What is it about?
The works of the Buntains in Calcutta, India from the 1950s among the poor, marginalized, sick, hungry, and abandoned represents the Pentecostal holistic approach to Christian mission. With the establishment of hospitals and schools, in addition to the relief programs, their ministries exemplify an important area of Pentecostal mission, along with evangelism and church planting through the emphasis on supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, e.g., healing and miracles. A Pentecostal characteristic of this ministry was prayer and faith as the spiritual foundation of the work, often when faced with financial pressures. In the process, many were converted to Christianity.
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Why is it important?
The Buntains' sacrificial work touched many native people, especial grass-root people. God performed miracles very often when they prayed with strong faith. The Buntains and their co-workers experienced miraculous provision for their needs. Through studying the Buntains mission in India, l learned many things: God answer his children's prayer when seeking him earnestly and when we minister people, we have to have love for them. Our loving heart for people touches them.
Perspectives
The holistic mission works of the Buntains in Calcutta through various social ministries impacted many people to come to know Christ besides having physical assistance. My viewpoint on the Buntains holistic ministry is that it will challenge many Pentecostal missionaries to engage in social ministry in their mission field. Such holistic mission will impact more than just preaching or evangelising.
Julie Ma
Oral Roberts University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Touching Lives of People Through the Holistic Mission Work of the Buntains in Calcutta, India, International Bulletin of Mission Research, January 2016, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/2396939315625947.
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