Reaching

In India there are no government assistance programs or specialized housing for the elderly or disabled. Superstitious beliefs still dominate rural villages and as a result, elderly widows are considered to be a bad omen and societal burden. These once beloved family members consequently live out their remaining days in severe loneliness as they are pushed aside. An Indian mission organization refers to elderly widows as "the living dead." Serving Alongside International financially supports widows with the aim of reaching them and their families with the good news. In addition, we also provide funds to give clothing to elderly women and men who can't afford them.

There are literally millions of children in India's rural and suburban slums who need love and compassion. Working with local churches, Serving Alongside International helps needy children by sponsoring their education. This allows us to reach children, and their extended families with the good news. We also help physically disabled children to receive physical therapies and prescribed medication for their condition. Additionally, working with local churches, we provide school supplies to the most needy children twice a year. At the school supply distributions, children are invited to attend a special church program where the gospel is introduced.

There are numerous rural communities needing compassion in word and deed. We work collaboratively with local churches to identify how we can come alongside in a small way to help the entire community to thrive in a big way. We have done water projects, food distributions, and clothing distributions as well as mobile medical and dental clinics. By meeting basic needs, we can address spiritual needs and introduce the gospel.

Serving Alongside International conducts medical camps in the rural villages of India where there are no medical facilities to help those struggling to obtain access to treatment and medication. These mobile medical clinics help an unreached vulnerable population to become a healthy society. Strategically, these clinics open an opportunity to minister to spiritual needs in addition to physical needs. In the last two years 500 people heard the good news through these medical camps.