Divyashree’s dark eyes were turned slightly upward toward the middle-aged man who sat facing her.
They were missing the sparkle you’d expect for her tender age, probably a result of the harsh and impoverished home life many of the children living in the Modi Road slum experience.
Divyashree sat in a child-sized, plastic green chair playing with her hands in her lap.
ITMI’s David Kumar was leaning forward in a chair facing her, giving the preschool-aged girl his full attention. Divyashree was earnestly attempting to explain something that happened at her home.
After several clarifying questions in his calm, kind voice, David understood her story.
One morning about a week later, as soon as they crossed the threshold of the cement-walled Deepam Center, four of the students made a beeline for Taru. They each had something important to tell her.
“Ma’am, my mother has knee pain, please pray.”
“Ma’am, my mother has throat pain, please pray.”
“Ma’am, my father has pain in his stomach, please pray.”
When all the children had found their spots and were sitting cross-legged on the floor, Taru gathered them in front of the others and she and David prayed with and for them.
When all the children had found their spots and were sitting cross-legged on the floor, Taru gathered them in front of the others and she and David prayed with and for them.
Taru says,
“This is the impact we left on the children when we prayed for Divyashree, this is how the Spirit of the Lord works in these little hearts.
Please pray the Lord will answer the faith of these little ones.
What an amazing opportunity to be with these children and serve them. This is happening because of your partnership with us in ministry.”
This year, David and Taru were able to add a room to their tiny facility located inside the Muslim slum the locals call “Little Pakistan” because of the Muslim religion practiced by almost all its residents.
The additional space was enough to welcome 15 more students into their primary school.
The world these small, vulnerable children experience daily is scary and harsh. Many families living in this slum are traumatized by the relentless battering of life under the caste system and it’s life sentence of poverty.
Some women aren’t allowed to leave their lean-tos or homes except to come to Deepam Center.
A high percentage of the men battle addictions and squander the meager income they earn. The women often live in fear and are treated like property.
Some women aren’t allowed to leave their lean-tos or homes except to come to Deepam Center.
Parents and husbands alike are happy to have their family members be part of the activities David and Taru offer at the small ministry facility.
In contrast to the world around them, when they come to David and Taru’s school, they are loved and they find hope. They learn they can call on Jesus and that He cares.
Deepam students learn they can call on Jesus and that He cares.
And it sticks with them.
Husna was refused by many schools because she was so sickly and too weak to sit up straight.
Taru received her into Deepam School with compassion and open arms. As Husna attended the center, she began to grow healthy and strong because of the food provided each day during school.
Food is provided for the Deepam students each day, because many come from families that often can't feed them.
Husna was keen to learn everything Taru taught at Deepam Center, including their focus on introducing Jesus through Bible stories and teaching how to pray in His name.
Now Husna attends grade school. She is at the top of her class and has a dream to study English and medicine.
Husna was on her way to her school one morning when they ran into Taru on one of the narrow dirt “roads” between rows of makeshift buildings.
Her time at Deepam was so impactful that even though she is no longer at Deepam School, Husna told Taru, “Ma’am, I’m praying every day.”
There are many more young lives in Modi Road that are yet untouched by good things offered by Deepam in Jesus’ name. Youngsters growing up without the relief from their harsh family lives.
Children who have never experienced anything like the fun, loving and hopeful ministry of Deepam center. Little ones who may never hear from any other source that they have value and are cared about, or that there is help and hope for them in Christ Jesus.
There are many more young lives in Modi Road that are yet untouched by good things offered by Deepam in Jesus’ name.
We are so pleased to offer you the opportunity to reach into a place few outsiders can even set foot in, and help David and Taru demonstrate and declare the Good News.
Your one-time gift of $130 gives a child from a Muslim home a chance to hear about Jesus from David and Taru for an entire year!
Many of the kids from Modi Road will start grade school having never held a pencil. Imagine how intimidating! But not these Deepam students.
For $130, the child will:
- Be given a Deepam uniform
- Get nutritious meals during school hours
- Learn how to hold a pencil, recognize letters, numbers and basic academic concepts
- Hear that they are loved and valued by God
- Practice and develop the habit of calling on Jesus in prayer that will hopefully stick with them their entire lives
But that’s not all!
Sending a child to Deepam School multiplies the gifts already given faithfully each month by the Kumar’s supporters, who sacrificially give so that Modi Road can have the presence of Christ as His Spirit inhabits his devoted followers, David and Taru.
Your one-time gift multiplies their gifts by adding an additional family to the number of people David and Taru can reach!
This is truly a fantastic opportunity to be an outstanding steward of Kingdom resources!
