History: The vast majority of the people living in the Indian sub-continent are non-Christians. In fact, many have not even heard the name of our Lord, and many groups of people do not have the bible in their own language. "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few". The burden that the Lord put on my wife and me is to reach these folks with the good news of the Gospel. It was with that burden that I left my young family for over three years to study God's word, so I would be equipped to share and teach it to my own people. However, it is difficult to reach every tribe and village of the Indian sub-continent with the gospel by ourselves, so God gave us the burden and vision of starting a bible college where we could train many young men, support and mentor them, and send them out to the mission field. Maranatha Baptist Bible College and Seminary (MBBCS) Began in July of 1998 in the south Indian city of Bangalore with just 15 students in two separate rental accommodations. Each year, the Lord doubled the number of students; but with that came the constraints and challenges of using a rental property; so we started praying for a campus of our own. Six years later the Lord provided land on which we built the (MBBCS) bible college building and facility through the generous giving of Edward and Diane Hill of CA and friends and Churches from the States. Our next burden was the growth and smooth running of MBBCS's church planting and mission-field work and that was when we came alongside Frontline Fellowship. Pastor Bill Fortner whom I've known from my Seminary days in the Northwest have heard about this new ministry as I had shared my vision in his church. Since those early years, an average of 160 to 200 students are enrolled each year in MBBCS. All students are full-time students who live on Campus. Hundreds of our alumni are now serving the Lord and sharing the good news of the Gospel in various corners of fours countries in the Indian sub-continent. Over the past years, we have been blessed with resident Faculty, Staff and Visiting teachers from Frontline Fellowship and associate Churches who have served and taught at MBBCS. Orphanage: In the meantime, my wife, Kung, saw the plight of orphan children in India; especially orphans of Christian families whose parents were killed as a consequence of their faith in Christ (in Orissa state) and felt the need to start an Orphanage. So, by faith, we began an Orphanage along with the Bible College. Timothy, our Son and his wife, Julie take care of the orphanage today. The number of boys and girls in the orphanage vary, sometimes up to 20, where the boys and girls are housed in separate accommodation. MBBCS Mission Statement The call to a teaching ministry and Mandate of the Lord strengthens us to train hundreds of young people who are called to a full-time ministry. Today we have close to 1000 graduates serving the Lord. Our graduates and students represent India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh; most students after having completed their studies have gone back to their own home towns to serve the Lord there. Church Planting has been an important part of our vision. MBBCS over the years we have financially supported some of our graduates to plant Churches. This was made possible through Reaching Ministry out of Moses Lake, WA. Three years ago Reaching Ministry itself wound up. But we trust the Lord will open new doors to continue church planting ministry. Basic Information or Areas of Work: India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal are our Mission filed. This is the neediest part of the 10/40 window, where the Gospel has not reached many millions as yet. Areas of interest or Needs: While we all know the needs out there, the Lord can place a particular one on our hearts. Students Scholarship, adopting a student for one year to four years, sponsoring a child in the Orphanage, taking up an MBBCS project etc. are some of our needs. Thank you for visiting our page. If the Lord puts the burden in your heart, would you consider partnering with us? Please be praying for Maranatha Ministry and our students in the mission field in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal. God Bless and Shalom. P J and Kung Mathai