India Partners Continues Helping the Poor in India
EUGENE, OR - Tuesday, February 27, 2007 -- It's been three years since India Partners has been able to send a volunteer medical team to an area of India that's been home to increasing amounts of persecution against Christians. That's changing as India Partners is planning a trip to an area of India in 2008.
India Partners comes alongside national organizations to help them accomplish their work. In one area, they're assisting a national organization that provides medical and dental assistance to needy tribal villages in India. An indigenous organization works with India Partners. The national organization's director says India Partners hasn't been allowed to assist them. "We have the anti-conversion laws in force. The opposition has been too much. They have been obstructing our work in the villages."
This state passed anti-conversion legislation some years ago in response to the large number of Hindus converting to Christianity. That number continues to grow countrywide. That hasalso caused increasing amounts of violence against Christians from ultra-nationalists.
The director is excited about a team returning to help them. "They are the only people who send us teams to train us in medical facilities like the dental work and emergency medical treatment, what is known as EMT training. That has been able to save the lives of children (here). And, they train the nationals."
The training is needed because most of the people in the tribal villages basically have no education. India Partners' training gives the nationals the tools they need to do even more important work, the director says. "We are very evangelistic and very openly telling about Jesus Christ before we start any program. And, only if the village is willing to accept that then we do it."
According to the director, the need is great. "They're all animists and there are 14 different tribal groups. But, they know nothing about Jesus."
The director says the medical team is being invited despite the oppression. "I'm going to ask them to come and then I'm trusting God to open up the ways, but God always opens up the ways. Sometimes we've had to close work in villages and had to move on, but that's okay because there are 1,020 villages." Volunteers are needed for this outreach.
India Partners is a faith-based development and relief organization committed to supporting self-help projects in India. All are served regardless of caste, religion, gender, or creed. India Partners helps through development projects, training local leaders, disaster relief, and education. India Partners also coordinates short-term volunteer teams, speakers, and sponsorship programs.
