International Christian Concern, 18 April 2022 (excerpts)
The Kandhamal anti-Christian riots changed everything in 2008. Lives lost, homes destroyed, futures gone. About 52,000 Indian Christians were displaced and, though over a decade has passed, most have not returned home. The Christian community needs rebuilding, a mission which Pastor Nayak believes he is specifically called to fulfil.
His dedication to God is reflected in a lifetime of service to take part in an extraordinary outreach effort. He knows each village personally. “I had a burden to reach out to the people with the gospel in 42 villages in Raikia block because there is a very little scope for people to hear the gospel.”
He is the only church planter faithfully ministering to these eastern-central Indian villages in the last 19 years. Throughout most of his ministry, he travelled on foot to most of these villages. The solution was simple: a bicycle.
“I am so thankful that my ability to visit these villages has increased many times. Because of the bicycle provided to me by ICC, my desire even grew, and I am much more motivated,” said the pastor.
ICC’s Bikes and Bibles programme was launched to empower 1,000 rural church planters in India – their ministry limited to how far they can travel by foot. A bicycle allows church planters, such as Pastor Nayak, to access more villages on a regular basis. They are also gifted Bibles so that new disciples can have access to the written Word of God.