India captivates and overwhelms the senses of all who visit with its vibrant colors, immense crowds, and overpowering smells. One of the largest and most diverse countries in the world, India is filled with more than 2,500 distinct people groups who speak over 456 languages. A staggering one billion people are dispersed over one million square miles. Tremendous recent economic growth has led to an increasingly important role in global affairs. Yet the permeating and ever-present reality of India’s extensive poverty remains.There is more human need in India than in any other country. Approximately 191 million people, 15% of the population, are malnourished. Roughly 50,000 children in India are orphans, and about 22% of the population lives in poverty. The caste system, a once rigid cultural institution that assigned people to a social stratum based on birth, led to many horrific human rights abuses. Though officially abolished, it continues to hold great influence over the culture and remains a major bar to social mobility. To this day, it is difficult for people of lower castes to find jobs, no matter what their education or background. India’s infrastructure is unreliable, and political corruption is rampant. Overpopulation also makes pollution and sanitation unmanageable. These contribute to deadly realities such as contaminated water and widespread diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, and more.

One of the least reached countries on earth, 95% of Indians have never heard of Jesus! While Hinduism is practiced by about 74%, only about 5% identify as Christians. But because of the sheer size of the population, even minorities (Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs) number in the millions each. The Muslim minority is so large that within decades it is predicted that India will be the world’s largest Muslim nation. The legacies of Christian workers like William Carey and Mother Teresa have left a mark on this nation, revealing the massive positive contribution Christianity has made on education, health, social issues, and society. Yet it is still often seen as a threat to the traditional Hindu way of life. Anti-conversion laws make it difficult to share the Gospel. Those who choose to follow Jesus are often threatened with losing their status, jobs, homes, and even lives. Many Christian organizations have been forced out, leaving many bereft of physical and spiritual aid. However, despite the intense persecution, Christianity is the fastest growing religion in India.