In a back issue of Building Bridges, you were encouraged to pray for one of our missionaries – the Rev. Abu Thampan of Dallas, Texas, who had not seen his family for years.  Through God’s grace, the immigration visas were issued and so Pushpa (Abu’s wife) and son Rufus (10 years old) came from India to join Abu in Dallas.  Thank you for your prayers. Abu continues his work as a missionary among Asian Indians in the Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex with the Lutheran Intercity Network Coalition of Dallas (LINC).

      Abu also serves as one of CAME’s Asian Indian Ministry Facilitators. On behalf of CAME, Abu has been going on many “Pauline Missionary Journeys” to equip and ready Lutheran congregations for Asian Indian outreach.  He has been leading workshops at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois, (Chicago-area) as she is preparing to launch Asian Indian work.  He has also been a resource to our new work among Asian Indians in New Jersey/Philadelphia led by Naveen Nischal.  Abu is also working with Our Savior Lutheran Church, Bettendorf, Iowa, as she is preparing to initiate ministries to the Asian Indians in her area.  He is currently a student of the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Abu recently filed this report:

     One more Muslim and one more Hindu turning to Jesus Christ will make heaven rejoice. Ms. Shabnam Modgil, the former President of the Indian Association of North Texas said in a press release a while ago that there are 80,000 Asian Indians living in North Texas. Today this number is much higher because of the constant flow of IT pros from India to the US. The reason why God is bringing them to us is so that we could reach out to them. America has become the third largest mission field in the world. Let’s not miss this God-given opportunity.  

     Asian Indian Community Fellowship is a group of Asian Indian members from five Lutheran churches gathering once a month to pray together. They are from Lord of Life, St. Paul and Faith in Plano, Prince of Peace in Carrollton and Concordia in Garland. God is making use of this fellowship as a platform to reach out to other Asian Indian families moving into Dallas. Mr. Gautham and Ms. Sangeetha moved into Dallas during ‘04 and were strengthened by the fellowship at a time of trouble. Many Indian families who faced lay-offs found comfort and hope in this praying community.

         Indian Outreach Training is a training program consisting of three sessions to equip members of Lutheran congregations to reach out to Asian Indian friends, both Muslims and Hindus. God has enabled me to offer this training at Trinity, Chicago, Lord of Life, Plano and St. Paul, Plano. The participants have found it very practical and effective and they were encouraged to reach out to these groups. I will be happy to offer this program to others.

       Asian Indian Mission at University of Texas Arlington: Lutheran Students Center [LSC] at UTA provides an excellent opportunity for evangelism under the able leadership of Pastor Brad Beckman. The Director of LSC, Ms. Raquel Kempff de Fehrs, who is a great friend to students, encourages friendship evangelism.  I  meet  students  every Wednesday  at lunch to share Jesus with them. I will organize an Indian style night at LSC, with Indian food, fun and Christian devotion. For  the first time in the history of the Lutheran Student Center, the President of the Lutheran Student Association of UTA, Fenn Joseph, is an Asian Indian!

     Training Asian Indian Mission Leaders: Recently I have been focused on developing Allen Thomas and Naveen Nischal. Allen is a member of the Asian Indian Community Fellowship in Plano. Seeing the mission potential in him, I encouraged him to become the leader of the Asian Indian Community Fellowship. He is now studying theology preparing for mission work and leaving his IT work. Naveen was sent to me from Philadelphia by CAME to learn how to reach out to Asian Indians. Now Naveen is doing Indian missions back in Philadelphia and New Jersey and is in constant contact with me.

     People God touched in a special way: Mr. Samuel Jebasing from India came to Lord of Life [LOL] in Plano from a nearby apartment complex. Pastor John Lindner of Lord of Life encouraged me to teach him adult confirmation. He eventually became a confirmed member of LOL. An email I received from India speaks more than my words: It reads: "Dear Abu, Warm greetings from Chennai, India. My name is Mark Visvasam and I work with Campus Crusade for Christ. Samuel Jebasing who is attending your Church in Plano told me about you. --- I am thankful to you for your help to Sam to get actively involved in Church. He needed someone like you to encourage him spiritually. I am delighted to know of the Indian community that meets regularly. Our prayers are with you in your attempt to reach out to more Indians. Please remember to pray for our work among Indian youth here. Thanks—Mark, India Crusade for Christ.”

 
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