In an interview with the Australian Missionary News IPTV, Barry Wilson expressed his hope that with only 2% of the total Indian population as 'Christian' it seemed to him there was only one way – expansion.
Barry Wilson belongs to the Banjar people's group within India which has a distinctive culture and dialect and whose language is quite different to Hindi, the lingua franca of the nation.
One remarkable feature of this people group is their colourful wardrobe, especially women's dresses which cost 3,000 rupees a piece. This is a very large amount of money and families save endlessly for this all important culturally distinctive attire.
Barry Wilson told the Australian Missionary News IPTV anchorman Mark Tronson that 'Hockey', the national sport, is a feature of all India including his people group. He bemoaned that although the Indian national team has not done well in recent years as previously (with their many Olympic Gold medals), hockey is a national passion.
As to Christian Mission in India, Barry Wilson acknowledges that although the two largest religious groups in India are the Hindu's and the Muslims, this has become positive for outreach and evangelism.
When missionaries first bought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to his people group, not only did the people respond in their droves, the question was asked, 'Where were you before?'
In other words such was the spiritual thirst for his people group that when the Gospel of Jesus Christ finally did come, the out pouring of the Holy Spirit was such that whole communities fell before the foot of the Cross of Christ.
Evangelism is our high priority in India Baptist ministry and it is to this endeavour we are placing our energies to witnesses revival with our nation coming to Christ for Salvation.
This Barry Wilson interview can be viewed on the Australian Missionary News IPTV on either tv.bushorchestra.com/BWC/videopages/barry_wilson.html or www.safeworlds.net