25 Years On… Bangalore Church Anniversary

In February 1988 a ragged band of very young, zealous, and inexperienced young disciples from London officially started a congregation in Bangalore in South India. They were nicknamed “The Bangaloonies” due to their boundless energy and fire.

Over the next twelve months nearly 150 souls were won, many of whom are now leaders in the Indian movement. Mark, Mohan, and I were privileged to lead this inspiring group. All of us were under the age of 25 when the work started. We made many mistakes but the zeal level was high. God blessed our efforts in spite of intense persecution, death threats, attempted kidnappings, police interrogations, and betrayals.

Today the Bangalore church is the largest congregation of the International Churches of Christ in South Asia. It has sprung numerous other churches, including the Chennai church. It was so encouraging to be part of the 25^th anniversary celebrations this past weekend.

Mark and I were so inspired and encouraged to meet with the HOPE staff. The HOPE work in Bangalore has numerous programs, including schools, vocational training centers, a home for street boys, women’s empowerment programs, etc.

We also met the church staff, the teens and campus groups, the singles, the married couples and families. We fellowshipped with several couples who have been such an inspiration to us over the years. So many have endured persecution, given up worldly dreams, risked their life, all for the sake of the Gospel.

We are now seeing the children of the early converts become Christians. 25 years ago we shared the Gospel with teenagers and young people who are now the parents of today’s teenagers and campus students. It is an amazing privilege to still be in India after all these years and share in the rebirth of the children of our friends.

When we came to India 25 years ago we did not know much but we had a dream and a burning passion in our hearts. Today it is a joy to see that dream fulfilled in the lives of so many wonderful brothers and sisters.
 

 

First Service in Warsaw, Poland!

Conversion Story 80 Years in the Making

On the 21st December 1983, Julie Inglis put on Christ in the waters of baptism.

Just a few months earlier Julie had graduated from Birmingham University with a 1st (major) in Music and as a young 21 year old had moved to London to study for her Master's Degree at City University. She was met in a London Underground station by Moira Stewart and Dickye Palmer, both members of the Central London church of Christ, and invited to church. Alex and Molly Inglis, Julie's parents, were concerned that their only child had moved to the 'big city' and had become involved with a religious group that they had never heard about.
When they visited the church and found it being led at that time by young Americans that did nothing to allay their fears!

On completion of her Master's Degree and then her Teaching qualifications Julie began to work as a Primary School teacher but after a year she was offered the opportunity to serve as an intern in the London Church. Julie's decision to give up her career to work in the full-time ministry for the church confirmed all of her parent's worst fears. Her mother was a schoolteacher herself and her father was an Officer in the Thames Valley Police Force. They had made some enquiries into the London church and had heard many disturbing reports; allegations of brain washing, sleep deprivation and the use of the word 'cult' had caused them great distress. Julie, however, continued to reach out to her parents and although they'd asked her not to invite them to her church again they trusted her to make sensible decisions for her own life.
In 1988 when Julie started dating Mike Desouza, a young medical student in the church, her parents once again experienced a measure of anxiety, particularly when the relationship started to become serious and when they heard that Julie's new boyfriend was also considering giving up his career to work full time for the church!

Mike and Julie were married in August 1989. Alex and Molly attended the wedding, along with other members of Julie's family, but were less than thrilled. Over the years their apprehensions, however, were gradually being eroded as they watched Julie's family grow, first with 2 daughters, Sarah and Hannah, and then with their son, Caleb. They were overjoyed by their grand children and delighted by the obvious warmth and joy in the Desouza household.

In 2000 Julie's mother developed Alzheimer's disease.  Alex cared for Molly on his own for the next 10 years as her health continued to deteriorate until her eventual passing in 2009.  Now Alex's health had also begun to decline. Finally in 2012, after a triple heart by-pass and hip replacement surgery, Alex eventually agreed to move in with Mike and Julie.  He gets to see life in the Desouza home from an insider's perspective. He sees the commitment to family. He sees the commitment to church. He sees the constant flow of people coming to the house for Bible studies and discussion groups. He also sees the joy and peace that comes from trusting God and seeking first His kingdom and righteousness.

In 2012 when Hannah turned down a place at Oxford University to study at Kings College London so that she could be a part of the London church campus ministry Alex was concerned but not distressed.Also in 2012, like her mother many years before, Sarah too graduated from Birmingham University with a degree in Psychology.  And when she also started to work as an intern in the full-time ministry, this time for the Birmingham church of Christ, Alex was pleased for her.

Over the following months Alex started attending church regularly in the East sector of the London congregation.  He was greatly impacted by the vibrancy of the fellowship, the obvious love, kindness and care expressed by the many Christians he meets, and the challenging lessons and sermons he heard. Over time he began to do a few Bible studies with his son-in-law, Mike; and then in June 2013, during a 3-week visit of Mike and Terrie Fontenot to the East London church, Alex started to study the Bible more intensely with both Mike Fontenot and Mike Desouza.

Finally on 23rd June 2013, in beautiful sunshine, Alex Inglis, at the age of 80, put on Christ in the waters of baptism; 30 years, 6 months and 2 days after his daughter Julie. See more good news at the London Church's website