It Takes Children to Change a Village

There are 148 children in this Bridge of Hope Center in Chhattisgarh. Their village is changing because of the center.

The ten staff members at a Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope center in Chhattisgarh, India, spend their afternoons working with children and their mornings ministering to the children's parents. Their dedication to spreading the Gospel and serving people has dramatically changed this village. The evidence of change can be seen: The children are growing academically, and their families are changing spiritually.

"People here in this village are very responsive to the Gospel since the Bridge of Hope Center was introduced," said Mani Sahu, the Bridge of Hope project manager.

People who live in this part of Chhattisgarh are very poor. The overwhelming poverty has many causes. Often, the father has been injured and cannot work. Some of the people are Dalits ("Untouchables") or are from another low caste, which limits their ability to find work. Some are illiterate and can only work as day laborers.

Their children do not generally attend school. Some families simply cannot afford to provide proper clothing and supplies for their children to attend. Some parents do not understand the importance of education. And the local public school offerings are often inconsistent and problematic.

Today, 148 children are enrolled in the local Bridge of Hope program. Some of them come to the center at the end of their regular school day. For others, it is their only source of education.

"The children are given much care and attention in the areas of education, discipline and spiritual activities," Mani said.

By caring for their children, this Bridge of Hope staff is also opening parents' eyes to the Gospel.

GFA missionary Jadesh Kour has been serving in this village for almost 10 years. Shortly after the Bridge of Hope center opened, he began to see new families at his church.

Kadambini Baghel's two children attend a Bridge of Hope Center in Chhattisgarh, India. Last year, the staff at the center arranged for her to receive a sewing machine so she could earn money to care for her family.

"There are three families in our church who have come to know the Lord through the Bridge of Hope ministry," Jadesh said.

The staff at this BOH Center is wholly devoted to the children and their families. That's why they take time to visit their homes.

"We tell the parents about their children's academic development, and then we also tell them about the Lord Jesus Christ, and they listen very intently," Mani said.

From visiting the children's homes, the staff has learned about some of their families' specific needs. For many, the most crucial need is a way to earn enough money to care for their families. That's why Mani was thrilled to be able to share gifts from the GFA Christmas Gift Catalog with many families from the center.

Kadambini and Janarolen Baghel, whose two children are enrolled at the center, received a sewing machine from the gift catalog. The machine was a tremendous blessing to the family. Janarolen was injured and unable to continue performing his job as a driver. Kadambini earns a few rupees working in the fields, but the work is sporadic at best.

"This machine was very much needed by our family. Now I can stitch clothes and earn a little money. I have been longing to have a small machine for several years. The Lord in His mercies provided me this machine just in the time of need," Kadambini said. "I can also teach my children how to stitch clothes when they are older."

The family is also thankful for the changes they see in their son, Rajat, and their daughter, Bageshri, since they began attending the Bridge of Hope Center.

"They have improved very much in their studies. They also have learned to behave well and talk very nicely to others. They come home in the evening and, without our instruction, they start studying and doing their homework. They are good at their studies these days," Kadambini said.

The Bridge of Hope Center has brought the village together. Now the adults in the village can see Jesus and His message in a whole new light.

"There were people here who used to oppose my ministry, but today, these people are speaking on behalf of me, and they appreciate what our ministry is doing," Jadesh says. "They say that the Bridge of Hope Center has benefited their children and solved many of their problems.