Shadows of Death: India Part 1
On the last episode of Travel the Road, "Shadows of Death: India Part One":
Healing in Hyderabad
From Mumbai (Bombay), India, Tim and Will go to Hyderabad to see a Canadian evangelist they've heard about. The evangelist, Kevin Wagner, puts on these crusades all over the world. The guys meet him before the event begins, and swap testimonies of what the Lord has been doing in each of their ministries. The multitude wanders in, the lights turn on, and Kevin Wagner walks onstage. As he preaches to the crowd, the Spirit moves among the people. The sick and hurting are healed. That night many people came to Christ. The positive response to the Gospel message offers Tim and Will encouragement. Once they saw the obvious hunger for the Word, it became clear that India was waiting for them.
See a clip from the show: "Healing in Hyderabad"
Remembering a Martyr
One of the missionaries' contacts, Gideon, invites them to do work in his native Devarkonda. They gladly accept his offer, despite the reputation of that area. By Indian law, people must register with the government if they decide to convert from Hinduism. This opens the door to persecution. As the guys are on the train, Will recounts the horrifying martyr of Graham Staines and his two sons, which recently took place in the state of Orissa, an area not far from their destination. In January of 1999, the Australian missionary and his boys were sleeping peacefully in their station wagon. They awoke when a mob of Hindu extremists set fire to it. The few who tried to help them were prevented by the mob. With their death, the Hindu nationalists sent a message to Christians: Believers are not welcome in India. While technically illegal, the Indian government is lenient toward the persecution of Christians. Fully aware of the danger they will put themselves in, Tim and Will were both resolved to meet the challenge.
Violence in a Village
In Devarkonda, the guys preach in the villages. It feels good to preach to the people of the village, but not all the inhabitants were excited to see them. The missionaries even encountered hostilities during one of Tim's sermons. Out of the darkness, a drunken man attacked him. The crowd tried to push him back, but he kept forcing his way to the center. With slurred speech, he shouted at the guys. But this incident didn't distract from what they were teaching, and Tim finished his sermon. They moved from village to village, teaching the Gospel to whoever would listen. In one village they visited, the people were anxious to hear about Jesus. As the missionaries prayed for the sick, a woman approached Tim, wishing to be rid of her demon-possession. Tim fervently prayed for her, and an intense spiritual battle was waged for several minutes. But with her arms raised victoriously and the name of Jesus on her lips, everyone could see that she was freed of her demon.
See a clip from the show: "Violence in a Village"
River of Death
After a fruitful time of ministry, it seemed obvious that they were right where God wanted them. Now God called them to another part of India, and the guys headed to the Hindu holy city of Varanassi. Once there, they took a trip down India's most famous river. They'd often heard about the Ganges, but what they saw there came as a shock. Decaying bodies float by them; stray dogs gnaw at the remains of dead cattle; pilgrims, believing the water to be holy, bathe in the river. As bodies burn on the banks of the Ganges, Tim and Will do the only thing they can-pray. India needs more than what two young missionaries can provide. They need help from a higher power. The guys see the strong grip Hinduism has on the people of India, and how much they need Christ. There is a long road ahead of them.