Having seen a need on a short-term mission - and wanting to serve the Lord through early retirement - in 2006 David and Janet Preston left Belfast for a small village called Kathenakonda in the south-east Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, 155 miles west of the state capital Hyderabad.
Here, they work withIndia Quest, (IQ) an organisation that provides young Christians with an opportunity to experience living and working in south-east India, discipling them over a nine-month course.
Kathenakonda is home to one of the five school campuses run by United Christian Church of India (UCCI); an organisation CFC has had a relationship with for over 25 years. David and Janet live on the campus, lead the IQ team and teach religious education, computer science, swimming and sport on three of the five campuses, which accommodates 1,500 children between four and 20-years-old.
They also visit other campuses working with the children on numerous programmes and lead discipleship courses for 18 to 30-year-olds. A desire to disciple young people was one of the key reasons David and Janet went.
What’s it all about?
To get a better idea of what David and Janet do day-to-day and what their mission entails, we asked them about their life in India and here’s what they told us. Click on each question to find out more.
What is the principal purpose of your mission?
The discipleship of young people between 18 and 30 years of age through service in India at home in India.
What does your mission involve?
It’s very varied and involves teaching and leading Bible study, prayer, outreach in the towns and villages, helping with a number of different projects from boreholes and AIDS projects to mentoring.
What is a typical day like for you?
Our day starts at six each morning. After breakfast and quiet time, from 8.15 we have team preparation so we can begin teaching at the schools from 9.00 to 12:30. For two hours from 2.30 we would be involved in Bible study classes four afternoons a week and one afternoon would be devoted to Borehole or Aids projects.
We have free time in the evening and from seven we would be involved in outreach work, crusades, different assignments, worship or nights out. It just depends. The weekends are ours with church and worship on Sundays.
We are very much encouraged to develop relationships with the children and staff on the campus as well as within the team. We also do two weeks of practical work around the campus, one week linking with a team from Belfast. We also teach English to the staff over a two-week period.
There are three mission trips during the nine-month programme and at this time, we take the opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal and other places of interest, as well as trying out elephant and camel rides!
What were your expectations when you started?
We wanted to be able to provide a varied and challenging enough programmes through which the team could develop their relationship with God and to encourage UCCI in the mission God had given them.
What do you hope to achieve?
There are many things we would like to achieve, for example see the IQ team grow in Jesus and to help them develop a passion for mission. We would like to see young Indians come to know Jesus and to be baptised and to help the churches with evangelism.
We also want to help establish boreholes in needy areas, provide food for those with AIDS and network through mission in other parts of India and across to Sri Lanka. Through our work, we hope to strengthen the links that CFC has with UCCI.
Are there any moments that you would like to share to encourage people back home and those considering mission?
There have been many, but the ones that stand out for us are baptising young people from many different backgrounds and members of our team too.
Do you have any advice for those considering mission?
Pray for the country God is opening up to you, learn the language and learn about the culture. You need to be prepared to be both teachable and flexible, but most importantly make sure your motives are right – a love for Jesus and for people.
Anything we can do to help?
Yes. If you are aged 18 to 30 and would like to join us through our nine-month discipleship course through India Quest, please get in touch.Please mobilise for us because we need bigger teams and there is so much to do. Please pray for us too. To find out more please download our latest newsletter.
Two things that you miss?
We miss our family and worship at CFC.
Is there a particular verse that has inspired or encouraged you in our journey?
Psalm 121 verses 7 and 8 have always meant a lot to us on our travels. “The Lord will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and your going both now and for evermore.'
An opportunity to serve our partners UCCI through general maintenance work and building repairs. The work is not complicated, the trip will be inspiring.
An opportunity to minister to women and help them fulfil their destiny for themselves, their families and their nation through training, equipping and empowering.
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