India #2: Asia Christian Academy in Bangalore

After spending last Sunday morning singing and praying with our friends in Lucknow, we headed to the airport for our 3½ hours of SpiceJet flights south to Bangalore.  We parted ways with Siona during our layover in Delhi so he could rejoin the Malakar’s to prepare music for the upcoming church retreat.

It was evening when we arrived at the newish Bangalore airport built on government-purchased village land outside the city.  As we stepped outside, it was as though God had turned on the air conditioner (which He had).  Lucknow’s 100+ degrees with almost full humidity gave way to Bangalore’s 75 degrees and an earth cleansed by monsoon rains.

Our purpose for this part of the trip was to visit three different institutions to learn as much as possible about theological education and leadership training in India.  Eric is fully resolved to spend his life doing church-centered theological education in India, Nathan is committed to spreading this kind of vision by revamping Christian education and holding the rope stateside, and I’ve been interested for several years in theological education and leadership training overseas.  We wanted to visit different schools to learn about their history, purpose, vision, faculty, curriculum, leadership, logistics, opportunities, challenges, and methods.  As we prepared for the trip over the last several months, the Lord providentially connected us with Asia Christian Academy (ACA), Baptist Seminary of South India (BSSI), and Maranatha Baptist Bible College & Seminary (MBBCS).

ACA’s full-time driver (Stephen) picked us up outside the airport and we began the hour-long drive into the city.  Around 10:00pm we arrived at the home of ACA president Dr. Joy George.  He came to the door with his glasses and a book, sure marks of a DTS Ph.D. graduate and president of an established South Indian seminary.  What was unusual was the natural, unpretentious warmth of his hospitality.  It was humbling to be invited so nonchalantly into the home of a man of such position and experience.  He led us to the upstairs area whose size and guest-friendly layout instantly indicated to us that the George home also functions as a hotel.  They have visitors 75-80% of the time, they later told us.  Considering their hospitality, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve entertained angels without knowing it (that’s not a joke).

Downstairs over dinner, we began asking questions and started hearing the incredible story of Dr. George and ACA.  Several decades ago he deeply desired to study the Bible in America, so he flew to Dallas with $8 in his pocket.  Not knowing anyone but the Registrar with whom he had communicated (and who was out of town), he contemplated his options on the curb at Love Field.  Deep into the night, he decided to pay $5 for a taxi to Dallas Seminary.  Upon arrival, he wandered around until finally knocking on the door of a dormitory where he was given an empty room for the night.  In the morning he found an iHop and bought the cheapest breakfast item available with his remaining $3.  Eventually he found a place to stay, enrolled in classes, began building relationships, and adjusted to life in the country of Texas.  During his time at DTS he bent over backwards to help other new Indian students because he had been forced to learn so much on his own through trial and error.  He showed them around campus, directed them to grocery stores, showed them his strategies for saving money, helped them dress and eat inexpensively, and explained American culture and the DTS subculture.  In our brief stay at the George’s it became quickly apparent that this selfless servant’s heart is why he and his wife have so many visitors and supporters now.  He is a living example of Proverbs 11:25 – “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Upstairs that night, I was heading to bed when I saw the dim glow of a television in the living area.  I walked in to greet our driver and the 15-year-old orphan boy who works for the George’s as they pay for his schooling.  They were watching the final ten minutes of Roger Federer’s record-breaking Wimbledon victory over Andy Roddick.  It was one of those seamless blends of culture where the relative lack of communicative ability actually enhances the experience.  We didn’t speak each other’s languages very well, but we all spoke sports.

In the morning we made the hour drive to ACA and unpacked at the George’s campus home where they stay most of the week.  Eric addressed the 115 graduate students from Titus 1:9 — “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”  We began getting used to being the “guest speakers” and “visitors from America.”  It’s been a bit strange for us, simple group of young friends that we are, to be treated as the distinguished speakers and honored entourage.

After chapel Professor Joy John took us on a tour of the impressive facilities, including the kitchen and dining center, considerable garden, 30-child orphanage, multiple dormitories, faculty and staff housing, administration building, faculty offices, substantial library, campus hospital, small department store, land cleared for the planned 800-person auditorium, and an elementary and secondary Christian school with a bussed-in enrollment of 1,260.  We were a thorough distraction to the children as we walked along the balcony next to their classrooms, yet it was a joy to know that many children from Hindu backgrounds were attending the school due to its reputation for high-quality education.

After breaking for lunch, we spent an hour and a half with the 10-member faculty asking questions and taking copious notes.  This was a rare opportunity for three young men to have access to the established faculty of a solid, reputable Indian seminary.  We gained lots of insight, and even the answers that were predictable were now confirmed.  We took a group picture outside the new administration building at the head of the campus and exchanged contact information with several men (like the Dean of Students!).  Joy John then took us to visit a small village next to the school to get a taste of village life, and then on to Hosur Bible Church, a small local body jointly pastored by an ACA professor and graduate.  We returned for 5:00 tea at Professor John’s house and spent almost two hours in stirring conversation about theology and ministry.  We left thoroughly impressed with Professor John — his biblical understanding, theological depth, balanced wisdom, evident passion, and constant grace.  I would gladly have him for my professor.

We were given the opportunity to lead the evening assembly, and instead of choosing one of us to speak, we decided to lead three informal discussion groups so that we could hear about the students’ stories and perspectives.  When the students in Nathan’s group clapped about something he said, I would tell my group to clap for me, and each of our groups joined into an impromptu cheering competition.  And when Nathan’s robust voice echoed around the marble-floored room and hindered our discussions, Eric told him to quiet down and I told my group that when God made Nathan, he designed him with a microphone on the inside.  They laughed more riotously than the joke deserved, and it kicked off another brief back-and-forth among the groups.  It was a fun time, and we gained some helpful insights from them (for instance, they said they like all the visiting professors because they’re so easy!).

We returned for dinner at the George’s campus home with an eclectic group of a dozen.  I told them that I wish I could see a fast-forwarded overhead video of their dining room table over the years — what a group could be assembled from the history of the George’s hospitality!  I slipped away from the table around 9:00pm to meet a new student in front of the empty House of Worship.  He had said he wanted to meet with me later, and we were able to spend an hour talking about a recently-broken relationship with the love of his life.  From there we walked to the dormitories to visit the three specific room numbers that students had given me after the evening assembly when I said I wanted to visit them in their rooms later.  It was a blast re-living my RD days and hanging out with the students in the dorms — lounging on their beds, talking about life, laughing into the late hours, praying with them and for them.  Sometimes I wouldn’t mind re-hiring myself as an RD and then resigning as the Dean (notice the strategic order)!

We awoke Tuesday morning with a brief teacher’s devotional to give (Nathan) and a ride to catch to Baptist Seminary of South India, closer to Bangalore proper.  We departed ACA full of gratitude for a rich 36 hours of insight and fellowship, but even more for the God-empowered history of biblically grounded education that has sent so many well-trained laborers into the ripe and heavy harvest of South Asia.

As we left, we passed the massive half-built concrete phallus that an enemy of the gospel had attempted to build right across from the school’s entry, to spite ACA and to honor the gods.  After months of prayer and the patient recognition that no human power could put a stop to this disgrace, the construction suddenly halted one day, and no one knows what happened to the builder.  Soon a small store appeared in front, partially blocking the idol from view, and now there is also a small tree serving as an added obstruction.  We left with a powerful and multi-faceted lesson:  this is a dark land, the gospel is strongly opposed, but God is still on His throne.