Through a providential meeting of an American businessman for a finance company in the city of Bangalore India, and a rural Indian Christian leader, Sudhakar Rao, we became aware of God’s work in rural South Central India in 2012. We found Sudhakar, and his wife Nirmala, had an orphanage of around 35 children, a place to live and earn a living (sewing) for widows, a school that his brother was leading, and, above all, Sudhakar and his team of indigenous preachers were spreading the “aroma of Christ” to everyone who would listen. Everything he was doing got our attention, and since the day of seeing this good friend of David’s on social media, with Sudhakar at this orphanage, God has placed on our hearts to see after as many kids as possible, help with the aged, and support this mission of preaching to a lost and confused people in the rural villages of a very poor area of south central India. Just since those early months of 2012, when David and I got involved, thousands of people have been saved through the preaching of Sudhakar Rao and his team of preachers under the charitable organization and government recognized name of Christ for Indian Mission Society.

From this work, many churches have been established (77 to be exact), and 100 boys and girls taken off the streets and cared for at JLCH (Jesus Loves Children Home). Among the many things that hearing and believing the good news of Jesus Christ brings to the listener is the hope that it gives. In the Hindu religious caste system that is ingrained in the Indian society, as well as the government, your lot in life is strictly determined by the family you were born to. The only hope it offers is that in your death, you might come back to this life slightly better off than your status today (moving up in the caste ladder). As you can imagine, preaching a message of salvation to all people--that God loves them and values them so much as to offer them not only salvation from the coming judgement but elevated status of children of the King--is more than anything they could ever hope. That they don’t have to die to slightly improve their position, but are immediately elevated to the family of God with all rights and privileges, is without question, a hope beyond their wildest dreams. Say what you will, the gospel message is beyond anything else, a message of hope and especially so to those who live in a very dark world.

The task of reaching the adult population with the good news, and helping so many orphan children with a home, is quite frankly a little overwhelming. Providing meals, shelter, clothes, medical attention, cost of school tuition, books, supplies, and other miscellaneous things costs money, and we can only go as far as the money that is generously given. When we first began to be involved with the work in south central India, it really began with our families giving to help support the orphanage with special needs, i.e., cots to sleep on (before this the children were sleeping on the floor), school supplies, bicycles for the preachers to get from village to village, bibles, and lots of medical and health related needs. It was only after God captured our heart for this work over the course of several months that we realized the thousands that were actually hearing the gospel from native preachers that support themselves. Very few of the teachers and preachers are actually subsidized with any kind of financial support, only discipled, encouraged, prayed for, and overseen by Sudhakar Rao and his brother. Within the following year, Search and Rescue International was born, as a way to responsibly give financial support and allow for expanded ministry. Being around missions since I was young, I’ve seen many good and productive mission efforts, but none quite like this one. 

Search and Rescue International, and the work specifically in India, has seen over ten thousand souls saved since I personally have been a part of this work. This has happened on just a small fraction of the amount of most churches’ mission budgets. I say this not to overshadow other work, but to highlight the scores of people who are coming to Jesus through the work of CIMS and JLCH. These sorts of numbers are even more astounding when you consider it is happening in the midst of severe persecution and trial. Many of the CIMS preachers have been beaten—one preacher was recently murdered, many have been beaten, a vehicle was burned, bibles and supplies either burned or stolen, interrogation faced at every point, and still, God continues to work in this part of the world in unprecedented power and numbers. 

So, we are asking for help. You can financially help in one of two ways. One is just continual monthly support. In doing this, the money primarily will go to supporting more children with a home (JLCH). Currently, we have 100 children that are being taken care of and brought in off the streets. As you may or may not know, human sex trafficking is rampant in India, and with the Hindu caste system in place, if a man cannot exchange his daughter for money in a marital arrangement, girls are often discarded and left on their own. Obviously, handicapped, diseased, and children of special needs are left to their plight without their basic needs seen to, without love, and without hope in the world. The other way you can help financially, is support for several events that we sponsor every year. One is a special two week campaign to reach over 10,000 children in a “VBS” type of event held in seventeen locations. It is an annual event that Sudhakar and his team have done, and is an extremely effective way to introduce Jesus for the first time to children of rural villages and slum areas. We have seen many adult studies that have come as a result of this work, and of course, many saved people have resulted. This will take place in late April and early May of this year. We also solicit funds for school supplies and clothes for the children in late May, as well as money to help with gifts for the children during Christmas. Quite honestly, we’re grateful for anything you can do, but if we had our “druthers”, it would be best to have consistent monthly donations and budget for these special events would be made within those funds. 

We are praying that seeds will fall from this electronic message on good hearts … on “good soil”. We know there are other needs in the world, and lots of good work that is being done for the kingdom in other parts of the world, but none we have seen which compare to what God is doing in this part of the world. We believe the Spirit, at this time, is moving in a powerful way through those men and women who are ministering to the people in rural India, and lives are being transformed by the redemptive message that “God so loved us that He gave us a Savior”. Please see below the two ways in which you can give as well as contact information if you have questions, or need additional information about this work. We would love to talk with you! We are currently updating and revising our website but it is open to give donations. We will be sending a quarterly electronic newsletter to update you on the work. With almost zero overhead expenses almost 100% of your gift goes to the aforementioned work in India, and 100% of your gift is tax deductible. Thank you for your prayerful consideration to give.  We appreciate you!

C. Dwayne Guthrie

Vice President Search & Rescue International

dguthrie@prattindustries.com

405.708.9747

We have two ways to donate:

(1) With a check:

Search and Rescue International

Attention: Travis Guthrie Treasurer

P.O. Box 563

Edmond, Oklahoma 73083-0563

(2) Donate through our website:

Even though our website is under currently being updated it should be available to donate. The donate website address is: 

www.sandrministries.org/donate 

S&R International is recognized by the United States as a 501(c) (3) charitable organization.