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India

Population: 1.2 billion

Life Expectancy: 63.4 years

GDP: US$1017 per capita

Unemployed: 10%

37% earn less than US$2 per day

India, Asia

IND05 - Youth Camps & Outreach Training

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Partnership Overview

For a number of years Bright Hope World has been sending teams to Asia to assist in the development of Camp Outreach Ministries.  Currently the focus is India and twice a year Dave de Roles and Marty Scheib take a team there from New Zealand to do mission outreach and training. They run outreach camps for Hindu youth which are generally two days duration and outreach programmes in Hindu schools, churches in slum villages, orphanages and rescue centres. These programmes are usually organised with existing BHW partners. 

Since 2008 they have also been running training days for pastors and leaders. Dave and Marty particularly focus on evangelism, with a strong emphasis on visual aids and the ‘how to.' They teach key truths from the Word such as The Gospel Made Clear, The 8 Major Events of History, The 10 Commandments (still relevant) and Amazing Things Jesus Said and Did. They also do a lot of training in using visual aids in communication, such as telling the story well, gospel magic, muppets/puppets, music (key truths in song), quiz games for review and comprehension analysis, creative memory verse work etc.

In every case they work with local pastors and church leaders whom they involve in the training camps and who then go off and continue doing the same long after Dave and Marty leave.  They have discovered that there is very little concept of creative presentation of the Good News.  Many pastors preach but have little grasp of how to use creative tools to make the presentation attractive, particularly to young people. 

It has become obvious that many of the pastors themselves have little training or understanding of Christian maturity and leadership issues.  It is important to keep the training at a level that is relative to where the pastors are at and subjects like Worship, Fellowship, The character of a leader, Discipleship, Ministry, Understanding the Western youth culture sweeping India as well as Mission need to be taught to them. There are opportunities for people to go with Dave and Marty to teach with them. 

Marty and Dave spend most of their time focusing on ‘Mission’ – getting the gospel to lost people - but of course the other subjects are vital to have healthy, growing Christians, church leaders and churches. There are resources available in India that can be used and left with pastors for them to continue studying and using.

History Of Partnership

Dave de Roles had been involved in running youth camps in Christchurch for many years however following a trip to the Philippines in 1996 a vision was born in Dave's heart to run these camps in Third World countries - to present the Gospel to these children in a fun-filled way using the NZ camp style.  In 1998 Dave went to Africa with the Bright Hope World International Director and Field Director. It was following this trip that a real desire developed to commence a youth camp ministry in places where BHW had existing partners, particularly in Asia. In 2000 four camps were run in the Philippines and two in Thailand.

Beneficiaries

Many people benefit directly and indirectly from the work of Dave and Marty. The local pastors and leaders benefit from the training they receive and this has a flow on effect to the young people they teach, lead and reach out to.  The Hindu youth that attend the outreach camps and programmes benefit from hearing God's Word and even more so if they accept Christ as Lord and Saviour.

What We Like About The Partnership

Dave and Marty are both evangelists at heart and have a real passion to share the gospel with lost people and train others to reach the lost.  In New Zealand they are both involved in running outreach programmes, speaking at school assemblies, doing Bible-in-Schools classes, open air events and other special events. They have plenty of experience and knowledge to use in India. This partnership has the potential to have a significant impact throughout India as people are trained to share the Gospel effectively.

 

Key People

Leadership Profile

Dave de Roles
Dave de Roles was born and raised in Wanganui but has lived in Christchurch since 1985.  He trained originally as a coach-builder with New Zealand railways and has since worked as a self-employed builder, youth pastor, camp director and youth worker.  Over the last 15 years he has run hundreds of outreach programmes and directed over 130 camps.  He has mobilised and trained hundreds of volunteer youth leaders over the years.

Dave is married to Michelle and they have three children, Brianna, Leisha and Jaymie.  They are members of Riccarton Community Church. 

"Dave de Roles is enthusiastically and uncompromisingly committed to sharing the Gospel.  He has a vast and effective experience of working with youth as one of the most successful youth workers of the last decade in Canterbury.  Dave is a visionary evangelist who generates momentum by leading from the front"
Alan Aitken, Managing Trustee, Community Development Network Trust

"Dave de Roles has an enormous enthusiasm and passion for the Gospel that is infectious.  Dave has been a huge asset to RCC for over 20 years and we look forward to continuing to partner with him as he exercises his significant gifting as an evangelist"
Philip Stedman, Executive Pastor, Riccarton Community Church

Other People Involved

Marty Scheib
Marty Scheib was born and raised in Nelson.  He has been an evangelist with OAC Ministries (Outreach and Church Ministries, formerly Open Air Campaigners) for 20 years. Prior to this Marty was a chef in the New Zealand Army for 10 years and then a cook at Forest Lakes Christian Camp for three years. He has been a regular camp speaker as well as preaching, training, and open air ministry. He is the OAC Christchurch Branch Director. 

Marty is married to Sue and they have three grown children, Kyle, Michaela and Dana. They are members of Riccarton Community Church.

“Having seen the valuable work that Marty and Dave have done in India, I unreservedly endorse the work they do in ministering to kids and in training pastors and ministry workers to do likewise. Their passion for children’s ministry, combined with their ‘goofy’ ability to relate to kids, makes them extremely effective in teaching young people about God.”
Fraser Scott, Managing Director, True North Consulting

 

Vision And Annual Strategy

To reach lost children and young people by doing evangelism, showing evangelism and intensifying training in evangelism.
To prepare Indian church leaders for effective ministry to young people. (Of India’s population of one billion, 500 million are 18 years old or younger)

In the near future they are looking to increase their involvement with other partners and to become involved in training pastors and leaders in evangelism.  Pastors trained in India generally spread out through North India so this is an exciting development.  They are keen to have NZ pastors join them to help broaden the training that is provided.

 

Annual Budget

There is no budget for this partnership. Any funds received are used to send Hindu youths to camps and to train pastors. More money results in more ministry.

 

Personal Testimony

Letter received from Sigamani Samuel, Indian Pastor

Dear Brother Marty in Christ,
Greetings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. We were blessed by your visit. It is been time of refreshing for us and you have challenged us to go on faithfully serving the Lord. In times like this, you have been a refreshing rain, urging us to labour in God's vineyard and persevere. 

As an organization, with many pastors on the ground in different areas, we could be co-labourers with you in the body of Christ. You have sown for eternity for a greater ministry putting tools into young teachers. Only eternity will tell us and will show the fruits of our labour. 

Your training has affected the lives of 286 pastors and similar teachers from different places and denominations. This will have a ripple effect in a very big area. 

We love you and hope to see you soon. You are always welcome to see what the Lord is doing in our unreached State through GCCD. 

Yours in Christ,
Sigamani Samuel. 

Kolar Gold Fields

Youth who had attended our camp from Kolar Gold Fields went to a combined churches youth event and entered into a competition to present a short Bible message.  One group presented The 10 Commandments and another group The 8 Major Events of History they had learnt at camp. They came first and second in the competition!

 

How Can I Help?

Come:  Dave and Marty really value other people (pastors or lay people) joining them to broaden the training they provide.  There would be plenty of scope to be involved with the camps and school programmes in addition to training the Indian pastors.  In particular, NZ pastors or Bible teachers who could come and teach/train on subjects like Worship, Fellowship, The character of a leader, Understanding the Western youth culture sweeping India, Discipleship and Ministry would be greatly appreciated. 

Give:  It only costs approximately NZ$8 to sponsor a Hindu child to come on a weekend outreach camp.  This includes food, transport, accommodation and a small gift. It costs approximately NZ$10 for a pastor to attend a two day training session. 

Pray:  For health, strength and safety for Dave and Marty as they travel, for the Hindu youth that are hearing the gospel - often for the first time, for the pastors that are being trained and then going out to share the Good News.