India Update

I know many of you have been waiting for an update on our trip to India! I'll do my best to summarize with limited vocabulary for all that God is doing in us and through us. India is one of the most hospitable and generous places I have been, and its beautiful culture saturates every street and home with vibrant colors. There is also such overwhelming need for so many… in a country of 1.4 billion people God gave me a dream about one particular village of 700 people! The way that Jesus cares and loves every single person on earth is unfathomable… and yet he longs to share his heart with us. What a privilege! We were able to visit two different ministries, one in Pakur, and the other in Deoghar (near the village.)

What comes to mind when you think about the global church? That is a question I didn't really know how to answer before embarking on our recent trip to India. I think that for many in the western church we read about the heroes of our faith and yet can remain unaware of how to truly make a difference in such an overwhelming sea of needs in the world. As a majority, and I'm speaking of the western church — our privilege often goes unchallenged and our resources are utilized to suit preferences rather than serve the most vulnerable, those trapped in cycles of poverty, and the persecuted church of Jesus. These things are on the forefront of God's heart and he is calling his church to shift our priorities and values in such a way that our lives begin to truly touch purpose, touch heaven, and invest in the kingdom that is coming. So let me share some real faces with you!

This family lives in a city called "Deoghar" — translated meaning: "The house of the gods." It is a very spiritual place… one that is almost altogether devoid of knowing Jesus and filled with Hindu temples, shrines, and altars. Alfred has been pastoring there for 14 years, despite his physical disability, and faithfully serving the small group of believers and meeting in their homes. We had the honor of visiting their humble 2-room home as well as the land that they have acquired for a future church building. We were able to meet many new friends who are part of that local congregation as well! God gave us the book of Nehemiah as encouragement for this specific work that he is doing.

We worshiped Jesus together in Hindi, prayed over the land, and ultimately committed to helping this community build a center for worship and prayer, as well as a gathering place for distribution of resources and sharing the gospel message to the surrounding areas.

As many of you know, God gave me a dream in the night last September that forever changed my life, showing me a small rural village called "Athmuria." This church, when completed, will be about 5 miles from this village. It not only will serve as a place for the believers to gather, but also will be a parsonage for Alfred and his family to live above on the second story.

Here you can see the one small room that is currently built on the property. They are envisioning expanding the building to the entirety of the lot, as well as a second story above. Afterwards, we were able to locate and walk through the village Athmuria, asking if there were any Christians who lived there. We could not find one, although one of the women from the church lives a half mile from there! There is also no school in the vicinity, and because the literacy rate and education is lacking, the cycles of poverty continue and crime rates are high. When I shared my dream with the locals there, they said Athmuria is the worst part of the whole city. Of course God would want to transform the darkness and bring his light and kingdom to that place!

It's incredibly difficult and maybe impossible to put into words what God did in us on a personal level, but when we left there we knew that he was calling us to support, encourage, pray, and give financially to this place and these faithful people. It was also clear that God was looking for partnership to do long term work in that region.

I believe Jesus is looking for those who he can call friends who are not seeking their own gain, but his gain. And I believe his word that says:

It is a profoundly eye-opening, visceral experience for a westerner like me to see a goat being sacrificed in real time to Hindu gods laying in its own puddle of blood with incense diffusing. Passages of scripture suddenly just came alive in ways I never could quite grasp before. If there is one thing I am sure of, it is that God is burning with a passionate desire for those precious people to know that he has already sent a sacrifice, once and for all, in his Son.

As we have just celebrated the resurrection of Christ, let us remember our brothers and sisters who live in a world so very different than ours. That same Christ is alive and well moving amongst his church and building a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us think often of those who persevere under persecution and yet remain steadfast, generous, hospitable, and humble. And to echo the words of Count Zinzendorf and the Moravian missionaries, "May the Lamb receive the reward of his suffering!"

It will take around $25,000 American dollars to build this church building, and then from there we can only watch in wonder at what God will do through his body of believers who are willing to make him known and love those around them. Will you consider partnering with us? You can make a tax-deductible donation through our non-profit called "Door of Hope" ("Aasha Ka Dvaar") — ensuring that those we are supporting will receive these funds directly.

Everett Mission, Pakur

We also want to introduce you to Everett Mission, run by Alex and Sunita Sam. Alex served as our in-country guide and translator during our stay in India. Alex and his family live in Pakur, India, and run a children's home and school as well. Alex and Sunita were raised in an orphanage themselves, and they have worked hard to create a new experience that is full of life for these precious children to experience family care, and the love of God.

They are endeavoring to establish a women's empowerment center as well on their property above the children's home. They have started building but still need a roof to cover the structure for it to be complete. This will allow women to receive pregnancy care and give birth in a safe and sacred atmosphere, as well as teaching them life skills such as sewing, to make a living for themselves. There will also be additional rooms for the staff in this second story addition.

We have seen how much life, joy, and peace abound at Everett Mission and we know that this is good ground to sow into. The children there are so well loved and cared for, their education is priority, and God has blessed them with a vision to expand their capacity.

We were so incredibly blessed by Alex and Sunita and their staff during our time there. You can visit their website to learn more about Everett Mission here: everettmission.org

Please pray and consider if you are able to participate in bringing lasting impact and change to these communities. Every dollar will go directly to these precious people and the visions that God has given them.

In Jesus, Ginny and James Rodgers