TNL India Team

September 2008

This October a team from The Next Level Church is traveling to northern India to visit Ryan Koeniger. Ryan works for Engineering Ministries International (EMI) in Mussoorie, India as an architect and a project developer. Ryan has designed a variety of buildings including: hospitals, schools, dormitories, and chapels throughout Southeast Asia. The team is four men from TNLC who have a desire to encourage Ryan and support the community he is a part of there. The TNL India Team is: Bobby Rinehart, Simeon Turner, Dave Terpstra, and Jared Mackey.

The purpose of the team is two fold: to continue to foster the relationship with Ryan as an extension of our community who has been living and working in India for over 6 years; and to encourage the community Ryan is a vital part of, the leaders and workers of both EMI and his local church.

The church will be having a leadership training during the week we are in Mussoorie with twenty pastors and leaders from the churches from the nearby villages and un-reached places in the surrounding area. Each of us will have the opportunity to teach with Hindi translators to equip and encourage recent followers of Christ believers who are leading house churches and beginning new ministries. A significant portion of our time will be spent with the EMI staff and interns listening and seeing the world from their perspective. They have planned two days of prayer and fasting, as their team does at the mid-point of each semester. We are excited about being with the EMI team for these unique days of reflection as together we place ourselves before God, in worship and intercession, on behalf of the various ministries and Christian communities in India.

It is a difficult season for followers of Christ in India. Although the northern state of Uttarakhand, where Ryan works and our time will be, is far away from the state of Orissa our hope is that our travels will be used by God to encourage and strengthen the Indian church. There is current persecution and violence against the Christian community in India across the eastern state of Orissa and has spilled into the neighboring state of Madhya Pradesh. This aggression could be the worst violence and persecution against Indian Christians in Indian history. The latest reports cite the murder of over 20 Christians, 300 villages destroyed, 4,000 homes burned, and more than 100 churches demolished. These events in the state of Orissa erupted after the murder of a Hindu swami (holy man). Mobs have falsely accused and attacked the Indian Christian community in Orissa in retaliation for the murder. In talking with Ryan he and his church see the possibilities and promise for the Indian Church even through this tragedy and are hopeful for God’s grace.

We ask for your prayers for the following for our team:
For Ryan, his church leaders, and coworkers with EMI to be encouraged and refreshed by our visit
That our hearts would be motivated by compassion and love for the Church in India
That we would communicate the hope of Christ to a country in the midst of persecution
For our safety and health as we travel
That God would be honored as we serve, learn, and partner with Ryan and those we meet

Your support of the financial cost of this team is also appreciated. The total cost for our team is only $6,000 – thanks to incredibly low airline fares and traveling via public trains while in India. Together as a team we have contributed the initial $2,000 personally. We need to raise $4,000 for the costs of the team and to be able to provide financial support and generous gifts to the ministries and community there. All financial support should be sent to The Next Level Church, c/o India Team – 3999 South Lipan Street, Englewood, CO, 80110. All support is tax deductible. Your partnership is vital as we seek to encourage and support our friend and the community there. Our hope is for this team to be a catalyst of growth and encouragement not only for ourselves and those we work with in India, but for you as well.

Thank you for your prayers and support. May the peace of Christ be with you.

The TNLC India Team