How to pray

pray for the orphanage & Village church

Pastor Rajendra has also started an orphanage in a nearby village for about 50 children ages 5-18. It’s more like a children’s home in that these children will grow up in that home under the love and care of Christian caregivers. We visited the orphanage for several hours on a Saturday and shared Bible lessons, did a related craft, played a related game, and even acted out one of a Bible lesson with costumes. Then we had the privilege of serving lunch to these beautiful children. Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ in the US help with monthly gifts to the orphanage. We saw first-hand that the money is being used wisely and for the children. On Sundays, a worship service is held in the Orphanage for people who live in the village.

pray for the church in the slums

Several years ago, Pastor Ravi had a vision to plant a church in a local slum. He had done street preaching there for many years and regularly served meals to the hungry.
Earlier this year a new building was finished in that slum that allows a place for the people there to gather and worship. Our team was able to be a part of the service there on our first Sunday in India. The Good News was preached with passion.  
The new building also provides a place for the children to come In the evenings to receive free tutoring and hear the Good News of Christ. One day after the Conferences, we attended a tutoring session. We observed the older children reviewing their times tables, the middle children practicing spelling and reading words in English and the youngest one practicing writing their ABCs on mini chalk boards. Pray that this ministry will be a beacon of hope to many poor people in this area.

pray for the widow & elderly ministry

When we first arrived at Vijayawada, we were rushed off to participate in the feeding of about 30 widows at Pastor Ravi’s church. The church served them dinner, then a Gospel message was preached, followed by the presentation of 2 weeks’ worth of simple groceries to each widow or widower. There is no government welfare in India. One widow had a small room to live in, but she had no bed, so she slept on the floor. She shared with us that one night a snake joined her on the floor. It was quite frightening. At the end of the service the church presented her with a cot, so she didn’t have to sleep on the floor anymore.
 The service ended with us individually praying for each widow. The groceries each month, as well as the cot were provided because some faithful servants from the US give monthly to this ministry.

pray for the disabled people

Besides feeding the widows, Pastor Ravi’s church also has a ministry to the Disabled People (Ravi’s designation for this group) in their community. At a monthly service outside the church, the local disabled people come on specially made trikes or wheelchairs pushed by assistants. They line up in the field in front of the church because there is no ground floor entrance into the church. The church hospitality committee, lovingly called “The Army” by Ravi’s wife, prepared a hearty meal for those who come. One of our teammates preached a Gospel message, then the food was presented. The time together ended with us praying individually for each person and sending them off with a handshake or hug or a gently push to help them get their “transportation” going. The leader of the disabled group shared they knew Pastor Ravi loved them. Besides food, he provided blankets and clothing at Christmas. This ministry will grow as the Lord provides the funds.