The need for missionaries in India, especially northern & central India is more urgent now than ever before. According to https://www.joshuaproject.net/ 95% of Indians are still unreached. Missionaries in India are playing a significant role in spreading the gospel. I believe India needs missionaries who are willing to invest in training the local pastors and leaders, who can then go and share the gospel to their own people group effectively.

India is the most populated country in the world now. The majority of the people are Hindus and are bound in darkness, worshiping evil spirits. They don’t know what they’re worshiping, all their lives they have worshiped idols. The gospel is the only answer to set them free from the kingdom of darkness and bring them to the Kingdom of Light. Jesus is the only answer. The harvest is plentiful in India and needs workers willing to go to take the message of the Cross. Is God calling you to India? Has God given you a heart for a specific people group in India? If the answer is yes, I’m so excited!

The task of reaching the unreached is huge in India, so if you’re thinking of mission in India, think long term, plan, and think teamwork i.e. joining an existing team. If you don’t have a team, create a team with local believers. Wherever in India God calls you to, from my perspective it's important to plan for living amongst the people for at least 2-3 years, to let the people in that community get to know you and build relationship with them. I think 2 years is a good amount of time for people to know you personally and see what you’re doing in their community. If people have seen you around in their community long enough, they will trust you and will be open towards you when you share the gospel.

I believe India has the human resources to reach their own nation. I believe that what India needs is missionaries who are willing to partner with these local pastors, support them, equip them with resources, train the pastors and the believers on how to reach their own people, how to plant house churches, how to disciple new believers. This will be more effective than a missionary going on their own and working on their own. Yes, if you go on your own, God will still use you no doubt. But the amount of people you can reach will be smaller compared to partnering with a local team, who will be more effective. You’ll be amazed to witness how God will bless your endeavour when you work in unity.

Pastors in India struggle, due to lack of financial support, member care etc. Pastors in India don’t get the kind of support they need as compared to the pastors in the West. They struggle to look after their families sometimes. But still they don’t leave ministry and pursue a full time job. They are faithful in serving as pastors despite their struggle. Whatever offering they get from the church, they live off that. They live without a regular salary. They live trusting God for their needs. So if you’re able to support them financially on a monthly basis in any way you can, that will be a blessing for them. This will help the local pastors work more effectively. It takes the financial pressure off them having to provide for their families.

(Please Note: I’m mostly referring to pastors who work at the rural village levels in India. I am not referring to city pastors who have big churches in big cities in India. I live in a village, so I have seen the struggles of pastors and I’m speaking for them. I personally support the pastors in my village and other neighbouring villages.)

India can be very spiritually intense. You’ll have to fight your way in through a lot of prayer. Prayer will be your only weapon to help you break strongholds, the atmosphere where you’ll be working. Make sure you have a strong prayer team praying for you. Make sure you get used to praying a lot.

Ministry in India now might look different to what ministry looks in the West. Ministry might look like doing social work in the community, teaching at a school, teaching English, computers etc. Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”

There’s big restrictions on preaching the gospel openly, in certain states of India, laws have been introduced to stop conversions from one religion to another. If you’re from the West and you’re caught preaching the gospel at a church or even outside the church, you could be in trouble. So there’s challenges for missionaries to work in India now, but no challenge is too hard for God’s work to continue in India. I believe the greater the challenge, the greater our need of trusting in God. Don’t worry about the challenges, God will always make a way for you, use you to take the gospel, the message of Jesus to the most challenging places.

Indians have a very open heart towards foreigners, tourists. Indians are drawn naturally towards foreigners. People will come to you. This is a great opportunity, use it for praying for them, loving them and sharing the gospel with them.

Some practical to-do points: Before you go to India, please make sure to study the people group you’ll be working with, their culture, their language (just general knowledge), geography, temperature, transportation, believers in that area, if any. Please make sure to register at the local police station as it is mandatory. In case of a violent outbreak, the police will help.