A Word from Dr. J. Lanier Burns,
President of the American Council

...continued

Several memories linger from those initial years of prayer in America.  Initially, the budget was so small that every penny was invested with prayer and bearing the costs in mind, a practice that has continued to the present day.  I remember buying books at sales in Dallas, where Christian texts could be bought for about 25¢ per book.  Mr. Tom Ashley, the first treasurer of the American Council, and I would ship the books by boat to save expenses.  Most of the postal officials had never shipped anything to India, so we were the pioneers in the nine-month delivery of parcels to Bangalore. 

The American Council held annual Board meetings.  I have rarely experienced a greater spirit of faith and camaraderie than on those occasions when something was being created from a seed of faith.  Our imaginations were fired by early trips by Carey Childrey, Joy George, and the Merrills.  Gene Mayhew reported that ACA had begun in Bangalore under the humblest of circumstances.  We discovered that Isaac had prepared us well for the great and godly work that he had envisioned by the grace of God.

The American Council adopted several faith principles that have guided the growth of ACA.  No money would be solicited except from people who knew the work and whose contributions would be more than monetary.  We resolved to conduct annual audits to maintain the credibility of the organization.  Our ideal was to have a growing base of support in India so that the ministry would not be overly dependent on American contributions.  ACA would be as Indian as possible so that a deep trust could develop between Indians and the ministry.  Americans could travel to India to support the various ministries of ACA, but they would return as soon as their ministry was completed.  The American Council would be subservient to the Indian Board, so that need-based giving would be as focused as possible.

My first trip to India was in 1980.  I remember the long distance to India in miles and culture.  My first experience at Bombay International was unforgettable, as a Christian "stranger" saw my dilemma and accompanied me to Bangalore, 1200 miles out of his way.  I remember the dedication of everyone on the ACA team, staff and students, and the wholehearted effort that was put forth by everyone.  The hospitality of the Johns could not have been better.  I remember my impression that materialism interferes with ministry, and that a few basic essentials is all that a believer needs for fruitful, God-glorifying service.

I remember the students that gathered to pray for me when I became seriously ill.  The Vice President of ACA, Dick Sackman and I prayed into the evening, an experience that influenced my life thereafter.  I remember that everything was rented: the apartments that served as the school library and administrative center, the classroom where all meetings were held, the transportation that shuttled us around the very large, south Indian city.  Dr. John and I conversed often about how the lack of facilities kept us from having the identity that we needed to attract and to build support in India.

In the 1980s the word developed slowly with Dr. John's frequent trips to America to maintain close ties with our friends.  Carey Childrey and Dr. Phil Hook filled the leadership needs of the American Council.  Hook, Hoyt and others joined the support team that traveled to ACA.  Mr. Dave Fortune rendered invaluable service as Treasurer of the American Council.  Dr. Joy George moved into the ministry alongside Isaac.

The year 1986 was the most momentous one of ACA in God's timing.  Dr. John had suffered for a number of years with physical problems.  Suddenly and unexpectedly, he was taken to the presence of the Lord after a severe heart attack.  The Indian Board prudently chose Joy George as the new President of ACA.

Dr. John had purchased 45 acres of land outside of Hosur for the permanent campus of the seminary.  Dr. George was now in charge of development of the campus, endowed with gifts in faith and teaching, and management to accomplish the task.  He has received the able assistance of his wife Leela and their children, Stephen, Benjamin and Christine every step of the way.  With the land, steps could be taken to implement Dr. John's vision for a wholesome ministry for the physical and spiritual needs of the people of India and the peoples of Asian and Africa in obedience to God's Word.

 The 1990s have been a time of implementation of Dr. John's vision under the wise direction of Dr. George.  The administration building, cafeteria, and dormitory facilities have been followed by a clinic (now a hospital), a high school, and an orphanage.  Villagers are no longer hostile toward a work that heals their sicknesses, educates their children, teaches literacy through biblical materials, digs wells in an arid region, provides jobs with an ever-expanding campus, and growing crops that nourish their families.

Most outstanding of my memories o these years are God's incredible answers to our prayers and the wise leadership that guided the ministry through a veritable minefield of problems.  God has blessed the work, even in the face of hostility.  The land that was arid has enough water to care for the people, grow valuable crops, and support lovely flowers and fruit trees.  The Seminary and its library have grown steadily, and the accredited high school has about 700 children being taught.  A doctoral program has been established. 

The American Council too has expanded but maintained its supporting role.  Darrell Cline, Wayne Lowe, Gene Mayhew, Lee Riffe, David Fletcher and many others have visited and ministered on campus.  David Fletcher has served as treasurer and has filled many needs.  He is as gifted in his role in support development and maintenance as the Georges have been in leadership.  Our annual Board meetings continue to be as remarkable as they were initially when we met at the library of Dallas Seminary.

Matthew 17:31 tells us that, "Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.  Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."  The Lord must have had ACA in mind when he taught this parable.  It began as the smallest seed, the vision of a man of God, who gathered a few seminary students with meager means to bless the nation that will soon be the largest.  The John family took the small beginnings and planted them in their Indian field.  By God's grace, ACA has grown under the leadership of the George family into an incredible blessing for the state of Tamilnadu, the nation of India, and the continent of Asia.  Whether it is "the largest of the plants" is of no concern to us; it is a shade tree where the ministry of God's Word is blessing both children and future leaders of India's church alike.  Its trees bear fruit, and people come to be blessed just as God intended 25 years ago.

Lanier Burns, Th.D, Ph.D.
Chairman Department of Systematic Theology,
Dallas Theological Seminary