New Testament dedicated for tribal Kotias in Andhra

Thanks to the Indian Evangelical Mission (IEM), the Kotias, a scheduled tribe in the Orissa-Andhra border, now have the New Testament in their mother tongue.

Early last month, the IEM General Secretary Rev. P John Wesley dedicated the Kotia New Testament in the presence of over 500 people, including IEM leaders, missionaries and supporters from several states including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

"We praise God for the thousands of Kotia people who will benefit and be built up in faith. We are sure that the Kotia church will now experience phenomenal growth," remarked Wesley.

It took 20 years of prayer and perseverance for the Adivasi Oriya New Testament to reach the waiting hands of Kotia people living in the picturesque Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh.

"It might look like only 40 percent of the work is completed. In reality, the most difficult part is over," said Rev. Justus Sathia Singh, as he recalled the highlights and hurdles of the 20-year long struggle.

The first believer, Mr. Bhimosen read John 3:16 as he opened the New Testament. He prayed before touching the Bible and said he was privileged to have the Bible in his mother tongue and to read it publically.

During the occasion, former IEM general secretary, Dr.R Theodore Srinivasagam, challenged the
Kotia believers to read the Bible regularly and urged the supporters to uphold the ministry in prayer.

The meeting ended on a moving note as Kotia believers from the 18 congregations received copies of the New Testament and eagerly browsed through its pages.

IEM began its work among Kotia people in the year 1988. There are an estimated 2,00,000 people living in the Araku region.