THE INDIA

Challenger
Published quarterly by South India Church of Christ Mission. Mission

aries are Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Morris of Madrapakkam Village, via Gummudipond Post, South India. Editor and Forwarding Agent is D. Eugene Houpt, RFD 2, Danville, Illinois ISSUE 1, 1963

WINNING
Fourteen Years For

SOULS

DAILY

Christ- In India
Foui-teen years have passed since
wa made the announcement that we

were going to South India. Of this time approximately two and

cna half years have been spent in the United States visiting the chuiches. The rest has been spent in this great hai-vest field of the
Master.

The work of evangelism has been going on full speed since we returned on January 4th Really it has been at such a pace that there is very little time left for sleep. We have visited the villages, and the churches are growing. En thusiasm is high again. Souls are being won almost daily, and the average is now just a little over one per day.
There is so much more that

When we arrived, we knew one preacher and 15 families who were membei-s of the chui'ch. Today there are many preachers, and well
ever 100 churches in three states,

we would like to do. Our thanks

to you who have so wonderfully helped us retuiTi so quickly. We are quite conceraed over dividing our budget. If we stop the teachers,

there wll be no schools and no besides many other activities. For chance for reaching new villages." example, we have the Leprosy Hos If we stop the medical work, we pital. It is recognized by the lose our witness and the right to government of India, and the Art and Ruth Morris. Taken in be the only Leprosy Hospital here. World Health Organization. There If we stop the preachers, then the are almost 1,000 patients under Bhavani, South India. older Christians will go unshephtreatment, with a staff of nine. erded. Can we give the ali'eady Then there is the Relief progi-am

No, that is out. Most of the preach ren get a noon meal each day, as Wedding Bells For ers are already preaching or help well as the leprosy patients and Madras Minister ing as volunteer workers in four boarding boys. A boys home where to eight churches now. the poor boys from our churches can come to study and live is an We must have more evangelistic On Monday afternoon March 4th, other activity. We have an active Bible disti-ibution work, 24 village Paul S. Martin, minister of the meetings, more preachers, and more schools, church sei*vices in English Vepery Church of Christ, and Miss church buildings after the new in Madras, and many other activi Mui-iel Thompson were united in groups are won. We trust you will ties for our Master. This much has marriage. I performed the cere- help make this possible. been done, and over 6,000 have money. Paul is a converted Brah been baptised into Christ in these min, and is the self-supported fourteen years. But still our job preacher of the English church. His bride is a sister of Leonard Thomp is just beginning. HELP US DO THIS Now we have several well trained son, who is studying in Manilla. church leaders, trained ministers, She is one of our fine church girls. IN INDIA and many volunteer or self sup Paul carried on for us while we porting church workei's. All of this were in America on furlough. He 1. Win at least one soul every points out the fact that we must is 28 years old, finished three day. years of college and two years of arise and maa'ch fonvard, or we are not worthy of being His servants. Bible college, so he is capable of 2. Establi.sh at least one We know the language, the people, leading the English church in Mad church every month. their habits ami their customs, ras. Our best wishes go with them

under C.R.O.P. where 1500 child

overburdened

men

more

work?

{Continued on -page 2)

as they serve the Lord together.

PAGE TWO

THE INDIA CHALLENGER schools this June. We have 25

(Contimied from page 1) Now we are really able to launch out from this plateau and climb higher and higher for the Master. We have been working in over 100 villages that would come to Christ
if we just had the men.

now, and should increase im mediately to 35. Otherwise,

some children in the newer

villages will grow up ignorant

of God's woi'd.

When we first published our paper about India, we stated that

if we had 20 couples for 20 years, this area of South India could be won for Christ. Those 20 couples could then be free to go home or to some other field of sei-vice. This

7. We need more up-to-date hos pital and laboratory equip ment, more buildings on the hospital compound, another nurse, plus an ever increasing supply of medicines.

8. We need a proper building for

the boy's hostel, and a pump for their well so a garden can
be raised. The store room

hasn't been possible. For five years we did have help. From 1953 to 1958 another family was here with
us. But for the rest of the time the burden for these lost millions has been on Ruth and me. Every

needs a

permanent room so

we can better store the Ameri

can grain sent to us.

9. We need a station wagon or

task or progi-am has been against great odd.s, but the Lord has
blessed our efforts and provided a

carryall type of vehicle for the

This is Ariyanadam, one of our ful opportunity of getting one in free of freight or duty. New preachers. He has a typical Tamil cars sell for $20,000.00 in face.
India now. Those five or more

work here. We have a wonder

way through the darkness. Looking out to the gi'eat needs that still
lie ahead, we request your prayers as we strive for these goals. 1. We must have more village

evangelism, more meetings, programs, camps, teaching

centers, and retreats. 2. We must have more church

buildings. About 40 are ur

The jeep gets only 16 miles $25. to $50. de per gallon. A volksWagon gets pending on the price of land. about 28 miles per gallon, so 3. We need a girl's boarding for there could be a great savings. the daughters of our church elders and preachers. This will cost about $75. a month to care for 30 girls, plus the price Madras Church Dedicates
cost from
of the new building. 4. We need a Bible college here

gently needed now. They will

years old and worn out sell for $7,500.00 and up. The gas price jumped again, due to the national emergency. It was 63c per gallon, now it is 93e per gallon. Can you imagine that! Almost a dollar a gallon.

New Tamil

Church

at Madrapakkam or in Madras,

The English congi-egation has

This boy is showing what lep tered all the way from the Phil- of town, so after six months of rosy has done to his hands. We lipines to Kanpur, North India. their coming into town from the have helped him. We have six young men fi-om suburbs, a former chui-ch building the Madras church who are that was no longer used was given interested in Bible college. to the church. They put the neces There is none of our own for sary repairs on the building, and them to attend here. dedicated it the last Sunday of 5. We need a correspondence March. This is a real step for school in the local languages ward in evangelism when a church to reach the educated young helps start another church without people, and for the training of direct help from the mission. We all literates. Correspondence gave them advice, but the initia schools go over very well. Sev tive and most of the funds came eral schools we know of have fi-03Ti the English speaking church. over 25,000 regular students. In Madi-as, a city over 2,000,000, So think of it! Where could many congregations are needed. This is Ruth with the one elder so much Bible teaching be done This same group plans to start an
(5. We

for the training of our young continued to grow this past year. men and women for His work. They met with several of the Ta An educated intelligent minis mil speaking people in the Moolatry is essential to self-govern katram area who were baptised ing church and soul winning. believers of Christ. It was too far We have three students scat for them to come into the center

for such a small investment? other church next yeai\ Oxir pray need at least ten new ers are with them.

who brought us garlands when we

returned.

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

PAGE

THREE

Semmary Studenf-s Show Great Progress

325 New Leprosy Patients Since January 1.

For the use of this film strip

wi-ite to Robert Tinsky, Box 35, Hebron, Indiana. Any otfei'ings re ceived for this work, however,

We arrived in the Philippines on The Leprosy hospital has taken should be sent to the forwarding New Year's day to see our two a new step foi-ward since our re agent. students, Leonard and Heather. turn. Many new patients are reg This stop was on our way to India ularly I'eceiving medicine. We have from the States. Both Leonard and added many new names to our list. New Churches Since Heather had learned much and were At the last count, there were 325 We Returned From U. S.
much more mature than

have opened a new clinic in Andhra We are happy to tell you good mas vacation in Manilla in evan State at Nagalapuram, where we gelistic meetings. Later we learned are establishing the new church, friends who have been praying for us that there have been new church that in Mai'ch Leonard, now only a medical care at this new clinic. junior in Manilla Bible Seminary, Leprosy is teiTibly bad here. es established since we have been had grown so much in the grace Over 20 of our workers and their back on the field. During March,

They were spending their Christ

before. added

since

the

New

Year.

We

our hostel boys are the one in Madras was established. this disease. They It is in a very needy area. It looks for the Cebu Bible Seminary gi-adu- are receiving care and are being like it is well on the road to selfsupport. Most all of the members ating seniors. This is where Heath cured.
of the Lord that he was asked to families, and deliver the commencement address infected with er is a student. We look foi-ward

Madras, and bandages has been most encourag their useful sei-vice here. ing. We are thrilled by your wilPeter was home from Shillong ingness to help in providing these and the India Bible Institute for necessary items. We thank you for December, January, and February. your time and effort spent in mak His help was tremendous in the ing them. Madras church, and we were so pleased to see his growth in things of a spiritual nature. Not being Film Strip Still Available Many of you have made use of able to preach in the Kasi langTiage of Shillong, he had been the the film strip, "New Hands for leader in establishing an English Tong-si." This is the seventeen service in Shillong, and looked for minute strip in full color which ward to returning there. Because tells the story of a young man and of several reasons, the Institute his uncle who are plagued with was changed from Shillong to Kan- the dread disease of leprosy. It pur. Now Peter is the only stu isn't specifically about the woi'k in dent again. The Rash family is in South India, but is does show how charge of this school. Peter's Christian missionaries seek to help preaching has improved gi-eatly, such persons both physically and and we look foi-ward to his being mentally. The leper work is a vital a real leader in the church when ministry in South India. We urge more of you to become interested he graduates. in this progx'am.

to

their retui-n

to

Your response to the plea for here can read and write.
Since then a church has been

established in Nagalapuram. This is a village about 20 miles from here, and has a population of 5,000. It is a sti-ong Hindu village,
and most of the natives honor the

god, Narain, or Narainaswamy as

he is known far and wide. Its

temple is one of the showplaces of Hinduism, having been staii;ed about 600 A.D. and completed about 1200 A.D. by a different set of kings. It is a holy village dedi cated to this god. During the past 2,000 years there were no Christ

ians in this village. All the people in this cheri (Harijan colony) were slaves of the Brahmin priests. These slaves worked on temple
lands, and beat drums in the festi vals. They could not even think of becoming Christians, as they be longed just like the stones, to the temple. Now they are free, and

15 families are striking out to find

the joy and peace that comes from
Jesus Christ.

We had tried for years to win these to the Lord, but to no avail. We knew there had to be a key to every village, and we finally found it. In this case the key was a young educated boy from this village who
had been to Madras. But he had to

retui'n to the village to keep his family share right, and to farm the temple lands. Through him we found the answer. By his help and strength, the people dared to do what they had wished for to step
out for the Lord.

We have plans now for two other congregations. If all goes well,
there will be a new church es

Leper patients sitting for morning prayer period.

tablished every month this year. Won't you help make that dream possible?

PAGE FOUR

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

Bandages, Bandages, Bandages

What a generous response to the appeal for bandages! In addition
to those sent to India with other

supplies the Mon-ises purchased

while in the states we now have on

hands enough to fill about twelve

nioi-e ban-els. These will be filled

preferred not to miss the meal, our name up high in the govern they could donate the price of a ment books. When a visa is needed, it can be just taken from the book meal for a period of time. and an inspection of the work will The expense of the work is not be needed. We are also eligible steadily increasing. There was a for some government assistanca. great expense in getting the mis This will be a big boost when it sionaries home from the field and starts coming." back again. Thei-e was still more expense in shipping over supplies This is really good news. We needed in the work. This expense know it will be to the many of you
alone was close to two thousand

and shipped just as soon as we can dollars. During the time the mis get the job done. There is a con sionaries were home, they kept tinual need for these supplies in their workers on half pay. This the the hospital, and, of course, band workers agreed to in order to al ages won't spoil. low the funds to be used for the ' We do thank every one of you return of the missionaries. Now it for your response in this way as is impoi-tant that they be paid the well as to those others who have back pay that is due them. What sent medicine and other hospital they i-eceive is very small in com supplies. These will be put to good parison to other parts of the world, use when they reach India. and they need it so desperately.

who have taken a personal interest in this work among the lepers. We believe it shows that your money has been used in a good way in order to merit such high recog
nition.

M iss A Meal Campaign

Perhaps you belong to a group

that would like to enlist in this

progi-am as a

joint endeavor to

Brother Morris recently made a help the wox-k in South India. You suggestion that could be used by could refer to it as the "Miss A any Bible School class, congrega Meal Campaign for India." The tion, missionary society or other idea might catch on with your peo groups: He told how a man in ple in such a way that you could do
India had to miss a meal a day more than you ever believed pos
sible.

quite a period of time in order to pay for a new pair of glasses. When the people of India are al
ready undernourished, this resented quite a sacrifice. rep

Leper Hospital Approved

In a recent letter Rro. Morris Art wondered if there would be those in the well-fed United States wrote the follovring: "The doctors who would be willing to undei'take have been here for the annual in

such a progi-am to help the work spection. The news was really good This boy was only 12 years old in South India. The program could this time. We passed in Grade A-1. with both feet almost gone when This puts us in the top lO'/r of be worked in many ways. A group could agree to miss a meal a week the hospitals in the state and as we got him. Now after six weeks, for a period of time or a meal a good as any government hospital. month for a period of time. If they This is a real thrill to us and puts he can walk a little.

SOUTH INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION

RURAL ROUTE TWO

DANVILLE, ILLINOIS RETURN REQUESTED

THE INDIA

Challenger
Published quarterly by South India Church of Christ Mission. Mission

aries are Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Morris of Madrapakkam Village, via

Gummudipond Post, South India. Editor and Forwardii^Agent-iaJ).

Eugene Houpt, RFD 2, Danville, Illinois, 61835

(f^ISSUE 2, 1963

A Visitor's Impressions
Of The Mission Work
Earlier this year the mission

thoughts were on the safety and well-being of their boys.

My visit was an eventful one

Evangefism Is On
The March
We have concentrated our evan

field In South India was honored that I will never forget. As you to have a visitor from the United remember, it ranged from roof re

gelistic efforts in the Andhra field,

as that area seemed to suffer the

pair to marriage repair; from vil terson, one of our young ministers lage to city; from almond milk to who was on a world tour. Follow hot spicy curries. But of all the ing his visit, he wrote Arthur Mor rest, I would not have missed those ris a letter in which ho gave a two scenes at the riversthe first summary of his visit as well as his evening as we walked across the own pei'sonal appraisal of the work sandy river to find water to bap being done by the Morris family in tize those nine young men, and South India. Tlie following are ex that Sunday morning when we bap tized 45 men and women. I know cerpts from his letter; you do not baptize without much "I was veiy glad that I got to teaching, but fortunately I missed visit your woi-k at Madrapakkam. all those years of hard work of the While I was on the bus going out, maturation period and got to see several asked me where I was go the fruits of the gospel. I can't ing. I told them, and they spoke say I enjoyed sleeping on the hard of you with respect and friendship. niud floor in the village church, but This told me of their approval of if every Sunday could see so many the mission work more than any souls won, I would gladly endure it. other way. I think you have done an excel The bleak country of your com lent work of integrating all the pound reminded me of some of the ' projects together. Truly your food worst of the Kansas plains. It cer distribution program, your hospi tainly is a place you have chosen tals, hostels, village schools and for its work, not its beauty or vocational training all strengthen pleasantness. It was as stark and the churches. Nothing exists for its forbidding as the Hindu heart. One own sake, but all for the church. of the first things I noticed was the absence of any kind of a fence I pray that you will get more ai'ound the mission property. This help for the work, and that the is pretty strange in India, but it Lord will provide helpers too since is surely a symbol of your convic you have done so much in opening tion that you will not build fences the govemment door for visas." either physically or spiritually. Ward Patterson
States. This visitor was Ward Pat

most while we were on fui'lough. The preacher who was working in

the seven main churches in the Khalastrie area left the work about three months after we returned.

Because of that, the people were scattered as sheep without a shep

herd. So far this year there have been 105 baptisms in this one field.

The churches seem to be gi'owing in spirit and understanding.

This is a very backward area. The soil is poor, and there are lots
of rocks and mountains. On both

sides of the valley are tall moun tains. They are useful only as graz

ing lands. There are tigers up in the mountains yet, and often the cattle are killed by these beasts. The people wei-e slaves to the Raja of Khalastrie for so long that free
dom is often hard for them to un derstand. The field lies from 10 to

20 miles west of Khalastrie, on the

Mitrakandagai road.
The most active churches there

are at Agharam, Kalatphur, Pallayam, Kartei-pallai and Periamdasam. There are no hospitals, doc

tors, or real storesjust tea shops.

Their only communication with the

outside world is the daily bus. The roads are full of holes, with wash
outs across the ditches. But the

I was very impressed with the hospital and leprosy work. It is the most amazing thing to me that you were getting so much done with so small a staff and meager facilities. It is not surprising to me that when the government in spector of hospitals came he gave

YOUR GIFTS TO THE SOUTH

INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST

Gospel fire is burning strongly within the hearts of the preachers and elders. They ai-e daily witness ing and teaching the living Christ.

MISSION ARE TAX DEDUCT

IBLE. FOR TAX PURPOSES

you the A1 rating.

I enjoyed the hostel boys and their songs. It was good to see those who occupy so much of Ruth's time and thoughts. Even on vacation in the hills, still her

MAKE

ALL CHECKS PAYA

BLE TO THE MISSION RATH ER THAN TO AN INDIVID-

We recently concluded a two day camp there with our hostel boys who are finishing high school. They served as song leaders and teach ers of the Sunday School classes. We took along our battery operat ed record player, and many records
which were in both Tamil and Tele-

(Continued on Page 4)

PAGE TWO

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

ISSUE 2,

1963

Some of Our Leper Patients

Balakishovan. The worst feet case Chellan, here for 3 months, a farmwe have ever seen & been able to er, wife dead, one foot completely help. useless, one ulcerated, age about 45, could not work for over 1 year,

Nivavadi, aged 6, our youngest patient was infected by mother Ballamwa from early childhood. Never could attend school as bad infec
tion.

>,'ii!!v" !.nv lU'ddy & son, Thira- Poniah was here for 2 months, now, Kistiah, age about 20, orphan begkandulai Keddy. both very bad discharged, lives in Marnallur. gar for last R years. Both feet badwhen came. Father about 50 years. Face is now 2007n better, was com- ly damaged, fingers bent. No hope

son 14 years, boy never went to pleteiy di.storted, age ahf)ut 50, a for future unless learn a trade in school as infected from 3 years on: c<ioly. Hospital. -1 months. Notice the missing fingers. I

ISSUE 2, 19G3

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

PAGE

THREE

r -

YOUR GIFTS TO THE SOUTH INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION ARE TAX DEDUCT IBLE. FOR TAX PURPOSES

MAKE ALL CHECKS PAYA

BLE TO THE MISSION RATH

ER THAN TO

AN

INDIVID-

PAGE FOUR

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

ISSUE 2, 1963
and another is named Paul. We had

here. He is famous for his many Continued from Page 1) gu. We also took along picture activities, and is noted for taking rolls with the pictures illustrating over Christian Churches. Accord scenes from the Bible. We would ing to his report, or so we've heard, show a big picture, explain it, and he has taken over two Christian then play an appropriate record. Churches in Madras and hopes to
With this method the crowd would take over more soon.

to choose a topic without a lot of controversy, for the natives take such matters so seriously. Our peo ple are mostly Anglo-Indian, and speak English well.
The church has its own youth

stay all day.

Evangelism In The Hospital

Mrs. Belamma Chetty was the first high caste convert in our

leprosy hospital and the first in the churches of the Madrapakkam

area. We had had a few caste con verts in the Erode area and in

Madi'as, but never here around Our Thanks Jo You Madrapakkam. This lady has the now are Church of Christnon in It has now been a year since the highly infective type of Lepromas strument. It certainly is a funny Morris family returned to India world. Perhaps a new missionary leprosy, and is a carrier to many. from their short furlough in the

The funny part of it is there is group. They have a Sunday School only one Church of Christ in Mad in English and in Tamil. Almost ras, and that one did not go with all of the folk work, so they are him. After we sent our students limited in their day-time activities.. to the Philippines there was some But they all attend night services unrest in the group. One of the very well. This is just another one of the leaders formed a small clique and joined the Pentecostal church. La many projects carried on here. ter we learned that group had join Watch the next Challenger for an ed the Baptists, then the Advent- other feature. ists, and the Apostolics. Finally they came to hear of this man and

to do with this change of heart. cers and sores, then she has to Anyway, we had a good meeting come back to the hospital quickly. She is now in the hospital for her with good attendance. We met third time, and seems to be prog many new folk, and strengthened ressing nicely. the church even though there were
She and another woman of a

It often breaks out into severe ul

with a large budget had something

no additions. The church has reor

lesser caste, Rajammal of Koopedu, heard the message daily in our hos pital chapel. With the memorizing of Bible verses, the religious rec ords, the songs, our prayers and help they gradually learned of Jes us and His love for them. They ac cepted Him as their saviour. Possi bly there may be a reconciliation at a later date, but as soon as Mrs. Chetty was baptised her husband left her. She and her little girl, Ninavadi, were left alone, both with infectious leprosy. Mrs. Chetty's husband said he could tolerate her having leprosy, but now that she was a Christianwell, that ended the marriage.

ganized, and is much more evangel few hundred dollars remain to be istic than before. Perhaps because paid on old debts. After these are
of all this their zeal has increased. taken care of, more can be done to

states. At the time of their return, many heavy obligations remained to be met. During the past year you who have stood by the work with your steady support have made it possible to reduce these obligations tremendously. Now a

October 2nd is a legal holiday strengthen and expand the existing here. It is Gandhi's birthday. So we work. all had an outing at Ennore, near We are indeed grateful to all of the Gulick's house. Forty one of you for helping to accomplish these the church came for this gathering. many things. As we begin a new Bill gave the morning devotions, year, the future is much brighter then they all went for a boat ride. than it was one year ago. We Later on I spoke to the group. We praise the Lord for His continued then had a debate on "Who did goodness. We continue to trust in more for the New Testament Him to work through you and His Church, Peter or Paul." This prov servants in India. Thus, we are as ed to be very interesting, as one sured the work will continue to of our preachers is named Peter, advance.

English Church In Madras

The English speaking Church of
Christ in Madras has been in a two-week revival with Bro, William Gulick. We want to thank Bro.

SOUTH INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION RURAL ROUTE TWO

DANVILLE, ILLINOIS 61835

RETURN REQUESTED

Bill for his messages and time in coming each night for the two weeks for this important meeting. Bill is busy with his own work in Ennore. But to meet the emergen cy, he has given of his time and
talents for this work. The Church

was greatly strengthened during this period.

The Canadian Churches of

Christ (non instrument) came into Madras and held a big meeting, and have sent a missionai-y to live