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Bhojpuri Breakthrough: A Movement that Keeps Multiplying
One of the largest Church Planting Movements in the world, the Bhojpuri movement began in the 1990s and continues to spread gospel light into the region of North India that has been called "the graveyard of missions." Drawing upon dozens of personal stories of transformation from within the movement, Victor John (with collaborator Dave Coles), guides us through insights and lessons learned along the way. Today, the Bhojpuri work is breaking through into neighboring people groups and marginalized social sectors, transcending language, ethnicity, religion, and caste. David Garrison, author of "A Wind in the House of Islam" Bhojpuri Breakthrough revisits the movement that introduced us to Church Planting Movements 25 years ago, where we now find it catalyzing new movements among neighboring Hindu, tribal, marginal, and Muslim people groups across North India. I’m often asked, “How long do these movements last?” Well, after 25 years, this one shows no sign of slowing down!
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2019
33 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 13, 2022
Inspiring
Many years ago I read Robert E. Coleman's "The Master Plan of Evangelism." The "plan" can be summed up in a simple phrase: He was with them. With emphasis being on the "with." Coleman outlined the method of discipleship Jesus used as detailed in the Gospels. Basically, Jesus spent time with the disciples in various and many mundane ways, but that is where his most potent teaching took place. Coleman posited that the only truly effective means of spreading the gospel in a deep and meaningful way that would take root in people's lives was to spend time with them. Lots of time. Victor John personifies that simple theme throughout this book.
There are a number of things that jump out at me from reading this and this is one of them. Others include the fact that leadership is not a few leading the many, but many leading the many. It is servant leadership dissociated from titles and position, but centered on service and sacrifice. Over the years I have come to define leadership in terms that Jesus personified, i.e. the only begotten son of God who was deserving of all glory, position, honor, and fame humbled himself and came to meet the needs of people. Whether that was healing the sick, feeding the hungry, giving status to the outcast, or even washing dirty feet, his whole demeanor was to serve, not be served (even though he is deserving of all service). Victor John documents story after story of servant leaders living out the message of Jesus Christ. My denominational compatriots would call this "social gospel" but this book is far from social gospel. It is the magnification of a lifestyle that Jesus preached while he was here that too many of us want to avoid.
Another gem is the power of indigenous ministers to serve within their cultural context. In the US we are engaged in a culture war. This is not the war Jesus has called us to as evidenced by the book of Acts. Even if we were to win the culture war, we'd not have followers of Jesus, but followers of a culture. Victor John treads a better path of redeeming the culture for Christ wherever the saints may be found. Let that be our calling, not a fruitless culture war. Redemption and reconciliation are far more scriptural than conquest and domination.
Many years ago I read Robert E. Coleman's "The Master Plan of Evangelism." The "plan" can be summed up in a simple phrase: He was with them. With emphasis being on the "with." Coleman outlined the method of discipleship Jesus used as detailed in the Gospels. Basically, Jesus spent time with the disciples in various and many mundane ways, but that is where his most potent teaching took place. Coleman posited that the only truly effective means of spreading the gospel in a deep and meaningful way that would take root in people's lives was to spend time with them. Lots of time. Victor John personifies that simple theme throughout this book.
There are a number of things that jump out at me from reading this and this is one of them. Others include the fact that leadership is not a few leading the many, but many leading the many. It is servant leadership dissociated from titles and position, but centered on service and sacrifice. Over the years I have come to define leadership in terms that Jesus personified, i.e. the only begotten son of God who was deserving of all glory, position, honor, and fame humbled himself and came to meet the needs of people. Whether that was healing the sick, feeding the hungry, giving status to the outcast, or even washing dirty feet, his whole demeanor was to serve, not be served (even though he is deserving of all service). Victor John documents story after story of servant leaders living out the message of Jesus Christ. My denominational compatriots would call this "social gospel" but this book is far from social gospel. It is the magnification of a lifestyle that Jesus preached while he was here that too many of us want to avoid.
Another gem is the power of indigenous ministers to serve within their cultural context. In the US we are engaged in a culture war. This is not the war Jesus has called us to as evidenced by the book of Acts. Even if we were to win the culture war, we'd not have followers of Jesus, but followers of a culture. Victor John treads a better path of redeeming the culture for Christ wherever the saints may be found. Let that be our calling, not a fruitless culture war. Redemption and reconciliation are far more scriptural than conquest and domination.
May 23, 2023
It is always wonderful to hear what God is doing. However, I was almost unable to finish this book because the writing was so poor. It repeated itself A LOT and used extremely simple sentences. In my opinion, this book really only needed to be 6-7 chapters, not 13! It is a hard read because of the writing. However, it is of course great to hear about this breakthrough and to consider how these methods might be applied in our lives. One thing I wondered, that was briefly addressed in the book: how do they avoid heresy if their leaders do not have a lot of biblical training? That is a huge problem here in the United States, and while it may not be a problem in India now, I bet it will become one in the future.
March 18, 2020
When I describe church planting movements happening in India, I feel a lot of skepticism. The rapid growth, millions of new followers of Christ in the last 3 decades, is pretty hard to believe for a western mindset. I enjoyed this book, which includes a thorough chapter of frequently asked questions (FAQ).
This kind of movement is possible in the west, perhaps if we let go of our pride and ego.
This kind of movement is possible in the west, perhaps if we let go of our pride and ego.
January 23, 2021
My favorite book on movements!
I like the honesty, candidness and practicality of this book more than any other I’ve read on movements across the world. My favorite quote:
If somebody asks, “What one or two things do you want to tell people?” I would say, “You have to ‘come home’ and develop an inner friendship with God, where God can talk to you as a friend.”
I like the honesty, candidness and practicality of this book more than any other I’ve read on movements across the world. My favorite quote:
If somebody asks, “What one or two things do you want to tell people?” I would say, “You have to ‘come home’ and develop an inner friendship with God, where God can talk to you as a friend.”
June 15, 2025
Great book on how God is using normal people to lead hundreds of thousands to the Lord. Probably one of the most influential leaders in the Church at the moment
August 30, 2019
Fantastic and a real hope bringer to those of looking forward to making a stronger Impact for the honor of Jesus and the sake of people we come in contact with! I can’t recommend this book any higher along with Victor’s ministry partner’s book Contagious Disciple Making. I am very grateful God brought their writings and influence into my life!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews