The LHM Christian Media Centre
Lutheran Hour Ministries opened the Christian Media Centre in Chennai, India in 1951. The CMC currently broadcasts the Word of God in six languages to the people of India. As a result of Christian ministry, thousands of converts as well as non-baptized believers in Christ are identified and located for follow-up by the staff. The LHM-India staff reaches out to those interested in the Word of God through cassette ministry, printed literature, and Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC). Since most of the mainstream churches are not receptive to new converts who belong to a different social caste and culture, Lutheran Hour Ministries' follow-up outreach plays an important role in sustaining their faith.
Religion in India is very diverse and practiced freely in public. Hinduism is the predominant religion in India, practiced by 80% of the populace. Muslims comprise 13%, and Christians less than 3%. At least 90% of the Christian population emerges from the lower castes. Very few are from the hard to reach upper castes.
In February 2007, Pastor Daniel Rowe of Trinity Lutheran Church in Paso Robles, California visited Chennai on an oversight trip for another Christian Organization, Mission India. While he was visiting the LHM Christian Media Centre, Pastor C. David received a telephone call from Lutheran Hour headquarters in St. Louis. It was bad news. The Christian Media Centre had to cut the next year's budget by two-thirds. The Media Centre could not even afford Bibles to distribute to the people who were hungry for the Word.
Bibles For India
When Pastor Rowe returned to his congregation and related the incident, a relationship was born. The California/Nevada/Hawaii district rallied and raised $18,500. On February 14, 2008, The Christian Media Centre received a Valentine in the form of 5,000 Bibles. All were printed in the Tamil language, and free to distribute by the Media Centre.
But the work had only just begun. Pastor Rowe told us the Media Centre never had improvements since its construction in 1951. The facility is covered with peeling paint and subject to faulty plumbing. The studio roof was prone to leaks. The Centre was in need of new Audio/Visual Equipment, and currently must rent equipment and complete all recording in one day every three months.
Our Response: Work & Witness
It was out of this need that the 2008 CNH District India Work and Witness trip was born. In June 2008, 15 Lutherans from California, Nevada, Washington, and Illinois journeyed around the world to work along their brothers and sisters in Christ. Over a two week period, the team refurbished the CMC sound studio with new paint, carpet, tiles, structural improvements, and roof repairs. The sound studio also received much-needed recording equipment. In between work days, the team took in Indian culture and the city of Chennai with sightseeing, shopping, and of course food. After the team's return, the CNH District reinforced their support for India by bringing CMC director Rev. C. David and his wife Jothi to California to raise awareness of India's need. Over a three week period, the Davids visited many local churches, relating their stories of the Lord's work in India.
Finishing the Job
Despite all of our work in India, we have barely scratched the surface at the Christian Media Centre. There is still a need for television production equioment, and no improvements have been made to the CMC offices. Lutheran Hour Ministries is sponsoring a second Global Work & Witness short-term mission trip to help in this effort. The CNH District is supporting this mission trip by raising up a team from our District to go to India. Our hope is to have twenty members for the India team, as well as involve our congregations and individuals in prayer support, volunteer assistance, and financial support.
This mission trip is planned for August, 2009. There is much work to be done in preparation for such an endeavor. First, we ask for your prayers; prayers that God will bless this effort to make disciples, that volunteers will be lead to step forward, that financial support will come. We ask for your help in publicizing this mission trip to your congregations. We also ask you to speak to leaders in your congregation about ways to be a part of this district-wide mission effort of sharing a message of hope in India. The team will have 12 full days in country, plus travel. The cost per team member is estimated at $3,000; this includes flights, food, lodging, in-country transportation, sightseeing, translators, visa, and travel/health insurance. The project costs are estimated at $7,000; this includes material for all projects and also includes some local labor costs. Work includes painting, plumbing, tiling, drywall, and general cleanup. There is free time for sightseeing and local cultural experiences for the team. If we reach our goal of twenty team members, additional VBS or work with the tsunami orphanage may be added.
How Can I Help?
These are some of the ways individuals and congregations can be involved in this ministry:
- Team Members Pray for and encourage those who indicate that they would like participate in the mission team, either to go to India, or be support here. It will revitalize your ministry to have members involved in a mission trip. While the labor is not complicated - anyone can do the work with some instruction - it should be known that environmental conditions such as heat and humidity make this a serious physical commitment.
- Prayer Support This is a very important part of the trip. It needs to be intentionally raised. During planning, while traveling, and when the team is in India, we need to know that people have committed to praying for the team.
- Volunteer Assistance Volunteer support is the acts of service toward the team going by others who stay here. There are others needed to help pack, serve at events, collect donations, handle communications, etc… These are support roles and are very important participants in the mission team.
- Financial Support Volunteer trips require funding, and often individuals do not have enough on their own to cover trip expenses. Although many people are hesitant about raising funds, it is important to remember that some cannot go, and will enjoy giving to others to enable them to go.
