Thousands effected by Indian floods as Cyclone Thane strikes

Global development agency Christian Aid has released £50,000 to partner organisations in India after more than 6,000 Indian villagers were forced from their homes and 48 were killed by Cyclone Thane.

The storm swept through the east-Indian coastal state of Tamil Nadu on December 30 uprooting trees, destroying roads and buildings and bringing down power lines.

As villagers attempt to rebuild their damaged homes many communities are still without electricity and clean drinking water. The high winds also destroyed 15000 hectares of paddy crops and 20000 hectares of cashew and jackfruit trees which will both affect immediate survival needs but cause long term impact on livelihoods.

In Tamil Nadu, the two most vulnerable groups of concern to Christian Aid are the socially excluded dalit community and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

In response to the crisis Christian Aid has launched a Rapid Emergency Response Initiative providing support to the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation and Social Awareness Society for Youths, two existing partner organisations in Tamil Nadu, which have been able to carry out assessments and start relief activities

Emergency food provisions consisting of dry food such as rice, flour and milk powder for two weeks are being circulated along with winter kits of bedding and floor mats for those whose houses have been destroyed.

* Christian Aid: http://www.christianaid.org.uk

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Orphan Outreach urgently needs interns

India (MNN) ― Just ten days away from the application deadline, Orphan Outreach urgently needs six interns to spend July in India.

If you feel like you're experiencing déjà-vu, it's because this very internship has been featured at Mission Network News before--and pretty recently. But since word has been out about the Orphan Outreach trips, all the slots for positions in Russia have filled up while the six for India have gone completely untouched.

"This is one of our most stable programs, but it's one that a lot of people have a little fear about," says Tiffany Taylor with Orphan Outreach. "We hear about people going to Russia all the time, but India is a place that people aren't as comfortable imagining going to. I would just ask those people that are being nudged by God to consider India that they'd be open to that. The people that go to India are just blown away by what God is doing in the lives of the people there."

The six college students or young professionals that end up in India will get to have a significant, relational impact on the lives of kids in the nation. "They would literally be with the children every day, working with these children, building relationships, sharing the love of the Lord," says Taylor.

All this effort is poured into some of the neediest kids. "One of the reasons many of them are orphans is because AIDS has affected their families and themselves. So truly it's on the frontline of getting the Gospel to people in desperate need."

As a bonus for interns, adds Taylor, "They will also learn a lot about the culture of India and be exposed to the people and Christians in India."

Interns will be helping the staff of Orphan Outreach in India and bringing the Good News to children as they serve, but they will also be taking away invaluable experience. This internship has changed the life course of some past interns and has transformed the way others interact on a daily basis.

You won't get the experience if you don't sign up, though, and the deadline for application is fast approaching.

"Our deadline for internship applications is January 15, so we just urge people to go online. You can read a lot more information about the trips, about past students who have been, about the opportunity to go and serve in India."

Internships last from June 30 to July 22 in 2012, and cost about $2,400 without airfare. Orphan Outreach will help you raise support.Learn more about all the logistics when you head to orphanoutreach.org. 

Magazine publisher training in Bangalore is start of three-year program for India

By Michael Ireland
Senior International Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (ANS) -- According to Sharon Mumper, president of Magazine Training International (MTI), India's Christian magazines have a huge market and amazing potential -- with a Christian population of 60-to-100 million.

"Nevertheless,” says Mumper, “this predominately Hindu country boasts fewer quality Christian magazines than some small countries in Eastern Europe."

It is for this reason that MTI decided to offer a three-year training program in India.

MTI conferees in India discuss magazine projects. (Photo for MTI by Robyn Kejr).

More than 60 magazine editors, designers, and publishers attended the first training event, "Bangalore 2011: Success in Magazine Publishing" held October 31-November 10, 2011.

Three separate events introduced Indian magazine publishers to MTI's comprehensive training program.

The Magazine Publishing Institute, a five-day training program, included three tracks: magazine editing, magazine design, and magazine management. The Institute was followed by a one-day Introduction to Digital Publishing Workshop and then a five-day course on Magazine Article Writing.

Participants from six countries including India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Kenya, Nigeria, and France attended one or more of these events. Twelve trainers from India, the United States, and Lithuania taught established magazines new practices and technologies and laid a strong foundation for the upcoming generation and magazine start-ups.

"This conference gives me immense confidence to face the challenge of taking over the reins of my magazine from my predecessor," comments Keerthi Kandregula of The Upper Room Telugu edition.

Kandregula was not the only one who was encouraged at the end of Bangalore 2011 as he looked to a challenging future.

"It was the most fruitful week in the entire year," says Shruthi Joy who plans to begin a new magazine in Hyderabad, India. "I was finally able to sit down and plan for my dream. This would not have been possible on my own. The sessions were so useful and the trainers were helpful. I got the direction I needed."

MTI says that while India offers university programs in journalism, many Christian publishers lack the time to enter such programs. Nevertheless, these dedicated workers want to improve their skills in the limited time available to them.

"I don't think there is another training program like this anywhere else," stated Joseph Benjamin, editor and publisher of Gujarati Christians in Gujarat, India. "This training program teaches the students in four and a half days what it would otherwise take years to learn."

MTI gathered information from the regional magazines in their database to create the first ever Christian Magazine Writer Guidelines in India. The booklet was distributed to those who attended the magazine article writing course. MTI hopes these initial entries will grow over the years as more magazines submit their guidelines. The guidelines booklet is available for download on MTI's Web site.

MTI plans to offer three more training opportunities in Bangalore in 2012: a five-day Magazine Publishing Institute, a five-day Digital Publishing Course, and a three-day Communicating through Comics Seminar. It will be an eagerly anticipated reunion for some Bangalore 2011 attendees.

"A number of us are very much in touch. We share what's going on with our ministries and we try to help one another by giving feedback or a word of encouragement," says Priyanthi Vijayanathan in her blog. "The fact that we will be meeting again next year [at the MTI training program] keeps us going."

The mission of Magazine Training International (MTI) is to encourage, strengthen, and provide resources to Christian magazines as they seek to build the church and reach their societies for Christ.

Over the last 22 years, MTI has offered more than 50 conferences, courses, and seminars in East/Central Europe, Asia, and North America. In addition to courses and conferences, MTI offers training manuals, DVD and MP3 courses, and a Web site with nearly 2,000 pages of publishing resources and information.

_______________________________________________________________

For photos contact jrobinson@magazinetraining.com  . A short video on the conference is also available on MTI's Web site at www.magazinetraining.com . The video and photographs are by Robyn Kejr, who served as a volunteer at the conference.

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** Michael Ireland is the Senior International Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior International Reporter

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** You may republish this story with proper attribution.

Ministry team sees revival starting in India

India (STM) ― Sammy Tippit Ministries recently concluded evangelistic meetings, a pastors' conference, and student discipleship in the northwestern state of Punjab. Sammy Tippit preached in the evangelistic meetings and taught in the pastors' conference, while Dave Tippit led the student discipleship through his ministry, Eternal Concepts.

The evangelistic meetings were the largest that Tippit has ever held in the region. Each evening, many people responded to the message on "victory in life." The crowds increased nightly, and the response to the message also grew. Nearly half of those in attendance responded on the final evening.

Tippit noted, "God is doing something wonderful here in the Punjab. People are open. They are responding to the Gospel. Many Sikhs have come to Christ in the Punjab. It's exciting to see God at work." Pastor Nazir Masih agreed, stating, "The people of the Punjab are hungry for the good news of Jesus. This time has been a great blessing for us."

Tippit not only conducted the evangelistic meetings, but he also led a Pastors' Conference in a desert region of the Punjab with pastors who don't normally have the opportunity to attend leadership conferences. Many of the pastors are new believers and have been learning from "Jolly" Singh, who translates for Tippit. Pastors gave testimony of a deep work of God's Spirit in their lives. The church has been growing rapidly -- some would describe it as multiplying. Most of the pastors attending the conference were new in their walk with Christ.

Tippit also met a number of new believers who had come to Christ through his ministry in previous trips to the Punjab. He said, "One of my greatest joys is to meet these believers who have continued in their walk with Christ."

Dave Tippit also ministered in Punjab, pouring into the lives of students from Chandighar. More than 65 students attended the discipleship seminar provided by Eternal Concepts. EC has been working in partnership with STM on many STM outreaches around the world. Young people gave testimonies of a deep work of God.

Indian churches propose anti-corruption legislation

Mainline churches in India have prepared a suggested version of anti-corruption legislation and sent it to the government, which is drafting comprehensive anti-corruption legislation to be presented in Parliament in early December 2011 - writes Anto Akkara.

"We want the government to take into consideration the views of the Christian community," Samuel Jayakumar, executive secretary of the Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), told ENInews in an interview from New Delhi.

The NCCI, which groups 30 Orthodox and Protestant churches along with the Catholic church, and YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association), prepared the draft after several rounds of consultations among Christians and presented it to the government on 16 November.

The campaign for strong anti-corruption legislation has been a top issue in India since April, when activist Anna Hazare launched a fast against corruption.

Though the government appointed a joint drafting committee with Hazare's team, both disagreed on their version of the anti-corruption draft, causing Hazare to stage a hunger strike in August. Hazare withdrew the fast 12 days later after the government agreed to present comprehensive legislation by December.

"Corruption adversely affects the whole system of governance, having a negative influence on the relationship between those who govern and the governed, especially the poor and marginalised communities," said the churches in their draft.

[With acknowledgements to ENInews. ENInews, formerly Ecumenical News International, is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches.]

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Hundreds come to Christ, thousands hear His message in India

India (MNN) ― A Medical Camp can mean a whole lot more than free medicine.

Bibles for the World spent the last month in India, traveling to Delhi, Assam, Manipur and more. Most of the time was spent in northeast India meeting with partners, speaking at various events, and spreading the Gospel.

For a full week, though, Bibles for the World was involved in a Medical Camp at Sielmat Christian Hospital with another ministry. Tthousands flooded the camp for free healthcare.

"In one week's time, over 6,000 patients were treated, several hundred free glasses were distributed, and hundreds of physically, emotionally, and spiritually needy ones were treated, counseled and prayed for," explains Mawii Pudaite, one of Bibles for the World's founders.

Serious cases required surgeries, and follow-up care was arranged for the weeks after the team left.

More significant than even the physical headway was the response to the Gospel. The Bibles for the World team shared the Good News with all who came through, distributing Bibles to many.

The result was exceptional, says Pudaite. "316 people received Christ as Savior and Lord."

Among the new believers was a professional gentleman named Mr. Singh. When this man's son had become a believer, Mr. Singh tossed him out of the house. Even though his son had since become an evangelist, Mr. Singh was still resistant.

While at the Medical Camp, Mr. Singh began to speak with Pudaite who shared more about the Gospel with him. He accepted the message on the spot. The next day, Mr. Singh returned, visited the Counseling Room, and asked to be prayed for.

It's just one example of the many that are undoubtedly to come as patients who have heard the Good News allow it to sink in. Praise God for the many hearts changed.! Pray that He would continue to sanctify those who have chosen to follow Him. Pray that the message shared by Bibles for the World teams  would not have fallen on deaf ears, and that many would open the Bibles they've been given.

Bibles for the World distributes Bibles and shares the message of Christ with people all around the world. Click here to learn more about their ministry.

As numbers shrink, Roman Catholic church in India urges flock to have more children - The Washington Post

As numbers shrink, Roman Catholic church in India urges flock to have more children - The Washington Post: NEW DELHI — Worried about its dwindling numbers, the Roman Catholic church in southern India is exhorting its flock to have more children, with some parishes offering free schooling, medical care and even cash bonuses for large families, church officials said Tuesday.

Read more...

India shoe crate delayed due to low donations

Mission Network News: "India shoe crate delayed due to low donations"

India (MNN) ― A shipment of shoes to India has been delayed from its August 2011 scheduled shipping date to next year.

Read more...

Death toll likely to rise from rural quake in Northern India

Mission Network News: "Death toll likely to rise from rural quake in Northern India"

India (MNN) ― Indian authorities have begun air-dropping relief supplies to survivors of a deadly earthquake in northeastern India and neighboring countries like Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Read more...

Mission Network News

Mission Network News:

Team members still needed for blanket trips

The West can help lead India to Christ

India (MNN) ― India. It's a country with over a billion people. It's a country with more than 1,000 dialects. It's been the focus of outreach by missionaries for centuries, and the need for workers and funding to help resources those workers are great.

Gospel For Asia supports national missionaries in India. GFA's Daniel Punos says, "There are 500,000 villages just in India alone that have not heard the Gospel even one time. We go to villages often, and we ask people, 'Do you know Jesus Christ?' And the person will respond to us and say, 'I've lived here all my life. Your friend Jesus is not here. Check the next village down the road.'"

GFA has thousands of missionaries ready to go, but Punos says they just need to be sent. "The opportunity that we have as the believers from the West is to fulfill the Great Commission even from where we are by living our lives simply and using those resources that God's blessed us with to see thousands and thousands of people sent out to share the Gospel with people who have never heard the Gospel."

A small investment each month can go a long way in seeing entire villages come to Christ. "For a national missionary -- someone who grew up in the country, who knows the language, likes the food, likes the heat -- they can connect with people easily. Someone can actually help a missionary for $30 a month."
Because GFA staff everywhere raise their own support, all of the funding donated goes directly to help the missionary on the field.

Punos says you can support a missionary by going tohttp://www.gfa.org/sponsor. "You can see the missionaries on-line. You can pick them out. You get a profile. You can pray for them every single day. You can hear about what they're doing every so often. It's a huge opportunity for us to take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on something eternal, and that's God's Kingdom."

Radio helps start churches in India

India (MNN) ― "Radio is one of the most powerful means to communicate [the Gospel], especially in rural areas," says Daniel Punos with Gospel for Asia.

That's why Gospel for Asia has been investing in it for more than 30 years.

Punos says radio is more effective in Asia than the United States because people listen to it like they did during the golden age of radio. "Whole families gather around the radio in the villages. Communicating the Gospel and God's Word through radio is one of the most powerful means to communicate the truth of God's Word."

Gospel for Asia programming has grown over the years. "We have over 110 languages on the radio beaming into India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Burma and all these different countries in Southeast Asia. We get over one million responses a year telling us that this is the first time that they've heard about Jesus," added Punos.

Those responses sometimes indicate unique conversion experiences.

Punos says radio is able to go into areas antagonistic to Christians. "Radio isn't threatening. You can turn it off if you want to, so people don't really feel threatened by the radio."

While the anti-Christian sentiment isn't a threat, Punos says radio is very effective in evangelism. "He's not just preaching on the air, but we address specific difficulties and problems in society and families and individuals. We talk about the reasons, and then we talk about what the Bible says and how Jesus can answer these questions."

While GFA is already having an impact in India, there's still so much more to do. "We would love to increase to at least 300 languages. In India alone, there are 1,000 dialects. But these people need to hear the Gospel."

According to Punos, radio goes ahead of their people. He tells us about one listener's letter, who writes: "Every morning we gather around the radio and listen to the broadcast. We've all given our hearts to Jesus. Can you please send someone to tell us what to do next? I mean, a church was planted before even one of our people got there."

If you'd like to help GFA's radio ministry with air time or language expansion, click here.

People and blankets needed for India

USA (MNN) ― While it's summer in the United States, Christians there are thinking about helping people in India during the winter months. Why? It gets cold. And when you combine cold and poverty, it's a recipe for disaster.

President of Global ActionLars Dunberg describes the problem. "Statistics tell us that anywhere between 6,000 and 10,000 people die every winter. There's no statistics on these people in the slum areas, but that's a pretty high number, and we're trying to prevent that as much as we can."

That's why Global Action is sending Christians to the region to help. "We actually have three trips going [to India]: one over Thanksgiving, one in the beginning of December, and one over the New Year. Teams are made up of a minimum of 12 and a maximum 20."

The teams will go to distribute blankets. Why? It gets cold. "The children run around stark naked--some just in a pair of underwear." With temperatures below freezing, this is dangerous.

Dunberg says while they need people to go to do the distribution, they also need people to donate to help purchase the blankets. It only costs $5. Thousands need blankets, and you can help without even leaving home.

It's more than giving blankets away, though. "We go out into the villages, and we bring our little orphan choir from our Hope Center. They sing a song, and suddenly there are 400 people gathered. Then we tell them that we are there because someone loved us first."

That's when team members can share their faith. Dunberg says it's successful. "We've done this for several years, and in several of these villages, people have come to faith through the blankets. Little cell groups have been formed. It is just encouraging to see the power of the Gospel just when you do something tangible; people also come to faith in Christ."
God may be calling you to go on this trip, which will be transformational. "First of all, you save lives physically," says Dunburg. "Secondly, you have a chance to prepare people for eternity spiritually, give them help here, and an even better life after that."

If you're interested in joining the team, sign up now. Go tohttp://www.GlobalAction.com to sign up and to get additional information.

Ministry's India arm beginning to grasp at self-sufficiency

India (MNN) ― Historically, the West are the senders in missions. But over the last few decades, non-western nations have been stepping up to the plate.

Churches across Africa have sacrificed to send missionaries to other nations. Brazil is becoming a leading missions hub. And now, India is making it's way to the forefront.

Audio Scripture Ministries, an organization dedicated to sending God's Word across the world in audio form, has had ministry in India for years, but without much financial support from the nation. ASM's J.P. Sundararajan says it's time for that to change.

"I would love to see the Christians of India take ownership of the ministries of India--mostly because they have the means," says Sundararajan. "India is a growing economy. India is a land that's burgeoning with young people, and there is a new search for what is truth, for who God is, and what God means. I think it's time for Indians to take ownership of some of these ministries."

Technology is helping them establish that segue.

In the past, technology has been somewhat of a stumbling block for ministry in India. ASM sends out digital audio players across the world, but "for many years, we've had to deal with the stigma of not being placed on the same plane as organizations that send people as missionaries," explains Sundararajan. "Because we were a technological agency, we were kind of put on a second tier, of sorts."

But times are changing, and so is India. In the past several years, technology has become more and more relevant, opening a window of opportunity for ASM to crawl through.

"What has happened with the advent of the younger generation is that technology--especially today in countries like India--is coming to the forefront of most conversations. And young people are the ones spearheading this," says Sundararajan. "They know what technology can do. They're very savvy. Now they're finding out that, ‘Hey, you know what? We can use technology to minister, as well.'

"[It's] kind of a radical thought for them because nobody's really shared with them that possibility. Now, as they're hearing more and more about our work in India, they're becoming more involved."

Their involvement is actually going as far as to fill the gap of self-dependency that ASM has been hoping the Indian church would attain. While they aren't there yet, local giving in India to ASM's Indian ministry has shot up. For about 30 years, local support was only about 2-3%. This year, ASM has already seen 20% of their total budget for their work in India come from India. Next year, they're hoping to see it rise to 25%.

Sundararajan is excited about the possibilities as India begins to take ownership of their ministries through funding the spread of the Gospel. With such an enormous potential for growth, ASM even hopes to start sending Indian ASM missionaries to their other major mission field in Mozambique, and vice versa.

The possibilities for growth are endless, as Sundararajan says they should be. "Ministry needs to be a global event. It shouldn't just be a one-way street," notes Sundararajan. "We've always had, historically, the West sending missionaries, sending funds. And there's connotations that come with it, and there's the aftertaste of colonialism. There's a lot of stigma that we've had to deal with. I think having a ministry that is very much a local and self-sustaining ministry is a great model for Indians to get involved in."

At the same time, Sundararajan recognizes, "We at ASM in America still have a role to play in our ministries in India. But watching our local ministries flourish with local support is one of the best things you can--as a partner organization--watch."

As ASM's ministry in India begins to take a self-sustaining form, pray for ASM to be discerning in their next moves. Also pray that believers in India would continue to embrace their call to fulfill the Great Commission.

India, Myanmar, Bangladesh Hit with Floods

August 19, 2011

While many areas on the globe are experiencing a tremendous drought, a torrential downpour has made its way to Northern India, Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh.

The unwelcome rains have left thousands of people homeless and in need of help. Gospel for Asia is providing as much assistance as it can to those suffering from the downpour.

India: National Highways Collapse
Four states in India are battling against floods. In Assam, India, two primary national highways considered "lifelines" collapsed after three to four days of continuous rain. In one of the worst hit areas of Assam, helicopters were sent out to rescue marooned people.

In the West Bengal islands, rain has weakened several river embankments. Reports indicate that about 2,500 houses have been damaged by the flood waters.

Bihar, India, has about 500 houses that have been affected. Out of those 500 houses, a GFA field correspondent reports that 90 of those were homes of Bridge of Hope children, and another 20 belonged to believers of a local GFA-supported congregation. Thankfully, the church building and the Bridge of Hope centers in the flooded areas were not destroyed by the rising water.

In Jammu and Kashmir, India, houses and other structures are collapsing, killing a number of people and injuring others. Landslides are also a problem, washing off stretches of road and obstructing villages.

Myanmar: Villages Unreachable
In the country of Myanmar (Burma), villagers had to desert their houses to escape the rising waters.

A GFA field correspondent reported that local missionaries serving in this country are not able to reach many villages because of collapsed bridges.

"They are going through a difficult situation," he said. "Please pray the Lord will console the hearts of the people who are affected in this flood."

Bangladesh: Children Cry for Food
In Bangladesh, steady rain washed away houses, cows, goats, rice paddy fields and other crops. Out of the thousands affected, 238 families belong to seven GFA-supported churches in the surrounding area.

"The people are suffering without food and work," a GFA field correspondent explained. "Their condition is so pathetic that their children are crying and asking for food, but the parents cannot provide food for them."

Help in Time of Need
GFA Compassion Services teams are making their way into villages, government-run refugee camps and school buildings temporarily housing people in desperate need of help. They are distributing biscuits, rice, milk powder, salt and other food items.

"It is hard for us to imagine the intense suffering these poor and helpless people are facing," said GFA President K.P. Yohannan. "I am so grateful for this opportunity we have to bring relief and hope for these precious people in Jesus' name."

Some areas are still too difficult to reach, but GFA Compassion Services teams will persist until they are able to provide help to all who are suffering.

• Please pray the relief teams will reach the people in time and help save them from starvation.
• Pray GFA-supported missionaries are able to share the love of Christ as they minister to those who have lost so much.
• Pray for the flood victims to experience the Lord's comfort during this difficult time.
• Pray the rain will subside so restoration and reconstruction can begin.

Classes grind to halt for floods

India (MNN) ― The monsoon season is at the peak of its climb in India, and with it comes heavy rains and flooding. Beggars' Valley in Hyderabad of southern India is no exception.

India's Children reported last week that St. Mark's Grammar School, an elementary school supported by them in Beggars' Valley, is dealing with flooding. St. Mark's Grammar School is especially threatened because of their location.

St. Mark's Grammar School is situated between two inclines and in a run-down condition as it is. When the heavy rains come, teachers must grab anything damageable and usher the children up the hill to escape the inevitable flooding.

The floodwaters get 4-5 feet high and bring all classes to a halt until the water level goes back down. It can be especially unnerving as rats take over the school during the watery invasion, and often children returning have to deal with these rodents.

India's Children says it is "a scary moment for the teachers and children in St. Mark's Grammar School."
From June to September, the monsoon season is a dangerous period of the year for people in India. Hundreds are killed annually by the rushing floods that take people off-guard.

However, despite poor conditions and dangerous location during flood season, many have no other choice since St. Mark's Grammar School is the only education for the impoverished children of Beggar's Valley.

In addition to getting an invaluable education, students at the school also are taught about Christ and the hope He gives. India's Children supports their ministry and comes alongside them to give these children not only hope for a better future circumstantially, but also spiritually.

As earlier reported, there are still as many as 70 children in Beggar's Valley waiting to be able to attend St. Mark's Grammar School and get a shot at a life away from the slums. There is a pastor who has volunteered to drive the children to and from the school every day, but they have no means of transportation.

India's Children would love to be able to see more children return to the school once the flooding subsides, but they are in need of funding for van rental that will cost $10,000.

Please pray for the funding to be provided so that more children can attend St. Mark's Grammar School with the rest of the students. Pray for the Lord's protection over the students during this flood season, and pray that classes can remain in session as much as possible.

If you would like to donate toward a van for the children of St. Mark's Grammar School, click here.

India protestors push for change

India (MNN) ― Recent protests in India brought the question of whether or not the country could risk facing its own "Arab Spring."

An anti-corruption movement is snowballing into a challenge for the ruling Congress Party. Dave Stravers with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission Indiasays, "The population of India is fed up with governmental corruption and injustice. They're demanding a new standard of accountability and a new standard for actions from government officials."
Debate over the issues of corruption spread to include the rights of civil society to organize, air its views, and influence policy-making.

There are some parallels with the Arab Spring, but Stravers thinks that India's diversity will take it a different direction. "There have been non-violent protests, demonstrations at government buildings. I think this is actually good news. I attribute this, partly at least, to the success that the Gospel has had in the last 10 to 15 years in India."

Stravers explains that the Gospel message runs counter to the message of the Hindu caste. As a result, the Church is growing faster than those in power are comfortable with. A Hindu nationalist movement is becoming more vocal as they see the power base shifting away from the docile Dalits. Today, Christians are finding themselves in new places of influence in society. Their worldview shapes their actions, and that brings hope. Stravers says, "When people get hope, that's when the protests start."

For example, the lowest castes have traditionally been marginalized in India. "We'll have people come into our literacy classes and discover that they're human beings. Literally, they did not know they were human beings," exclaims Stravers.  He adds that "when they're treated unjustly, people say, 'Well, I'm not fully human, so we must accept this.' There's a kind of fatalism, a resignation."

As the students go through the literacy curriculum, or participate in other parts of Mission India's outreach, they begin to understand their value. "When people learn that there's a God who loves them, that they're human beings, that they have potential, then there's a whole change, a kind of a transformation in attitude."

Outrage over being taken advantage of can be a catalyst for change. "Unfortunately, this can create an angry outburst, but the good news is that Indians are now demanding a kind of ethical standard that is absolutely essential if their country is going to thrive."

Stravers goes on to say, "We're not advocating involvement in protests, but we do say, 'Pray to God and expect God to bless you.' Treat each other justly, fairly, honestly with grace, mercy and love." Because that is a pro-active response, living as a Christ-follower gets attention and opens doors for the Gospel. "This is a new message. People look around, and they hear stories of what's happening in other countries. They read the Scriptures and say, 'This would be good for our society to operate this way.'"

An Arab Spring may not be what India is looking at in its future, but as Stravers describes the changes, India is very possibly looking at a season of harvest.

Tour companies join tourist boycott of 'human safaris'

By agency reporter

4 Aug 2011

Two leading tour companies in India’s Andaman Islands are supporting a call for tourists to boycott the Andaman Trunk Road. The road cuts through the heart of the recently contacted Jarawa tribe’s forest.

Thousands of tourists travel on the road each month, risking passing on diseases to which the 365-strong Jarawa will have little immunity. Survival International, the NGO campaigning for the rights of tribal people, say an epidemic could annihilate the hunter-gatherer tribe who have only had friendly contact with outsiders since 1998.

Survival International and the local Andaman organisation Search launched the tourist boycott of the illegal road in June. In the following week, the Association of Tour Operators in Andaman announced its support for the campaign and two big tour companies, Andaman Holidays and Andaman Escapades, have now followed.

Andaman Escapades described the boycott as "a real support and ray of life to the Jarawa tribe which is on the verge of extinction if not protected in time." The company explained that they had recently come to realise that tourists were travelling along the Andaman Trunk Road in order to see the Jarawa, rather than to visit the attractions on offer in Baratang.

Andaman Holidays's Managing Director, Shri R. Ratnam, said, "We have been receiving several enquiries on Jarawa tours and same day return trips from Baratang. But we have started refusing our customers to go ahead with it. While asking for a reason, we direct them to a link of Survival International’s website, which calls for tourists to boycott the Andaman Trunk Road."

Survival’s Director, Stephen Corry said today (4 August 2011), "We are delighted that two of the tour companies have taken such a strong stand against the Human Safaris. It’s now time for the Andaman authorities to issue a complete ban on tourists using the road through the Jarawa’s reserve and to provide an alternative route."

[Ekk/4]

First Few Months of Preventative Prostitution Program Successful

India (MNN) ― 500,000 minor girls are working as prostitutes across India.

The problem is especially significant in West Bengal. In just one year, 2,500 teenage girls were trafficked from the region. Some girls were kidnapped, others coerced into a life of sexual slavery.

Women with children sometimes choose to enter the realm of brothels and slavery as a means of survival. According to the EFCA ReachGlobal Web site, the average daily wages for rural women laborers in India is 34 to 43 upees (76 to 96 cents) a day, but prostitutes routinely make 100 to 300 rupees ($2.25 to $7.75) per customer and average three or four customers per day.

Whether young girls are kidnapped into the trade, or women enter the life to feed their children, much of the prostitution in India is preventable. Fighting it is vital.

"We have to do something to address the flow of women out of West Bengal, not just rescuing them one by one afterwards," says ReachGlobal staff member Sandy, who has worked in India for 15 years.

That's why Mukti, the ReachGlobal Justice Initiative program, opened its first sewing and embroidery training program in the province of West Bengal in April. Mukti gives the five women enrolled in the six-month program hope for supporting themselves with a traditional skill that is still valued in rural areas of India.

The program has been transformational over the last few months in the lives of these five women who no longer have to worry about selling their bodies just to eat. Not only have the women gained skills that they hope to turn into businesses, but they have met a Savior to heal them from the painful lives many of them were living.

"My husband did not take care of me," one woman told ReachGlobal. "He tortured me physically and mentally. Many times I wanted to do suicide. Nobody was there with whom I could share my pain. But when I came here, I got a new life.

"Before, I did not know about Jesus," she says. "I worshipped so many gods, but no one gave the response to my prayer. But after coming here, I am feeling good in my mind. I am getting peace. Jesus has given me so many answers to my prayers. I feel Jesus' love in my heart."

The woman adds that her husband has noticed the changes in her, and he is starting to change. "I want my son and my husband also to come to Jesus," she says.

The merits of the program are widespread, but to keep the program solvent, Mukti's organizers are looking for sponsors to pay for the women's training - $60 a month for six months.

Monthly support covers transportation costs for trainees and volunteers, materials used in training, graduation expenses, snacks, and the cost of stove fuel used to make tea. The sponsorship would help get more women into a program that aims to prevent as many as possible from getting dragged into prostitution.

If you would like to support a woman in the Mukti Training Program for $60 a month, for six months, click here.