India

Challenger
Missionaries Field Address

Fwd. Agt/Development Director

D. Eugene Houpt
P.O. Box 215

Art & Ruth Morris

011 Ramanathan Street

Danville, IL 61834-0215
Home - 217/442-6736 Office 217/446-1542

Kilpauk, Madras
India 600010

THE INDIA CHALLENGER is a quarterly publication of South India Church of Christ Mission Volume 38
March 1988

Number 1

A GREAT HUMANITARIAN PROJECT-SURGERY FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN

and girls in phase one. As soon as these are finished, we will move right into phase two. There are over 300
children on our lists who need surgery.
WE HAVE:

Vt

1. An unlimited number of crippled children. 2. A surgeon and talented medical care. 3. The Jeep, which was supplied by FAME to help cover these long distances from Madrapakkam to Madras. 4. Plenty of beds, medicine and shoe/boot
makers. WE NEED;

1. Sponsors.

2. We can do the operation and buy the needed fitting shoes and calipers for just $150.00 per
child.

THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PROJECT FOR A

BIBLE SCHOOL CLASS, VACATION BIBLE

A crippled boy waiting for operation. He really needed it. This program is going full steam ahead. We have
the services of a wonderful orthopedic surgeon, and
since our return last fall there have been seven chil

SCHOOL OR ANY GROUP.

JUST THINK-A

child can be given a useful life for $150.00. This can be a one time gift to help meet a special need.

dren helped by surgery. It is a joy to see these children walking upright and beaming with happi ness. The calipers are sometimes painful, but we hear
no complaints at all.

Our surgeon, Dr. Keith Gammon, was a professor in the finest medical college of India for the last nine

years. We praise God for his dedicated skill and love

for the Lord.

After the operation at Madrapakkam in our new operation theater, the patients recover and grow strong. The talented staff of Madrapakkam, along with Dr. Roy and her crew, prepare them for a new
life. As soon as the children are able, they are

brought to Madras where they go to the shoe and boot department. Most of the patients must have calipers (braces) and new special shoes to help keep the restored feet and legs in a good condition. We have set a plan to complete surgery for 50 boys

One of our boys after surgery. He has been fitted with leg
braces. Shown here with Masi, our hospital administrator.

ART MORRIS GIVES REASONS FOR CHOOSING THE CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S PROJECT
is available and the disease is being brought under control, but the damage has been done to hundreds of
children.

Of course, accidents, birth defects and other causes are ever present as well. There are just not enough hospital beds and certainly not enough surgeons to meet the needs of the many crippled children. Also the cost is very high for our poor people. The cost of surgery on one de formed leg by a regular surgeon is $1,000. This is a man's wages for two years.

Our surgeon, Dr. Keith, dressed for surgery.

We have all the requirements for helping these poor children. We have an operation theater that has been devised and built by a surgeon who studied in England and Australia. It is amazing to find such a complete and practical surgical theater outside of
Madras.

When we first arrived in Madrapakkam in 1950, there were no doctors, nurses or medicine shops.

People were sick and dying, and unless they were

rich enough to reach Madras by bus, they had no
hope of living. We started the first medical care facility in this

IN ADDITION WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING TO HELP MAKE THIS PROGRAM WORK:

area in August of 1950 with a part-time nurse in a

mud hut with one bed. Through the years

Madrapakkam, hke the rest of India, grew tremen dously. We added a doctor, then soon two doctors along with leprosy workers and nurses.

The first project of FAME was the building of our very serviceable medical unit with 80 beds and com plete operating conveniences. Because of having this facility we were able to treat thousands of general patients every year besides restoring 34,000 leprosy patients to useful lives. We encouraged young
doctors and nurses to care for the wealthy paying

patients, and now our little village of Madrapakkam

has 28 medical centers in its town limits. The total

1. Available surgeons to perform the necessary surgery and fit the corrective shoes and leg braces (calipers). All of these supplies can be found in our area. We have arranged with a sup plier who will give special attention to our patients. 2. Beds and nursing care. There are several nurses working under the supervision of a staff nurse. 3. A good physiotherapist who does necessary treatments and gives outstanding therapy to the limbs. He uses special exercises and teaches the children how to start walking again. 4. Available land for future expansion. A great deal of interest in this project has been evidenced by the neighorhood at large, and by all the agencies that I have spoken to. WE JUST LACK
THE SPONSORS TO HELP FINANCE THIS

population of the villages in this immediate area is only about 10,000. It is obvious that the medical
needs of these can be met by these private practitioners. Leprosy patients are few, as most have been cured, and it was time for us to plan a new strategy to help the people of our area who could not be helped other wise. As India grows, the medical care grows more costly. Now it is still far short of American price for medicine, but surgery is out of sight for all except the rich. Many of the best surgeons are now in the Arabian Gulf region or in America. So the ones here charge high prices and cannot get to the villages. We have recently read that there are over one million crippled children in India. The sad part of it is that 90% of these children who need operations and medical care are from those below the poverty line. They just cannot give their children the needed medical attention. Polio is the culprit for most of these crippled children. Until after 1970 polio
vaccine was not available in India. Now the vaccine

PROJECT. Many of you have helped us over the last

37 years, and we always appreciate every bit of your

help. You have told us to lay before you the needs that we have so you can seek help where possible. This is a very urgent need, and we trust that there will be classes, missionary groups and individuals who will
be able to respond.
THE COST FOR EACH CHILD TO HAVE

SURGERY IS$150.00. This is a one time gift. Along with the gifts we need prayers for these children to
have a good life.

Our daughter, Patty, came to India for Christmas, 1987. She was touched by the needs of these children and gave her entire vacation to filming these oper
ations. We will soon have this video available from

our office at Danville, Illinois. It should make this

need more understandable.

Will you be our partner in this project? We will

reach out to our area and to other parts of India as the
funds become available.

way to help meet the physic'al and spiritual needs of the people, but it is a means of opening many doors
for future evangelism. This was the case last year

when this project was undertaken for the first time, and it has continued to be so again this past Christ-

r
Art Morris and one of our Sunday School teachers. He is also a student at Southern Asia Christian College.

MEDICAL EVANGELISM IN MADRAS CITY

November 8, 1987 was truly a Red Letter Day. We dedicated this new medical program and opened the first five centers in the City of Madras. Within the first week, we crossed the 1000 mark of patients
treated.

Children's Home boys at prayer. They are wearing their

new Christmas shirts.

We have chosen the poorest areas needing this

medical care. Most of them are in the slum area.

Madras City that had only one million people when we came in 1950 is now spread out to encompass five and one half million people. Also it is the trading center for seven million more . So in greater Madras we have 12 million people. We started this program for the glory of God and His church. It is only a drop in the bucket, but it shows love and care. All the treating is done at the chosen Church of Christ. The organizer and presider is the local preacher. The patients go into the meeting house and learn to sing songs and pray. Please join them in prayer for the new brothers and sisters in Christ who are being won by this method. We feel that the church that can't help people when and where they hurt is not the one that will win souls. Most of the patients are very, very poor. The es tablished doctors charge very high fees. This service helps save many lives and gives the people confidence in Christianity.

We anticipated the gifts would amount to about $8,000 for this project. By faith, we advanced those funds to India so the purchases could be made. You did not fail in your giving. The total given was just slightly over, and this helped take care of expenses we had in connection with the project. Our thanks to all of you who shared in this special project. So successful has it become to have this extra effort at Christmas that we are making it an annual event. This is another tool for evangelism that the Lord is using for His glory. There are some pictures included in this issue about the Christmas project. Take a look at them for just some idea of how you have helped.

^ m

THE CHRISTMAS PROJECT ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS

So many of you responded generously to help our special Christmas project. Not only is this a great
This Sunday School boy is holding one of the many drums we bought during the Christmas season to help our Sunday Schools.

Dr. Raja, the resident medical officer at Mad rapakkam. This young doctor is just one year out of
medical school but willing to live at Madrapakkam.

Patty Morris during her

visit to India for Christmas,
1987.

.HI

MANY USEFUL TAPES RECEIVED

In our September issue we mentioned the need for tapes of sermons. Several have responded to this request, and many good sermons and Bible studies are now in circulation among our Indian preachers.
If there are others who would like to help us with

gifts of tapes of sermons and/or lessons, we will be happy to receive them. Please send them to the address for packages given on this page. We will
These baptisms are taking place at one ofthe villages near Madrapakkam. We began working in this area in 1952,
and the work is still going strong.
forward them to India. This is another vital service for which we thank

MAILING ADDRESSES

THE INDIA CHALLENGER (USPS 700-430) is published quarterly, March. June,

September, and December, by Mission Services Association, 752.5 Hodges Ferry Road, Knoxville, TN 37920-973L Second-class postage paid at Knoxville, TN 379012427. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE INDIA CHALLENGER, c/o Mission Services Association, P.O. Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

LETTERS & CONTRIBUTIONS:

SOUTH INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION
P.O. Box 215

Form 3579 Requested, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

Danville, IL 61834-0215

FOR PACKAGES:
SOUTH INDIA

CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION 424 N. Gilbert St.

Danville, IL 61832

India

Challenger
Missionaries

Field Address Art & Ruth Morris

#11 Ramanathan Street

Fwd. Agt/Development Director D. Eugene Houpt

P.O. Box 215

Danville. IL 61834 0215

Home - 217/442-6736 Office 217/446-1542

Kilpauk, Madras
India 600010

THE INDIA CHALLENGER is a quarterly publication of South India Church of Christ Mission Volume 38 June 1988 Number 2

EVANGELISM

ON THE MARCH
by Arthur Morris
Self supporting churches are vital and essential to
the growth of the Christian cause!!!
We are in an exciting time for the Churches of Christ in India. Much like what is recorded in the

t'ff Tf
Southern Asia Christian College Choir. They are famous for their Christmas TVprogram. This picture was takenon graduation day, March 11, 1988.

book of Acts, today people are coming and asking how to find Christ, and how to do the work of the
Lord. House churches seem to be the answer in some

of the areas of India. I recently attended a convention at Hyderbad, the capital of Andhra State. I was amazed at the spiritual openness of this

group. The spiritual power plant revolves around the daily women's prayer luncheons. Many of the women work in the government railways and spend
45 minutes each lunch break in prayer. The main

allowed, and no preaching is allowed by anyone. Can you imagine a place where it is illegal to preach?
Such is this country. In Malaysia there are many

prayer is for the lost people of Hyderbad. To help reach these people a new house church is established
each month. There are over three million people in

Indians, both Christians and non-Christians. Also there are many Chinese. In spite of the laws against
preaching, it is permissable to preach to the Indians and Chinese. Then they can carry the message to others. Paul Ragu is now preaching on the tea and rubber estates where he is able to meet many Tamil

this city who come from all different caste groups in

search of one Lord and one Saviour.

In Masilapatnam some 50 evangelists are being trained during the month of May. Here some of the house churches have grown so much that the people
have built their own church buildings. This is a joy to see. Ruth and I enjoyed the hospitality of these

speaking Indians. They are so happy to hear Paul's testimony and the good news of salvation. A great opportunity is open here.

people and helped them make plans for the coming

seminar and for expansion and growth. The Chris tians here have chosen to call their group the Andhra
Christian Church. New Testament Christianity is

being taught. One of our lecturers from Southern

Asia Christian College, Mr. Paul, is leading in this Seminar. He will be assisted by his family. Please pray for these precious people. MALAYSIA: Paul Ragu is at this moment in

Malaysia making a survey to find a ripe field for

evangelism and an area where New Testament Christianity can be taught and accepted. (Editor's notethis was written in May). Since this is a

strictly Muslim country, no foreign missionaries are

Art Morris seeing Paul Ragu off at the airport as he leaves to begin new work in Malaysia.

Paul has broken through many barriers, but will soon be returning to India. He is bringing with him at least two students who will study at Southern Asia Christian College. Then he will return to Malaysia at
a later date to continue building on this initial effort.
Transformation
um^iu

A.

SojjS

changes are due to the Mission as there has been progress in India through different government plans and schemes. But not only are the two young men mentioned earlier now serving the Lord through the work of Christian Hospital and the Children's Homes, but between 40 and 50 of the children from this village have gone through the Home. Today we find a new brick church building which the people built themselves. They are regular in church at tendance, have a strong elder leadership and a church that is strong and self supporting. We will always remember the loving hospitality shown to us during camping trips, preaching parties, adult edu cation classes and visits to them. How encouraging and rewarding it was to go back and find the people
faithful in the work of the Lord!

These fine young ladies are from the village of Thairakshi

which Art wrote about. They were trained in one of our
Girls' Homes.

One of the first villages we worked with in the

1950's was a small hamlet called Thairakshi. This

group of people were uneducated and landless

laborers who were very badly treated by the land lords for whom they worked. We found these people

willing and eager to hear about Christ, and many did accept Him. This did not please the landlords. For punishment to the new Christians they denied them many civil rights. This includedthe refusing ofwork, food, water and schooling (the latter would not be allowed in any event for these people). Because of
this harsh treatment, all of the new Christians except one, returned to Hinduism.

A charminglittlegirl who is now a resident of one of our

homes.

These people endured untold miseries as well as living in humble mud huts. For them we knew the only hope was Jesus with His abundant blessings.
The one man who remained faithful was named

Bagginathan. He worked for his living in the village.

We worked through him to help spread the Gospel message. He was able to help us bring two young

boys into the home which had just been started for
such deserving children.
Ruth Morris with two of the older girls at Girls' Home Day.
Church Dedication

&
Church officers at Thairakshi. See accompanying article to feel the joy ofa missionary as he looks back over 35 years
of service with this area.

Now we have just recently visited the church during the monthly preachers' meeting. Wecould not resist making comparison between the work today
with the way it was 35 years ago. Not all of the

The new church building at Annainaidukuppam which Art speaks about in his article.

We are happy to announce that the Church of Christ at Annainaidukuppam dedicated their fine new brick church building in March. This is one of our first church areas, and they have always had mud buildings. The Mission helped them with their new building by putting on the roof. Our plan is to help each church to this extent if they are willing to build the foundation and walls. We expect to do more
of this in the near future.

stayed with us until January, 1988. She helped us very much by taking videos of the Crippled Children's Hospital in Madrapakkam. She stayed in the operating room photographing the operations,
and that is always difficult to do. She was a great
blessing to us.

David and his wife, Jane, arrived on December 24.

That day the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu died, and that caused all shops and traffic to be stopped in the
entire state for three days. As this was through Christmas Day, there was a lot of hardship on the

people. Few could store up food even for one day. Everyone shared in any way they could just to make
life bearable.

This seems to have been a time of movement. We were in the USA from June until September, 1987.

Again in February we made a short visit to attend the wedding of our charming daughter, Sharon. We had met her husband, Mark, in September. They were married on February 13,1988. After this beauti ful wedding, we returned almost immediately to take
up our duties of mission work.
This is the ready-made baptistry at Annainaidukuppam. It is the village drinking water supply.

ON THE HOME FRONT

by Ruth Morris
In December, 1987, we were blessed with the visits of Patty and David. Patty arrived in November and

Sharon Morris and her new husband. Mr. and Mrs. Mark

Bilsborough.

Girls who are now living at the Girls Home in Madrapakkam. Some of you who are reading this provide their regular support.

Art Morris taking time to enjoy an elephant on the

street while on a Kerala. visit in

A temple cart which is used for all Hindu celebrations. In the past it was the practice to choose men to lie down in front of the wheels
and die.

Before we left for the States in the month of

Sheila Grace, daughter of one of our long time workers, Moses. She is now a staff nurse at Christian Hospital.

January, we attended meetings in Andhra in the Telegu field. We also were in Kerala for the gradua-

tion services at Kerala Christian Bible College where P. V. Alexander serves as president. Upon our return,

we helped plan for the 15th Annual Convention of

Churches of Christ. All went well until an eye in

fection stopped me. It would not heal. I thought it

was because I had studied so hard on the graduate school exams that A,Yt and I took in March. However, everyone thought it was due to the heat of 104, so we left for the hills. The eye did not get better, so we came back to Madras. By that time the temperature was 110 and rising. At the advice of the eye specialist, I
tried a new ointment from abroad. The eye is now

CRIPPLED CHILDREN'S PROJECT CONTINUES

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! Many have responded to our appeal in the March issue of this publication to help provide funds for surgeries on crippled children. We are so grateful that you care and are willing to help. And we rejoice

healing so we are returning to the hills to escape this

impossible heat.
We have been so blessed to see our children as often

as we do considering the great distance from them. We even got to visit with our granddaughter, Ginger, and her parents, Joe and Max, during the month of
September.

Again at Sharon's wedding we were able to see Patty and David as well as my sister, Esther, from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. Patty, Sharon and Mark live in Tampa while David and his wife, Jane, live on the
West Coast.

in having been told that a few are using this project in VBS this summer. We just know it will be a chal lenge to the children you teach to be able to help others of their own age group in another part of the world who have some very great needs. Again we want to thank you for taking this matter so seriously. It is an important ministry that must be continued. For those who might have missed the article in the last issue, we are reprinting just part of it here for your information. There may be others who want to
share in this needed ministry.
WE HAVE:

1. An unlimited number of crippled children.

While in the hills of Kody, I am planning a curriculum for all the Children's Homes. I know this will take a great deal of time and thought, but I have a lot of material from Eleanor Daniel and other

2. A surgeon and talented medical care.

3. The Jeep, which was supplied by FAME to help

cover these long distances from Madrapakkam
Madras.

teachers at CBS to help me. We appreciate all the

4. Plenty of beds, medicine and shoe/boot makers.

WE NEED:

tapes the preachers have sent to us. There's a lot of

valuable work on them.

1. Sponsors.

We thank God daily for all of you and for your

thoughtful and wonderful support of us and of this

Mission. We also realize anew how God gives us health. Both Art and I are now feeling ready to

2. We can do the operationa and buy the needed fitting shoes and calipers for just $150.00 per
child.

attack the work as we begin our 39th year on the field of India. We need your prayers for this troubled land
of India where there are so many opportunities for

This would be a great project for a Bible School class, Vacation Bible School or any group. Just thinka child can be given a useful life for $150.00. This can be a one time gift to help meet a special
need.

sharing the message of the Gospel.

Arthur and Ruth Morris began their 39th year of servicein South India onJune 3.Praise beto God
for the tremendous victories that have been won for the kingdom through these years of faithful

service. May His grace continue to sustain these workers in the time they are able to remain on the
field.
THE INDIA CHALLENGER (USPS 700-430) is published quarterly, March, June.

MAILING ADDRESSES

September, and December, by Mission Services Association, 7525 Hodfjes Ferry Road, Knoxville, TN 37920-9731. Second-class postage paid at Knoxville, TN 379012427. POSTMASTER: Send address changes toTHE INDIA CHALLENGER, c/o Mission Services Association, P.O. Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

LETTERS & CONTRIBUTIONS:

SOUTH INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION
P.O. Box 215

Form 3579 Requested, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

Danville, IL 61834-0215

FOR PACKAGES:
SOUTH INDIA

CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION

424 N. Gilbert St.

Danville, IL 61832

I/^S

India

Challenger
Missionaries

Field Address

Fwd. Agt/Deuelopmenl Director D. Eugene Houpt

P.O. Box 215

Art & Ruth Morris li Ramanathan Street

Danville, IL 61834-0215
Home 217/442-6736

Kilpauk, Madras
India 600010

Office 217/446-1542

THE INDIA CHALLENGER is a quarterly publication ofSouth India Church of Christ Mission
Volume 38

September 1988

Number 3

PLANS FOR THIRD GREAT SUNDAY

SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROJECT
by Ruth Morris
Editor's note: During the combined conventions at

Indianapolis in 1986, we introduced plans for the first

special Christmas project. The response was very good the

first year. Following that first special effort, Art Morris spoke of the evangelistic opportunities as a result of the Christmas emphasis being really tremendous. So in 1987 the project was expanded even further with great success. Here you are being given an up to the minute report on plans for the 1988 Christmas project.

It's our plan now to rent trucks and take the young people on Christmas carolling rounds. By doing this,
we can help thousands more to hear the Christmas message through song and sermon. Last year on December 24th the Chief Minister of our Tamil Nadu State passed away. Immediately a three day curfew was called. No shops were open and
no traffic was allowed on the roads during this time.

So our Christmas program stretched into New Year's This Christmas project is the best and most
Day.

exciting event of the year for the children of the villages in India as well as in the cities. It's a joyous event, and preparations begin very early -- even as early as July. Eager children come to hear the Word of God, memorize Bible verses and sing choruses of
the Christian message.

Christmas in India, for the Christian, is considered a church going day. IfChristmas falls on

a week day, then that day is still a big church day. There is great rejoicing and praising that God sent His Son, Jesus. In the villages, the Christmas season

Last year's special effort exceeded anything yet

done on this mission field. Picture, if you will, the little Indian hamlets, the mud church buildings with

thatch roofs, children sitting on mats outside. And inside the building the singing is so loud you can't
even think. Sounds of the drums and tambourines

are so loud yet there is joy on every face. These buildings and villages have no pianos or organs. Their only means of making music is with what they
can hold in their hands - a drum, a tambourine, or a coconut shell strung with plastic beads.

!\ilr ^

Our people are overjoyed to receive these musical gifts which you have provided for them. Now each
new village wants the same. Because of your open hearted generosity they will be able to receive these
gifts.

When this project started two years ago, we gave a Christmas lunch, toys, Bibles and song books. Last

year we were able to add the drums and tambourines

for each village. This year we hope to add saris for
the destitute widows of the church as well as to deserving poor members.
A Christmas drama. One of the best ivays to tell the story

of Christmas. This is done in hundreds of uillageti.

starts on December 1 for the Boys' Home Children

3. Rent trucks to go through the villages carolling.

and for key church centers. Each day around 4 a.m. all will be out carolling. This continues until the 25th. On that day every Christian wakes up early to

4. Buy musical instruments - drums and tambour

ines.

shout, "Jesus has come, hallelujah!" Small candles light the way to the church building where there is
much rejoicing.

5. Distribute saris (the traditional dress for the

South Indian ladies) to the widows and deserving poor.

At the conclusion of these joyous times, the

Christians meet again at noon. They are ready for the big meal which consists of rice with chicken or
mutton curry on a big leaf plate. Then sweets are provided for all the children. As the festivities come to a close, we all realize that

6. Buy and give a few field organs (manually opera

ted).

7. Buy sweets for all.

once again you have helped bring Christian happiness to these who need your love, your prayers and your wonderful gifts. The outpouring from your
heart bears out your continuing Christian concern
for others.

THE COST: Those of you who have been involved with this project the last two years know that we

have set a figure of$5.00 per child to purchase a meal, a toy, a Bible and a song book. That is still the amount needed. Anything given over that will be

applied to the other expenses for the items included

above. This is a wonderful class project. Many have

chosen this project rather than a gift exchange

THE PLANS FOR THIS YEAR AS YOUR

GIFTS MAKE THEM POSSIBLE

among themselves and have been richly blessed by knowing they were involved in something with such
far reaching results.

1. Feed the village children a wonderful meal of rice

and chicken curry.

We invite you to share with us again this year as we reach out in love to the people of South India. Our

2. Distribute toys, Bibles, song books, hair ribbons,

goal again this year is $10,000. This has been

reached two years in a row almost to the dollar. Thank you for helping it to happen again!

talcum powder, combs, mirrors and small

items of joy to these children.

Art with daughter, Patty. She is (he one who helped make the
1987 Christmas pro

gram a success. Pat ty came over and stayed six weeks in cluding the Chris
tmas season. She

helped a lot with the Sunday Schools and

hospital.

The musicians of India with their drum, flute and portable

organ.

r'r"- *

- --1?:

H^/ 'iX

people to Christ. On this occasion eightyoungpeople were

baptized in the village tank (pond).

Some of the results of the Christmas project winning

Paul Ragu, the Sunday School Chairman, is presenting a drum to Rajan, preacher at Oothakotie. Over 40 of these
were given out last Christmas.

(Additional photos are on patfe 4 <>1 this issue.)

THE EASY WAY TO GIVE A MORE

MEANINGFUL GIFT
by Howard J. Hughes, MEd
Chairman of the Board of Trustees

A LIFETIME OF GIVING Art and Ruth Morris and the Board of Trustees

gift to be completed in 3 or 5 years or more if so

desired.

have spent several years evaluating and analyzing the best way for friends and supporters of South
India Church of Christ Mission to make a more

A Generic Example

meaningful gift to the ever increasing work of the

Mission. Several of our supporters have been called
home to be with the Lord and "a lifetime of giving has stopped."

1) A 33 year-old man could give a future gift of$10,000 by making contributions of approximately $150
each year for about five years.

2) A woman, age 40, could make a future gift of

$100,000 by giving a tax-deductible gift of $1,000
each year for the next five years.

Since many of our supporters are people of average

or modest means, it was decided if there were some

3) A man, age 45, could make a future gift of $100,000 by giving a tax-deductible gift of $1,500for five
years.

way to "stretch or multiply" a gift in order that it could accomplish more this would be a blessing to the Mission. A very simple idea was presented to the
Trustees and is in turn recommended to the

4) A person, age 60, could make a gift of a $15,000 policy by making a contribution of as little as
$600 a year.

supporters of South India Church of Christ Mission.

100 FOLD GIFT

. . . "And a lifetime of giving will not stop!"

Basically the "100 Fold Gift" lets the average

By the means of small annual contributions and the gift of life insurance, supporters of South India
Church of Christ Mission will be enabled to make

person make a larger gift to the Mission with the help

of insurance. It is an easy, tax deductible way to

more significant gifts without depriving their

families or depleting their estates.
For more information please complete and return.

make a more significant gift to the work of South

India Church of Christ Mission. The plan is simple,

flexible, and most important of all gives people who

believe in the work of the Mission the opportunity to

arrange a gift far larger than would otherwise be

possible,
IT'S SIMPLE AND EASY

YES, I WANT TO MULTIPLY MY GIFT

Please send me more information on how I can make a "100 Fold Gift." I understand I am under no obligation.
NAME

A supporter that desires to make a larger or more

significant gift can make a special, tax deductible gift to South India Church of Christ Mission which in turn could acquire an insurance policy on the life
of the donor. South India Church of Christ Mission

could be named as the beneficiary of the policy.

ADDRESS
CITY STATE.
ZIP.

Special areas of the work could be targeted such as

the Children's Home, Hospital, College, etc. It is easy to see how even a small policy -- $15,000 or $25,000 -- will become a significant gift!
A COMMON PROBLEM

PHONE (.

-)

What size future gift would you like to consider?

$10,000 $50,000
Date of birth:

Many individuals have expressed a desire to make larger contributions to South India Church of Christ
Mission or other Christian organizations, but they felt most of their assets should be given to family and

$15,000 $100,000

$25,000 Other
DMale Female

Name of proposed insured:

perhaps did not feel comfortable utilizing current

assets to make a large contribution.
A DILEMMA SOLVED

Does proposed insured smoke?

Yes

No

By the gift of an insurance policy the Mission can

How would you prefer to fund your "100 Fold Gift?" Single Payment Three Years Five Years
Send to:

be in the position to receive a cash payment in the future while personal assets pass to the family . . .
and other contributions can be used for current needs! A contributor could also structure his or her

SOUTH INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION P.O. Box 215 Danville, IL 61834-0215

7k

Some of our Sunday School teachers with their Bibles.

Here the children are saying their Bible verses. This is

something-they do before they join the Christmas feast.

MHItillKll

Here

are

some

of the

Sunday School children

with that look of expecta tion on their faces.

Serving the Christmas dinner Madras style. In the city the people sit at tables to eat. In the villages they sit on the
ground. The food is the same.

PAUL RAGU -- GOSPEL PREACHER

EXTRAORDINARY!!
BIG STEP FORWARD: The Indian Church looks
ahead.

preach the Gospel. Before he left that country, he saw 129 baptized into Christ. Paul felt the challenge
to continue the work there, but he also felt the

Aware of the need in India, yet trying to obey the command, "Into all the world," Paul Ragu went to

Malaysia, which is four hours away by plane, to

explore the possibilities of starting congregations of

the Church of Christ in that land. India still has freedom of religion, so he was

animosity of the MusUms against the Christian religion. A preacher of the Gospel is very limited in Malaysia and can work only with the Indian and
Chinese communities.

shocked at the limitations placed on him in

Malaysia. At private meetings he was threatened when he preached the Gospel. Twice he had to close
the meetings.

Paul is keeping in contact with his friends in Malaysia through correspondence with the new converts and through friends who live in Malaysia
but visit in India.

A more complete report will be published later.

However, through Tamil friends, he was able to

MAILING ADDRESSES
THK INDIA CHALLENGER (USPS 7()0-430) is published quarterly. March, June,

September, and December, by Mission Services Association, 7525 Hodges Ferry

Road, Knoxvitle, TN 37920-973L Second-class postage paid at Knoxville, TN 379012427. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE INDIA CHALLENGER, c/o
Mission Services Association, P.O. Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

LETTERS & CONTRIBUTIONS:

SOUTH INDIA

Form 3579 Requested. PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION

P.O. Box 215

Danville, IL 61834-02L^) FOR PACKAGES:

SOUTH INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION 424 N. Gilbert St. Danville, IL 61832

the

India

i
Volume 38

Challenger
Missionaries

Field Address Art & Ruth Morris 011 Ramanathan Street

Fwd. Agt/Development Director D. Eugene Houpt

P.O. Box 215

Danville. IL 61834-0215
Home 217/442-6736 Office 217/446-1542

Kilpauk, Madras
India 600010

THE INDIA CHALLENGER is a quarterly publication of South India Church of Christ Mission December 1988
Number 4

ART &

RUTH WANT TO THANK YOU

us are thankful for that.

In a recent telephone conversation we were asking Art for any current news to be included in this issue of The India Challenger. While there is much to share about the work, Art responded that he and Ruth had been talking about sending a special message of thanks via this publication to all of you wonderful people. So we are just going to use a little space here to tell you once again how very grateful your missionaries Art and Ruth Morris are for your years of faithful support. They are joined in this thank you message by all of the workers hundreds
of them in South India.

During November and December, the special Christmas project has been in full force. More than 5,000 children as well as countless adults have
benefitted. For this we all are thankful.

We could go on and on and on. Please know that this is a sincere message of thanks to all of you. This includes the faithful living link churches, the class groups, the youth groups, the individuals who have special projects all of you. THANK YOU
SINCERELY FROM ART AND RUTH AND ALL THE WORKERS INVOLVED WITH SOUTH INDIA CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION!!!.

Elsewhere in this issue you are going to see some pictures of the surgeries on crippled children. So many have responded to this need recently, and all of

RECENT NEWS BITS FROM INDIA

From Art Morris: "This has been a most unusual

meetings in 1989.

year in South India. It just rained almost every day when usually we get rain only three or four days a year. Now Madrapakkam looks like the Garden of Eden instead of the great Sahara. The weather
pattern changes. It seems the usual American weather has come to India, and ours to you. These are the best rains in the last 50 years of recorded history."

Great progress in rural India. At the Madrapakkam home for girls a modem improvement has recently been added. The girls now have a new six stooler addition. It may not be long until they will even have
showers!

Art and Ruth have received another one year extension to work in India. Also they have been

granted permission to be in the U.S. for six months

during 1989.

Students from Southern Asia Christian College will be caroling through the city of Madras during the Christmas season. They are also scheduled to be on prime time TV on a station that is capable of reaching 50 million people.

Art Morris is the 1989 president of the National Missionary Convention. There will be two sessions of this convention over which he will preside. One
will be in Cincinnati and the second in Anaheim.

David Morris and his wife, Jane, have been in India recently. While there, they laid,the ground work to do a professional video of all the work of the Mission. Jane is a professional in this field. We will hope to have this production available for general use some
time in the future.

Keep watching for reports of these two great

A PICTORIAL REVIEW OF THE WORK IN SOUTH INDIA

Operation in progress.

The costly part of the process is the

braces.

Dr. Gammon examines the boot which

will be fitted to a child's leg.

i
Operation a success. This
boy can now walk.

Boys do jump out of bed.

This girl's operation is over.

Now she can wear a shoe.

'''C

One hour of surgery makes this man's

hands useful.

Now this woman a leper can care

for herself and others.

A grandmother begs for help for her grandchild.

%
Devotions and Scripture

\
reading
Students of Southern Asia Christian College who came out to witness the operations. The surgeon is describing the process.

following flag hoisting on Indian Republic Day at Southern Asia Chris tian College.

Bhakti Paul being set apart for the Christian Ministry.

Ajela, an African graduate ofSouthern Asia Christian College, congratulating

Bhakti Paul.

College students starting annual preaching party.

Flag hoisting at the college. August 15 is Indian Republic Day.

.. they saw the young child with Mary

his mother, and fell worshipped him. . . "
Matthew 2:11

down,

and

One of our preachers who has leprosy is preaching to other lepers.

CHARLES GRUBBS TO WRITE HISTORY

In response to a very real need, the trustees of South
India Church of Christ Mission have authorized

Charles Grubbs to document the history of the outstanding work that has been directed by Art and
Ruth Morris in South India since 1950. Bro. Grubbs

served by Art Morris in the early days ofhis ministry before going to India. Herschel Oberst, an elder at Antioch, has been a trustee for the Mission from the very beginning. He is also the father-in-law of
Charles Grubbs. You can see that there is a close

will endeavor to record the history of the work in such a way as to serve several needs. It will be a
valuable record for all who have been involved with

relationship between this congregation, the Mission,

and the missionaries.

this work in any way. And it will be intended to serve as a classroom tool for our Bible Colleges in their mission departments.

Art Morris pointed to the need for this project when

he said in a recent letter: "We missionaries have

done a good job of recruiting workers, but we often fail to tell them what to do after they get to the field."

During the next year, funds will be solicited to defray the cost of sending Charles Grubbs to India for a first-hand look at the work about which he is writing. Prior to that, he will be researching all the printed matter that has been published about the work during the last 38 years. When Art is home next summer, he will spend some time meeting with Charles to help fill in the gaps. We will keep you informed of the progress of this project as we are sure many of you will want to be
involved with it.

Charles Grubbs has had varied experiences to help equip him for this task. At this time he is serving as
minister of the Antioch Christian Church at

Montgomery,

Indiana.

This congregation

was

^ ^

^ ^ ^

MAILING ADDRESSES
LETTERS & CONTRIBUTIONS:
SOUTH INDIA

THK INDIA CHALLKNGKR (USPS 7()0-4;U)) is published quarterly. March, June,

September, and December, by Mission Services Association, 752.') Hodges Kerry

Road, Knoxville, TN |{792()-97;n. Second-class postage paid at Knoxville, TN :{79012427. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE INDIA CHALLENGER, c o
Mission Services Ass()ciation, P.O. Box 2427, Knc)xville, TN ;n9Ul-2427.

Form 3579 Requested, PO Box 2427, Knoxville, TN 37901-2427.

CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION

P.O. Box 215

Danville. IL (il8:}4 ()2ir)

FOR PACKAGES:
SOUTH INDIA

CHURCH OF CHRIST MISSION

424 N. Gilbert St.

Danville, IL 61832