{"id":1780,"date":"2026-04-22T14:29:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/why-india\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T14:46:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:46:54","slug":"why-india","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/why-india\/","title":{"rendered":"WHY INDIA?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>WHY INDIA?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you know that India still needs the Gospel?&nbsp;India&nbsp;is the largest country in the world by population, the world\u2019s largest democracy, and one of the largest English-speaking nations. According to the 2011 Census, religion in India is Hinduism (79.8%), Islam (14.2%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.7%), Buddhism (0.7%). The percentage of the Gospel proclaimed in the United States is about 76%, but in India it is only 2.3%. Because India has missed out on the Good News of the Gospel more than anywhere else on earth, and that breaks our hearts. India is a beautiful but tough place. Nearly 265 million people live on less than $1.90 per day, left powerless in poverty, and nearly one in four Indians cannot read or write, which affects everyday life in a deep way. When people face life\u2019s greatest challenges, millions are left hopeless and in desperate need, and more than those in any other nation, the helpless poor of India stand in need of the hope and life that Christ offers. For 2,000 years, we have had some very good news to share\u2014the good news that originated with one man, the Son of Man, and has been changing lives ever since. Out of the 8 billion people on our planet, nearly one-third have heard and embraced this Gospel, another third have heard but have not responded, but there are still two billion people who have never heard it, living in places where no missionary has set foot, speaking languages where no Scripture is available, having no opportunity to respond. More than 400 million of these people live in one country, my country, India. Many are held down by illiteracy, many are locked in poverty, our children face incredible injustice, and many live their lives bound by false beliefs. Do you know this? One-third of the unreached people groups of the world are in one country, India. Every red dot on the map represents an opportunity. India is the most unreached nation, hands down. It breaks our hearts. But the people of God are also here, from every corner of this great nation, diverse yet united with one vision, to see India transformed by the love of Jesus Christ. We have dedicated our lives to this, we have invested our blood, sweat, and tears to bringing Jesus where His name is not known,&nbsp;&nbsp;and we will not stop until every unreached place is reached. We believe our ministry model positions us to effectively and efficiently proclaim the Good News of Jesus in India, and when you join with us, you are partnering in this mission. Together we will replace fear with hope, turn tears into joy, and shine light into dark places. Because this is our calling, this is our mission, our mission is India. Why India? Because God loves this nation, and He has called us to bring His light to India. You can help us get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>India is Unreached<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine growing up in a place where there is not a single believer, Bible, or church. This is what it means to be&nbsp;<em>unreached<\/em>, living without Christ simply because you\u2019ve never heard of Him. \u201cUnreached\u201d is not the same as \u201clost.\u201d Many people around the world have heard about Jesus and choose not to follow Him. But in India, millions have never even had the opportunity to hear His name. According to the&nbsp;Joshua Project, India is home to 2,373 people groups, and 2,135 of them (90%) remain unreached by the Gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Persecution of Christians<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following Jesus in India often comes at a high cost. Believers face verbal, social, and even violent persecution. According to&nbsp;Open Doors, India has risen sharply on the World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most danger, moving from #32 in 2012 to much higher today. We have seen churches disrupted, families driven out of their communities, and believers cut off from basic needs like water. Some pastors have even been killed. Children, too, face opposition, being mocked, rejected, or punished for their faith. In 2021 alone, an average of 73 Indian Christians per day experienced persecution, psychological, emotional, physical, or spiritual. New believers are often disowned, while the wider Christian community faces ongoing pressure at every level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Need for Education<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Millions of adults in India struggle daily because they lack basic education. Many cannot read, write, or count money, which affects every area of life\u2014from healthcare to hygiene to providing for their families. Simple practices like safe food preparation, sanitation, and nutrition are often overlooked, leading to preventable illness. Without knowledge, many turn to witch doctors instead of medical care. Literacy rates reveal deep inequality: 80.9% of men are literate, compared to only 64.6% of women. In many families, boys are prioritized for education while girls are kept home. Today, 273 million adults\u20141 in 4 people\u2014cannot read in their own language. This limits job opportunities, financial independence, and family wellbeing. Though many parents desire education for their children, poverty forces them to choose survival over schooling, often sending their children to work instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Devastating Poverty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus said He came to give life \u201cto the full\u201d (John 10:10), yet millions in India live far from that reality. Around 130 million people survive on less than $2.15 per day, contributing to widespread malnutrition. According to the&nbsp;World Bank, nearly half of India\u2019s children, about 60 million are underweight. Poverty and illiteracy are deeply connected. Without basic skills, people cannot secure stable jobs, open bank accounts, or protect themselves from exploitation. An estimated 65 million people live in slum communities, where homes made of tarps and tin are packed tightly together, with poor sanitation and little hope for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fun Fact About India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Did you know that India is mentioned in the Bible? It appears in&nbsp;<strong>Book of Esther&nbsp;1:1<\/strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Book of Esther&nbsp;8:9<\/strong>, showing that this land has been known since ancient times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>India also has a rich Christian heritage that dates back to the first century. It is widely believed that&nbsp;Thomas the Apostlebrought the Gospel to India, arriving in&nbsp;<strong>Kerala<\/strong>&nbsp;in South India. From there, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world was established, long before many parts of the world had ever heard the message of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Beauty of India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>India&nbsp;is not just a country, it is one of the most dynamic, diverse, and unforgettable places on earth. You\u2019ve heard of it, Bollywood, spices, street life, spirituality, the Taj Mahal, yoga, tech cities, but India is far more than what you\u2019ve seen or imagined. It is a land where ancient temples stand beside modern skyscrapers, where growing tech hubs thrive alongside centuries-old traditions, and where life is lived with intensity, color, and meaning. India is deeply rooted in spirituality, where faith is not separate from life but shapes everyday living, identity, food, and celebration. Come experience world-renowned cuisine that changes every few hundred miles, from rich North Indian flavors to vibrant South Indian dishes. Walk through bustling markets, encounter beautiful traditional clothing, and step into cultures that are thousands of years old. Explore iconic landmarks like the Taj Mahal, journey through the Himalayas, relax in Kerala\u2019s backwaters, discover royal palaces in Rajasthan, and enjoy the beaches of Goa, each region offering a distinct and remarkable experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We especially invite you to experience&nbsp;<strong>Andhra Pradesh<\/strong>, where you will encounter the heart of South India in a unique and meaningful way. Known for its rich culture, deep spirituality, and warm hospitality, Andhra Pradesh offers vibrant traditions, growing communities of faith, and some of the most authentic and flavorful cuisine in India. From traditional meals served with generosity to the simplicity of village life and the growth of emerging cities, this region provides a genuine, close-up experience of Indian life. Here, relationships are strong, and faith is lived out daily. But what truly sets India apart is its people. You won\u2019t simply visit, you will be welcomed, hosted, and remembered. In a culture where \u201cguest is God,\u201d you will be received with genuine care, generosity, and honor. Strangers become family, meals become shared experiences, and moments become lasting memories. India is bold, real, and at times overwhelming, but in the most meaningful way. It is a place where relationships matter, where life is shared, and where you are never truly alone. And once you experience it, it will change how you see the world.&nbsp;<strong>Don\u2019t just visit India experience it. Come and see it for yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WHY INDIA? Do you know that India still needs the Gospel?&nbsp;India&nbsp;is the largest country in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1780","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1780"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1780"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1784,"href":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1780\/revisions\/1784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dgmindia.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}