leader, a Sikh man, has given the land to the church – for FREE! What a wonderful God we serve.

The believers are now collecting funds to build a building on this land. Will you join with them in prayer for provisions?. Friends, no matter what you are going through, if you love the Lord, remember that He is able to bring good out of every bad situation in His time. Trust Him; fast and pray like Jagthar – let the Lord know that you need Him and that you are so dependent on Him. Hang on to His word and do not lose hope – no matter what.

May the Lord bless you and make His face shine upon you.
Jossy Chacko

India is probably the most “spiritual” country I have ever known. No other country in the world is as spiritually hungry as India is; on the trains, streets and offices you can talk about spirituality. One of my favorite questions to perfect strangers in India is, “So what do you think about God?” Then I just sit back and listen to their ideas about God for the next hour – or day! This also gives me the opportunity to ask questions that make them think (in my view this is the best personal evangelism strategy). I have used the same question all over the world but in most other places the answer is not quite as long as it is in India!!

I would love you to take 3 minutes to watch this video from a Rat temple in North India, where people come from all over the world to worship, touch, stay with and eat with rats. Yes, it’s true. In a country where 340 million people struggle to have one meal a day, there is plenty of milk and food for the rats. And no, this is not from 500 or 200 years ago, this is happening here and now. These people worshiping the rats are not all foolish/stupid – many of them are well educated and some of them very wealthy. They all have one thing in common – they are all lost and in search of truth and salvation.

It is images like this that get me out of bed and compel me to do what I do with Empart. How can we, who believe in Christ, sit back and do nothing?? I am not saying that we should make them all into Christians but I am arguing the point that they should be given the opportunity to hear the truth (the teachings of Jesus) and know their Savior (Jesus). While we argue about postmodernism in the west, we fail to remember more than 80% of the world is still in the dark ages (without the light of the gospel).

What do you think? What is our responsibility? If you are a follower of Jesus, can I ask you what would Jesus do? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

For the Lord and the lost
Jossy Chacko

I had an incredible time, thanks Bob.  Bob Roberts is very unique and “unusual man of God” the more I know him the more I love him.  I consider him to be a western white guy with an eastern brown heart and a global mind.  You can check out his blog

jc-middle-east-slideshow-23

A small group of highly strategic leaders from around the world was selected to share and learn from each other (thanks guys you blessed me).  It was incredible to listen to everyone – the amazing thing was we all spoke the same language: disciples, planting churches, movements, fulfill the great commission, global etc. everyone has huge ministries but no one was satisfied – everyone has a desire to see the world reached and changed. I thought I was in heaven with these guys.  Many of them face great persecution etc. but that was not on the agenda – rather how can we collaborate and learn from each other, how can we see a truly global church planting movement? Some of the guys could not make it either because they could not get out of their country or could not get visa for Israel.  We are planning to meet again in Dec 09 in Philippines (please pray for us). God well could use this small group to do something incredible. We are blessed and privileged to be living in one of the most successful harvesting season in history (because of security reasons not able to say too much).

The situation in Israel is not very good for neither the Jews nor the Palestinians.  They both are hurting and struggling, Jews with security and Palestinians with freedom.  On the way out of Israel I had more than one hour security check (the longest ever) because they sew in my passport that I visited Malaysia, they were not happy with my explanation so had the “special treatment” most foreigners and Palestinians have to go through this. I was more than happy to sit and wait (well read my book) but I am not sure if this going to help them with security or create more problems in the long-term? I asked a Palestinian business lady (who was also searched next to me), she has Israeli passport but every time she comes and goes she is checked (she said it could be from 1 – 3 hours each time). She said that I am not happy but ok about it but my sons are not so ok about it!  The whole west bank, the wall and check posts etc. (again may be all necessary) but not sure what it could produce in the long-term.  One Palestinian Christian leader said, few months ago he was sick and needed to go to Jerusalem for treatment, but could not get permission to go then finally when he got, it was for 3 hours, he said sometime it will take about 1 hr to get through the check point one way, then travel etc. but most incredibly when he was at the doctors the police rang to see if he was there or if he was lying! Both groups feels victims, (one leader put it well – we both are damaged people not sure if we can sort out our own problem – we need Jesus) they both are hurting and in need of God’s love, grace, forgiveness and more importantly His peace.  Let us pray for both of these wonderful people who are created in the image and likeness of God and for whom He send His only son to die.

Thanks for praying for me and the ministry – love and thank the Lord for you.
Blessings – Jossy Chacko