Tent Evangelism :

With their tents set up under the shade of trees, Sr Catherine Hollister-Jones is leading a relaxed Bible Study lesson with a small group of interested women at Gardinagar during a country evangelistic camping tour.

Bringing the Gospel to Rural India :

Indian Pastor, The Rev GS Chander, and New Zealand Missionary, Sr Catherine Hollister-Jones, taking an outdoors village service under the shade of a tree, 1960.

Moving Camp, 1960 :

The Mission Landrovers along with the Rev Doug Riddle's aluminium clad camping caravan, taken when moving camp during a country Evangelistic tour. The caravan had been a personal gift to the Rev Riddle from New Zealand.

A Village Baptism :

An Indian Pastor performing a village Baptism during a country camping tour, 1960.

Bringing the Gospel to a New Generation :

A Bible woman with her Sunday School Class. The mud brick construction of the buildings were typical of rural India, simply using materials at hand.

Indian Church Extension :

Members of the Gardinagar Congregation gathered at the site of their new Church, 1960.

An Evening Audio Visual Show :

The Rev DM Riddell & the Rev GS Chander bringing the Gospel to an interested village group through an evening audio visual show projected from the back of the Mission Landrover. Lantern slides had in fact been used by the Missionaries right from the inception of the mission, proving a popular feature of evening evangelistic talks.

The Masha'l Press, Kharar :

A skilled Indian staff member supervising the operation of the rotary press, c.1960 This new rotary press, installed in 1954 and costing £3000, had been paid for by the New Zealand Presbyterian Church from 'New Life' campaign funds. Economies of scale, competition from other larger publishing houses, the need for highly trained management and skilled staff, the high cost of replacement equipment, and rising costs led to the closure of the Masha'l Press in the 1970's. Its demise was mourned by many.

A young Sikh gentleman perusing a religious booklet at a wayside book stall selling pamphlets and books, mainly published and printed by the Masha'l Press at Kharar, 1960.

Christian Melá, Jagadhri

A service of worship in a large tent during the 1960 Christian Melá (fair).

Theological Students Holding an Outdoor Service :

The Rev David Manuel (3rd from left) and his student 'orchestra' from the Theological College at Saharanpur leading an outdoor service with the aid of a small hand worked organ and other musical instruments.

The Rev DM Riddell leading a service in the new Chandigarh Church.

The building of the new State capital of Chandigarh had become necessary after the partition of India in 1947 when the eastern portion of the Punjab region was included in the newly created Pakistan.

"Forward Move Programme" Meeting

The succesful "New Life" movement in New Zealand during the 1950's had its own counterpart from 1954 in the Punjab Synod "Forward Move Programme". Its aims were to revive the faith and life of its members, to train them in Bible knowledge and stewardship, to break down barriers and cultivate true Christian fellowship, and overall to prepare the Church for a more active participation in the work of evangelism. A previous long-serving Missionary to India, the Rev JL Gray, was invited back to India to direct the programme.

Left to Right : Rev DM Riddell, Rev GS Chander, Rev RI Roxburgh, Rev JL Gray (Movement Co-Ordinator), Rev L Justin, unknown.