This is an interview that was conducted for the benefit of those who would like to know more
about D.C. Kaushal and Living Hope Ministries. Below is a transcript of a question and answer
time that was done March 2010. There are parts where I could not discern what was said so
that is where I inserted dashes. I'm sure I have misspelled some names and other words but
you will still be able to hear the heart of this brother, D.C. Kaushal and also his wife Sona. We
had his son Subodh John ask the questions for us. Also you can click this link to see a video of
the prayer of D.C. over his son Subodh
Subodh: Hi, my name is Subodh and I am DC and Sona's oldest child, oldest son and my dad DC and M
started LHM in 1987.
We are going to find out a little bit about LHM today so I will go ahead and have my dad answer some of
these questions that we have for him tonight.
D, why don't you share with us why you started LHM, when did you start and what do you see doing in the
next years to come.
DC: The Lord gave me vision on March 1, 1985. While I was traveling from city called Chandigarh to New
Delhi for the Bible Society Board Meeting. And the Bible Society had invited me to join them while they
were presenting the new edition translation in Punjabi language to then president of India who happened
to be a Punjabi Sikh gentleman, Dr. Giani Zail Singh. so it was near Delhi around 5:30 in the evening while
I'm traveling by bus when the Lord spoke to me very clearly about northwest part of Delhi asking me to go
there and start sharing the gospel.
It took me almost, almost 2 years to obey the Lord's calling and work because it was very difficult for me for
Sona to agree, to understand it took her almost one and a half year, more than one and half year. It
happened on Nov 25, of 86 when she came and told me. We were in Jaipur City, capital city of Rajathan
State and we were serving the Lord with Every Home for Christ International whose president now is Dr.
Dick Eastman, we served 14 years. And she said, Maybe the Lord wants us to go to Delhi and start the
ministry sharing the gospel with the people. At that time there were more than 2 million people in that
section of the city of Delhi and hardly there was any church. ------I stayed and visited people. I wanted to
be sure that
this is from the Lord. Some of my friends who I considered elder, wise and experienced people, I shared
this vision. One said maybe God wants it and God wants you to go there, but it was difficult because you
are already in the ministry, another said, maybe God will send somebody else, keep on praying because
you are already in the ministry. And the third person said, you are fool, who will support you and how will
you meet your children's education and daily needs from where ----. So my answer was to all these
people, all my friend, whom I shared and considered and sought their counsel and advise, guidance, that if
this is from the Lord, and I believe it is from the Lord, the Lord will provide. So we step out on faith and
move from Jaipur City to Delhi on May 1, 1987. And started sharing the gospel in the slums, among the
middle class people, and among the upper class people,door to door sharing the gospel, giving them
tracks, giving them the gospel and this is how we started.
And in 1999 we felt we are to we need to move to Gurgaon and start a ministry this side because this was
a growing area and hardly there were any church except two Catholic and one Anglican church. So the
Lord led us here to move and we are here since 1998 when we started a bible school. Just across this
water tank on the right hand side there is about 5th or 6th house, 319 house number we started a bible
school here. Grenpaul was one of them, Unis was one of them, you met them and others were here. James
also came later on, several young people came and we started a ministry.
It was in 1995 that a young man called me from Punjab to come and have meetings in his village. And at
that time terrible things were happening in Punjab. The terrorists activities were just on the peak and
Punjab state had suffered lot, lot. So I went there under that circumstances without knowing what the Lord
has for me. So that is the beginning in Punjab. Then there I met another person, he invited me. We were
praying. I was not interested at all in going to Punjab. But I don't understand we had about 5 young men
come to the bible school we were running. And they came and for 3 months, it was 3 months bible school,
just 3 months we had no support hardly we were just going ahead with that amount but the Lord was
supplying all our needs -----. There we were praying and these young people came the Lord touched my
heart and I started going to Punjab.
Sudboh: So you would say first God gave you the vision for northwest Delhi and then the vision started to
expand to Punjab.
What kind of people are you trying to reach in Punjab?
DC: My focus is what the Lord laid on my heart is the ---- among the Sikh religion, the lowest caste, they
are known as Musbi Sikh and among the Hindu they are known as Barmeti, so, these are the lowest of the
lowest people in the caste in the Hindu religion and among the Sikh's also. And they are related to each
other, that's another beauty. So we took the film and I'm grateful to Dr. John Gilman, the president of the
Dayspring International. He came to us, I didn't know him, somebody met him, he never disclosed. My
friend and his friend shared with him about me. So he came and sat 4 hrs. in our rented place in our home
and just question after question, how you are going to fulfill your vision and how you expect to plant
churches. I said I am using literature, I will use film, and street preaching and crusade. In those days there
was no problem not much persecution, hardly here and there, that's all, today things have changed. and
while I was sharing he said ------what will you do with the film, what film can do? And I told him three things
happen film.
Number one, when you take the film to the village, you don't have to bring tents, you don't have to take a
loud speaker and announce. You just tell one person and the head of the village. And you tell that I have
a film and I want to show the film, free of cost. And they are happy. So before you go the people are there,
already 500, 1,000, sometime 300, sometime
250 like that. So I said do that and the Lord will work out. He said, have you used the film? I said yes, I
used their saga which is Oceano, much English and Jesus film. And he said, what their saga can do? I
said this is the best film and I didn't know that he is the man who now owned the copyright and who is
giving the Ousaga Film to the people all over India and in many languages. Because it was prepared in
India by the Indian artists, actors, and all that, in an Indian set-up. The script
was written by a Catholic Father and it is mixed, based on 4 gospels, also Lord of dancing, drinking,
everything, 3 hrs. He re-edited after purchasing the copyright and made it approximately 2hrs. and
10mins. Took away all the garbage, that means drinking and dancing which is very bad for presenting the
gospel. so, anyway, he later on I found out who he was,and he gave me this film, later on gave me more
copies, and he blessed us wonderfully. For 10 years he helped us regularly and we took the film to village
after village, after village. Three things I told him, One, you go there free of cost, people are ready,
Number two: when you share the film, after they watch the crucifiction of Jesus Christ in this film which is
not as powerful as in this in any other film I have used. The persecution is so real as if it is happening
there in front of their eyes. Sometime they pick up a stone, they said, hey stop otherwise I hit, sometimes
they take up the stick and they said I beat you, stop, as if it is happening, real in front of your eyes. And
the people cry. And in India, men hardly cry. I've seen old people crying, young people crying, women
crying, when you screen this film. And then after film is over we ask them, in just a minute, anybody wants
to know and accept this Jesus who died and rose again for sinners, He is ready to forgive. Hardly few
parents come up, 15, 20, not more than 30. But then we tell, wait, wait, wait, the same Jesus who touch
the leper, healed him, who raised the dead Lazarus, who raised a dead young man of a widow,only son
who opened the eyes of the blind, same Jesus who delivered the demon possessed person, the same
Jesus he is here. He can heal you, he can deliver you from any demonic power and he is real. Anybody
sick and wants prayer, we'll pray 1, 10,100, sometime more than 100 people, they'll stand up and they are
lost people and instant healing take place, took place as I'm a witness for that man, brother I have seen
dead people raised, I've seen demon possessed delivered. I've seen people who are dying restored to
normal health, I've seen and this film has done much, much help and in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All over Punjab,many villages, God blessed us, this is how we plant churches.
So third thing I said you have an immediate congregation, you don't have to call people, have a seminar, a
tent, arrange chairs, people are already there sitting. And very important this bring unity to the rich people,
the poor people, the high caste, and the low caste, they sit together in India. The film is a very powerful
tool, very powerful tool to bring people together, no ---- can bring two people together. They will come
only one caste, middle class or high class, low caste, but here everybody comes. And when people are
healed, delivered they go home and they share with their relatives, and the news spread and the people
can ask us to come to them and to share more about Jesus. This is how we are planting churches and
God is wonderful. More than 150 relatives we have now, 3 families, 5 families, 8 families, 15, 20, more than
50 sometime. And God is using, we have more than 20 young man totally committed, dedicated to the
Lord, serving in Punjab and other parts of north India.
Any other question.
Subdoh: Well you have these, you have this whole method the film to preach the gospel and then you say
they are ready made congregation, but after the film team leaves who takes
care of the people?
DC: We are, we have been training young people who have burden and who wants to serve the Lord, and
they are not highly educated, hardly between 5th grade to 10th, 12th grade,
very few 12th grade, but between that. God is using that mightly. So we have a bible school, we train them
for in the beginning, 3 months, then we move to 6 months, then 1 year.
Subdoh: What is the name of your bible school?
DC: Destiny Bible College
Subdoh: And how many churches have you planted now?
DC: So far we have about, appx. 150
Subdoh: And are you only serving in Punjab or are you in other parts?
DC: No we are here in Gurgal, we are in Dupadas, we went to even Emancu and we have these people
serving in north India, even we have people our bible school student graduates in Orissa, in Gregatsha,
Subdoh: So it is not just one area, there are many parts of the country?
DC: In Lasses town also and Puda
Subdoh: Other than film have you done anything else to bring the good news to people or have you used
any other method?
DC: Only the small crusade, you can call it, not big one, but home meetings, and street meetings, that's
the only thing
Subdoh: At one time you had used a lot of adult literacy centers and what did that do for the ministry or
for the people of God?
DC: We found out in response to the film and other methods we have used, we found out people are
mostly among these two people groups are illiterate, most illiterate, so they cant' read or write. So I felt
very strongly and by God's grace, even the government of Australia help us in this literacy project through
a brother ----- from Australia. He came all the way
and asked and the Lord open the door and we were able to have adult literacy classes in the villages of
Punjab and other parts north India.
Subdoh: How many literacy classes or centers did you have?
DC: We had I think 76 in Macho and Punjab, Aridina, Upea, Guergal, among the other parts, --- ---- ----
Subdoh: And that is about 8 states where you have literacy centers and how many people came to the
literacy centers? Was it children, was it man, was it women or was it a mixture of everybody. Was it 300
people or was it 30 people?
DC: On an average 40 people in one center, average, but this was a mix, more were women and teenage
children who went to school 1st or 2nd grade and drop out who never went to school. Other people very
few, but the ladies yes and the teenager yes, these were the people who came
Subdoh: And what happened you taught them how to read, is that all you did or did you share the gospel?
DC: we shared the gospel, we shared how to read and also write and many have given their hearts to the
Lord during these literacy classes and at the same time many women shared their testimony and I can
share only one very powerful testimony. When the graduation of these literacy classes took place. In a
village called Gunta, that's about 2 km away from Amritsar city, this woman, young woman, maybe hardly
29 or 30 came forward and she, before she start saying she started crying. We thought maybe we have
said something or something happen so we asked her to stop and answer the question why she is crying
and she said I remember when I was 4 years old my neighbor girl was going to school and I told my father I
want to go to school and my father gave me a big slap on my ear drum, he banged me here and blood
came out from this ear and he said I never studied, you want to go to school, stop your mouth. And she
said I will never forget. When the news came to the village that there would be a literacy class free of cost
somebody is coming to teach to people who are interested to learn and I asked my husband, I have two
children, and my husband says if you have time you can go, yes you can go. So with my husband
permission I joined the class and I'm grateful and now I can not only, I gave my heart to the Lord, I can
read the bible and I can also tell people ----, I can look after my children's education. So it's a blessing to
me. So that is a wonderful testimony. So then she started a small business in her house, in front of, on the
road, she took one portion of her house and she started a business, a little,little thing like a cookies, tea
leaves, --- small thing. And many have done that somehow even gone to do the high school. And it's a
long story, it's a blessing to see illiterate people, uneducated people getting this education and then
moving forward in life as well as giving life to Jesus and giving testimony and some are willing to help in the
church, to serve in the church. So we have wonderful results.
Subdoh: How many adult literacy centers do you have today?
DC: We have only 3 or 4, that's all
Subdoh: Why do you not have more?
DC: Because we don't have funds.
Subdoh: How much does it cost? Can you share about what it cost to start or run, average cost to run a
literacy center?
DC: About 5,000 rupees a month is needed.
Subdoh: About 5,000 rupees a month, and how much does it cost to start?
DC: We are to provide the stationary, the books, the chalks, and other things.
Subdoh: Would that be under 5,000 or is that going to be more?
DC: It could be little bit more, many 6,000.
Subdoh: So it is about 5,000 to run it, 6 - 8,000 to start it which converts to a little over $120 a month,
more or less $200 to start a literacy center. Along with the literacy center and the ministry in Punjab you
started doing something else and ministering to another demographic group people in India, who are very
close to your heart?
DC: These are the two people group at the same time there are Gujah there, muslim --- who have moved
from new chashmere ---------- because of the terroists activities in their state, with their cattles, buffalos.
They are spread all over, they live in a group, a family, there are maybe 50, and 100 buffalos, they sell ----
milk. They are the people, they don't read, they are not totally uneducated, the child they don't send to
the school, that's on my heart to reach these people. We need prayers, we need people who go there and
share with them. And we can bring their children to the orphanage, they can stay there, they can received
education, free of cost, or even they can even come in the morning and go in the evening, daycare, those
type of things.
Subdoh: Another burden you have is ministering to children and we are seeing and hearing a lot about
Children's Mercy Home tell us why you started doing that and how did that idea come about
DC: About 5 yrs back, I think it was 2004, When during the summer vacation of the children we had
meetings and I think there was one village where we had children's meeting, a lot of children came and the
Lord spoke to me, do something for these children. We were only having project in Gurgal among the
muslim area which is known as the ----- community and we found out that the government has a plan to
bring an express way, road, outside circling Delhi, for these games in 2010, Commonwealth games, so
during that no vehicle will be coming to Delhi, inside Delhi. Anyway vehicle, commercial vehicle go outside
into Punjab, -----, ------, on that side, ------- area. so our land which was a little over 4 acre came under
that and the government took that land, of course they paid for it and with that money we were looking and
asking the Lord where to move. Move farther. We tried our best to find a place, we could not find, we
found a place, but the prices were up and the land was somebody or other person selling it.
Subdoh: Tell us why are you thinking about ministering to children
DC: Look this is very important because I grew up in a family of 27 members, my father had, were 6
brothers. Of course my father died when i was about 7 years old, he was hit by the buffalo and I still
remember standing near that, he was giving medicine because buffalo was sick, he was giving medicine in
a bamboo pipe, and buffalo just hit him on the chest and my father fell down and I still remember that. And
the next my father was in the hospital, I saw my father in the hospital, and the third day my father died and I
saw his dead body on the ground. Among Hindus they put the dead body on the ground and cover with a
white sheet, that's all. So i grew there after lonely, orphan in a family of 27 then members increased.
Nobody ever loved me, no one except my mother. I would cry for my father, and I still remember it, it was
very hard for me. I would cry to myself, when my uncle or my elder uncle, elder than my father would take
their children in their hand and arms, and I would go and run and hide and cry for my father. So the Lord
has somehow, I believe, put on my heart for the orphan children, needy, and poor children, nobody cares
for them. Even among the families, because I have experienced that. That's how I want to serve the
children and I believe if you can serve the children and give them the gospel and win them to the Lord.
Children will do more for the Lord and they will go out. I have many testimony from Orissa, we have a
children home. Many, some of the children are now pastoring the church and doing ----- doing elder the
church and some are carpenters, some are electrician, some are found a garment job, got a garment job.
And the girls who studied there, some have gone into nursing, some have the teaching profession, so God
is using them and we have many wonderful testimony. So I believe, one touch of Jesus, make the whole
difference. If these children are touched by the Lord, through men, women, serving among them. Their
lives will blossom, their lives will have a change and they will be real. You never know who will become a
doctor, who will become a president of India, who will become a ------- of India, who will become a pastor,
who will become Billy Graham, who will become ------, who will become leader in the church, or an
electrician, or a carpenter, no never know.
Subdoh: What kind of children do you want to see come to the home when it is completed
DC: Mostly girls are neglected by the community, whether they are Hindu or Sikh, girls in the rural area, in
the villages, not in the cities. So my heart is for the girls, of course boys also, but the orphan children, and
those who have single parent, either mother or father and those who have, there is very interesting thing,
because people want boy, not a girl. and when the girls come,1,2,3,4,5,6,7, they are still asking, waiting for
the boy, so girls are mostly neglected. Of course those poor people, particularly among the believers,
because they are very poor you know it is very difficult, they work daily and they live on daily earnings
Subdoh: You talk about the believers. In the Indian society these believers are from what caste level. Are
they from the highest caste or the middle caste, what caste are they from
DC: No, they are all from the low caste, -----(Delit)
Subdoh: Delit is the untouchable?
DC: Untouchable
Subdoh: Most people don't know what Delit is.
DC: Oh, they are untouchable, the lowest of the lowest caste Hindus. there are 4 major caste in Hindu
religion, the priestly caste, the warrior caste, the business caste, and untouchable caste. So the
untouchable, the lowest of the lowest they do the ----, all type of dirty jobs, cleaning their houses.
Subdoh: So most of the believers are from the untouchables?
DC: untouchables
Subdoh: So you are saying your heart is to minister to children from the untouchable?
DC: Yes and at the same time other people if there are, but mostly untouchable.
Subdoh: Mostly from the believers families?
DC: Mostly from the believers family and as well as other
Subdoh: and other children. Who do you think is going to be working with you to make this vision a
reality, I'm not talking naming people but who do you think will come along your side, who do you need to
come along your side to make this happen or are you okay to do this by yourself
DC: No, no, no, I need people to strengthen my hand, I'm not only people, person. I believe God is
preparing other peoples and our son Subdoh John is one and there is another young man ----- and his
wife, and Subdoh wife Sakshi, and there is another young man ----, Sudoh, and their are other young men.
James Gil like that, we are praying for them and we are training them and they will share the vision. Their is
another young man, --------, he's from Hindu background. So God is giving us the leaders and we are still
praying. We have one young lady who is still studying, we have one lady who is finished her BTH, we are
praying for them and so they will come forward and God will send people from anywhere. It is God's work
and God will meet and bring people dedicated people, committed people to join in this vision, share in this
vision to reach the children and also plant churches and train young people who will go to the villages. Say
4 years or 3 years ---------- people don't want to go to the villages. India people live in the villages not in
the cities, yes we are cities like Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, ------ ------- ------- big cities, yes, but there are lot
of people working in the cities, hardly you find anybody working in the villages, you walk from Pakistan
border to ------- border you find go to the villages you see how many people are there, how many villages
are there and how, who is working in the villages. So my heart is to reach between in Punjab particularly.
At the Pakistan border their are two rivers running in between there. There are 5,000 villages, and my
vision is to plant churches in 500 villages. so we need people, young people be trained to go out in these.
From the ------border down to the --------border between these two river, 70 miles wide, and more than 250
miles long, from north to south,from east to west lay between these two rivers 5,000 villages, so I am
praying for 500 --------
Subdoh: So you said that you need in order for some of this dream and vision to come to reality you have
expressed that you need people to be trained and people to serve in addition to that who or what else do
you need to make this vision a possibility, a reality?
DC: We need prayer partners, we need support, regular support to train these young people and then
send these people to the villages so that they can go and live among, work among them, reach them,
because they will accept more to the cultural situation, to the climate situation because hardly in any
village have all these ------- like electricity, like road, like medicine, yes, there are but hardly come there,
city come
Subdoh: So you still need prayer partners, you still need supporters to come along your side to make this
vision a reality?
DC: Yes, and we have also work in Delhi and Gurgal on the national capital ---------slum plenty of slum,
Sona is looking after the slum children school for the last 6 years and we have 151 children. She can tell
how she's carrying this burden and we are providing them free education, give them free food, clothing,
books, everything and even medical checkup. And we have vacation bible school, not only for them, every
year, and also in Punjab, where are village churches are there. We bring children together and share the
gospel. Subdoh and Sakshi, they are more and more in that, they look after that and arrange and teach
these children about the Lord Jesus Christ. Some children have accepted the Lord during this VBS
vacation bible school and they are growing, they are taking baptism, they are growing in the Lord, they
read the word of God, they give testimony, they sing, they take part in worship. It is a wonderful ministry
among the children. You can win the children more easily than the older people if you have a love for
them, if you have a vision for them, if you have a call for them. So we need prayer partners, we need
supporters to strenghten our hands, and share, and join, become a partner in winning people winning
children, caring for them, so that's a great need.
Subdoh: So why don't you (addressing Sona Kaushal) share about the kind of children that come to your
school, how long ago did you start the school and do you have staff in the school and how many children
come to the school?
Sona: We stared this school 5 years back, we started first in first year we had only 30 children, we started
with 30 children, and all are very poor, not the same age children when we started one or two children
were 12 years old, 8 years old, 3, 4 years like they started just like a adult education so we have at that
time only 1 teacher, myself. And we started this because God loved us, he loves us and we want to show
them God's love. This past year it was very, very difficult to handle them because their home atmosphere
not good,it was very difficult to handle them. The children who came in first year they were, in the school
they started fighting, -----, stealing things, so it was very difficult to handle them but by the grace of God.
Children now children are very good they started bible stories singing with them, also give them verses,
memorize verses from the bible and teach them also -------
Subdoh: Now how many children do you have in your school?
Sona: now we have 100 in july we had 152 or 151 children
Subdoh: How many children are going to, up unto what grade is your school?
Sona: 7th to the 9th grade I hope will pass to go to another school
Subdoh: Why do they need to go to another school?
Sona: Because we don't have a place.
Subdoh: You have a place. What grades do you teach?
Sona: I teach smaller classes because I have another one also look after
teacher----------------------------that's why I take small classes.
Subdoh: How many teachers are working with you?
Sona: Including myself 5, we are 5
Subdoh: 5 teachers are teaching how many children
Sona: 150
Subdoh: 150 children
THIS CONCLUDED THE Q AND A TIME WITH D.C. AND SONA KAUSHAL
about D.C. Kaushal and Living Hope Ministries. Below is a transcript of a question and answer
time that was done March 2010. There are parts where I could not discern what was said so
that is where I inserted dashes. I'm sure I have misspelled some names and other words but
you will still be able to hear the heart of this brother, D.C. Kaushal and also his wife Sona. We
had his son Subodh John ask the questions for us. Also you can click this link to see a video of
the prayer of D.C. over his son Subodh
Subodh: Hi, my name is Subodh and I am DC and Sona's oldest child, oldest son and my dad DC and M
started LHM in 1987.
We are going to find out a little bit about LHM today so I will go ahead and have my dad answer some of
these questions that we have for him tonight.
D, why don't you share with us why you started LHM, when did you start and what do you see doing in the
next years to come.
DC: The Lord gave me vision on March 1, 1985. While I was traveling from city called Chandigarh to New
Delhi for the Bible Society Board Meeting. And the Bible Society had invited me to join them while they
were presenting the new edition translation in Punjabi language to then president of India who happened
to be a Punjabi Sikh gentleman, Dr. Giani Zail Singh. so it was near Delhi around 5:30 in the evening while
I'm traveling by bus when the Lord spoke to me very clearly about northwest part of Delhi asking me to go
there and start sharing the gospel.
It took me almost, almost 2 years to obey the Lord's calling and work because it was very difficult for me for
Sona to agree, to understand it took her almost one and a half year, more than one and half year. It
happened on Nov 25, of 86 when she came and told me. We were in Jaipur City, capital city of Rajathan
State and we were serving the Lord with Every Home for Christ International whose president now is Dr.
Dick Eastman, we served 14 years. And she said, Maybe the Lord wants us to go to Delhi and start the
ministry sharing the gospel with the people. At that time there were more than 2 million people in that
section of the city of Delhi and hardly there was any church. ------I stayed and visited people. I wanted to
be sure that
this is from the Lord. Some of my friends who I considered elder, wise and experienced people, I shared
this vision. One said maybe God wants it and God wants you to go there, but it was difficult because you
are already in the ministry, another said, maybe God will send somebody else, keep on praying because
you are already in the ministry. And the third person said, you are fool, who will support you and how will
you meet your children's education and daily needs from where ----. So my answer was to all these
people, all my friend, whom I shared and considered and sought their counsel and advise, guidance, that if
this is from the Lord, and I believe it is from the Lord, the Lord will provide. So we step out on faith and
move from Jaipur City to Delhi on May 1, 1987. And started sharing the gospel in the slums, among the
middle class people, and among the upper class people,door to door sharing the gospel, giving them
tracks, giving them the gospel and this is how we started.
And in 1999 we felt we are to we need to move to Gurgaon and start a ministry this side because this was
a growing area and hardly there were any church except two Catholic and one Anglican church. So the
Lord led us here to move and we are here since 1998 when we started a bible school. Just across this
water tank on the right hand side there is about 5th or 6th house, 319 house number we started a bible
school here. Grenpaul was one of them, Unis was one of them, you met them and others were here. James
also came later on, several young people came and we started a ministry.
It was in 1995 that a young man called me from Punjab to come and have meetings in his village. And at
that time terrible things were happening in Punjab. The terrorists activities were just on the peak and
Punjab state had suffered lot, lot. So I went there under that circumstances without knowing what the Lord
has for me. So that is the beginning in Punjab. Then there I met another person, he invited me. We were
praying. I was not interested at all in going to Punjab. But I don't understand we had about 5 young men
come to the bible school we were running. And they came and for 3 months, it was 3 months bible school,
just 3 months we had no support hardly we were just going ahead with that amount but the Lord was
supplying all our needs -----. There we were praying and these young people came the Lord touched my
heart and I started going to Punjab.
Sudboh: So you would say first God gave you the vision for northwest Delhi and then the vision started to
expand to Punjab.
What kind of people are you trying to reach in Punjab?
DC: My focus is what the Lord laid on my heart is the ---- among the Sikh religion, the lowest caste, they
are known as Musbi Sikh and among the Hindu they are known as Barmeti, so, these are the lowest of the
lowest people in the caste in the Hindu religion and among the Sikh's also. And they are related to each
other, that's another beauty. So we took the film and I'm grateful to Dr. John Gilman, the president of the
Dayspring International. He came to us, I didn't know him, somebody met him, he never disclosed. My
friend and his friend shared with him about me. So he came and sat 4 hrs. in our rented place in our home
and just question after question, how you are going to fulfill your vision and how you expect to plant
churches. I said I am using literature, I will use film, and street preaching and crusade. In those days there
was no problem not much persecution, hardly here and there, that's all, today things have changed. and
while I was sharing he said ------what will you do with the film, what film can do? And I told him three things
happen film.
Number one, when you take the film to the village, you don't have to bring tents, you don't have to take a
loud speaker and announce. You just tell one person and the head of the village. And you tell that I have
a film and I want to show the film, free of cost. And they are happy. So before you go the people are there,
already 500, 1,000, sometime 300, sometime
250 like that. So I said do that and the Lord will work out. He said, have you used the film? I said yes, I
used their saga which is Oceano, much English and Jesus film. And he said, what their saga can do? I
said this is the best film and I didn't know that he is the man who now owned the copyright and who is
giving the Ousaga Film to the people all over India and in many languages. Because it was prepared in
India by the Indian artists, actors, and all that, in an Indian set-up. The script
was written by a Catholic Father and it is mixed, based on 4 gospels, also Lord of dancing, drinking,
everything, 3 hrs. He re-edited after purchasing the copyright and made it approximately 2hrs. and
10mins. Took away all the garbage, that means drinking and dancing which is very bad for presenting the
gospel. so, anyway, he later on I found out who he was,and he gave me this film, later on gave me more
copies, and he blessed us wonderfully. For 10 years he helped us regularly and we took the film to village
after village, after village. Three things I told him, One, you go there free of cost, people are ready,
Number two: when you share the film, after they watch the crucifiction of Jesus Christ in this film which is
not as powerful as in this in any other film I have used. The persecution is so real as if it is happening
there in front of their eyes. Sometime they pick up a stone, they said, hey stop otherwise I hit, sometimes
they take up the stick and they said I beat you, stop, as if it is happening, real in front of your eyes. And
the people cry. And in India, men hardly cry. I've seen old people crying, young people crying, women
crying, when you screen this film. And then after film is over we ask them, in just a minute, anybody wants
to know and accept this Jesus who died and rose again for sinners, He is ready to forgive. Hardly few
parents come up, 15, 20, not more than 30. But then we tell, wait, wait, wait, the same Jesus who touch
the leper, healed him, who raised the dead Lazarus, who raised a dead young man of a widow,only son
who opened the eyes of the blind, same Jesus who delivered the demon possessed person, the same
Jesus he is here. He can heal you, he can deliver you from any demonic power and he is real. Anybody
sick and wants prayer, we'll pray 1, 10,100, sometime more than 100 people, they'll stand up and they are
lost people and instant healing take place, took place as I'm a witness for that man, brother I have seen
dead people raised, I've seen demon possessed delivered. I've seen people who are dying restored to
normal health, I've seen and this film has done much, much help and in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All over Punjab,many villages, God blessed us, this is how we plant churches.
So third thing I said you have an immediate congregation, you don't have to call people, have a seminar, a
tent, arrange chairs, people are already there sitting. And very important this bring unity to the rich people,
the poor people, the high caste, and the low caste, they sit together in India. The film is a very powerful
tool, very powerful tool to bring people together, no ---- can bring two people together. They will come
only one caste, middle class or high class, low caste, but here everybody comes. And when people are
healed, delivered they go home and they share with their relatives, and the news spread and the people
can ask us to come to them and to share more about Jesus. This is how we are planting churches and
God is wonderful. More than 150 relatives we have now, 3 families, 5 families, 8 families, 15, 20, more than
50 sometime. And God is using, we have more than 20 young man totally committed, dedicated to the
Lord, serving in Punjab and other parts of north India.
Any other question.
Subdoh: Well you have these, you have this whole method the film to preach the gospel and then you say
they are ready made congregation, but after the film team leaves who takes
care of the people?
DC: We are, we have been training young people who have burden and who wants to serve the Lord, and
they are not highly educated, hardly between 5th grade to 10th, 12th grade,
very few 12th grade, but between that. God is using that mightly. So we have a bible school, we train them
for in the beginning, 3 months, then we move to 6 months, then 1 year.
Subdoh: What is the name of your bible school?
DC: Destiny Bible College
Subdoh: And how many churches have you planted now?
DC: So far we have about, appx. 150
Subdoh: And are you only serving in Punjab or are you in other parts?
DC: No we are here in Gurgal, we are in Dupadas, we went to even Emancu and we have these people
serving in north India, even we have people our bible school student graduates in Orissa, in Gregatsha,
Subdoh: So it is not just one area, there are many parts of the country?
DC: In Lasses town also and Puda
Subdoh: Other than film have you done anything else to bring the good news to people or have you used
any other method?
DC: Only the small crusade, you can call it, not big one, but home meetings, and street meetings, that's
the only thing
Subdoh: At one time you had used a lot of adult literacy centers and what did that do for the ministry or
for the people of God?
DC: We found out in response to the film and other methods we have used, we found out people are
mostly among these two people groups are illiterate, most illiterate, so they cant' read or write. So I felt
very strongly and by God's grace, even the government of Australia help us in this literacy project through
a brother ----- from Australia. He came all the way
and asked and the Lord open the door and we were able to have adult literacy classes in the villages of
Punjab and other parts north India.
Subdoh: How many literacy classes or centers did you have?
DC: We had I think 76 in Macho and Punjab, Aridina, Upea, Guergal, among the other parts, --- ---- ----
Subdoh: And that is about 8 states where you have literacy centers and how many people came to the
literacy centers? Was it children, was it man, was it women or was it a mixture of everybody. Was it 300
people or was it 30 people?
DC: On an average 40 people in one center, average, but this was a mix, more were women and teenage
children who went to school 1st or 2nd grade and drop out who never went to school. Other people very
few, but the ladies yes and the teenager yes, these were the people who came
Subdoh: And what happened you taught them how to read, is that all you did or did you share the gospel?
DC: we shared the gospel, we shared how to read and also write and many have given their hearts to the
Lord during these literacy classes and at the same time many women shared their testimony and I can
share only one very powerful testimony. When the graduation of these literacy classes took place. In a
village called Gunta, that's about 2 km away from Amritsar city, this woman, young woman, maybe hardly
29 or 30 came forward and she, before she start saying she started crying. We thought maybe we have
said something or something happen so we asked her to stop and answer the question why she is crying
and she said I remember when I was 4 years old my neighbor girl was going to school and I told my father I
want to go to school and my father gave me a big slap on my ear drum, he banged me here and blood
came out from this ear and he said I never studied, you want to go to school, stop your mouth. And she
said I will never forget. When the news came to the village that there would be a literacy class free of cost
somebody is coming to teach to people who are interested to learn and I asked my husband, I have two
children, and my husband says if you have time you can go, yes you can go. So with my husband
permission I joined the class and I'm grateful and now I can not only, I gave my heart to the Lord, I can
read the bible and I can also tell people ----, I can look after my children's education. So it's a blessing to
me. So that is a wonderful testimony. So then she started a small business in her house, in front of, on the
road, she took one portion of her house and she started a business, a little,little thing like a cookies, tea
leaves, --- small thing. And many have done that somehow even gone to do the high school. And it's a
long story, it's a blessing to see illiterate people, uneducated people getting this education and then
moving forward in life as well as giving life to Jesus and giving testimony and some are willing to help in the
church, to serve in the church. So we have wonderful results.
Subdoh: How many adult literacy centers do you have today?
DC: We have only 3 or 4, that's all
Subdoh: Why do you not have more?
DC: Because we don't have funds.
Subdoh: How much does it cost? Can you share about what it cost to start or run, average cost to run a
literacy center?
DC: About 5,000 rupees a month is needed.
Subdoh: About 5,000 rupees a month, and how much does it cost to start?
DC: We are to provide the stationary, the books, the chalks, and other things.
Subdoh: Would that be under 5,000 or is that going to be more?
DC: It could be little bit more, many 6,000.
Subdoh: So it is about 5,000 to run it, 6 - 8,000 to start it which converts to a little over $120 a month,
more or less $200 to start a literacy center. Along with the literacy center and the ministry in Punjab you
started doing something else and ministering to another demographic group people in India, who are very
close to your heart?
DC: These are the two people group at the same time there are Gujah there, muslim --- who have moved
from new chashmere ---------- because of the terroists activities in their state, with their cattles, buffalos.
They are spread all over, they live in a group, a family, there are maybe 50, and 100 buffalos, they sell ----
milk. They are the people, they don't read, they are not totally uneducated, the child they don't send to
the school, that's on my heart to reach these people. We need prayers, we need people who go there and
share with them. And we can bring their children to the orphanage, they can stay there, they can received
education, free of cost, or even they can even come in the morning and go in the evening, daycare, those
type of things.
Subdoh: Another burden you have is ministering to children and we are seeing and hearing a lot about
Children's Mercy Home tell us why you started doing that and how did that idea come about
DC: About 5 yrs back, I think it was 2004, When during the summer vacation of the children we had
meetings and I think there was one village where we had children's meeting, a lot of children came and the
Lord spoke to me, do something for these children. We were only having project in Gurgal among the
muslim area which is known as the ----- community and we found out that the government has a plan to
bring an express way, road, outside circling Delhi, for these games in 2010, Commonwealth games, so
during that no vehicle will be coming to Delhi, inside Delhi. Anyway vehicle, commercial vehicle go outside
into Punjab, -----, ------, on that side, ------- area. so our land which was a little over 4 acre came under
that and the government took that land, of course they paid for it and with that money we were looking and
asking the Lord where to move. Move farther. We tried our best to find a place, we could not find, we
found a place, but the prices were up and the land was somebody or other person selling it.
Subdoh: Tell us why are you thinking about ministering to children
DC: Look this is very important because I grew up in a family of 27 members, my father had, were 6
brothers. Of course my father died when i was about 7 years old, he was hit by the buffalo and I still
remember standing near that, he was giving medicine because buffalo was sick, he was giving medicine in
a bamboo pipe, and buffalo just hit him on the chest and my father fell down and I still remember that. And
the next my father was in the hospital, I saw my father in the hospital, and the third day my father died and I
saw his dead body on the ground. Among Hindus they put the dead body on the ground and cover with a
white sheet, that's all. So i grew there after lonely, orphan in a family of 27 then members increased.
Nobody ever loved me, no one except my mother. I would cry for my father, and I still remember it, it was
very hard for me. I would cry to myself, when my uncle or my elder uncle, elder than my father would take
their children in their hand and arms, and I would go and run and hide and cry for my father. So the Lord
has somehow, I believe, put on my heart for the orphan children, needy, and poor children, nobody cares
for them. Even among the families, because I have experienced that. That's how I want to serve the
children and I believe if you can serve the children and give them the gospel and win them to the Lord.
Children will do more for the Lord and they will go out. I have many testimony from Orissa, we have a
children home. Many, some of the children are now pastoring the church and doing ----- doing elder the
church and some are carpenters, some are electrician, some are found a garment job, got a garment job.
And the girls who studied there, some have gone into nursing, some have the teaching profession, so God
is using them and we have many wonderful testimony. So I believe, one touch of Jesus, make the whole
difference. If these children are touched by the Lord, through men, women, serving among them. Their
lives will blossom, their lives will have a change and they will be real. You never know who will become a
doctor, who will become a president of India, who will become a ------- of India, who will become a pastor,
who will become Billy Graham, who will become ------, who will become leader in the church, or an
electrician, or a carpenter, no never know.
Subdoh: What kind of children do you want to see come to the home when it is completed
DC: Mostly girls are neglected by the community, whether they are Hindu or Sikh, girls in the rural area, in
the villages, not in the cities. So my heart is for the girls, of course boys also, but the orphan children, and
those who have single parent, either mother or father and those who have, there is very interesting thing,
because people want boy, not a girl. and when the girls come,1,2,3,4,5,6,7, they are still asking, waiting for
the boy, so girls are mostly neglected. Of course those poor people, particularly among the believers,
because they are very poor you know it is very difficult, they work daily and they live on daily earnings
Subdoh: You talk about the believers. In the Indian society these believers are from what caste level. Are
they from the highest caste or the middle caste, what caste are they from
DC: No, they are all from the low caste, -----(Delit)
Subdoh: Delit is the untouchable?
DC: Untouchable
Subdoh: Most people don't know what Delit is.
DC: Oh, they are untouchable, the lowest of the lowest caste Hindus. there are 4 major caste in Hindu
religion, the priestly caste, the warrior caste, the business caste, and untouchable caste. So the
untouchable, the lowest of the lowest they do the ----, all type of dirty jobs, cleaning their houses.
Subdoh: So most of the believers are from the untouchables?
DC: untouchables
Subdoh: So you are saying your heart is to minister to children from the untouchable?
DC: Yes and at the same time other people if there are, but mostly untouchable.
Subdoh: Mostly from the believers families?
DC: Mostly from the believers family and as well as other
Subdoh: and other children. Who do you think is going to be working with you to make this vision a
reality, I'm not talking naming people but who do you think will come along your side, who do you need to
come along your side to make this happen or are you okay to do this by yourself
DC: No, no, no, I need people to strengthen my hand, I'm not only people, person. I believe God is
preparing other peoples and our son Subdoh John is one and there is another young man ----- and his
wife, and Subdoh wife Sakshi, and there is another young man ----, Sudoh, and their are other young men.
James Gil like that, we are praying for them and we are training them and they will share the vision. Their is
another young man, --------, he's from Hindu background. So God is giving us the leaders and we are still
praying. We have one young lady who is still studying, we have one lady who is finished her BTH, we are
praying for them and so they will come forward and God will send people from anywhere. It is God's work
and God will meet and bring people dedicated people, committed people to join in this vision, share in this
vision to reach the children and also plant churches and train young people who will go to the villages. Say
4 years or 3 years ---------- people don't want to go to the villages. India people live in the villages not in
the cities, yes we are cities like Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, ------ ------- ------- big cities, yes, but there are lot
of people working in the cities, hardly you find anybody working in the villages, you walk from Pakistan
border to ------- border you find go to the villages you see how many people are there, how many villages
are there and how, who is working in the villages. So my heart is to reach between in Punjab particularly.
At the Pakistan border their are two rivers running in between there. There are 5,000 villages, and my
vision is to plant churches in 500 villages. so we need people, young people be trained to go out in these.
From the ------border down to the --------border between these two river, 70 miles wide, and more than 250
miles long, from north to south,from east to west lay between these two rivers 5,000 villages, so I am
praying for 500 --------
Subdoh: So you said that you need in order for some of this dream and vision to come to reality you have
expressed that you need people to be trained and people to serve in addition to that who or what else do
you need to make this vision a possibility, a reality?
DC: We need prayer partners, we need support, regular support to train these young people and then
send these people to the villages so that they can go and live among, work among them, reach them,
because they will accept more to the cultural situation, to the climate situation because hardly in any
village have all these ------- like electricity, like road, like medicine, yes, there are but hardly come there,
city come
Subdoh: So you still need prayer partners, you still need supporters to come along your side to make this
vision a reality?
DC: Yes, and we have also work in Delhi and Gurgal on the national capital ---------slum plenty of slum,
Sona is looking after the slum children school for the last 6 years and we have 151 children. She can tell
how she's carrying this burden and we are providing them free education, give them free food, clothing,
books, everything and even medical checkup. And we have vacation bible school, not only for them, every
year, and also in Punjab, where are village churches are there. We bring children together and share the
gospel. Subdoh and Sakshi, they are more and more in that, they look after that and arrange and teach
these children about the Lord Jesus Christ. Some children have accepted the Lord during this VBS
vacation bible school and they are growing, they are taking baptism, they are growing in the Lord, they
read the word of God, they give testimony, they sing, they take part in worship. It is a wonderful ministry
among the children. You can win the children more easily than the older people if you have a love for
them, if you have a vision for them, if you have a call for them. So we need prayer partners, we need
supporters to strenghten our hands, and share, and join, become a partner in winning people winning
children, caring for them, so that's a great need.
Subdoh: So why don't you (addressing Sona Kaushal) share about the kind of children that come to your
school, how long ago did you start the school and do you have staff in the school and how many children
come to the school?
Sona: We stared this school 5 years back, we started first in first year we had only 30 children, we started
with 30 children, and all are very poor, not the same age children when we started one or two children
were 12 years old, 8 years old, 3, 4 years like they started just like a adult education so we have at that
time only 1 teacher, myself. And we started this because God loved us, he loves us and we want to show
them God's love. This past year it was very, very difficult to handle them because their home atmosphere
not good,it was very difficult to handle them. The children who came in first year they were, in the school
they started fighting, -----, stealing things, so it was very difficult to handle them but by the grace of God.
Children now children are very good they started bible stories singing with them, also give them verses,
memorize verses from the bible and teach them also -------
Subdoh: Now how many children do you have in your school?
Sona: now we have 100 in july we had 152 or 151 children
Subdoh: How many children are going to, up unto what grade is your school?
Sona: 7th to the 9th grade I hope will pass to go to another school
Subdoh: Why do they need to go to another school?
Sona: Because we don't have a place.
Subdoh: You have a place. What grades do you teach?
Sona: I teach smaller classes because I have another one also look after
teacher----------------------------that's why I take small classes.
Subdoh: How many teachers are working with you?
Sona: Including myself 5, we are 5
Subdoh: 5 teachers are teaching how many children
Sona: 150
Subdoh: 150 children
THIS CONCLUDED THE Q AND A TIME WITH D.C. AND SONA KAUSHAL
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Living Hope Ministries Reaching the unreached....teaching the untaught of Northern India
The Visionary
The Visionary