An Indigenous Vision For Evangelism And Benevolence
Esudas Bontha began preaching the Gospel in 1988. For 35 years he worked tirelessly among his native Sudra people to bring souls to Christ and to care for orphans, widows, the sick and aged. Working in 3 districts of the State of Andhra Pradesh, he baptized thousands, started over 90 congregations, and taught many hundreds of men to preach and teach the Gospel. While Brother Bontha had great short-term success in initial conversions, it became clear over the years that the greatest challenge was the fundamental illiteracy of the extremely poor Sudra people he ministered to. As sprouts without much root, unable to read the Bible for themselves for spiritual growth and without enough regular weekly preaching and teaching, a great number of these conversions and new congregations withered away under the scorching glare of idolatry and religious error. In 2009, Esudas and his wife Vijaya began teaching the 50 orphans they were hosting in their home, and the Indian Christian School was born. His strategy for the long-term salvation of his people became complete: a comprehensive, native-born approach to evangelism and benevolence tailored to the unique needs of his people and region.
Passing The Torch
In October of 2023, Brother Esudas died suddenly of a heart attack on the school playground. His 33-year-old son Bharath Bhushan Bontha, also known as Chanti, stepped up to continue all the works that had been established. He had been preaching with his father since 2007 and was the daily operations manager of the Indian Christian School prior to the pandemic. Chanti also teaches computer technology at the school, manages the employees, and continues preaching and evangelizing in numerous local congregations and villages. Alongside his wife Swathi and baby daughter Evaanshi Das, Chanti is an extremely hard working and practical man with an intense love for the Lord and for his people. Along with his mother and two grown and educated sisters, Nani and Nyna, the Bontha family have been working 16-hour days for months filling in as teachers, cooks and caregivers. In August of last year, Nyna was accepted to an MBA program in the US and is currently here studying. Under Chanti’s leadership since his father’s passing, we were able to successfully secure support to hire staff, activate buses and fully reopen the school, which completed its school year in April 2025 serving 247 children.
