India
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Demographics
Population: 1,129,866,154
Ethnic Groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and others 3%
Religions: Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, Other 1.9%
Language: Primarily English and Hindi, with 14 other official languages
Industry: Textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software
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Associate Work: Zion Ministries, India
India is a large and extremely varied land with a population of over one billion people. It is a country of great poverty and tremendous needs, but change is coming. In recent years, there has been an economic boom and the nation is rapidly advancing. In this atmosphere, there offers a tremendous opportunity for the Church to advance.
The base of Zion Fellowship’s operations in India is Visakhapatnam (also known as Visag), Andhra Pradesh. Visag is a city of almost four million people, located in southeastern India. Cornerstone works alongside Zion Fellowship in India and plays a major supporting role to the work.
Zion Fellowship has been active in India for almost twenty years now. Cornerstone began investing heavily in the work in the year 2000. Currently the mission is active in strengthening both Bible schools and local churches. Zion Bible College trains students for full-time ministry and gives them an onward vision in their life. Zion is also working closely with Visag Christian Assembly, a vibrant, growing church. The Connells travel throughout India, where several new Bible schools are in the process of being established and connected with Zion Ministries.
In addition, Zion, with help from Cornerstone, also supports sixteen Indian children who are located in an orphanage in the state of Orissa. Zion has been supporting these children (and many more who have graduated as well) for several years now and has seen tremendous positive fruit in the lives of these young ones.
Leadership
Zion Fellowship’s work in India is headed by Reverend Tim O’Connell, an ordained minister and missionary of Zion Fellowship International. Pastor Tim is joined by his wife Joanne, and they have been serving Zion in India for over ten years. They currently split their time between India and Singapore where Pastor Tim also serves as the Principal of Tung Ling Bible College.
Sis. Anita Aidinyantz is another key leader in the work in India. She is the head of Bethany Christian Schools and a board member of Vizag Christian Assembly.
Prayer Focus
- The onward vision of Zion and intimacy with God would be represented in each of India’s twenty-eight states.
- The continual introduction of new people who will help fulfill the respective visions of Zion and Cornerstone in India.
- Wisdom in establishing ministering teams from Cornerstone on both a short and long-term basis.
