Opportunities
Sponsorship
A little goes a long way in India. Even American families in humble circumstances can make a big impact in India. If you want to commit to giving monthly, you can sponsor a pastor, a widow, or an orphan.
When you give to SERVE India, you can be assured that all the money (100%) will go to India. We have made a decision to not use any of the money we raise for administrative costs or salaries in the United States. We raise that money separately.
If you are led to help the church in India through this ministry, click on the contact link above.
One-time Gifts
In India, a few simple tools can really increase an church’s effectiveness. SERVE-India would like to provide these items for all the churches it helps.
Public Address Systems
Our pastors do most of their ministry in villages that do not have electricity. It is very important to have a public address (PA) system when the pastor holds an open air meeting so the whole village can easily hear the message of Jesus. Many people have a real interest in hearing the gospel, but are not comfortable attending the meetings for fear of persecution.
The PA system allows many villagers to listen to preaching without actually attending the gospel meeting. The system, which costs $300, includes two speakers, a microphone and a 75-watt amplifier.
Gas Lights
There are many rural villages where our pastors minister that are without electricity. Most evangelistic outreach meetings take place in the night after the villagers have returned from their work in the fields. When the gas light is on, everyone in the village notices that something new is happening. The people will come to the meeting place, which provides more opportunity for the gospel to be heard. Gas lights are an inexpensive, yet very valuable tool for our village pastors. The lights are made in India, and are available for $15.
Musical Drums
The drum is like a calling bell to many village people. Our pastors enter a village by walking through the streets, playing the drum and singing songs to let people know there will be a meeting that night. Sometimes they simple prepare the open air meeting place, light their gas light and begin singing with their drum. The people of the village know that something is going on, and will come to listen.
The pastors also use the drum to enhance their worship time on Sunday. Music is very important to their culture and very effective in ministering to the people. A drum can be purchased for $20.
Bicycles for Pastors
Our native pastors are working I mostly remote areas. In these areas the transportation is very unreliable or not available at all. The Pastors usually have to walk to get from village to village. Bicycles are very essential to their ministries.
Most of the pastors work in more than one village. They are able to spend more time in each village if they have a bicycle to speed up their travel time. This is especially significant on Sunday when they may preach in three different villages in one day!
The bicycles that are made in India are well suited to the rough ground they have to travel. The cost of each bicycle is $100.
Travel
SERVE India sends a team for two weeks every year. The team typically includes medical personnel, but all those with a heart for ministry are welcome. Please contact us if you are interested in getting some information about traveling to India.
Here’s what some past team members have said about the trip:
“The most memorable experience was when we visited the leprosy colony. The elder of the village was on fire for God. Whether he was singing and beating his well-worn drum or praying, every cell in his body was praising our One True God. This village had so little, even by India standards, yet there was so much love and joy present.It is very difficult for me to put into words my experience in India. I sit here with my head in my hands wondering how to express the wonders that God showed me and allowed me to feel. ‘Indescribable, uncontainable…you are an amazing God.’”
S.P. – 2007
“As I was looking at some photos, I came across a picture of the pastor of the mountain church standing in the middle of the church that had been burned. I was so saddened for him and the village, to see the broken and charred remains of the church and the sort of empty stance of the pastor with his hands in his pockets looking straight ahead. I wondered his thoughts? I think that is all of us: broken and charred. But by God’s grace we are mended. The church is people, not that building. We need to pray for those who set the fire. They are afraid and don’t know this Jesus. They need to know! We need to pray for this pastor and for all the pastors to know that there is hope through these trials.”
R.H. – 2007