Founder of Bibles for the World, Dr. Rochunga Pudaite, Goes Home to Jesus
Dr. Ro firmly believed there is no tool for world evangelization that works quite as well as the printed Word of God. The Bible challenges and changes lives... It was his firm conviction that everyone, everywhere, should have the opportunity to read it in their own language.
Dr. Rochunga Pudaite, founder and longtime CEO of Bibles For The World, went home to be with his Lord and Savior early in the morning of October 10, 2015.
After a brief illness, "Dr. Ro" left behind the ministry he so loved and millions upon millions of lives he helped transform through the power of the Gospel.
When the Gospel first came to the fierce, headhunting Hmar tribe in Northeast India in 1910, one of the first converts was a young man by the name of Chawnga. As more and more of the tribal people became Christians, he saw the need for the Scriptures in their native language. Chawnga prayed that someday he would have a son who would learn to read and write so that he could translate the Bible into the Hmar language. Chawnga's son, Rochunga, fulfilled his father's dream... and much, much more.
Ro became the first boy from his village to go to school—in the village of Churachandpur—a dangerous hike of 96 miles. He was further educated in Calcutta and received a bachelor's degree from Allahabad University. Ro later continued his schooling in Glasgow, Scotland, and, with the help of Dr. Billy Graham and Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, did his graduate work at Wheaton College near Chicago, Illinois.
During his time in school, Ro worked hard on translating the Bible into his native language. Finally the job was done. He wrapped up the precious manuscript, mailed it to the printer, and at long last, the Bible arrived in Northeast India. There was much joy and excitement as Chawnga and others dedicated the book that had changed their people from headhunters to heart-hunters!...
Dr. Ro firmly believed there is no tool for world evangelization that works quite as well as the printed Word of God. The Bible challenges and changes lives. It is written for all humanity. All the answers to man's present and future needs are found in the Bible. It was his firm conviction that everyone, everywhere, should have the opportunity to read it in their own language.
For more than a half-century, Dr. Rochunga Pudaite spearheaded ministry outreaches that have touched tens, if not hundreds, of millions of people across the globe. He was the translator of the "Hmar Bible" and author of several books, including "The Education of the Hmar People," "The Dime That Lasted Forever," "My Billion Bible Dream" (republished as "The Book That Set My People Free"), "The Greatest Book Ever Written," and "The Hmar/English Dictionary."
A biography of Dr. Ro was published in 1974, God's Tribesman, by James C. and Marti Hefley. And his life story was captured in another book by Joe Musser in 1998 called "Fire on the Hills—the Story of Rochunga Pudaite." And a major motion picture, "Beyond the Next Mountain", tells the story of how the Bible came to the Hmar people of India through Ro's efforts.
Besides his brother, Lienkung Pudaite of Sielmat, Churachandpur, Manipur, India, Ro is survived by his wife Mawii, their three children—Paul R. Pudaite of Glen Ellyn, IL; John L.Pudaite of Colorado Springs, CO; and Mary L. Pudaite-Keating of Antioch, IL—and six grandchildren.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15
The Rochunga Pudaite Memorial Fund has been established to carry on Dr. Ro's priorities of Scripture distribution to those who are unreached or under-reached, healthcare for those in poverty, education at all levels, church planting, and leadership training.
Read more and find out where to send memorial gifts by logging onto: BiblesfortheWorld.org.
