Greetings! As we mentioned back in April, we want to give periodical updates on the work in India through Search and Rescue International. As some of you are aware, every year in late April through early June, Sudhakar and his ministry team conduct a Vacation Bible School in villages throughout the adjoining states of Andhra Pradesh. This year they were striving to reach over 10,000 children with stories about Jesus, how to read the Bible, teaching on moral issues, singing, counseling, lessons on personal hygiene, and educational help in various disciplines. They ended just shy of the goal, but did reach 5 states and over 30 villages with over 9500 children as a part of this ministry. Below are several pictures, a listing of the states and villages, and a number of children that attended by state.
Vocation Bible School vs. Vacation Bible School
Search and Rescue International (S&R) in support of: Christ for Indian Mission Society (CIMS) and Jesus Loves Children Home (JLCH)
Vocation Bible School vs. Vacation Bible School
As most of you know, many of the children that come to these rural villages for VBS come from the street and slum areas of India. Most have never even heard the name of Jesus, let alone, that He’s their Savior and loves them and pursues a relationship with them. Many of the children have run away from abusive families, many are homeless, some come out of slave or sex-trafficking, some out of prostitution, rag pickers, beggars, or other such jobs of dire circumstances. All of this, just to survive each day. Obviously, a much different situation than many of us have experienced, where VBS meant puppet skits, children’s songs, Bible stories and a finale of punch and crème sandwich cookies. Growing up, VBS usually lasted between 3-5 days for about a couple of hours per day. However, the VBS in India is a full rounded ministry to these children which lasts throughout the day. They don’t just send them out each day with a napkin of cookies and punch, but actually offer counseling, vocational training, courses to help them pass government certification tests for employment, reading and writing help, shelter, and feed them each day they are a part of the VBS program. Because girls are rendered as less desirable than boys, there is special help in this regard as well. In fact, here’s a direct quote from Sudhakar in this area:
“Christ for India Mission Society aim is at raising the status of girls in current society and to change the way people think about them...‘many were thinking cheap about them’. Sometimes, when we have little funds available to reach this type of children, we work hard to promote gender equality and empower girls who are denied and deprived their rights. We see girls to join schools for education, safe living conditions. We educate our children through JLCH (Jesus Loves Children Home); including the boys and girls we help, on the importance of equality. We teach the girls basics of life, the importance of educating themselves and their future, the basics of hygiene and much more. We teach all the above things in VBS classes.”
Pictures are of VBS locations in India.
God is doing the miraculous through this “two fish and five loaves” ministry we call Search and Rescue International. The need is great, but we trust that God is stirring hearts to serve and give. “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37. We know many of you are already doing all you can in other ministries and mission work around the world. We are grateful that you are, and ask that you pray for us. However, we are praying that these newsletters fall on tender hearts of compassion and mercy. It’s hard for us to comprehend approximately 110 Christian servants ministering to almost 10,000 children over a period of 8 weeks in a nation that is hostile to Christians. Incidentally, the VBS went several weeks longer because they had to cancel, or postpone, several VBS locations because of pressure and persecution from the Hindu government. In addition to all of this, we are appealing for help now with over 30 of the approx. 100 orphan children at JLCH suffering from the mumps. Medical help is needed to treat them, and also assistance with preventative measures to keep the rest from contracting it.
Our mission is to bring hope to the hopeless, the broken-hearted, the fatherless, the oppressed, the poor and those facing trials of all kinds.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27