(This article is based on a report by Carol E Barnwell of Texas Episcopalian)

The Bishop of Southeastern India, the Rt Revd. Kunnumpurathu Samuel, brought his church to attention in Texas Episcopalians during his visit and said the pressing mission of the church in India was taking steps towards the eradication of poverty, women empowerment and youth development.

Bishop Suffragan Leo Alard said, "Bishop Samuel gave use a gift by his presence. He brought his church to life for us and let us see that we are really one church in mission, whether it is in Texas or South India".

A vivid image of mission and ministry in the Diocese of East Kerala, which has grown 350 in the last 17 years and an area largely populated with the poorest of the poor, the uneducated and the marginalized was given by the bishop.

"Poverty is the number one enemy of the Church", the bishop said, explaining that the church's mission was to eradicate poverty, empower women and raise up youth.

"As long as 60 percent of the people are denied the basics of life, a roof over their heads and food to sustain them, our preaching is not complete", he said.

Speaking on the growth of the church, he said, "Tea farmers who live isolated lives above lush, almost impenetrable forests and who earn pennies a day, established churches in their mist. The diocese has tripled in size from 20,000 to 75,000 since 1987, growing from 80 churches to 175 and adding 20 new congregations each year.

He attributes the growth to grass-roots-support. "To implement vision, you need clergy to cooperate or the bishop can only preach", he said. The church trained rubber farmers and helped them purchase equipment to process their rubber, maximizing their earnings.

Earlier in his visit, he told the World Mission committee, "We are called to be the leaven of society. We are called to be a church in mission. There is a great temptation there -it is easier to tear down than to build".