On March 13, 2006, the Time Magazine Europe Edition reported on President Bush’s recent visit to India. The article called attention to the “real story” behind all the recent good news about India. According to writer Alex Perry, the President was shown the nation's best face, but only received half the story.

“In India,” said Perry, “Bush toured the southern city of Hyderabad, a hub for science and technology, as an example of everything that's right about the nation.” But Perry noted, “Hyderabad is also a good example of what's still wrong with India.”

“There are two Indias,” Perry said. The old India is “epitomized by the surging chaos that fascinated generations of backpackers and travel writers. The other is the efficient center of outsourcing and technology that thrills today's investment bankers.” He also pointed out that outside the city, thousands of impoverished farmers are committing suicide in this barren, drought-stricken land. And thousands of Marxist guerrillas are being raised up to lead a rebellion against Hindu oppression of the poor.

According to Perry, “The country's entrepreneurs and middle classes are euphoric about their new prosperity."  But do not be misled. This is not the India Dayspring International has served for over 28 years. And as Perry pointed out, there are over 1.1 billion people in India today, 800 million earn $2 a day or less, economic growth of 7-8%  which sounds pretty good until you realize it means just an extra $40 a year for the average Indian.

And although Christ has called us to proclaim the good news to the 300 million who are experiencing prosperity in India, it is also among the 800 million people who are poverty-stricken that Jesus has called Dayspring International. For 28 years our teams have traveled the land showing our all-Indian acted Life of Christ motion picture among India’s poorest. The message of God’s love for the untouchable, the outcastes, the downtrodden is transforming the lives of millions.

The country of India has two faces.  One is prosperous and becoming a world player. The other is invisible and suffering. Be alert. Christians need to pray for wisdom as never before. Satan would divert us from the task of fulfilling the Great Commission by making us think that nations are reached that are not. India’s image as a nation of economic progress, modernization and globalization is extremely deceptive.

Pray for the 800 million poverty-stricken people of India; the outcasts and those who are enslaved to ignorance and superstition.

Thank you,

John Gilman
President and Founder