Bethel Seminary

Ministering in the wake of the Tsunami by Patty Thomson and Holly Donato

One would never hope for a natural disaster like the December 2004 tsunami that struck India and many parts of Southeast Asia. But two Bethel Seminary students who ministered for 14 days last summer in a region struck by the storm found hearts searching for answers and prepared by the Holy Spirit to embrace hope in Jesus Christ.

"My theological training [at Bethel] proved crucial in answering the complex questions of the tsunami survivors.”-Sammy WanyonyiSammy Wanyonyi, pursuing a Master of Divinity in Evangelism and Pastoral Ministry at Bethel Seminary, led a five-member team to Chennai, South India, in July. Wanyonyi serves as an evangelist affiliated with both the Billy Graham and Luis Palau organizations. Another team member was Julie Faltinson, who is nearing the completion of her Master of Arts (Theological Studies) with a concentration in Global and Contextual Studies. Olivia Alber, a junior education major at Bethel’s College of Arts & Sciences, also served on the team, ministering to children who survived the disaster.

"We wanted to bring comfort, healing, and hope to the tsunami survivors," says Wanyonyi, who, as the seminary student senate's missions coordinator, immediately looked for a way to galvanize Bethel's response after the disaster. "If there was a way of sharing the love of Christ with the people, then we were going to take it. As it turned out, God accomplished far more than we had anticipated."

Picture of two young boys sitting on a beached boat

Picture of Sammy Wanyonyi praying with people

Picture of children waving to the camera

The power of prayer
The gospel couldn’t be overtly shared in tsunami-hit regions due to anti-conversion laws for relief organizations and to radical Hindu opposition in some areas. But the team could listen empathetically and pray with the survivors. “When offered prayer, almost the whole village would come forward!” says Faltinson. “I was really challenged to discern the Spirit’s leading as I prayed for hundreds of people with whom I could not communicate verbally. I trust that God heard the true needs of the people as I offered my prayers in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.”

The team helped open long-term aid offices for ADEPT, a Christian relief organization recognized by the United Nations. “As we left one of the island villages that was totally wiped out, the ADEPT program leader, Paul, put his hand on my shoulder with tears rolling down his face,” Wanyonyi reflects. “He was so thankful that our presence had given them fresh impetus to keep serving the people.”

Bethel training put to the test
Before traveling to the tsunami-ravaged villages, Wanyonyi led the team in a week of teaching and preaching in a few larger cities. They held a youth festival and session of ministry to students at the Gospel Association India School of Ministry. Wanyonyi was also invited to speak at a formal dinner in Hyderabad with nuclear scientists, university professors, city judges, and theologians among the guests.

During this extraordinary week of ministry in Vijayawada, Hyderabad, and Madras, Wanyonyi says 1,200 people responded to the message of salvation-55 Hindus at one site alone.

"My theological training [at Bethel] proved crucial in answering the complex questions of the tsunami survivors, such as 'Is there a God in the universe who cares in the face of tragedy? Is there a meaning to life?'" Wanyonyi affirms. "The training lends credibility to what I had to say. And I had something significant to say to these groups of leaders and the ability to do so in a competent manner precisely because I am receiving proficient training through Bethel Seminary."

What most surprised Wanyonyi was “the enormous response of the people of India to Picture of Julie Faltinson with two Indian women the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. They embraced the truth with such reverence and were eager to hear more from us,” he says, even though new believers often face divorce, ostracism from families, or worse. “They would take nothing in exchange for their faith,” he adds.

While Faltinson says her gifts leaned toward one-on-one ministry in the tsunami villages, she stepped forward during the large youth festival to train 600 young Indian women in how to witness more effectively. The experience continued the pattern of God’s work in her life. “In 2002 God called me out of my comfortable and secure corporate job of 15 years, challenging me to finally find my ultimate security in Him,” "The global and cross-cultural courses I’ve taken enabled me to help prepare our team for cross-cultural differences we might encounter.”-Julie Faltinsonsays Faltinson. “He showed me that He has a greater purpose for my life.”

Gifted with administrative skills, Faltinson also managed much of the group’s travel logistics and finances. And, using her classes in global and contextual ministry at Bethel Seminary, she prepared the group for relationships with the Indian people.

"The global and cross-cultural courses I've taken enabled me to help prepare our team for cross-cultural differences we might encounter. For example, Indians don't typically answer with a direct 'no,'" she says. "I was able to look for common bridges of understanding between Christianity and the cultural and religious backgrounds of theIndian people."

Blessed to be a blessing
Through their diverse gifts, Wanyonyi and Faltinson reflect Jesus’ ministry both to large groups and to individuals. Wanyonyi, who has preached since age eight and worked as a traveling evangelist for many years, felt he needed further training to become a world-class spiritual leader. He sought guidance from God. “The Holy Spirit spoke to me one night while in prayer in my Minneapolis apartment and said, ‘Go to Bethel.’”

Now he is praying about an invitation to return to India for a major evangelistic festival. “Of course there is a need for caution due to some anti-conversion sentiments mostly from Hindu leaders who feel threatened by the large numbers of people becoming Picture of Olivia Alber with an Indian Woman
Olivia Alber, a junior education major at
the Bethel University College of Arts &
Sciences, served on the Bethel team
ministering to tsunami survivors.

Christians,” he says. “But there is no doubt in my mind that we will see many hearts and minds won over to the gospel of truth.”

For her part, Faltinson’s heart is to see the gospel permeate and change India’s culture. “My heart was especially touched by the oppression of the Dalits, the untouchables, who are lower than the caste system goes,” she says. “I don’t yet know how God may use me in the future in this area.”

After graduation, Faltinson plans to work in a church, parachurch, or educational setting as a missions coordinator, helping others find their calling in global ministry. “Believers have been blessed to be a blessing to others,” she says. “My question is, ‘What part does God want you to have in reaching your neighborhood, your city, India, and the ends of the earth?’”