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This tiny church in the Indian state of Tripura may not look like much on the outside. But the people inside its bamboo and mud walls are at the forefront of a dramatic change that has the power to affect the eternity of multiple generations.
The majority of people in this village in Northeast India scrape out an existence by collecting bamboo, which becomes the base material for everything from baskets to bridges to houses. The bamboo is also a source of food.
Daily life is hard in Tripura. Everyone in the family is expected to work. Those who are not busy harvesting the bamboo labor in the fields and process what little bit of food they are able to grow.
A lack of organized education has held these people in bondage to poverty for generations. Gospel for Asia missionary Rajender Sahare established a Bridge of Hope center in this community to help the children who had never been able to attend school.
Demari Kamol leads the Bridge of Hope center. A native of this village himself, he spent hours visiting the children's homes, encouraging their parents to enroll them in the center.
Children who attend classes at the Bridge of Hope center learn to read, write and do math. They also learn about God and how to pray, sing and read Bible stories.
The children receive a healthy, balanced meal each day they come to the Bridge of Hope center. The food gives them plenty of energy for outdoor recreation time!
Demari says that introducing Jesus to the children is just the first step in changing the family. "I want these parents to recognize the love of God in their lives. I want them to know the truth," Demari said.
Seven of Sunita Momin's nine children are students at the Bridge of Hope center. Her family's life today stands in stark contrast to what it was before. They used to drink heavily, which led to arguments and brawls. Today they follow Christ and are eager to attend worship service and learn more about Him.
Many parents are responding to the Gospel message in this village. Today, the worship services in this little, nondescript church draw dozens of parents who first heard about Jesus from their children or the Bridge of Hope staff.
date posted 07/16/08