A. and S. M. | Serving in India
Dear Prayer Partners,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for your great support to our ministry all these years which enabled us to establish the kingdom of God where it is hard. In 1995, both of us left our jobs to start this ministry among temple prostitutes. In this community prostitution is a traditional religion carried on for generations. God called us to rescue children and women.
We opened a children’s home for rescued children and gave them an education and got several of them married during 26 years of our service. Many of them are good Christian wives, and some in full-time ministry. Our home is always open for them to visit us for fun, fellowship, and mentorship. As S. takes the role of a mother and spiritual mentor they look up to her for guidance and support.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought many restrictions for church and evangelistic ministry. Temporarily we shut down churches in all villages. But through phone and internet we held church services and prayer to encourage believers. During the lock-down we had ten young girls staying with us and our pantry was empty. As an organization, we approached the district commissioner for permission to buy in bulk food, grains, and vegetables and provided to those shut in. Also, another wonderful thing to praise God is that we arranged for five of our girls to marry during this time.
Caring Hands is presently helping more children through foster care in their own locations. Shobha and I visited them last month and had fruitful ministry among them. We help and support HIV+ people who live in utter poverty and hopelessness. They receive monthly rations, counseling, and medical guidance. Our staff minister to them and many have turned to Jesus. A HIV+ family accepted Christ and faced persecution from villagers and relatives. We relocated them and now they are happy and growing spiritually. We have provided a water buffalo to sell the milk for extra financial help.
Where there were no churches 27 years ago in this community, today, we have established seven churches. The pastors visit houses for prayer and help when they are in any kind of need or difficult situation.
Persecution has increased in our state. Many churches were ransacked, services disturbed, and pastors arrested. Our personal ministry is taking a change. S. and I are counselling and guiding staff to work independently. We cannot go to certain areas as the police authorities have warned us. They say we evangelize and disturb traditional practices.
Camps for children, youth, ladies, and families are conducted regularly. Ladies’ retreats are a great success. The ladies under spiritual bondage and burden come, and S. and her team minister to them. They go back free, uplifted and rejoicing.
Our daughter is studying in Barclay, Kansas. She wants to be a counsellor. We are anxious for her to finish her study and find a Godly life partner. S. & I will be in U.S. from April to September this year. Kindly pray for all our needs and our time there. We three as a family would like to be together for this summer. We appreciate your calls, visits, and invitations. Thank you for your support, love, and provision.
Yours in his grace,
A. and S. M.