Church Planting from Peel

Within evangelical circles it is sometimes said that when a church reaches a certain size it should take the opportunity to branch out and plant a new fellowship in a different location. Our experience of church planting is uncommon because we have planted a church despite being relatively small ourselves.

Furthermore it is unusual for a church of any size to plant a fellowship on the other side of the world in a totally different culture. Nevertheless this is what has been achieved on the Promised Land site in Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Why India and not the Isle of Man?

In the natural course of things one might expect a church plant within our "catchment area" in our home island.

However as a result of the Grace Children Home (GCH) work done by GTWF there had been a desire for a chapel for worship there.

One thing led to another and in God's Providence a fully-constituted church has been established.

A self-contained chapel and baptistry has been constructed adjacent to the GCH in N.G. Palem.

It can accommodate a much larger congregation than our building in Peel; which is just as well bearing in mind the three-figure attendances it usually hosts. Teak and marble, though expensive in the West are inexpensive in India, and ensure both the comfort and termite-proofing (!) of the chapel.

The church has a new pastor (Timothy Babu), a written constitution, elders, deacons and members. Baptisms, solely by total immersion upon profession of faith, are frequent. Conversions also continue. Praise God for this long-distance encouragement which He has sent our way in very recent days!

It meets the following needs in particular:

• Spiritual guidance for the children and the staff in the Grace Children's Home
• A witness to the village of N.G.Palem, with local villagers coming into the services in greater numbers.