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VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD
Post Bag No. 204, Vellore 632002
The voice of the Shepherd is essentially an indigenous ministry. Its headquarters with office and a recording studio is in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Ever since its inception in 1975, it has been funded by engineering works undertaken by its founder Mr C. Samuel, and also by contributions from other Indian Christians. However since 1993 the engineering works have been discontinued to concentrate on the growing ministry. Since then the ministry is being run entirely by contributions. Both the co-founders Mr & Mrs C. Samuel are actively involved in the various aspects of the ministry. Our main concentration is on the following:
1. Radio Ministry: Since 1976 we have been broadcasting the Good News in Tamil through FEBA Radio. We financed a gospel broadcast in Oriya language for a couple of years. Then we ourselves produced programmes in Bhojpuri and Tulu and broadcast them through FEBA for a couple of years, which we had to discontinue, as the expense-response ratio was uncomfortably high.
From November 1997 to March 1999 we broadcast a special radio programme for the Tamil expatriates working in the Middle East countries through FEBA radio.
2. Mission to Minority Language Groups: We have a special burden for minority language groups since more than one-third of the Indian population speak minority languages. Instead of starting a new missionary organisation, we have decided to cooperate with the existing missions and encourage them to take the gospel to these groups with financial help from us. Now we are supporting the following nine missionaries.
One Missionary to the Bhojpuries through GEMS
One Missionary to the Maithalies through GEMS
One Missionary to the Magahies through GEMS
Two Missionaries to the Gonds through MVM
One Missionary to the Lamanis through IMS
One Missionary to the Benarsi through LIFE
One Missionary to the Awadhi through LIFE
One Missionary to the Ayodhya through LIFE
3. Family Seminars: Since 1992, we have been conducting family seminars at various places. We have conducted such seminars even abroad. In 1997 we conducted family seminars in London, Kuwait, Salalah & Muscat. So far we have conducted 27 family seminars. We believe that there is a big need for such seminars. Many have testified that these seminars have been of great value in their married lives.
4. Literature Evangelism: We are publishing a monthly magazine in Tamil with an English supplement. We also publish Christian books mostly in Tamil. We buy Bibles, Bible portions and tracts from other organisations and distribute them.
5. Help to the poor and the needy: We have a special fund from which we give monetary help to poor students, missionary widows, children of parents living below poverty line, leprosy homes, missionaries and others in need of medical help, etc.
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