This week in Christian history: first black Catholic bishop; Indian evangelist; England bans Christmas

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, June 02, 2019

Brother Bakht Singh born – June 6, 1903

A 1959 photo of Brother Bakht Singh (1903-2000), a renowned Indian evangelist and Bible teacher. | Wikimedia Commons/Salman0802

This week marks the birth of Bakht Singh Chabra, commonly known as Brother Bakht Singh, to Sikh parents in the Punjab region of the then British-controlled India.

After becoming a Christian in 1929, Singh went to become a popular evangelist, preacher, and church planter in Southeast Asia, helping to found a movement that planted an estimated 10,000 congregations worldwide.

“During the time of India's struggle for political independence, Singh's ministry grew from obscure evangelist and revivalist to world-renowned church planter and speaker,” noted InterVarsity Press.

“Even in the simplest matters he did nothing without first seeking to know the will of God. The result is a story full of God's miraculous provisions and timing for this man of faith and prayer.”