Abraham was old, Sarah laughed at God’s promise, Hosea’s wife was a prostitute, David was too young, Paul was a murderer, and Lazarus was dead. Somehow God used them all. Give God a willing, faithful, servant’s heart and wonders will ensue.
Samuel Raj Joseph Gaddam is a man who surrendered such a heart over to God, and this surrender led him to Victory Bible College International (VBCI) Thailand.
Joseph felt inadequate and ventured little for God before he came to VBCI. Two years of powerful teaching with Pastors from around the globe has transformed this once shy, insecure young boy into a confident man of God who has laid hold of a powerful vision for his life and his homeland of India.
India boasts a population of roughly 1.6 billion people yet only 24 million of these are Christian. Although economic reforms has led India to become one of the fastest growing major-economies in the world, the nation continues to face the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, corruption, and inadequate public healthcare. The social and political structures in India are largely determined by religion, caste and language. Of its 2,533 people groups, 2,229 are unreached by the gospel.
Despite India’s economic and social reforms, it has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Joseph and his team see the crisis their nation currently faces, and are answering God’s call to bring hope to millions.
Joseph’s vision is a simple: to equip ordinary people to become victorious leaders, who affect change in every area of society - home, local church, community, market place and nation; and to plant self-supported successful churches in every village and city of the 28 provinces in India
Joseph and his team already have connections in 20 of the 28 provinces and have launched weekly Life Groups and bi-weekly Leaders Groups. Initially the goal was to reach all 28 within a period of five years so the groundwork has begun well, and within this five-year window the ultimate vision for these groups is that they will plant churches in their respective areas. One way they will see this happen is with the Team Leadership College being launched in Andhra Pradesh on September 4, 2012.
Joseph, a man who once thought himself inadequate, has embraced his destiny in Christ. This once quiet man is now boldly proclaiming the word of God in fruitful ways. It is because of his faithfulness to the call on his life that Joseph is making the way for potential millions in India to be transformed with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
