Since childhood, Kevin knew that God called him to be a missionary. After graduating from high school, he attended California Polytechnic University, Pomona and majored in civil engineering. Unfulfilled and dissatisfied, knowing that God had called him to His ministry, Kevin left the university to attend RHEMA Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and graduated in 1987. Kevin was ordained to the ministry by Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin in June of 1996 and is a member of RHEMA Ministerial Association International.

The Call

During a camp meeting in 1989, Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin saw in a vision a man from India saying “I am from Northern India. There is a move (work) that God wants to do in Northern India, but Satan hinders greatly. We need help!” Rev. Hagin explained that it was not just finances that are needed. They need our prayers and faith to join together in agreement with them for a great move of God in Northern India. Since that time, a seed was planted in Kevin’s heart to reach out with the gospel to the precious people of India.

Areni Castro

Areni Ezung was born in Kohima, Nagaland, Northeast India. She pursued studies in International Law in New Delhi. She suddenly fell ill and doctors gave her only six months to live. But through simple faith in God’s healing word, she gradually recovered. In 1996, a miraculous door opened for her to attend RHEMA Bible Training Center (USA).

Graduating in 1998, she returned to India and began preaching the Word of God. As a single woman, pressing past cultural and religious barriers, she stepped out in faith and pioneered a church in Kohima, Nagaland. This vibrant church is continuing to grow and is presently pastored by RHEMA USA graduate Shan Kikon.

Kevin and Areni

Following in the footsteps of his pastor Ray and his wife Esther of Family Life Christian Center in Glendora, CA, Kevin and Areni met at RHEMA Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. After their marriage in February 2002, they made their residence in Nagpur, Central India and are serving there as missionaries with a mandate to preach God’s Word to the precious people of India.

Kevin and Areni’s two sons Jay and Josiah were born in India, the oldest of which is beginning to speak words in India’s national language, Hindi.

Ministry Work

Each year, Kevin and Areni teach at RHEMA India Bible School under the direction of Rev. and Mrs. Thorat. Their ministry, Living Word International, has been used by God to translate and publishing faith-building literature into 24 languages of five nations in Asia: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet China. To the glory of God, over 2.3 million books and have been published thus far.

As is written in Galatians 2:10, “...only that we should remember the poor...”, their ministry branch in South India ministers to the physically blind through Braille Literature, Braille correspondence, and special outreaches in which the Gospel is preached and free meals are provided.

The Castros want Family Life Christian Center to know how much they appreciate their sowing into their lives and ministry through their prayers and giving.

Offices and Staff

Living Word International has four offices in India:

Nagpur, Maharashtra, Central India
Rev. Kevin & Areni Castro (president and overseers of the ministry)
Ministry worker Henry Timothy (manager, correspondence, Hindi translation)
Ministry worker Digambar Kamble (ministry driver, maintenance)

Calcutta, West Bengal, East India
Pastor Swapan Kundu (Church and literature ministry, Bengali translations)

Dimapur, Nagaland, Northeast India
Ministry worker Joshua Akbar Ali (bookstore manager, literature distribution for northeast Indian languages)

Chennai (formerly Madras), South India
Ministry worker Manohar Bagade (office manager, hospital and blind outreaches)
Ministry workers D. Joshua (children’s ministry),
M. James (Telegu ministry),
Joseph and Immanuel (blind ministry)

Living Word International, Inc.

Living Word International, Inc. AKA Kevin Castro Ministries was incorporated in 2000 and is recognized by the IRS as a nonprofit organization with stateside office in La Verne, California. Living Word International (India) was registered with the Indian government as a charitable trust in 1999. Both organizations operate under one banner, Living Word International and annually submit financial documents required by each country respectively.

LWI is not funded by any single individual or ministry. Funds are raised through donations from individuals and churches who have a heart and vision to reach other nations that are hungry to receive the Word of God. Kevin and Areni and their ministry staff are not employed by RHEMA or any of its affiliate organizations.

Trustees