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Dr Vararuchi Dalavai (BCM's VP of International Ministry and
founder of the India field) and Rev. Adrusta Rao (BCM
director in India) went to Orissa to meet with Rev.
Nayak ( BCM Orissa regional director) and our Pastors
on Saturday, 20th
and Sunday, 21st
September 2008. In spite of
some security difficulties, they were able to meet briefly
with 27 of our pastors. One pastor arrived after eleven days
of walking and crossing three mountains. Marty was able to
address the pastors via cell phone from the Ukraine for a
few brief minutes, assuring
them of our continued prayer support and, God willing, some
help.
The outcome is
that BCM India will be starting a relief Camp outside
of Orissa at an undisclosed location (recent leaks
have caused some serious problems and threats, so please
understand some strict security measures have had to be
implemented) and hope to be able to host minimum
100--200 people. These include
all the Pastors' families who are effected. We
are currently working out details and funding for the safe
evacuation of about 140 people, and the establishing of the
temporary location, housing, and meals (twice a day) for the
next two months.
Meanwhile, we are also caring for some forty primary age
children, boys and girls, who were victims of the violence
when their communities were attacked and their homes
destroyed, leaving them separated from their parents and
families. With the current situation, we are not sure
whether they are alive or dead. These children are also
being housed and fed by BCM in an undisclosed location, due
to continued threats.
At
this point, there is urgent need of funding for basic
survival needs of these two groups as well as the greater
needs of the displaced Christian community. These include
medical issues with the children (some of them are barely a
month old), blankets and plastic to shield from the weather,
etc. As long as the crisis continues, an Orissa Persecution
Fund has been set up at our website (www.bcmintl.org),
to donate specifically for this need, or gifts can be set
directly to BCM designated as such.
We praise God that our BCM pastors in Orissa
have lost none of
their fervor to serve the Lord. As our
leadership met with them, their
faces reflected desperation. Most of them had not slept in
days. They currently need physical and spiritual renewal and
strength, for themselves and their family. God willing, this
can be provided in our relief camp.
This is a project that will take a lot of commitment and
sacrifice, but our goal is to have the relief camp running
by the week of October 1st.
Please continue to pray for these dear servants of
God, for parents separated from children and children from
parents, for pastors who have seen their churches burned and
flocks scattered, for healing in their pain and grief, and
that they will know they are not forgotten by their Heavenly
Father nor by their brothers and sisters in the Body of
Christ around the world. Even as our own country faces
crises of its own, let us place in perspective the blessings
God has granted us to share with a world in need.
In service of the King of Kings,
Marty
and Jeanette Windle
BCM International
309 Colonial Drive/PO Box 249
Akron, PA 17501
www.bcmintl.org
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