Russel Bell, India, 2005 (10K)
Text, from Russel Bell's business card (20K)

INDIA EVANGELISM

RUSSEL G. BELL, EVANGELIST
5712 S.W. 35th Street
Topeka, Kansas 66614-4594
Phone: (785)272-0711
U.S.A.		   UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF
LAPOYNOR CHURCH OF CHRIST
11353 County Road 4345
Larue, Texas 75770
Phone: (903) 876-4334

RUSSEL BELL INDIA/EUROPE Report JULY 17–SEPTEMBER 22, 2004

Dear Supporters and Interested:

I have now completed my 38th trip to India and 73rd trip overseas for Jesus. My first month was spent working in Europe and my second month in India. God has given me the greatest trip ever. Both Europe and India were inspiring. As I finish this report and fly out of India tonight, I am filled with joy having fulfilled my ministry. God is good!

EUROPE WORK

My first week's work was in Hungary in the city of Szolok. I lived and worked with Michael and Lesa Shulttleworth, both graduates of Harding University. I enjoyed the week I spent with them speaking each night with lessons on church growth. They both have learned the Hungarian language well. Michael can write it as well as speak it, translating my public lessons as I spoke. Their work is overseen by the Cloverdale Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas. They are doing a great job for our Lord.

When I flew back to Frankfort, I was picked up by Master Sergeant Mike Atchley. He drove me to his home at Bitburg Air Force Base where he and his wife, Kim, live. I stayed there four nights and the other four nights with Major Marvin and Melody Redd. Both couples not only provided my room and good food, but also fellowship and interaction all my waking hours. I spoke on Wednesday night as soon as I arrived and then preached a three-night gospel meeting. We had good attendance and everyone's spirits seemed to be raised. This was my twelfth year running to preach a 3-night meeting there. They, as well as I, accepted another meeting in 2005. I am very proud of our Air Force after living with them these eight days. Melody Redd was good enough to take me back to Frankfort where I flew to Bucharest.

My work in Romania was mostly in Pitesti, but I also spoke on Sundays in six other cities while I was in this country; Schutu Golestic, Corbeni, Crajova, Cetatnia, Cioroiasi, and Valea Stanciului. Besides the early morning to late night Sunday preaching, I taught one-on-one Bible studies at the church building in Pitesti where I lived the two weeks in Romania. The taxi service to all these places, my housing, Bible study arrangements, and appointments were all arranged by Harvey Starling who has done a marvelous job of developing the Lord's work there. In the past few years, he has developed eight churches mainly by campaigns and Bible correspondence courses where he blankets an entire district of Romania offering free Bible correspondence courses in their language. In Pitesti alone about 400 lessons are returned for grading each week. It was wonderful to see 12 to 15 members of the Pitesti church working two very long days to grade and return to mail all those lessons. I was asked to return next year and I will. Harvey starling is doing a great job in this part of the world.

INDIA MONTH

I arrived in India August 24th in Chennai (Madras), India, a city of about 8 million people. My first job with the help of Peter Solomon was to purchase 3,000 full Bibles in three Indian languages, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi, and ship them to twelve different locations for distribution (cost just over $5,000). I was only in Madras two nights speaking once at Sai Nagor and once at St. Thomas Mt. Congregation at their midweek Bible studies before flying to Anrangabod to work with Gene Reneau for one week teaching in Aarangabad Bible School (college). I taught 8 classes or lessons to the preachers completing their Homiletics Course (preparation and delivery of sermons). This was an enjoyable work preaching each night in nearby churches and baptizing 72 in this area.

I then flew back to Chennai to meet David Hamrick and Don Laughary to visit and speak in Chennai plus preach for about two weeks in Andrah Predesh State, the Bible belt of India. Our work included teaching groups of preachers in many places, plus preaching evangelistic meetings morning, afternoon, and night. We saw 156 baptized as we preached together in Andrah Predesh.

Even though the above work was both exhausting and inspiring, it was not our main task. For David and Don their main job was to look over some different areas as a possible location for a future Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver Graduate School location. We hope this develops giving India a higher level of preacher education offering a Masters Degree in Biblical Studies. They were both very impressed with the work of the Lord's church in India.

Statistics of this trip

2004 India Evangelism Projects

1. 6,000 Bibles

$11,000.00
2. 100 bicycles

5,000.00
3. 10,000 Telugu song books

4,000.00
4. 52 church building helps

12,000.00
5. 400 communion trays

1,500.00
6. 400 bread trays

1,500.00
7. 400 collection sticks

1,500.00
8. National Bible College

2,400.00
9. Sister Patricia's Orphanage (40 homeless children)

9,600.00
10. Postage stamps and office supplies

2,000.00
11. 3 or 4 overseas trips per year

9,500.00
  Total needed for 2005

$60,000.00

All of these projects have been paid for and delivered in 2004. Please help us do the same in 2005 when I make my 39th and 40th trip to India. We have almost doubled our permanent church building helps for 2005. A new church of Christ starts in India every day of the year. God is being glorified in India. Please continue to help.

Make checks payable to INDIA EVANGELISM or CHURCH OF CHRIST and send to either of the addresses on this letterhead or in the enclosed, self-addressed envelope.

Special thanks to the LaPoynor Church of Christ for overseeing my work. Also, special thanks to all the churches and individuals who support my family and me plus provide the $60,000.00 for these projects listed.

God continues to bless our India Evangelism. Churches of Christ are growing spiritually and in number. Pray for us and them. Hundreds of permanent church buildings are coming up all over India, but especially in A. P. and T. N. states. As soon as they are finished they fill up very quickly.

My books Rightly Dividing the Word of God, Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all available at $5.00 each; God, Man, Money at $10.00 per copy, postage paid. All money from book sales go to India Evangelism. God bless you.

Love,

Russel G. Bell

SPECIAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 12 & 13, SUNDAY & MONDAY

T. Prosanna and I worked with CH, Joseph for two days, Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12, holding 4 meetings a day, 8 meetings in all, baptizing 51 including 3 Pentecostal preachers, their wives plus some of their members. They begged us to help with four more meetings, but because of prior commitments we could not. CH. Joseph with two other co–preachers, held those four meetings baptizing 83 more including four denominational preachers as follows:

(1) T. Shekar-Burugapadi — Pentecostal — 18 baptized

(2) T. Vinod Kwanor–Makka–Revala Pakaliu — Bible Mission — 18 baptized

(3) K. Abraham–Lakshmipuram — Lutheran — 22 baptized

(4) A. Murthy-Bhadravanam — Baptist — 25 baptized

These 83 are not in the other numbers of baptisms mentioned in this report.


A ministry to assist churches, preachers, and church leaders to develop self-supported churches
in India and around the world. Financial help may be sent to either of the addresses above.