In my last blog I explained who Cooperative Outreach of India is and who the people behind the scenes are. But I didn’t get to explain the community they’re impacting and the significance of Genesis of Hope. My heart in this blog is to give you, the one reading this, a glimpse of a community that is on the brink of being a foothold for the Kingdom. Followers of Jesus are interwoven all throughout these people, but these servants need the Church in prayer with and for them. So right away this is my cry to you, brother or sister, please be praying…without ceasing.
I explained before that my team and I had the honor of walking alongside an amazing ministry, COI, and witnessed the works they’re doing in a community of New Delhi. While we were with COI, I had the privilege of sitting down with some of the kids, teachers and families and interviewing them about their life and experiences with COI. My first interview was with the pastor of the community’s church, Pastor Naresh, who also stands in as the school principal. Pastor Naresh first arrived in Shabad Community in 2009 to begin developing a church. During this time, he also became involved at the school. Now, nine years later, Naresh is a loved member of the community and graciously shared his insights and knowledge of the people with me.
A quick disclaimer before I begin, due to translation as well as my sloppy handwriting on my notes, what I am about to share from any interview is not a direct quote unless specifically stated and all facts are given has factually as possible.
Shabad is a community of laborers who left their parents in hopes of finding their own land and obtaining better jobs for themselves. Unfortunately, they found little to no job opportunities, the only exception being the labor force. With no choice, fathers and mothers leave their children at home, often leaving the eldest to care for the others, so they can work. Shabad offers extremely limited resources for the people. Little food is available and there is no running water. Every day a water truck comes and the families carry buckets of water to and from the truck to obtain their daily ration.
The community was never a prosperous place, but things went from bad to worse in 1998 when a fire tore through the homes and destroyed everything. Food, shelter, clothing, everything was a need for the families. This is when COI first stepped into the picture. Recognizing a hurting people, this organization took on the responsibility of asking what was needed and doing what they could to provide. COI then went a step further and developed a school program that allowed the children to further their education outside of the government schools. Government schools in India are overpopulated with not enough teachers, which leaves most students overlooked and many parts of their education lost. This alternative program offers an affordable place for the kids to improve and increase their education. Not only was education emphasized at the school program, but the teachers now had a platform to teach the children the Gospel. SHOOT DANG (my words…not Pastor Naresh’s) Pastor Naresh explained a change took place in the community. The kids now had a safe place to go after school while their parents worked. They enjoyed being in an encouraging environment that also taught them the love of Jesus. They would then take what they learned at school and teach their parents. A chain reaction was occurring.
In 2007, COI partnered with Compassion International to give the children in the community even better support and hope for the future. Compassion offered the financial support that the kids needed as well as a community kitchen that fed many of the families. When Compassion was forced to leave India and the 350 children at this specific center, COI immediately stepped in to hold their own food kitchen to make sure none of the kids went hungry. Many of the staff, Pastor Naresh included, took major pay cuts to help provide not only food but the other needs that Compassion had previously provided. Pastor Naresh stated that overall the biggest needs are financial support but most importantly prayer. At the end of our interview he stated, “Our help doesn’t change the community, but God HAS changed the community. Jesus can change anything and everything…Money and prayers are needed, but money only goes for so many days, prayer has everlasting change.”
My next interview was with sweet Mrs. Meera, one of the school teachers. Mrs. Meera has been working at the school for a few years now and has even brought her own son over to the program after he’s done at the government school. When she first began, she had no idea how to work with children, but she soon learned and developed a passion for teaching and being with the kids. Mrs. Meera also explained to me that when she first began, she didn’t know who Jesus was. But because of COI and the staff at the school she has come to know God and passionately interweaves the Gospel into her everyday teaching (PRAISE!!!). Before I left, Mrs. Meera asked for a specific prayer request, “When God’s work started, Satan’s also started. Genesis of Hope is struggling, but please pray the enemy doesn’t stop this work also. We teach not only Jesus but we also teach education. Please pray for Genesis to keep growing and reaching the children.
Sweet Mrs. Meera
Many more interviews and stories were heard that day and I am blown away by the people that are working to bring The Kingdom to a broken community. And I think the important thing to know is The Kingdom IS moving in Shabad. Huge things are happening. But, again, the Church needs to cover these brothers and sisters in an abundance of prayer to help them with their Kingdom work. Pray for protection for Genesis from the government, that it will prosper and continue to grow. Pray for supporters to come in (shoot…maybe that means praying for yourself ??). Pray for the families living in the community, that healing and restoration occurs on many different levels. Pray for ways you can participate and be active in this Kingdom work, you never know the cool things God can bring out of those prayers 🙂
Seriously, go check out GenesisofHope.org to see the faces of the kids in this community and consider sponsoring one (or two…) for only $1 a day! You can also go to coindia.org to check out the organization behind this amazing project.
Feel free to ask me more questions about my experiences in this community and to hear more stories from the people!
Photography Copyright: Elizabeth Bacon, EB Photography + Artistry
