GREAT COMMISSION KIDS “Hey Kids, Let’s Talk !”

Do you have a comment or question about missions or about something you read in this G KIDS issue? Email [email protected] Or send a letter to: By Linda Dingeldein C Issue 13: Reaching GC Kids - Let’s Talk

1431 Stuckert Rd Telling about the Warrington, PA 18976-2851 U.S.A. one true God Reaching Hindus

Some , like the For Jesus Hindu , think Remember—Pray that many Hindus will there are many gods. become Christians! We must tell them the truth about the one true God! That is what this issue of “GC Kids” is GC KIDS is for children ages about 9 to 13. It aims to nurture a passion for about. As you read the missions that will encourage children to be active in the Great Commis- stories, think about sion throughout their lives. what the disciple John This quarterly publication is mailed free to individual children or adult said was the reason he leaders of children. (For multiple copies see the information below.) wrote about Jesus: For suggestions, ideas or submissions , send postal mail via the ad- John said, dress below or email [email protected]. “Jesus did many other miraculous To subscribe , email [email protected], subject line: “GC EE Pioneer Missionaries ——— FR Kids subscription” or fill in this form and mail it to GC Kids c/o signs in the presence John and Jessie Whipple World Team, 1431 Stuckert Rd., Warrington, PA 18976. of his disciples,

which are not ______n 1912, only two weeks after they heard recorded in this I Address ______book. But these are about the need for missionaries, John and ______written that you may Jessie Whipple went to . They began to ______believe that Jesus is try to tell people of the Hindu religion about the Christ, the Son of Jesus. The Whipples didn’t know how to speak the language. They struggled to make You may purchase multiple copies of GC Kids (minimum 50) by ordering God, and that by from Copy ’n Print, Box 4566, Three Hills AB T0M 2A0, CANADA believing you may the strange sounds. John learned that “A Ph: 403-443-7041 Fax: 403-443-2120 Email: [email protected] have life in his smile is the same in all languages.” The Price printed, folded and mailed to USA : 50 copies about US$50; 100 copies name.” John 20:30-31 people saw Christ’s love in John and Jessie about US$75. Please indicate number and title of the issues you want (see and started to trust them. Mr. and Mrs. front page). Contact Copy ’n Print for questions about international ship- ping. To download and print multiple copies yourself, go to Whipple made friendships and earned www.worldteam.org and click on “Resources”. respect from the native Indians in the name of Christ. GC Kids is a service of World Team, “Glorifying God by Copyright © 2008 At first the Whipples slept in hot stuffy working together to establish reproducing churches focusing tents with cows and buffalo roaming around on unreached peoples of the world.” World Team, 1431 Stuckert Rd, Warrington, PA 18976, USA them. Then after much prayer, God provided Ph. 215-491-4900 Fax 215-491-4910 [email protected] www.worldteam.org them with money to build an edge of his orphanage for homeless children. field. The Great Commission They called it the Place of Faith. After the John also felt bad for the people incident, about The verse in the box on page 6 is some- who needed medical help because 150 radical none was available. They built a Hindus and what scrambled. Unscramble it and write hospital and soon two nurses and I n d i a n it here. If you need help, see Acts 4:12: a doctor joined their missionary policemen team. came to the In 1930, when John Whipple village and threatened the village ______was only 46, he died of smallpox. Christians because of Prakash’s ______His life was short, but it had been bad aim. (Radicals are people spent wisely. Because of this man who have extreme ideas or ______many Hindus became part of behavior, and who want big social ______Christ's Kingdom. changes to take place. Hindu (Adapted by Mary Hansen from radicals in India want Hindus to ______Global Prayer Digest .) have more power.) Even though Prakesh had only occasionally That was a long time ago. attended a Christian church, the Think About It What about now? Are Hindus still Hindus still blamed the Christians coming to Jesus? Read the next for damage to the idol. They beat Read the stories on pages reach Hindus (or anyone stories . ■ up Prakash and some of the one through four, then who isn’t a Christian) for Christians. answer these questions: Jesus? PPPRAKASH AND THE BBB ULL Hindus believe all religions have truth in their teachings. But ………………………………… Prakash is a Hindu farmer in radical Hindus in India do not Some people tell us that ………………………………… India. Hindu teachings tell of want other Hindus to leave their all religions are good as ………………………………… many gods, even though Hindus religion and follow Jesus. They ………………………………… may believe in one main god. sometimes attack Christians who long as a person is Hindus have great respect for spread the gospel and other sincere. What does Acts ………………………………… idols of Hindu gods. Hindus who even think about 4:12 say about that? …………………………………. Prakash did not always behave becoming Christians. ■ ………………………………… well. Sometimes he drank a lot of liquor and got drunk. He attended ………………………………… Write here a prayer for Christian worship services from IIINDIA : G: G ANG MMMEMBER LLLEARNS ………………………………… Hindu people around the time to time. Perhaps he was FFFORGIVENESS ………………………………… world. looking for the truth and for ………………………………… answers to his problems. Narayan Gowda was the leader of One day, a stray bull wandered a gang in India. His gang had 14 ………………………………….. into Prakash’s field. Prakash members. Narayan’s gang drank, threw a rock at the bull to scare it smoked, used drugs, and attacked What does Acts 4:12 tell away. But Prakash was drunk, people, especially Christians. and he missed the bull. Instead he The gang was part of a larger us about why we need to hit a Hindu idol standing at the

Illustrations by Linda Dingeldein Page 2 Page 7 group of radical Hindus. The pray, too. radical Hindus praised them when “The actions of these Christians they caused trouble, but Narayan showed me God’s grace and wasn’t happy. “I struggled with forgiveness in an entirely new

guilt because of the terrible things way,” said Narayan.

I was doing,” he said. The Book The Forgiving Pastor Narayan’s family was fed up Many Christians in India are with him. His relatives were poor. One group of poor Indian Hindus, but they did not approve Christians saved money for years of the evil ways of the gang. to build a tiny church. Finally the Narayan’s mother followed little brick building was Hindu rituals to try to bring about completed. change in her son. But he didn’t One night, Narayan and his change. She was so upset by his gang took hammers, axes, and behavior that she became ill and other tools to the church. Piece by had to be taken to the hospital. piece, they tore the building apart A pastor who visited the sick and destroyed it. people at the hospital gave The pastor rushed to the ruins Narayan’s mother a New of his church. He met a Testament. She told him she was policeman who was investigating concerned about her son. The the crime. “Do you know who did pastor asked her son’s name, and WHICH this?” the officer asked the pastor. she told him. He recognized the The pastor knew. Narayan’s gang name. The pastor was one of the was well-known. But the pastor Christians praying for Narayan’s gave a statement to the police that salvation. said he did not want to charge Narayan’s mother took the New anyone with the crime. Instead, Testament home. She put it on a he was praying for their shelf and didn’t read it. Narayan forgiveness. saw it and started reading it. Then The church members gathered to fast and pray for the gang members’ salvation. They sent the of the trouble- makers to Christians all over the city so Source: www.KidsofCourage.com Archives, “Comparing Hinduism and others could Christianity.”

Page 6 Special thanks to child copy editors Jessica, Rebecca, Joe and Logan. Page 3 he began attending church services at the hospital where his mother had gotten the book. Like the Apostle Paul, he became a follower of Jesus, he quit persecuting Christians, and his life changed.

From Persecutor to Persecuted Narayan’s mother and the rest of his family were upset by his faith in Christ. They said he had “lost his mind.” His re n a I neighbors insulted him for not ws ed du o r in C no H worshipping the gods of his ancestors. o ’s . h ia n s nd io d’ But the police were happy! A police I ig al s el n nt officer told him, “Your Jesus Christ has r Do ra o Mc au d st ia done what the entire police force and the re nd ve is I er f laws of this country could not do. He in s ee t (B no . in changed you into a law-abiding citizen.” ef in t be ma n .) e ie rs Narayan is now a pastor. Recently, th ed e gr rg in bu radical Hindus attacked him because am they said he had been telling other h Hindus about Jesus. Pastor Narayan and his congregation did not press charges. They have forgiven the attackers. The Christians will pray for the gang that attacked the pastor. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16, NIV) ■

The stories “Prakash and the Bull” and “Gang Member Learns Forgiveness” are used by permission: The Voice of the Martyrs, www.KidsofCourage.com . Sources include: Compass Direct.

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