CBC believes in equipping the people of God with the Word of God. We do not want to limit this only to our members. We want to faithful stewards of the Gospel truth.
To fulfill this mission CBC has been actively involved in teaching and training in different parts of Maharashtra and other areas through Bible equipping classes. Below are a few of our engagements. We encourage you to keep all these activities, locations and brethren in your prayers.
CBC has been able to conduct a few studies for the Local Churches within the city of Pune.
Maharashtra Fellowship for Deaf
Maharashtra Fellowship for Deaf is a social organization that is dedicated to serving the deaf through quality education, vocational training and holistic care. It ministers to the deaf child from any background, religion, gender, or race. With specially trained and dedicated staff, it has been operating in the state of Maharashtra for 32 years and has touched the lives of over a thousand students. Maharashtra Fellowship for Deaf (MFD) operates from its two campuses at Pune & Aurangabad.
They provide on-campus, residential school education & vocational skills, exposing them to an environment of acceptance, love & care of the care givers and training them to face life & shoulder responsibility in the society.
CBC has been supporting MFD financially and is also involved from time to time in various ways - our women used to help out the girls in teaching and craft, boys and girls used to spend time playing with the children and also conducted Christmas programs and speak at their evening devotions. One of our church member who is a Doctor helps them for their medical needs.
The Light Emitting Foundation, Pune
This is a small evangelical Church bases in the Marathi heart of Old Pune. CBC is actively engaged with the Youth and Members of the Church
Youth Ministry
TLEF has around 18 to 20 youth. Over the past year we have taken them though scriptural teaching on the Attributes of God, Marriage and Pain and Suffering. It is a joy to see young minds engage with difficult topics of the Bible
Bible Study
We have completed the book of Ephesians and the Epistle of Timothy in a monthly study with the Church members. This includes a verse by verse study of the book followed by Question and Answers.
Teaching & Training - Outstation Equipping Classes
Sangli (Kolhapur), Maharashtra
Twice a month a few believers from Sangli gather together after a hard day of work to study the Scriptures. The classes end up going till late in the evenings. CBC pastor along with a few other likeminded friends have been travelling here to train these disciples in their local language.
Thus far we have finished the Basics of the Gospel, Attributes of God, Attributes of Scriptures and the five Solas of the Reformation. The training provided is free of cost. Owing to the current pandemic situation we have put the classes on hold.
Jharkhand
It has been a great privilege and blessing to carry the Gospel and also equip people in location that are hard to reach. Our pastor has been involved in a wonderful partnership in equipping and training brethren in the State of Jharkhand.
During annual visits to our friends in ministry here we were able to conduct Youth Seminars and Pastoral Training. The youth Seminar included topics like Marriage, Work, Worship and the Gospel.
Other Activities
Podcast: CBC is happy to partner with pastors from the Reformed tradition in spreading the Gospel truth. Our leadership is involved in a weekly Podcast titled as SUBHAKTI CHE RAHSYA. We are dealing with important questions related to the Christian Faith.
Shepherds Sharpening Shepherds: This is an initiative by Maharashtra Reformers where a few trained pastors conduct expository sessions for Local Marathi Pastors. CBC leadership has been actively involved in these efforts by conducting and leading the sessions
Blog: There is a lack of fundamental and doctrinally sound Christian material available in the Local Language (Marathi) As a Church we are able to provide such material through our blogs. We also have a blog that is completely dedicated for women.
MISSIONS
Malwadi (Pen), Raigad District, Maharashtra
We are called to be a city on a hill and not a club to ourselves. Even though most of our congregation is English speaking we as a Church consider it to be our responsibility to reach out to the Local Marathi Believers and encourage them in their faith.
Malwadi is a tiny village on a three hour drive from Pune. It is situated on a small hill. Most of the people here we previously engaged in highway robbery. Things changed after the gospel was brought to them. Bro. Augustine and his wife have been visiting this village on a regular basis.
CBC was able to conduct a one day mission exposure trip. We were not sure if all would make it since it was very hot, and the village had no Toilet facility nor any running water to offer. And yes there was a two to three Kilometer climb to reach the village!!!
But interestingly every one could make it right from our smallest 11 month old to the Oldest 80 year old. Once there we were able to have fellowship in the Word with the Local Church and also conduct a much needed Medical Camp for them.
The small Church was over crowded with around 100 people singing over the top of their voices. We shared the word to them which was followed by a love feast for the whole village sponsored by CBC. Oh yes the food was too spicy and super oily!!!
Our youth conducted a skit and spend time playing sports with the children there. Others went to visit the local homes and pray for them. Dr. Anita was assisted by a few others to conduct the Camp that provided them with free medical checkup and also medicines. By God’s grace she could also conduct a follow up there with Bro Augustine and his dear wife.
It was a time of learning and sharing for everyone. We were able to have a firsthand experience that the joy of the Gospel is not based on material blessings and it can sustain you in the most difficult conditions
(CBC leadership is looking forward to be actively involved in the training and equipping of the local Pastor and others in this area)
Christmas Outreach
The Only Best time you can share the gospel without much hindrance is during Christmas. CBC had been using this opportunity almost every year since it’s inception. We used to sing Carols, conduct a Nativity skit, share some goodies, and gospel tracks at the city’s popular Malls like Amanora Mall at Hadapser, Kumar Pacific Mall at Shankar Sheth Road. One time we even conducted Carols at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park five-star hotel and at a local Home for the Aged where we distributed gifts.
In 2019, we did use this opportunity again and conducted “Coffee, Carrols and Cake” at Don Bosco Youth Center: That is what we called our time together
CBC members were asked to invite their Non-Christian friends and so did they with great enthusiasm. The evening was attended by 50 guests in a beautifully decorated and ambient setting, all done by the CBC women.
Our youth took them through the Gospel by the means of Carols and songs. CBC pastor used the opportunity to share the Gospel truth about Sin and Salvation with clarity
Brother Manwani, CBC elder who comes from a Sindhi background shared his testimony and journey in faith. We were also able to distribute good Christian resources on Marriage, Parenting and Family which were graciously provided by a Family from CBC
COVID 19 and our Response
The entire nation of India was shaken by the sudden lock down and its effects. Many people were left without a source of income. Helpless and hopeless they were looking out of help.
We as a Church we also impacted by it. Amidst all this God was faithful to us and therefore the Church decided to help a few families who had no source of income to sustain themselves. Everyone within the Church was mobilized and eager to help put.
Pune: Yerewada
The Slums in Yerewada were one of the worst hit areas in Pune. Their plight was all over the news and media. Through a friendly contact we were able to trace utterly desperate families who did not even have basic needs
Led by our Youth CBC was able to support 50 families with supplies that could last them more than a month. We were able to go to the affected area and hand over the supplies personally.
Jharkhand
One of our Friends in Truth, Grace Bible College has been serving the Lord in the Tribal areas of Chattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa. The Pandemic posed a serious problem here because most of the villages here are in remote locations, away from any form of help. They reached out to us giving us a picture of the need in this location.
They have a believing community in a village called Andharkoili bordering Orissa and West Bengal. The local pastor was able to identify 20 needy families consisting of widows and physically challenged members. Five families out of them are unbelievers.
Through the help that we sent, all these families were provided with rations that would last them over a month. Praise God for granting us the grace of giving.
Flood Relief
TBD – (During the floods of 2019 we collected money and sent to two churches to help out overcome the loss and destruction they went thru due to the floods)