When my dad Carlisle Hanna passed from this life in 2023
after 70 faithful years on the field, many expressed deep concern regarding what would happen to the Free Will Baptist work in India and Nepal. I am thankful to report the Lord has graciously blessed these efforts. Through His faithfulness and through the faithfulness of our supporters, the ministry in India has not only continued, but it has also flourished.
North India
Following the annual conference in March 2025, we ordained 25 men to gospel ministry, bringing the total number of pastors in North India to 50. These believers in the north, where some 300 groups meet to worship each week, see fifty to sixty people follow the Lord in believer’s baptism every month.
We dedicated a new church building in March 2025, and currently three additional churches are under construction, two in North India and one in Nepal. When I was a child, Dad walked seven miles one way (and crossed a river) to minister to people in one of these remote areas. It gives me great joy to know they will now have a permanent church building.
Sadly, many Free Will Baptist groups continue to meet without any building or structure. In coming days, as God provides, we will build eight to ten buildings, not large structures, but a sheltered place for these believers to gather. In contrast to the expense of building in the States, these buildings can be constructed for $5,000 to $7,000, depending upon the type of flooring. You can contribute to this effort through IM, or through scfriendsofindia.com/.
Currently, sixty residents live in the Boy’s Hostel. Pray for this ministry as we train and disciple young men, providing both the gospel and an education. We have received funds to renovate both the housing building and the kitchen, and these repairs will start after the completion of the church buildings described above.
The Hanna Memorial Mission School enrolled nearly 400 students this year, primarily from Hindu and Muslim families. These families visit the mission property daily, opening the door for interaction, not only with our students but also with their parents. This has afforded our Christian people and teachers many opportunities to share the gospel.
We continue to operate a farm and dairy, offer relief projects and sewing classes, provide seeds for farmers, and carry out animal husbandry projects (necessary to meet governmental requirements to continue the gospel work).
South India
Currently, Free Will Baptists have 17 churches in South India, four established in the last three years with plans to open other new churches.
The Volena Wilson Bible Institute reopened this year in two locations, one in the mountains and one on the plains. Students primarily consist of young people from our own churches — 19 students in one location and 14 in the other.
One of the new churches has been planted in Ooty, the district headquarters for the Nilgiri district and a popular resort town. This church is growing rapidly. The congregation has been meeting in a rented room at the YMCA, but they have quickly outgrown the space. A nearby facility would work nicely, but property is very expensive in Ooty. The land and building will cost almost $100,000. However, a new meeting location is crucial due to a law in Tamil Nadu prohibiting house churches. Churches can only meet in registered church buildings.
Pastor Stanley Rajkumar and I traveled to the island nation of Sri Lanka in 2025 to survey possibilities for ministry expansion there. Roughly half the residents of Sri Lanka are Tamils, the same as the Free Will Baptists in South India. We met with nine pastors who want to join us, and we hope to help them in their church planting efforts and establish a Free Will Baptist work on the island.
IM, Inc. has helped provide funding to teach the pastors in Sri Lanka and to provide necessary projects to help them sustain themselves, especially those who live in destitute circumstances.
Eastern Nepal and Bangladesh
Though Eastern Nepal remains vastly unreached with the gospel, we now have 30 groups who meet. Many opportunities to expand our work exist here as funding allows. We already have expanded into Bangladesh, with six groups currently meeting.
Coming Together to Worship
My wife Milly and I returned to India in March and early April to celebrate the 75th annual conference, corresponding with the date when Mom and Dad (Marie and Carlisle Hanna) were appointed missionaries to India in March 1951. Seven to ten thousand people attended at least some portion of this meeting, where we experienced good response as we worshiped in seven languages and heard faithful and powerful preaching .
During our trip, we also visited the works in North India and Nepal and dedicated two of the church buildings under construction. We then briefly visited the work in South India.
I continue to be overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness to us and by the faithfulness of Free Will Baptists who stand with us as partners in ministry, advancing God’s Kingdom in this needy part of the world.
For God so loved the world,
He gave His only Son,
To die on Calvary’s tree,
From sin to set me free.
Someday He’s coming back,
What glory that will be.
Wonderful God’s love to me.
Billions around the world do not know these truths, but those of us who do know them have a responsibility to share them faithfully until that day when we all celebrate God's harvest together.
About the Writer: Dr. Don Hanna, son of Carlisle and Marie Hanna, spent many years living and working in India, first as a missionary kid and then as a frequent visitor to encourage and minister to the needs of Christians there. Dr. Hanna, as president of Friends of India, currently leads Free Will Baptist works in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. He and his wife Milly have three children and four grandchildren. They live in Charleston, South Carolina, where Don continues his medical practice.
