
			BIBLE TRANSLATION AND LITERACY FOR INDIAN TRIBALS TRUST
			GOD’S WORD IN EVERY TRIBAL TONGUE

Bible Translation&Strategic Co-ordination

Contact

Feedback

Man Shall not live by Bread alone...Math:4:4

Vision: REACHING INDIAN TRIBES WITH TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR OWN HEART LANGUAGE. In India, the latest figures tell us about 51 million of population scheduled Tribes. It is nearly 7.76% of the India’s total population. They do differ in racially and linguistically among themselves. They are the most neglected and economically backward people and most receptive groups for Gospel in India. We are a group of Christian missionaries have started a Mission organaization called “Bible translation and literacy for Indian Tribals Trust – in Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu south india .Later it was moved to coimbatore by the God’s will. After wider survey and field works and after gaining much knowledge about the people groups and their culture in this past five years, As a second step we have prayerfully sending evangelists into of these un-reached communities. These fore-runner missionaries will be either a social worker, vocational teacher or a Evangelist that depends upon the opening that exist in the people group. Missionary/director Myself W. Ebenezer Udayakumar was separated and led by God to work as a social worker and ordained pastor and while working, among a Tribal people of Tamilnadu, God gave the vision to become a channel to the multitudes by the way of giving the word of God in their own tongue. so as to God shall speak to every one of them with His words which is life and Spirit. Strategy God is leading us in the ministry step by step now we are the leaders of Bit-Lit Ministries which is working among Tribal People of Irulas of Nilgiris and other three Tribes of the same Hill area. We are doing the ministry of strategic co-ordination for church Planting along with Bible Translation among Irulas and church Planting among Badagas and Todas now and wish to continue in every possible tribal people group of India according to His leading and purpose. THE TODA The name TODA supposed to be derived from “tud” the sacrad tud tree of toda. Toda dialect is an independent language of the Dravidian family. The uniqueness of their half barrel shaped houses given speculation regarding their origin ranged from Rome to Sumeria. The toda village is called a mund, means a herd or a cattle- pen . THE KOTA The derivation of the name kota is from the Dravida root Ko or Ku meaning mountain. They speak kota language. The Kota village is called a Kokkal represents linear type with two or three localities called Keris. Their traditional government is known as varad a white bed spread cloth is thrown around the body by men and women. THE KURUMBA It is possible that their name originated from the tamil word kurumbu (mischief) because in their savage state they were very arrogant and mischievous on the basis on their residents in nilgiris the kurumbasare identified as six district kurumba tribes. The kurumba settlement is called muttom . THE IRULA The name irula is supposed to be drive from tamil word irul meaning darkness. Since they live in the dark places in the forest. Theyspeak Irula language which is in south Dravidian language group.Irula settlement is called as Arai. BADAGA The Badaga are an agricultural community who live in the Nilgiri Hills. They are concentrated in the Coonoor and Ootacamund taluks of the Nilgiris District. They migrated to the Nilgiris about two centuries ago due to famine, political turmoil and oppression in the Mysore region. They prefer to call themselves Badaga, Badaga Gounder and Badugu, while others refer to them as Baduguru, Badaga Gounder and Vadugar. Some of them use the title Gowda as a suffix to their names. The size of the Badaga population was2,43,075 according to the 1991 Census.

Bible Translation&Strategic Co-ordination

BIBLE TRANSLATION : By this time in 2003 we were recognized by IICCC, which is the authority to Train Bible Translators in India. we were called to attended Advanced Level Program in Linguistics conducted by S.I.L Training team since we had finished all the other levels in one dialect of Irula called male-nadu Irula. We got the pleasant tie up with S.I.L and got all Electronic Resources for Bible Translation sponsored by IICCC for us. Strategic co-ordination among Irulas by BIT-LIT Ministries. It is in the year 2001 when we were as P.G Teachers and doing the ministry among irulas, We were heavily moved in our spirit so strongly, we felt about the perishing souls of Irulas and the need of the word of God for the Irulas, one of the most receptive people group of South India. When we were in prayer for God’s leading for a year. I met Mr. Jerry who is a Great Commission Christian conducted a training for evangelists in India. As moved in spirit , I personally requested him to help me for the ministry and guide me towards my goal of reaching irulas. He also taught me about the need of Christian Teachers in the Un-reached fields of India. God moved in both of our hearts for joining with each other in the ministry. The beliefs of Christian faith in both of our hearts were same. So we rejoiced in the Lord. I continued the ministry among the irula people in bi-vocational way. In APRIL 2002 ,we resigned the job and contributed our more time and energy for the extension of kingdom. We started to reach the Attapady area, hardly we found only 10 worship groups in which irulas were living. They too were in wrong concept of need for Church Building for the growth of the church. we came to understand through Harvest survey that Altapady area is so receptive to Gospel and realized that we were moved to unite all the existing first generation Christians and impart knowledge of communicating the Gospel to other people of their community. PRAYER WALK: We started to create prayer cells in the state level churches .And every irula Evangelists are requested and some time to-gether conducted prayer walks in the Attpady area villages , pillur dam area villages and kotagiri areas. TEACHING SEMINARS: In March 2003 there was a seminar was conducted by us in the Topic of spiritual warfare. But that seminars was diverted by the Holy Spirit through the special speaker Mr. Jerry taught us about Communication of Gospel to Tribal context, especially story telling methods and Audio & video Media. And the importance of contextualize the Gospel. MOTHER TONQUE GOSPEL: In April 2004 audio Mark Gospel along with 10 spiritual songs were translated and recorded as a first time and distributed to all the native evangelist, along with cassette players. More than fifty cassettes sets distributed and Listening groups were formed all over the fields. The Language committee and the native Evangelists who received had committed themselves to create 40 listening groups. But its growth was limitless; all the evangelists are using every day till today. 37 New Small groups were begun in this year only. LISTENING GROUPS & SOCIAL INTERACTION: More than 70 Preaching Points and 40 listening groups are formed so far more over 17 new self- help groups and 17 old self- -help groups were revived by our evangelists. Since they need to be guided for the income generation projects in BIT-LIT itself we are running cottage industries which are manufacturing Home care products like washing powders, cleaning powders, phynoyil,candles and liquid Blue and also forest products like Honey, pepper and food products like fruit jams ,pickles are also manufactured and marketed by us now. We gave training for 10 evangelists and made them as leaders of cluster cottage industries so as to take ownership by the community itself. God’s story. God’s story in irula language was translated by us in 2005 and this is the first visual narration in their language and also it will help to build the biblical world view among this un-reached people group. It was dedicated on 5th of Feb’06.

[Top]

Prayer Request

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Pray for us, for the wisdom to teach the native evangelist and to work with them to create a Dynamic witnessing group of Christians and work for saturation Church planting among our target tribal people groups.. There were sufferings in our family in physical and in financial aspects. Even some time discouragement in the spiritual areas too.
We scarified some of our belongings but I am confident those are -seeds for the extension of God’s kingdom. And also Marvelous and confirming helps by the Lord and his children at the needs. The worship groups are increasing in every mission’s fields. God is raising strong witnesses among irulas.
We request you all to uphold irula people group and for their Heavenly blessings.Now we are in the work of finishing the Grammar of Vettakad Irula.. The needs are increasing from the field , some of Christians looking to us for financial helps also in their distress. Mission expenses are getting more and some time we lost our supports but God raised new ones.
We are in need a Mission Training center in the field for the training and for imparting knowledge among the evangelists, local elder, and to raise new leaders.
A vehicle is needed to visit the Irula villages to witness and encourage the believers. May the Lord give you the burden to join with us for the reward in eternity in the acts of Holy Spirit among irulas, the major Tribal group of South India.
Uphold my Family and my two children in your prayers .
Let your efforts give fruits to “The people living in Darkness to see great light.
Why don’t you come forward to bit –lit? .Your contributions can be sent to the above address with the quote of the project for which you wish to contribute as Demand Draft of Check or by Money orders in the name of “Bible Translation and Literacy for Indian Tribals Trust” ,payable at coimbatore branch ,India.Or you can remit to our Bank Account ,which is in “Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI),coimbatore Branch in the Account number : 006104000110006
“ ……..according to His Riches in Glory by Jesus Christ”….Philip:4:19.
Reported by :W.Ebenezer Udayakumar.Director,
BIT-LIT Ministries .H..A.30. Hudco Colony 1st Block,COIMBATORE-641006.TAMILNADU STATE.INDIA

Immediate Needs:

A own office and Training center to reach and Teach the Target groups.
Computers for Bible Translation and other official works.
Literacy classes among Adults and for deep forest village children.
Literatures of Gospel in stories and pictures in their mother Tongue.
Helps for the faith family of Evangelists..
Gospel cassette Recordings and its Distribution among listening Groups
Radio Program in their own Mother Tongue for un-reached people groups.
A Offset printing machine for the Translated literatures and the Gospel Portions to be published.
A Projector and the Jesus film dubbed in Irula.
A van to visit Irula villages as Mobile Primary health care Unit.
Sponsorship for to send more Irula Evangelists.
Praise the Lord!

[Top]

Contact


	Contact Persons

	Bro.Ebenezer Udayakumar.W

	Address for communication

	BIT-LIT MINISTRIES,H.A.30.Hudco Colony 1st Block,Ganapthy Maa Nagar,coimbatore-641006,Tamilnadu.India.E-MAIL:ebenezer_udayakumarkastanet.org

	Tel No

	91-422-6534755/cell ph:91-9843297755/0422-2510351

[Top]