AC History in India

[History synopsis courtesy of Beryl Ching (nee Hollis),

NZ Missionary to India 1954-1995]

Back in 1880, an English military captain, Capt. Spence, who was retired in India, received Advent Christian literature from America. He accepted their beliefs, and a couple of years later they asked him to find a good translator. The very next day an Indian pastor with the right qualifications came to see him. They fell to their knees to thank God for bringing them together. Literature publishing began immediately.

By 1886 evangelistic work had begun, and when a printing press was sent out to Madras (Chennai) many tracts were printed.

Two schools were opened in 1892. In 1898 Capt. Spence´s daughter was appointed as a missionary, and later his other daughter and also his adopted daughter.

The Women´s Home and Foreign Mission Society of U.S.A. - a ministry of what is now the Advent Christian General Conference of America - took over the responsibility for the work in Velacheri, Madras, in 1898. Then in 1900 there was a terrible famine in India. The women took into their care many orphan or destitute children, and orphanages for boys (in Velacheri) and girls (in Guindy) were opened.

In 1901 the printing press (at that time situated in Bangalore) was printing tracts in seven languages! The first missionaries from America - William Edwards and Jess Saunders - came out in 1901. William Edwards started industrial training to enable Indian boys to learn skills, and some of this work continued into the 1960s. Since then missionaries have come from America, Canada, and New Zealand, about 35 of them, many of whom worked long years for the Lord in India. Two of them, and one missionary baby, are buried in that land, having given the supreme sacrifice.

One can imagine the rejoicing when the first church was established in 1902, in Guindy, Madras. Through the years many, many people have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and many churches have been established through the hard work and ministry of Indian workers. In the early days these workers carried two responsibilities - as headmasters of the schools that were established for the people´s learning, and as pastors or evangelists in the churches. Women were appointed as Bible-women also, so that the women confined in their homes could be met with the gospel. Those Bible-women were hard workers.

The orphanages became hostels for children wanting to go on to higher education beyond fifth standard, but gradually intermediate schools were established in villages, and the hostels became unnecessary. Many learned of Christ in these hostels.

Theological education was given to the pastors and Bible-women in different ways, often in private tutorials. But in 1955 a Bible School was established in Velacheri, and in this school many pastors have been trained through the years. Other important activities that helped in Christian growth, were the Sunday School curriculums that were developed, and the young people brought together in Christian Endeavour Societies. A Conference of churches was established - the Advent Christian Conference of India - and the work was completely put into the hands of the nationals by 1978.

The missionaries saw many, many opportunities still in India for evangelism, and were loathe to go back to their homelands when so much remained to be done! So they began ministries in other areas, not schools or industrial schools this time. Realising the necessity for Indians to labour alongside them if churches were to be established, a College of Evangelism was set up in 1983 at Kodaikanal in the southwest of Tamil Nadu State. Enthusiastic students had established churches even before they graduated, and became the pastors on graduation.

By 1988 these churches, too, were gathered into a conference of churches, called the Fellowship of Blessed Hope Churches.

Each year, without a lot of fanfare, people are being won for Christ. They need our support in prayer and finance!