Bakht Singh Funeral - Part 3 — Bakht Singh

Street Preaching and Public Prayer

They are divided into groups according to their ages. The children are taught from a very young age to carry their own Bible. The purpose of open air street preaching is to reach the common people on the streets, to show them the way of salvation by singing with traditional Indian instruments, quoting scripture verses, distributing Christian literature, holding banners and loud vocal preaching.

The street preaching would begin and end with prayer and the members would kneel on the road as a public testimony. To supervise the street preaching, Buxing used different modes of transportation like bullock cart, scooter or van.

There is a famous saying in 1950s that in Hyderabad, road traffic stopped during only two occasions. Once when the Nizam of Hyderabad used to pass through the street and secondly when the open air preaching passes through the streets.

Christian Marriage and Opposition to Social Evils

Even in America, Buxing started street preaching after the Sunday worship service. The weddings are conducted in a simple manner. The bride and bridegroom are to pray at the wedding. Matchmaking is the responsibility of elders.

Buxing strictly condemned dowry and caste system among believers. The All India Holy Convocation is an annual event held for nine days to encourage and to have fellowship with believers from India and abroad.

The All India Holy Convocation and Vacation Bible School

Around 15 ,000 people attend the convocation and are fed and lodged for free. It is conducted purely on faith basis which still poses a threat to the religion. A mystery to many Christians. In 1964, Sister Abyss, sitting left to Buxing, started Vacation Bible School.

Every year around 1 ,500 children attend VBS. In 70s and 80s, other churches in Hyderabad were inspired to start VBS in their own local churches. In due course of time, almost all churches in India started conducting VBS during holidays.

Teaching Children Prayer and Public Witness

On the last day, small children sing before the seniors wearing crowns, then go for street preaching. Children are taught to kneel down for prayer, even on the road, not feeling ashamed for the Lord. Watched service is conducted from 10 in the night till 6 in the morning.

Yearly promise card for the church and individuals are given separately to pray and claim the promise. In the year 1983, Brother Buxing appointed six apostles, Brother Dasan, Brother Philip, Brother Martin, Brother Lazarus Sen, Brother Amrita Raj and Brother Koshi.

Publishing and Recognition as a Bible Teacher

Since 1968, Hebron Messenger is published fortnightly, giving the news and activities of the churches in India and abroad. Brother Buxing has since published 21 books during his ministry. Robert Finlay, President Christian Admission has said, I have never seen a man who has a greater knowledge and understanding of the Bible than Buxing.

All over western preachers and teachers seem to be children before this great man of God. J Edwin Orr, British church historian stated, Buxing is an Indian equivalent of the greater western evangelists, as skillful as Finlay and as direct as Moody.

He is a first class Bible teacher of the order of Campbell Morgan or Graham Scroggins. To this day, Buxing is a foremost evangelist and preacher in India, Asia and the United States. Brother Buxing never wanted to start a new denomination or church.

The Evangelistic Mandate of the Church

His vision was to remind the church of their God-given evangelistic mandate, going into all the world and preach the gospel. Buxing was an evangelist, Bible teacher, prophet and a modern day apostle who was respected and appreciated by the Christian community both in India and around the world.

Courageous Faithfulness and Ministry Legacy

He feared no man and spoke out courageously as the Lord had commissioned him. He was a man of faith. Buxing taught not just through the word but through life. He lived to what he preached. Yet to see a man of this caliber with stern faith, man with no guile, a faithful steward of the gospel and an apostle of the present times and a man full of love for the Lord.

Brother Buxing is an example of what God can make out of a mere mortal. Brother Buxing was promoted to glory on September 17, 2000 at 6 .05 in the morning in the premises of Hebron.