Sunday, August 5, 2007

Care India Mission


Care India Mission (CIM) is a registered charitable and non-profit organization, designed to expand God’s kingdom across the nation through its transforming vision. Based on the Messiah Manifesto in Luke 4:18-19, CIM extends a helping hand to the needy. Its humanitarian services reach to the socially neglected people through which we introduce Christ to them.

A Brief History
Long before the idea of 'Care India Mission' was born, the action began. In 1993, as I began my ministry as a cross-cultural missionary in Orissa, I experienced the true side of a missionary’s life in that strange mission field. I saw it in the lives of other missionaries too.

It was a heart- wrenching moment when I knew what I heard was true. With deep sadness I listened to a missionary as he shared how his daughter was sent home from school because he could not pay her tuition fee. I could feel his heart aching as he continued to pour out his story. I could not bear it. God spoke to me to offer him Rs. 400/-; half of my support for one month. I did not think further as to how I could manage to live that month. I felt a deep satisfaction however because I was able to be helpful to one missionary family. The burden to help children of missionaries grew out of my compassion upon seeing such desperate needs and hearing the cry that rose from missionaries' hearts.

Progressive Vision
The burden increased and led me to see another area of need through the testimony of a Bible college student. He did not have any money to buy washing soap during his study period at a Bible college. He would go to the bathroom during the night in search of any pieces of soap left by others. He would collect those bits and pieces for washing his clothes. In case nothing was found, he would put his clothes in water and wash without soap. He intentionally did this at night so that none of his friends would know that he had no soap.

I could not ignore the plight of such students. I set up a tea stall in the local convention centre to serve the people there. It was an unusual practice, but I did it with a few other friends to raise money to help needy students. After three days, our profit reached Rs.1200/-. The next day, we divided this money and sent it to six students for their pocket money. They were being trained in a Bible college in the Punjab. Later on, while all of them were thankful, one of them wrote to me explaining how he had been struggling without money and had been unable to buy toothpaste. The money we had sent had reached him at the right time. "I believe it is God's provision," he marveled.

With the passing of time, I came across people with various needs that I could not simply ignore. The needs were bigger than what I could bear alone. I shared them with a few kind-hearted believer friends. They responded with their enthusiastic support and prayer.
From this humble beginning, the idea came to fruition with the forming of 'Care India Mission'. Today, Care India Mission (CIM) is an organized movement, administered by like-minded, capable people, dedicated to the cause of extending a helping hand to the needy. We care for:

Missionaries and Their Children
There are thousands of missionaries working across India, crossing cultural, linguistic and geographical boundaries, they are often working in hostile settings and experience persecution. Their choice to leave home, village, family and career means leaving the security of a permanent income and their personal belongings. But who is concerned about their emotional, spiritual, physical and family needs? Who is caring for their children and their educational needs? CIM came forward to provide financial assistance for these missionaries toiling tirelessly over the years, and for their children.

Developing Emerging Leaders
In view of the rapid growth of Churches in the Two-Thirds World, CIM is committed to the development of leaders for young churches. To this end, CIM identifies deserving students in Bible colleges and provides partial help for their studies.

Differently-Abled Children
God has entrusted CIM with a vision to play a significant role as an ‘enabler of disabled children,’ who seem to have no place in society and are rejected as ‘disabled.’ Our goal is to support and train them to their full potential in all aspects of their lives, physically, mentally, and spiritually, and to lead them to be self-sufficient. This vision was born because of my disabled sister. I am moved each time I see a person with disability, struggling for their survival.

Widows
Generally widows are not cared for once their husbands have passed away. Child marriages and subsequent enforced widowhood relegates these young women to the bottom level of society. Their struggle for survival is coupled with a loss of personal identity and worth. These widows, who are unskilled, are often left penniless. Consequently CIM has come to the aid of these widows who have been abandoned by their families.

The Aged
Many aged people sadly are forced to make the streets their home. Often they are half-starved, spending night and day on the streets wearing tattered, dirty clothes. Kind-hearted people may throw a coin or two at them. Our plan is to support them and care for their daily bread.
Our sole purpose is to help the poor and the needy and work for their upliftment. The need is vast and we cannot do it alone. Therefore we seek your involvement in our endeavors to touch needy lives.

How Does the CIM Seek to Promote Its Vision?
We realize that we can’t do the work alone. Therefore we partner with various indigenous mission agencies in fulfilling this vision. If you are interested to know more about it and willing to be part of it by any means, you are most welcome.

John

For More Details please write to us at <careindiamission@gmail.com>