Bridges of Hope in India

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My Gospel for Asia blog assignment this month was to read K.P. Yohannan's new book No Longer a Slumdog and write a post about the book.  The book shares individual stories of children born into the caste system of India.  If a child is born a Dalit (Untouchable) or Other Backward Caste (OBC), there is no hope to rise above their circumstances.  The Hindu religion teaches that the caste you are born into signals the quality of your past life.  If you are born a Dalit or OBC, it is because of previous wrongs and you are being punished in this current life.  Those in higher casts feel no compassion for those who are born into the low, untouchable castes.  It is believed that: Whatever you are, you always will be.

Mother Teresa wrote: "The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted."

Yohannan's book touches on many serious topics that impact the children of India: child abandonment, child labor, child slavery, sexual exploitation, alcohol abuse, disease, and poverty.

Yohannan shares that when he founded Gospel for Asia his focus was on native missionaries and spreading the Gospel.  Many years into the ministry, God opened Yohannan's eyes to the children of India and their great need.  This led to the creation of the Bridge of Hope ministry.

In No Longer a Slumdog, Yohannan shares stories of individual children whose lives are being transformed by Bridge of Hope centers.  They are being taught about Christ's love for them and being given an education and a healthy meal daily.  They are being shown that they are loved, they have value and that there is hope.  They can rise above their current circumstances.  There is no cost to families who have children registered in Bridge of Hope centers.  This time last year there were more than 60,000 children enrolled in GFA Bridge of Hope centers.  Gospel for Asia wants that number to grow to more than 100,000.  
Dalits and OBCs together make up more than 60 percent of India's population.
Liberation comes through education - kids at a Bridge of Hope center
Bridge of Hope teachers in prayer.
"Let's not let what we can't do stop us from doing what we can do."
Children learn reading, writing, mathematics, science and the arts.
Children are taught the importance of hygiene.
Sponsors of Bridge of Hope children are able to correspond through letters.
Children are served a nutritious meal daily.
Children receive school supplies, a backpack and a school uniform.
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for me." Matt 25:40
Children pray, learn about the Bible and sing songs about God and His love.
Serving the children becomes a bridge to reaching their families and villages.
If you're interested in reading Yohannan's book, you can request a free copy by clicking here.  If you are interested in sponsoring a Bridge of Hope child, more information is available here.  Sponsorship costs $35 a month and that covers a nutritious daily meal, a school uniform, school supplies, an education, an annual medical check-up and a safe, nurturing place to go.

Here is K.P. Yohannan sharing one of the thousands of personal stories of Bridge of Hope children.

"This is about seeing the little ways that the Lord calls us to live simply so that others might simply live." K.P. Yohannan 

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