India

India is one of the most ethically and linguistically diverse countries in the world with more than 2,000 ethnic groups using around 780 languages. The country has never had a problem with the existence of gods and goddesses as it is the birthplace of Indic religions, namely Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Tibetan and Zen Buddhist traditions. It is also home to the second largest Muslim population in the world.

Team members from Baptist Mission Australia began serving among the Boro people of Assam, in 1947 and gradually this ministry grew to also include the Garo and Rabha people groups and, much later, the Adivasi people. Today there are more than 30,000 members across 300 Boro, Garo, Rabha and Adivasi churches.

In 1968 the work among the Rabha people led to partnership with the Baptist Churches of Mizoram, and this has resulted in the secondment of intercultural team members from Mizoram to work within our intercultural teams in different parts of the world. Baptist Mission Australia also signed a partnership agreement with the Chakhesang Mission Society, Nagaland in 2023.

Through these partnerships Baptist Mission Australia trains, empowers and mobilises churches and intercultural team members to be effective near-culture witnesses in an increasingly polycentric world. Baptist Mission Australia also hopes to provide apprenticeship placements for these intercultural team members to further develop their mutual learning and empowerment.

Our partnership roots in India are deep and long-lasting. And we’re excited to see these partnerships being renewed as we respond to changing needs and opportunities. Our valued partners include the Baptist Church of Mizoram, Lower Assam Baptist Fellowship, Boro Baptist Church Association and the Chakhesang Baptist Association. Together we are involved in contextual mission training, mission consultancy, integral mission initiatives, humanitarian relief and funding scholarships to train emerging leaders.