Our South Asia Stop for the One Team is using education to introduce students to Jesus and transform lives! They recently gave an update on what they are doing and how God has made a way in this last year when there seemed to be none.
“It has been a year and a half since we opened our center in one of the city's red-light areas and we are amazed beyond words at God’s goodness and everything He has done in this season."
Even though the uncertainty of the pandemic and being on very strict lockdowns, we were blessed to regularly hold classes for our 15 students. Most of our children have been raised under difficult circumstances and some have never even attended school before. We help them with all their homework — Bengali, Hindi, English, math, social science, geography, history, etc — and seeing the excitement on their faces as they learn is a true joy. These same children attend our Sunday School led by our teenagers. We also continued teaching English classes and in November we started guitar lessons for children nine and older.
Four times a week we host a Bible study open for anyone who wants to come. There has been tremendous spiritual growth in their lives over the past year. They are hungry to know the Word, they love to worship, and they are bold to share the Gospel with their friends and family.
One thing we didn’t expect when we started all the education and discipleship classes was how they would impact our relationship with the local authorities. They are so pleased and grateful that we faithfully pay our rent to use space for our community club and also provide much-needed food to our neighbors — especially throughout the lockdowns. Because we’ve grown in favor with them, we have been allowed more freedom in our ministry and we know God is after the authorities’ hearts as much as He is after our students’ hearts.”