In remote corners of Tamil Nadu, India, gospel workers trained by Gilgal Mission Trust (GMT) are shining the light of the gospel hand-in-hand with education and vocational training.  

Along the Amravati River in Coimbatore District, many people in the Anaiamalai forest are uneducated. They work as day labourers and live in neglected government-built houses.  

One such family is Mrs Selvi, her husband Aruchami and their sun Arun Kumar. Arun Kumar was in poor health, unable to go to school, dependent on his mother’s care.  

Gilgal Mission Trust gospel worker Mr Ruben began to visit the village to start a prayer cell and children’s classes. He is trained in GMT’s discipleship program.  

Hearing of Mr Ruben’s work, Mrs Selvi brought Arun Kumar for prayer for healing. His condition improved; within a month, Arun Kumar began attending school five kilometres away.  

Mrs Selvi and Aruchami are happy to see their son on a pathway to fulfill his dreams. At school, Arun Kumar receives nutritious meals and the teachers are attentive to Arun Kumar’s slowly improving health. Mrs Selvi has been able to join the workforce to improve the family’s finances.  

In the evenings, the family comes to the prayer centre to learn more about Jesus.  

“This incident lightened a great brightness in their life,” says Paul Phineas, president of GMT.  

GMT initiated 15 adult literacy centres in the religiously sensitive Kaliyapuram Panchayat region of Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, India. The motto of the centres is to educate everyone to know the Saviour.  

GMT also opened a sewing centre in Ettidurai, Tamil Nadu, India. Women learn tailoring as a life skill and are taught the gospel by a local pastor.  

“A new move of God is evolving in the Southern part of India after COVID-19. We are experiencing and hearing of church attendance growing beyond our expectations, and many newcomers are experiencing the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit,” says Paul Phinehas.  

Daily power outages, corruption and violence are some of the challenges Indians face. “The church has to influence society with the life-changing gospel of Jesus,” says Paul Phinehas.