The most affected population by the Coivd crisis are the daily-wage workers and their families who live one-day at a time. A typical labor family of three or four lives on an average earning of less than $6 per day. Many families have no food to eat as their means of income are limited as many cottage businesses are almost shut down. Similarly, many rural church pastors are financially struggling, if not starving, as they did not have church gatherings for seven months since the lockdown in March 2020. The rural church pastors usually live on the weekly offerings of raw rice, vegetables, grain and tithes that were brought to church on Sundays. They are not capable of conducting online worship services or receive online offerings due to technological limitations.
A Helping Hand
A pastor and his wife had been faithfully serving the Lord in Pune, Maharashtra, for the past 15 years. They have two teenage children. They live in a rented house and run the worship service in a rented facility. The pastor’s wife financially provided for the family and ministry by working as the principal of a private school but recently lost her job. They sent SAI a prayer request and asked us if we could help them pay rent for their church facility. We sent financial help to them twice during the pandemic.
They are immensely thankful to the donors.
Since the contributions to the churches have dried up due to the lockdown, a pastor in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) started stealing motorbikes to pay for the monthly rent of his prayer hall. When caught, he was arrested. What a shame! It is our prayer that no servant of God will go begging in the streets or steal due to their desperate need. In the past several months we extended one-time help to hundreds of financially struggling pastor-families in Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Telangana states with financial gifts of $100 to $400 each, according to their need.
We also helped over 1500 starving families with food supplies and other necessities that would last for two weeks or longer. In some places when possible, our ministry teams prayed with the recipients and gave them hope in God. This project helps our pastors create a gospel connection with the local people.
Every day we are receiving hundreds of requests from pastors seeking our assistance. We would like to help as many people as possible as the Lord provides. We are thankful to those who have sent us special gifts recently.
As a Christian ministry, people look up to us for help and have reached out to us. We are doing whatever we can. Would you please pray for these people and consider a special gift to help a family in need? A gift of any size is highly appreciated. Thanks to the donors who have generously given to this cause generously. As our relief efforts continue, we welcome your donation of any size to touch one life at a time!
You can read more field stories from our recent newsletter here
Below are some of heartwarming responses.
A Thank You Note From the Field!
We are blessed to know an organization like Redeem India Ministries (SAI), who came forward to help the people in our region. When we went out to distribute the groceries and provision in their homes, people said they were in great need but weren’t able to come out and ask others for help because everyone is suffering the same way. Each family expressed immense joy and gratitude to Redeem India for going to their homes and delivering them the food supplies and other basic necessities despite the lockdown restrictions.
- New Coordinator in Tamil Nadu.
A Thank You Note From the Field!
All the pastors whom we helped during this Covid Crisis are working as crosscultural missionaries in the state of Maharashtra. They are the families who left their own native states, villages, and language group to suffer and share the Good News to others in this state. They do not have local ration card or any other local identities to get government provisions through ration shops. They were literally struggling to make their ends meet. Redeem India’s help to them is so timely. They are incredibly thankful for the help they had received.
- Our Coordinator, Maharashtra.
A Thank You Note From the Field!
Thank you for sending financial help for me and my fellow 17 pastors in a time such as this. Our Bethel Ministries is blessed by your partnership. We intercede for you daily.
- Rev. Mohan Dass, Tamil Nadu
A Thank You Note From the Field!
It was our desperate prayer to the Lord that had brought you to our house with all these provisions. Our God is a prayer-answering God. Thank you, Lord.
- A recipient in Andhra Pradesh
A Thank You Note From the Field!
My wife and I have been financially struggling for the past three months and remained in prayer that God will surely answer. Thank you for sending us the help in to our bank in the right time so we could pay for our house rent and take care of our most pressing needs. Our God is faithful. We are forever grateful to you.
– Pastor from Chhattisgarh
A Thank You Note From the Field!
The relief support was very timely because my father went through a heart operation and we spent all our savings on the hospital expenses. Just last week he was discharged back to home and we were under financial struggle. Our ministries through church and other mission stations were closed and thus we as family struggled to cope with daily needs. Thank you, Redeem India for supporting us! We as a family are grateful.
- A Pastor from Nagpur, Maharashtra.
A Thank You Note From the Field!
Thank you for helping 25 pastors in our region with financial gifts during this crisis. Our pastors will never forget your help. They are praying for your ministry.
- Our Co-Ordinator, Eluru, AP.
A Thank You Note From the Field!
Since the lockdown, we have barely been able to live. We have no money to buy groceries, vegetables, and other necessities. Our only option was to fast and pray. Thank you for coming in search of struggling families like ours with financial help. Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude for your kind actions. Please pray for us.
- Pastor from Andhra Pradesh
A Thank You Note From the Field!
I am an evangelist and totally live by faith each month while I travel and preach the Gospel in different areas of my state. Covid-19 crisis hit our family very bad and we are struggling to meet our daily needs. Timely relief from Redeem India lifted our hearts to trust in the Lord more in this crisis. We believe Redeem India is God-sent during our struggles. We bless and pray for all the people who supported us during this crisis.
- A Ministry Partner From Guntur, AP