What does Spirit-filled education look like around the world? The principal of Filadelphia Bible College, Finny Philip, tells us about this ministry training center in Udaipur City in Rajasthan, India. Part of the Pentecostal Theological Education Around the World series from PneumaReview.com.

PneumaReview.com: How readily available is theological education for Pentecostals in India? 

Finny Philip: There are many Pentecostal theological colleges and training centres in the country and most of them are located in the south of India. Most of these institutions, particularly the smaller ones, follow the traditional Pentecostal style of training (Bible institutes with a ministry focus). Indian Pentecostalism has not achieved the theological vigour of North American & European Pentecostalism. Filadelphia Bible College is exceptional for having highly trained faculty, two of whom studied at the University of Birmingham under Prof. Allan Anderson.

PneumaReview.com: What are some of the greatest obstacles to Spirit-filled theological education in your nation? 

Finny Philip: 1. In India, theological colleges/institutions are accredited to either Serampore University (started by William Carey, but now controlled by liberal/liberation stream) or Asia Theological Association (an evangelical stream). Most of the Pentecostal colleges are part of ATA but most of the faculty comes from Serampore or ATA stream and does not have a Pentecostal outlook. Although they are Pentecostals, their thinking has been moulded by either liberal theology or non-charismatic evangelical orientation. This is reflected in the courses offered by Pentecostal colleges, they are general courses which any evangelical seminary in the West might offer. Further, there is little development in Pentecostal thinking or reflection about the Spirit experiences in our communities. This is an issue that hinders theological education.

2. As an indigenous Pentecostal institution, we have our struggles since we are not part of a Pentecostal denomination. Because we are in a mission context, we are by nature involved in both evangelism and discipleship. At many times we have to re-invent the wheel and we lack resources.

3. Our students come from backgrounds where we have persecution. And we are passionate about (and empowered for) mission, our graduates face a lot of persecution once they are back in the fields.

PneumaReview.com: Do you have access to good theological study materials?             

Finny Philip: No, unfortunately we don’t have good theological study materials available. Everything has to be imported.

PneumaReview.com: What are the greatest doctrinal challenges that you face in your country? 

Finny Philip: Prosperity theology is an emerging threat, but mostly it is biblical illiteracy. Since ours is in a mission context challenges are mission related. Pluralism, syncretism, culture and gospel engagements etc.

PneumaReview.com: What major themes do you stress as you train students for ministry? 

Udaipur City, India

Finny Philip: Character, knowledge and skills are given a significant place in the life of our students. But when it comes to themes, our greatest emphasis is on Biblical subjects, then theology and then mission. The primary reason for this focus is that almost all of our students are first generation Christians. Therefore, our priorities are right interpretation, right doctrine and right passion for reaching out.
PneumaReview.com: What fruit have you seen in the lives of those who have prepared for ministry at your school?

Finny Philip: Over the past 32 years of training, God has enabled us to produce over 1500 graduates who are leading thousands of churches in north India made up of about 300.000 believers. These churches are known as Filadelfia Fellowship Church of India.

Filadelphia Bible College may be found online at: FBCUdaipur.com

Need: Indian widows live on less than $1.00 per day and usually have one meal per day and their children cannot attend school. Their meal consist of rice and split peas every day. They sweep streets, work at odd jobs leaning people home’s and make only enough to pay rent. They are often illiterate and destitute. Kicked out from their in-laws homes after the death of their husband or divorced and any jewelry they were given by their in-laws at their wedding are taken back. They often feel hopeless, the government is too poor to provide any social service. One church I know has over 800 widows. In most part of the country widows are not allowed to re-marry because of tradition. The local church is poor and cannot help with the physical needs of the people. They do all they can to help. With no social programs in India, the plight of widows with small children is pitiful and beyond description.

Results: We work through established churches in India such as Chennai AG church pastored by Pastor D. Mohan, the general superintendent of the Assemblies of India, and they have rented a room to train widows, and the project is working very well. We provide the machines and church provide the training and when the widows complete the training they are given a sewing machine.

One of the recipients of a sewing machine told us that after she received training and a sewing machine she was able to make 1000 rupees ($20.00) per month, and with it she was able to purchase food for the family and books for the children to attend school. They were very thankful for our help.

Here are some suggestions on what we can do to help:

• You can pray for this ministry.
• We can give a sewing machine for $100.
• The women’s ministry in your church can take on the sewing machines as a project. One church in Canada that did this raised monies for 18 sewing machines at their Christmas banquet.
• You can go to your mission’s board of your church and ask them to consider giving a few sewing machines.
• A few friends can get together and give $20.00 each to make $100.00 to purchase a sewing machine.

Contact:

Agape Teaching Ministry
98 Aldgate Rd, Winnipeg, MB R2N 2Z5 Canada
Phone. 204-253-6826. Aldwin@mts.net www.atmc.ca

Tax receipt for Canadians and Americans: Agape Teaching Ministry

Video link for this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iSs25byECI

Generally, India is moving forward into a global power; its economy is growing at an unprecedented rate, and the church is also growing rapidly. The middle and upper classes are getting wealthier, but the majority of the population lives on less than $2.00 a day. The 60% of the population that lives in villages and towns live on subsistence living, and 40% of the population is illiterate. People who leave the villages and move to the large cities are often illiterate and become displaced as they try to make a better life; in some cases whole families end up living on the streets, because employment is difficult to find and housing is very expensive. It is heart breaking.

My colleague, Dr. Willie Boyseen from South Africa and I were focused on the vision the Lord gave me; we tried not to be sidetracked by the poverty, and the hopelessness that dominates the nation. We were often tempted to give money to help the poor and those feeding the poor, but when we remembered the words of Jesus who said, “the poor you always have with you,” we became more resolute to the vision to help preachers to preach more effectively and be true to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Usually when people accept Jesus into their lives as Savior and Lord, they become excited and want to share their faith with others. Often before you know it, they are pastoring churches with several hundred people and in some cases a group of churches. These were the people we desired to help most: those already in ministry. We shared with them what we have learned about preaching. The presentation of the gospel should be preached simply and clearly without spiritualizing the text, steering them away from teaching wrong doctrine but praying for the sick and the needs of people in the church. On every occasion pastors left the seminars better preachers of the Word. They were always thankful and often remarked, “I now know how to prepare sermons.” Many pastors have to preach every day.

During our time in India we taught approximately 350 pastors in three preaching seminars. The first seminar was for approximately 100 pastors at Love-N-care Ministries in Visakhapatnam. We were told that some of these pastors are tribal people and were former animists. At Love-N-Care Ministries they are taught to read and write and then to preach.