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Sarkar July 2024 Ministry Update

Kimberly Mer — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 15:31:36 +0000

Dear Praying Partners,

Greetings from Kolkata, India. Thank you very much for your kind prayers and support for our ministry in Kolkata. Because of your sincere prayers and support, God blesses our ministry. This year, we could start two more churches and eight house churches. Thank you very much. Please watch this video, I hope this video will help you to pray specifically for our ministry. There are so many unreached people who do not know the salvation of Jesus. We need to go to these people, and for that, we need your prayers and support. I praise God that you open your hearts for this work. God bless you all.

Thank you,

D.K. and Choity Sarkar

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A Christmas Catalog Report: Tube Wells

Kimberly Mer — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 22:01:30 +0000

The following is a wonderful report on the installation of Tube Wells from The Gautam Family in India! Tube Wells were one of the items in our 2022 Christmas Catalog. EFM is excited to share this report and thankful for your donations!

Glory to God

Thank you for your generous giving towards the need for tube wells in Bihar.

One tube well was given to Ranchi, Jharkhand which is a new ministry field. The water table there is very low due to the rocky area.

Here is another tube well that was given to a village in Bihar.

Here is a photo of the new fellowship started in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Praise and glory goes to our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us this new field in Jharkhand. Please pray for Jharkhand and Bihar! Thank you!

You Co-labourers in Christ,

The Gautam Family

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Sarkar Deputation Update #1

Kimberly Mer — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:48:41 +0000

D. K. and Choity Sarkar are almost a month into their deputation. As a reminder, their primary purpose on deputation over the coming months is to express their deep gratitude to those of you who are partnering with them in prayer and financial support. They also hope to find others who the Lord might lead to partner with them in prayer and/or financial support.

We are excited to share that D. K. and Choity have a new ministry video that can be used on a Sunday morning, in a small group, or anywhere you find it to be helpful. You can watch it aquí.

D. K. shares a few updates below:

We had very good visits with Netarts Friends Church, Vancouver First Friends Church, and West Chehalem Friends Church. We are looking forward to visiting Friendsview, attending a Spring Rally put on by Friends Women, and attending Newberg Friends and Rosedale Friends Church this Sunday.
On Easter Sunday, we attended service at Tigard Community Friends Church. We were able to talk with some people about our ministry in India and the challenges we face there. It was a very good experience for us.
Jan Cammack is taking very good care of us, and we are thankful for her. She has helped Choity and I get dental and doctor wellness visits and is making sure that we get to all of our appointments with churches and partners. We are grateful for her.
Ministry in Kolkata continues while we are in the U.S. Kolkata Church shared an Easter breakfast together and seven people made a public testimony of water baptism in the river Ganges. I have included pictures to the right.

D. K also shares a prayer request:

One of our most senior pastors, named Tapan Mondal has got a stroke. He took lots of responsibility in my absence during the Holy Week. Please pray for his recovery.

On April 18 they will head to Idaho to begin the next part of their deputation.

There are two ways to partner with D. K. and Choity:

Prayer: At this time, they have 316 prayer partners with a goal to raise it to 350. Please share this link with anyone that you believe may want to sign up to partner with them in prayer –https://friendsmission.com/sarkar/.

Financial: They are still at 63% of their need for ongoing monthly support and will need to raise it to 100% before going back to India in June. If you are a current monthly supporter, thank you. It is important to let D. K. and Choity know that you plan to continue or increase your giving. If you are not currently giving, would you prayerfully consider joining their financial partner team? There are four ways to give:

Online. Visit https://catalog.friendsmission.com/sarkar. You’ll be given the opportunity to indicate whether you are making a recurring or one-time gift.
Tarjeta de crédito. This may be given online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office (303-421-8100) to give your information to a live person.
Automatic Bank Transfer. Download the form aquí and email it Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10th or 25th of the month.
Check. Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Make sure to mark your check “Sarkar Support” and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of “EFM.”

Thank you for being part of this journey with D.K. and Choity. You are not only a blessing to them but also to those who are being reached for Christ through their ministry. The Lord bless and keep you as well!

Your fellow servant in Christ,

Dan Cammack
Field Director

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A Report from the Luke 10 Exploration Trip to India

Kimberly Mer — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 20:25:47 +0000

The ninth of the first ten Luke 10 Exploration Trips went out on February 20-March 4 to Northern India, with a team of four from the US and three from India. Thank you for praying for this team and EFM’s Luke 10 Initiative as Evangelical Friends discern where to launch new mission fields as part of EFM’s Five-Year Goal. See more information here.The following is a report that Eric Dale from Indiana Yearly Meeting (IYM) prepared.

Who Was on this Trip?

The team was made up of:

Keith Huffman (IYM)
Robin Huffman (IYM)
Roy Jones (IYM)
Eric Dale (IYM)
A. M. (EFM National Leader in India)
D.K. and Choity Sarkar (EFM National Leaders in India)

Where Did We Travel and What is the Need in the Area?

Despite centuries of missionary endeavors, the need for the gospel in India remains astounding. According to the Joshua Project, over 90% of India’s people (approximately 1.3 billion people) belong to an unreached people group. This represents over 1/3 of the world’s approximately 3.3 billion unreached people. In addition, there remain roughly 1,900 people groups in India identified as frontier people groups, with virtually no followers of Jesus, and still requiring pioneering cross-cultural workers.

Our team focused on northern India, which has relatively fewer Christians than southern India. Our team gathered together in Delhi, India, in an old area of the city known as Mehrauli. We had originally planned to travel from Delhi to Uttarakhand, but heightened persecution and monitoring led us to change our plans. In the end, we spent several days in Delhi filled with a rich variety of meetings. Our connections included over a dozen ex-pat workers from various areas of northern India, Indian pastors of Friends churches from Uttarakhand and Delhi, a legal team from the central office of India’s Alliance Defending Freedom, and Indian workers for an organization doing discipleship and small business training amongst a variety of groups across India. After a short time in Agra, we concluded our trip by traveling to Trivandrum and joining the conference of Evangelical Friends Church – India, where we were able to connect with Friends leaders and pastors from across India.

Key Trip Moments

We were amazed by the breadth and the sheer number of connections that God helped make for our team. It was clear to our team that God helped orchestrate not only which connections we made, but even the order of those meetings. That process began even before departure, at the Urbana Missions conference, through connecting to a western worker operating a language school in Delhi. This language school proved to be a missionary hub, enabling us to connect to an amazing number of people in a short period of time. Our meeting with ADF also had the mark of a divine connection – bringing A. unknowingly into the office of the organization which had provided him with extensive assistance during previous periods of persecution and initiating a new collaborative relationship with the Sarkars.

We also had the joy of worshipping together with a new Friends church in Delhi. Perhaps most significantly, we spent hours upon hours with leaders of the persecuted church. These individuals had experienced being disowned by their families, shunned from their villages, arrested, and even beaten. Daily they choose to work under the threat of various forms of persecution for the name of Jesus. Yet, rather than discouragement, we witnessed confidence that God was at work, excitement at the growth of the church, reports of miracles, and a sense that the church was coming together in a new way in response to the increased challenges. Many times we were asked to pray, but never once were we asked to pray persecution would end. Rather, we were asked to pray for continued strength and faithfulness. Let us join together in this type of prayer for India, and workers across the world facing similar challenges. May we be emboldened and encouraged by their stories!

What’s Next?

Luke 10 Exploration Trips continue into 2023 as teams explore potential sites with second discernment trips where Friends see EFM’s CAN GO Criteria developing. Our next benchmarks include hopes that the EFM board will approve a commitment in November 2023 to launching at least five new fields.

How Can You Join?

Are you interested in exploring missionary service? Do you know of anyone of any age who might be interested in exploring the idea of serving as a missionary overseas for two or more years?

EFM is currently looking to contact and connect with people about opportunities to explore serving as missionaries with the Friends Church!

To learn more, visit aquí or fill out this interest form!

We look forward to sharing more news as it becomes available about what we are finding and discerning in EFM’s Luke 10 Initiative as we continue to explore where EFM may launch new mission fields.

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Luke 10 Exploration Trip to Northern India: How You Can Be Praying

Kimberly Mer — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:00:59 +0000

The ninth Luke 10 Exploration Trip and the first trip of 2023 is departing on Monday, February 20!

EFM has been planning ten Luke 10 Exploration Trips to ten different country/people group destinations as EFM discerns where new mission fields will be launched as part of EFM’s Five-Year Goal! Eight of the first Luke 10 Trips were completed in 2022 and the remaining two will be completed in 2023. EFM gathered for a Luke 10 Think Tank on November 2 in Wichita and heard reports on what each team has seen for EFM’s CAN GO Criteria. They also took time to discern next steps, including further Luke 10 Exploration Trips to promising sites in 2023. See more information aquí.

Indiana Yearly Meeting (IYM) is leading this trip to discern if Northern India may be the location for a new mission field! As the IYM team makes this exploratory trip from February 20 to March 4, they are expecting the Lord to lead them to “persons of peace” with whom they may build relationships and sow seeds of the gospel among the “least reached”.

Please pray for the team and for these requests:

Por la providencia de Dios al buscar “personas de paz” y encontrarse con la gente local. Que el equipo sienta la guía de Dios al tomar decisiones.
Para la provisión de Dios en las necesidades que deben ser satisfechas, unidad, sabiduría y entendimiento.
Para la protección de Dios mientras el equipo viaja, específicamente para la salud y la seguridad.

The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to cast out more workers into his fields.

How Can You Join?

Are you interested in exploring missionary service? Do you know of anyone of any age who might be interested in exploring the idea of serving as a missionary overseas for two or more years?

EFM is currently looking to contact and connect with people about opportunities to explore serving as missionaries with the Friends Church!

To learn more, visit aquí or fill out this interest form!

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August 2022 Prayer Letter

Kimberly Mer — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 17:00:01 +0000

D.K. and Choity Sarkar | West Bengal, India

Dear Praying Friends,

Greetings in his precious name. By his grace and because of your ceaseless prayers, the ministry of EFM Kolkata has grown up. We are grateful to God for all his mercy, and we are also grateful to you all for your prayers and support. God bless each one of you. There are a few areas, in which our ministry has grown.

Muslim Ministry – Murshidabad is an unreached district. Seventy-two percent of the population is Muslim. We have been working there for a few years but did not get good results. In 2021, we held a program praying especially for the Muslim community. The title is “How to Reach the Muslim People.” It was a one-year program. We targeted for ten young people to come to the Lord from the Muslim community, who were willing to work voluntarily for one year. Seven young people committed their lives for one year. We trained them and sent them in the district of Murshidabad and Nadia where most of the people are Muslim. By God’s grace, we got good results. Sixteen people from the Muslim community came and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They made a public testimony of baptism on May 6 Kolkata. There are few more who are waiting to do this. Sixteen house churches were started by these people. Praise the Lord. Please pray for this ministry.

Moarjem Ali, a leader (on the left)

North Bengal Ministry – After much prayer, God opened a door in the North Part of West Bengal. We got a good couple from Siliguri which is the gateway of Northeast India. Their names are Asis Tinku Lal and his wife Dorji Lal. They live in Siliguri, and they will work in the entire district of Darjeeling. They have two kids. They have started a church in the city of Siliguri. Please pray for them.

Left: Moarjem Ali, Niamuddin Shaik, Morlem Shaik, Nurhaque Shaik, Rahim Box, Subarna Mondal and Kamrul Islam. Seven workers for Muslim Community. Middle and Right: Asis Tinku Lal is preaching in his fellowship named Siliguri Friends Church and then after the meeting food is ready for the believers.

Sending Missionaries – In our last Annual General Meeting, we took a decision that EFM Kolkata will send missionaries beyond West Bengal. Our churches will contribute as per their strength. A few churches will contribute 500.00 Rupees per month and most of the churches will contribute 1000.00 per month. From July to December 2022, the money will be gathered and in January 2023, a new missionary will be appointed. There are two places – Tamil Nādu and Nagaland. Please pray for God’s guidance so that we may choose the right place and right person.

We are preparing ourselves to visit America. May God bless us to get visa, tickets etc.

Thank you very much for your support and prayers. Let the Holy Spirit bless us, strengthen us, and guide us. God bless you all.

D. K. Sarkar

Click here to download the full prayer letter…

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Carta de Oración Marzo 2022

Kimberly Mer — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 21:54:18 +0000

A. y S. M. | Sirviendo en India

Estimados compañeros de oración,

Saludos a todos ustedes en el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Gracias por su gran apoyo a nuestro ministerio todos estos años que nos permitieron establecer el reino de Dios donde es difícil. En 1995, ambos dejamos nuestros trabajos para comenzar este ministerio entre las prostitutas del templo. En esta comunidad la prostitución es como una religión tradicional que se ha llevado acabo por generaciones. Dios nos llamó a rescatar niñas y mujeres.

Abrimos una casa hogar para niñas rescatadas, les dimos educación y logramos que varias de ellas se casaran durante 26 años de nuestro servicio. Muchas de ellas son buenas esposas cristianas y algunas están en el ministerio a tiempo completo. Nuestra casa siempre está abierta para que nos visiten y pasar un buen tiempo de compañerismo y tutoría. A medida que S. asume el papel de madre y mentora espiritual, la buscan a ella para darles orientación y apoyo.

La pandemia de COVID-19 trajo muchas restricciones para la iglesia y el ministerio evangelístico. Temporalmente cerramos iglesias en todos los pueblos. Pero a través del teléfono e Internet realizamos servicios religiosos y oraciones para animar a los creyentes. Durante el encierro tuvimos diez chicas jóvenes con nosotros y nuestra despensa estaba vacía. Como organización, nos acercamos al comisionado del distrito para obtener permiso para comprar alimentos, granos y vegetales a granel y se los proporcionamos a los que estaban en encierro. Además, otra cosa maravillosa para alabar a Dios es que arreglamos que cinco de nuestras jovencitas se casaran durante este tiempo.

Caring Hands actualmente está ayudando a más niños a través del cuidado de crianza en sus propias ubicaciones. S. y yo los visitamos el mes pasado y tuvimos un ministerio fructífero entre ellos. Ayudamos y apoyamos a las personas con VIH+ que viven en la más absoluta pobreza y desesperanza. Ellos reciben raciones mensuales, asesoramiento y orientación médica. Nuestro personal les ministra y muchos se han vuelto a Jesús. Una familia con VIH+ aceptó a Cristo y enfrentó la persecución de los aldeanos y familiares. Los reubicamos y ahora están felices y creciendo espiritualmente. Hemos proporcionado un búfalo de agua para vender la leche como ayuda financiera adicional. Donde no había iglesias hace 27 años en esta comunidad, hoy hemos establecido siete iglesias. Los pastores visitan los hogares para oración y ayuda cuando se encuentran en cualquier tipo de necesidad o situación difícil.

La persecución ha aumentado en nuestro estado. Muchas iglesias fueron saqueadas, perturbaron los servicios y pastores fueron arrestados. Nuestro ministerio personal está tomando otro rumbo. S. y yo asesoramos y orientamos al personal para que trabaje de forma independiente. No podemos ir a ciertas zonas por advertencias de las autoridades policiales. Dicen que evangelizamos y perturbamos las prácticas tradicionales.

Los campamentos para niños, jóvenes, damas y familias se llevan a cabo regularmente. Los retiros de damas son un gran éxito. Las damas que se encuentran bajo la carga y la esclavitud espiritual están llegando, y S. y su equipo las ministran. Regresan libres, animadas y regocijadas.

Nuestra hija está estudiando en Barclay, Kansas. Quiere ser consejera. Estamos ansiosos por que termine sus estudios y encuentre un compañero de vida piadoso. S. & I estaremos en los Estados Unidos de abril a septiembre de este año. Oren bondadosamente por todas nuestras necesidades y nuestro tiempo allí. A los tres como familia nos gustaría estar juntos este verano. Agradecemos sus llamadas, visitas e invitaciones. Gracias por su apoyo, amor y provisión.

Suyo en Su gracia,

A. y S. M.

Lee Mas…

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D.K. and Choity Sarkar Ministry Update

Kimberly Mer — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 22:33:27 +0000

Dear Praying Friends,

Greetings in his matchless name. Thank you very much for your prayers and support towards EFM Kolkata’ ministry. Because of your prayers and support, we could move from 2021 to 2022.

2021 was a year of difficulties. We could hardly organize any meetings, but by his grace we kept ourselves protected. Also, the government was strict on COVID-19. But by his grace after December 2021, we were a little relaxed. We could have our Christmas programs and other outreach programs. God blessed the ministry of EFM Kolkata. Let me give you a brief report of some of our ministry fields.

Siliguri Friends Church
We started the ministry in Siliguri district in December 2021. Our evangelist, Brother Asis Lal and his wife, together started the ministry there. His wife is a guitarist and a worship leader. God gave them some fruits in the beginning of 2022. They have one church and a few house churches.

Shyamnagar Friends Church
This church is a fruitful church. In 2021, God gave them eight souls and in 2022 they got four souls. All of them tokk a public testimony of baptism by Pastor Chandan Mondal.

We had an outreach program in “Rifle Factory” in Shyamnagar. Around two hundred people attended the program in Christmas time. I was there as the speaker.

Chhoghori Friends Church, Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a Muslim populated district, 72% of the population is Muslim. Our church over there took a special project to reach the unreached neighbors. Seven young leaders came forward and enlisted them for the project. The project is within one year of time they will work and their target is to establish fifty house fellowships. They already started the work and they already reached one hundred fifty unreached neighbors; fourteen house fellowships have been started and four persons committed their lives to the Lord. Please pray for this project.

Nazatt Friends Church
It is a very poor and backward place. The cyclone has done lots of destruction in this area. Thank God we could provide some house building materials to the poor people. We have a church there among these people. The surprising thing is, this church could build a very simple church building by their own effort. One person gave the land and others gave the other things for the building. Other churches such as Kolkata and Gosaba Friends Churches also gave money and tins. Each year some people come to Christ by this church. I praise God for this church and the pastor.

Coaching Classes
In five places, our coaching classes are going on. The classes are held in our church building. Local non-Christian, poor students are attending the classes. The churches are Gopalpur Friends Church – Malda, Krishnapur Friends Church – Malda, Habibpur Friends Church – Malda, Shyamnagar Friends Church – North 24 Parganas, and Nazatt Friends Church – North 24 parganas. The children and their families are receiving the good news and also the education. Please pray for these children.

Please pray for these churches and also pray for the pastors and evangelists for their hard work for Christ and for their protection.

His servant,

D. K. Sarkar
Kolkata, West Bengal

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March 2022 Prayer Letter

Kimberly Mer — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 17:58:13 +0000

A. and S. M. | Serving in India

Dear Prayer Partners,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for your great support to our ministry all these years which enabled us to establish the kingdom of God where it is hard. In 1995, both of us left our jobs to start this ministry among temple prostitutes. In this community prostitution is a traditional religion carried on for generations. God called us to rescue children and women.

We opened a children’s home for rescued children and gave them an education and got several of them married during 26 years of our service. Many of them are good Christian wives, and some in full-time ministry. Our home is always open for them to visit us for fun, fellowship, and mentorship. As S. takes the role of a mother and spiritual mentor they look up to her for guidance and support.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many restrictions for church and evangelistic ministry. Temporarily we shut down churches in all villages. But through phone and internet we held church services and prayer to encourage believers. During the lock-down we had ten young girls staying with us and our pantry was empty. As an organization, we approached the district commissioner for permission to buy in bulk food, grains, and vegetables and provided to those shut in. Also, another wonderful thing to praise God is that we arranged for five of our girls to marry during this time.

Caring Hands is presently helping more children through foster care in their own locations. Shobha and I visited them last month and had fruitful ministry among them. We help and support HIV+ people who live in utter poverty and hopelessness. They receive monthly rations, counseling, and medical guidance. Our staff minister to them and many have turned to Jesus. A HIV+ family accepted Christ and faced persecution from villagers and relatives. We relocated them and now they are happy and growing spiritually. We have provided a water buffalo to sell the milk for extra financial help.

Where there were no churches 27 years ago in this community, today, we have established seven churches. The pastors visit houses for prayer and help when they are in any kind of need or difficult situation.

Persecution has increased in our state. Many churches were ransacked, services disturbed, and pastors arrested. Our personal ministry is taking a change. S. and I are counselling and guiding staff to work independently. We cannot go to certain areas as the police authorities have warned us. They say we evangelize and disturb traditional practices.

Camps for children, youth, ladies, and families are conducted regularly. Ladies’ retreats are a great success. The ladies under spiritual bondage and burden come, and S. and her team minister to them. They go back free, uplifted and rejoicing.

Our daughter is studying in Barclay, Kansas. She wants to be a counsellor. We are anxious for her to finish her study and find a Godly life partner. S. & I will be in U.S. from April to September this year. Kindly pray for all our needs and our time there. We three as a family would like to be together for this summer. We appreciate your calls, visits, and invitations. Thank you for your support, love, and provision.

Yours in his grace,

A. and S. M.

Click here to download the full prayer letter…

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A Story of Transformation from India

Kimberly Mer — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 17:19:37 +0000

Did you know that every single donation and prayer makes a difference for our missionaries and those they are helping? Our goal is to ignite hope one relationship at a time.

The following story is shared by our Friends in India and shows how one relationship was changed from your support.

Uma Dasgupta is a housewife and service holder. She has a heart for unreached souls and she is currently serving in ministry.

Every day, she comes from her job and goes to a reach program in different places in Kolkata.

Uma brought eight people to church who were interested in taking a public testimony of baptism.

After having them spend a few Sundays in the church service, they were able to take a public testimony of baptism.

Uma is now a regular attender and member of the church and because of her work, three new house churches in Kolkata were started.

If you would like to help make a difference in the lives of people like Uma, here’s how:

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