Tag Bangalore

A new chapter was written in Johannesburg, South Africa. In June of 1986, Gloria and I watched religious history unfold as 22 disciples, both blacks and whites sent out by the Boston Church, flew into Johannesburg. While the two of us were there just for the first service, the 22 disciples came to live and to plant a church that would demonstrate love between the races in the midst of apartheid, the cruel philosophy and law of the land that separated the races. Since then, apartheid has died, but the Johannesburg Church of Christ with a regular Sunday attendance of 2,000 – half blacks and half whites hugging and singing together – has become a beacon of light for the Dark Continent.

Doubting Thomas grew in his faith and became Daring Thomas, and the first century church flourished. Nineteen centuries later the Daring Thomases are back, and the church is flourishing. The last time Gloria and I were in India was October 12, 1986, for the first service of the church in Bombay. The team of 12 from Boston were tough and seasoned. Their level of sacrifice is modern-day legend: the one-suitcase challenge. Each member and each child took with him only what would fit into one suitcase; everything else was either sold or given away.