ServLife currently has 75 Indian missionary workers who are working in six Indian states to start a church in their community and share the love of Christ. They all undergo a year of training in northern India before returning back to their home village. One of these workers, Zachariah, is from Chhattisgarh state, and finished his training at the Servlife Leadership Institute in 2008.

In an effort to stop the work of the gospel, Zachariah was kidnapped on August 20, 2010 by an extremist group who proceeded to bury his entire body, leaving only his head exposed above ground. For three days he suffered beatings to the head, and received no food or water. The fact that he lived is a miracle.

“We will kill you and your family unless you tell us why you are Christian and how you support yourself in the work you do,” demanded the rebels.

Zachariah prayed during these three days and did not give the rebels the information they wanted. This anti-government group, known as Naxal rebels, are extremely anti-Christian and do not want any indigenous people to be Christian or form community churches. His small church of twenty people came together for these three days and fasted. They gathered every morning and evening and pleaded with God on behalf of their pastor’s life.

After three days, Zachariah was released to be reunited with his wife and three children. ServLife still supports Zachariah and his work is foundational to our vision. Please pray for Zachariah and their entire church, Calvary Pourisia Ayapally Church.

Joel Vestal reflects, “After just coming back from India and hearing this story, I was really deeply moved. The courage of Zachariah and the faithful prayers of God’s people in India are an inspiration to me and should be to all of us who desire to live a life of faith. Religious freedom is something we take for granted in the west.”

Click  here to give a donation towards the 75 workers working throughout 6 states in India.

SOURCE:  ServLife News, August 2010

In a small, remote Indian village named Bijapur (in the Chattisjargh state), three men were recently abducted and beaten. Every Sunday after worship Indian Christians normally fellowship and share a meal together consisting of the simple Indian staples rice and daal (lentils). On August 22, a meal was shared and no one knew that what was about to happen would change this little church forever.

After eating together these three men left with their families and started to walk home where they were abducted in the road by extreme rebels. Their wives and children were not harmed and ran for safety. It was known in the community that these men had become Christians. They were held in a single room for three days, beaten, denied water, and asked to give information about other believers in the community.

Albert Das, Director of Servlife Empowering Society, had baptized these three men in 2007 who had come to faith in Jesus Christ. The church gathered to pray for these 3 men and for their release. They could not report this to local police who denied Christians help, only serving the Hindus. The only justice they could hope for would be through their prayers and the divine hand of God.

The men were set free after three days, starving and beaten by wooden clubs. They had cuts and bruises all over their bodies. The small group of believers celebrated together that they were living, that God had delivered them and that all the children were able to see their fathers again.

Albert Das shares about this event, “Please pray for the Christian work in India as there is persecution from every corner. Pray God will protect our workers and bring justice to those who did wrong and against the Christian church.”

Please pray for the church in India and click here to make a donation to the work of the gospel.

In Orissa alone, ServLife currently has 36 indigenous staff, working in their villages to start churches and share the love of Jesus Christ. Three years ago on August 23, 2007, over 100 people were killed, including women, disabled persons, children, adivasis and dalits. At least three incidents of gang-rape were recorded and at least 295 churches, big and small, were destroyed. Three of these churches were started by ServLife mission workers. Also, 13 schools, colleges, and the offices of five NGOs were damaged. About 30,000 people had to live in relief camps for months.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India says the the violence resulted from the killing of a local Hindu right wing leader, Swami Laxmananda Saraswati. The local media and police accused Christians for the death and the masses responded in violence towards the minority Christians in the region. This is believed to be India’s worst case of violence against the Christian community.

Speaking on the occasion, Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, EFI General Secretary said, “Over a hundred people were brutally killed for their faith in Kandhamal. Even today their families wait for justice and for peace to return to the area.”

At the recently concluded National People’s Tribunal in Delhi, former chief justice of Delhi High Court, A.P. Shah who headed the 12-member public jury on Kandhamal stated that justice had eluded the victims. “They continue to be intimidated, denied protection and access to justice,” the jury noted, “recommending stronger state protection to survivors and witnesses” Justice Shah said.

Yet, Kandhamal is not the only place where the minority community is under fire. Each day, across India, violent attacks are witnessed against the church (see below for most recent attack against pastors in Delhi and Karnataka). Last year alone, EFI recorded over 200 violent attacks against churches and Christians across the country.

Tehmina Arora, EFI Advocacy Director, stated, “India cannot afford to forget those who are persecuted and killed for their faith. It is matter of great concern for our secular nation, if those who perpetrate violence against religious communities, are allowed to go scot free. Persecution of religious minorities undermines the very spirit of the Indian constitution.”

Please pray for churches in India to pray for:

1. Peace in Kandhamal and for those who were affected by the violence across the country

2. Those in authority that they would take necessary action to prevent such communal violence from being perpetrated and hatred being spread and

3. The 36 ServLife indigenous mission staff who are working there. 3 of them have moved to Kandhamal since the brutal attacks.

Please give to our fund for the 75 workers throughout India

SOURCE:   Evangelical Fellowship of India & ServLife News

ServLife believes in helping empower the dreams of others.  A unique way this has happened is allowing Americans to donate to the project dreamed through Emmanueal Shaw from Sierra Leone and American Rachel Wilson through ServLife International.

Emmanuel Sajor Shaw started Mercy Children’s Orphanage (MCO) in the Fall of 2005 in Waterloo, Sierra Leone, housing only five orphans in a small rent house without furniture or electricity. In a pool of 143 million, five children doesn’t seem like very many, but the only way to start decreasing that number is to start small. Rachel Wilson, (Indiana native currently working as an engineer), had met Emmanuel while volunteering on the Anastasia Mercy Ship the year before. When she learned that he had acquired an orphanage, she set about fundraising to provide beds, school tuition, and Christmas gifts. By 2006, Emmanuel was caring for ten children, had a larger home, and was recognized by the government as a legitimate children’s home.

Since then, the Lord has miraculously provided funds to buy a property for MCO, build an office, a two-story dorm, a well, a poultry barn for 1000 birds, and a garden that sustains them during the rainy season. The children receive education, food, a place to sleep, healthcare, and an environment where they are being shown Christ’s love.

MCO still provides for ten children, and has now been given the opportunity to add five more from the social welfare system of Sierra Leone, provided that they have the funds to care for them. Five more children out of 143 million. It seems so small and trivial, but to each one of those children it’s a new life meeting their physical needs, and the chance to hear the Gospel and be saved spiritually.

In the face of a problem so huge, we tend to dismiss the issue as too big to address, thinking, I could never help that many children! MCO is not equipped to help that many children either, but they are equipped to help ten, and hopefully soon fifteen. One by one they are using their resources, volunteers, and funds from all over the world to bring new life to these children. One by one, Mercy Children’s Orphanage is making a difference. One by one, we could too.

Paul and Sanum Chaudre with their own two daughters

We are excited to announce the opening of Daya Girls Home in western Nepal.  The first two girls have arrived

In Partnership with AS Nepal (ServLife’s registered NGO in Nepal working with children) Daya Girls Home is being started in western Nepal. The vision for the home is out of the heart of Udaya and his wife, Bhakti who have a deep compassion for the children of Nepal.  The conversation to begin this home has been going on for over five years.

Paul  and Sanum Chaudre will run the home with their two own children. 

The vision of the home is to grow to 10 girls.   The children are all from some of the poorest districts (Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Dailekh, Accham) in the poorest section of Nepal, the hills and mountains of Nepal’s northwest. This area has annual food shortages (USAID and UN food drops are regular) and commonly experience outbreaks of preventable but rapid moving illnesses such as diarrhea. The girls are currently cared for by neighbors or distant relatives.

Udaya says, “Our vision to start a home for girls in the western part of Nepal that is often neglected is finally becoming a reality thanks to the support of ServLife International and friends.  I wanted to name the home Daya that means “compassion” in the Nepali language.  Please pray for us.”

Paul and Sannum will be instrumental in creating a loving environment and sharing God’s love and mercy with each precious daughter of God.

Make a donation towards Daya Girls Home

The local church expressed in all her beauty and diversity is a key agent for God’s Kingdom in the world. Central to the mission of ServLife is to empower, educate, and equip indigenous leaders to share the love of Christ in both word and deed with their own people. One of the regions of the world where ServLife does this is in India, where we have been working since 1992, when ServLife first began more than 75 churches have been planted throughout 5 states in India. (Donate To this Project).

To help train and equip indigenous church planters and local mission workers to minister to their own people, a one-year leadership training institute was started in Bihar, India in 2001.   The workers that come to the training institute are recommended by their local church, and they come for a year of communal living, hands-on-service, spiritual formation, and teaching. The Indian church planters learn that it is first about trust and dependence upon God and then are equipped in practical ways for their ministry ahead. Our goal is that each local church will be a light in their village and share the message of Jesus Christ.

For those that graduate and go on to start a church in their village, ServLife supports them by providing financial, emotional, and spiritual support, along with continued training through the annual leadership conference that takes place in Bihar each year. The goal is that each local church will be self-supportive and send other leaders to be trained to start other churches.

Local churches that are started through the graduates of ServLife’s Training Institute share the same name of their church, Calvary Parousia Church. Parousia comes from the Greek and means “coming and presence”. Parousia is used to describe the presence of Christ with His disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (2 Peter 1:16). We desire for Christ to come and be present in the villages where these workers go and serve their communities.

A.L.D. also travels throughout India regularly to meet with and encourage the church planters after they return to their home villages and start churches, and he recently returned from one of these trips in July, after traveling through five states in India: Chattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Das reflects, “I am so humbled by these men who are sacrificing and laying their lives down in the midst of hardship and persecution. Please pray for them and their families and ministries.”

Give to this project here

Our first meeting occurred when Joel was only a college freshman. But he was already a man with a purpose that encompassed the nations. While a lot of other students were innocently immersed in conversations about their social lives (or lack thereof) or some other hot cultural topic, Joel was talking about unreached people groups and ways to connect them to God’s redemption story. And he wasn’t just reciting statistics and spouting off information; his heart was pulsing with compassion and an urgency to act now. Before long, Joel had forged an alliance with a pastor in a remote region of India where few others dared to go and the gospel was seldom, if ever, heard.

To be completely honest, at first glance I thought Joel was a little over-zealous and had a lot to learn. But over time my reservation morphed into admiration and respect as the little seed he had planted in Bihar, India sprouted to become ServLife International, the fruit of one solitary student emboldened by the Spirit of God and determined to leverage his life so that people all over the world could hear the name of Jesus Christ.

It’s staggering to think just how many people on the planet have never heard of Jesus much less any of his life-giving words. Like us, they wonder about the meaning of life and are longing for their Maker. Yet they have never heard of Jesus Christ ”the unique Son of God come to earth, the Divine in human flesh, the Fathers gracious sacrifice for all our sins. And we are not just talking about a handful of people in some remote village deep in the Amazon jungle. But countless millions, hundreds of millions, without Christ, dotting every continent on earth. Most are clustered in central Asia where China and India alone are home to over half of the worlds population. That’s why its no surprise that right smack in the middle of that region, in a town in northern India near the Nepalese border, Joel first raised the ServLife banner, announcing the Kingdom of God.

As you go, Joel and his wife Elise and team will be right there with you, blazing a trail with their words and actions, compelling countless others to follow; me included. At the end of the day, this God-mission to preach good news and bring restoration to every man, woman and child alive will succeed, ushering in the end of life as we know it and the coming of Christ. I want to be standing (kneeling) in that moment knowing that my life’s influence extended past the edge of the subdivision and beyond the halls of the office. I want to be able to eternally rejoice, knowing that God allowed me to play a role in gathering every tribe and tongue to proclaim His praise. I think in that moment, everything else in life will pale in comparison to that reward.
(From Louie Giglios Foreword in Joels book, Dangerous Faith. Louie is founder and director of Passion Conferences.

Listen to Podcast of Louie here

The Vision of ServLife Himalaya Development in Nepal: By Lazarus Thulung: Kathmandu, Nepal- June 2010

Our Vision

To transform the society with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Church Planting movement among unreached 3000 VDC of the remotest parts of Nepal, empower the poor, and children.

Our Goal

Our goal is to work in partnership with the whole body of Christ to train and send faithful Church-planting laborers to saturate by the Gospel, planting Churches and building Church-planting movement everywhere to reach every unreached people group of Nepal by 2017.

Our strategies

1. Train and Send to win people to Christ. Therefore, we started the ServLife training center in Kathmandu, where 42 Church planters have completed their training and working in the field now to plan new Churches.

2. Our vision is to send those trained Church planters in the new area where there is no Church yet (Romans 15:20).

3. To make it as a movement who can do the same to others (Multiplication according to 2 Timothy 2:2).

4. After planting a new Church, they will move to another area after developing local leaders. To fulfill this vision, we also conduct the Church planting seminar time to time in the different areas.

5. We also planned to train local leaders whom Church planters led to Christ. We have one month training called “How to help the pastor?” We bring them in Kathmandu ServLife training center for a month where they can learn, how to lead a Church?.

6. We also, help society to develop their economic status through the Hope Fund We started this project since 2009 in the area where Church planters are working. We are also concern about education in the village. We encourage our Church planters to conduct adult literacy classes in their villages if necessary. To transform the society, we are working water project for who do not have privilege to drink water.

7. Our ultimate goal is to preach Christ and transform society. We do believe that only true Gospel can truly change lives. But, we are also thinking holistic mission without compromising our faith in Christ.

8. To produce Gospel tracks and materials.

History of Nepal and Church Growth

Nepal is a Hindu Dominant nation in the world located between two big countries China in north and India in south, where 86 percent populations are Hindu. Many people know Nepal by the Mt. Everest, top of the world.

Catholics missionaries came to Nepal in 17th century to develop medical mission. They lived in Kathmandu valley during the Malla kings. History shows that more then 80 Newari people came to Christ after many years of missionary efforts. But, in 1979, Shaha King Prithvi Narayan Shah took over the power and unified Nepal as a one nation from different small nations. After the unification of Nepal, King Prithvi Narayan Shah made a law which caused missionaries to flee away from the country. All the missionaries and those 80 Newari Christian fled away from the land and went to Bihar, North India. From that moment Nepal became a close country for any other religion. Almost 300 years, Nepal was remained silence for Christian mission activities. We called it Dark Age in the Church history of Nepal.

In 1951, slowly door was opened for many Nepali missionaries who went to India and other nations to work. They came to Christ while they were in foreign land. Majority mission were waiting for the opportunity to enter into Nepal and preach the Gospel. Our Church History says that there were no protestant missionary who came to Nepal early 1951.

According to Norman Keharberg, in his book “Cross in the land of Khukuri”, there were 100 Christian in 1966 in Nepal. In 1980, there were 7 thousand Christian in Nepal. In 1990, there were 50 thousand Christian in Nepal. In 1999 there were around 400 thousand Christian in Nepal. Now, it is growing rapidly. Most Nepali Christian leaders believe that there are more a million born again protestant Christian in Nepal now. It’s almost 3 to 4 percent of total population of Nepal.

Social Structure

There are more then 92 major languages speaking people group lives in Nepal. According to Hindu scripture, they are divided into four groups: Brahmin (Higher Caste), Chhetri (Little lower class), Baisya (Most Mongolian faces), and Chhudra (Lower caste). Because of this caste system, there are vast differences within Nepali people. Higher caste people do not touch and eat with lower caste people. Millions are untouchable. People are under the bondage of Satan.

Belief

Most people in Nepal are Hindu though Buddha was born in Nepal. Hinduism has attached with the culture and ritual. Majority people are animist who worship different kinds of dead spirits of their forefathers. There are more then 330 millions gods and goddess were worshipping in Nepal. Every home has a worship alter for different gods and spirits. People are very religious and strong in their faith.

Most of them are suffering from evil spirits. More then 75% Nepali Christian came to Christ through healing. Most of them were posses by the demon spirits.

Christian Research

According to Nepal Government, there are more then 3912 villages called VDC (VDC: means Village Development Committee. One VDC contains six thousand to nine thousand populations). According to research, there are now around nine hundred villages are reached by the Gospel (There are at Church and at least on going fellowship). But, there are still more then three thousand villages are unreached, where there is no any Church and on going fellowship yet. Probably, some may have chance to hear the Gospel but still never had chance to go to Christian fellowship near by. There are at least some kind of small fellowships are started in the city and town where there are good roads, transportation and communication. But, remotest parts of Nepal are still left out. Nepal is still agriculture nation and majority lives are lived in the rural. We have great challenges in front of us. We can’t live without preaching Christ in those villages that are very receptive towards the Gospel. Paul says “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believe in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Roman 10:14-15).

We realized that the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mathew 28:19) is urgency. We are called to obey before it will be too late. This is the time of harvest (Psalms 126:5-6). Due to the 12 years of Maoist insurgency, people are hopeless and frustrated with political leaders. God has opened the door for us to show His love and mercy to the lost. There is only hope in Christ. People need to hear the message of Hope. We never had this kind of opportunity in the history of Nepal and it may not be in the future. This is the time of harvest.

Hindu extremists allegedly from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh damaged a church building and installed an idol of the Hindu god Hanuman inside it on May 23, 2010 in Tadipatri, Anatapur, Andhra Pradesh.

Extremists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) attacked India Pentecostal Church’s Holy Spirit Prayer House, which was under construction.  Pastor Venugopal  approached Tadipatri police, but officers refused to help him. After local Christian leaders’ intervention, police questioned the attackers.  Area Christian leaders maintained that Pastor Reddy had acquired government permission to build the church building.

ServLife has trained and supports 100 indigenous church planters to share the love of Christ.   Please help us support these workers. click there to support

Also, you can sign a petition that we have organized to send to political leaders in India asking for religious freedom.  Click here to make your Voice heard! 

Souce: Evangelical Fellowship of India, New Delhi:  May 2010

Film produced by Work of the People. Music from the album Songs From the Voice: Volume 2 (Thomas Nelson)

Pamela’s favorite subject in school is science, and when she is at home she helps out by doing some of the cooking. Pamela dreams of becoming a pilot when she grows up. Every Sunday, she goes to church with the mothers and the rest of the children from the home.

Pamela is still in need of sponsorship. For $30/month, your sponsorship will help supply food, clothes, schooling, and ensure that Pamela is well cared for in a loving environment. This is a direct way you can get involved in helping bring hope. Please pray and consider getting involved today. For questions about sponsorship, read our sponsorship FAQs.

SPONSOR A CHILD TODAY

The Church of the Good Shepherd in Lyndhurst, Ohio recently held a ServLife Dinner benefit to raise money to start a ServLife Hope Fund in Thingan, Nepal. 60 people from 7 different churches attended the dinner and nearly $5,400 was raised. The funds will go directly to helping start a Hope Fund in Thingan. Read more about the ServLife Hope Fund.

Mary Davis, member of Church of Good Shepherd who was one of the organizers of the dinner, was very encouraged by the response.

“In 2009 our women’s book group read Dangerous Faith, and we were so moved by the book and inspired by the idea of the Hope Fund that we wanted to fund a business start-up for a single woman,” says Davis. “We contacted ServLife and when, much to our surprise, Joel responded saying he would like to come to Cleveland to meet with us, we decided to make a larger gathering for the community and to raise our fundraising goal to create a Hope Fund for a village. Now, Good Shepherd is in relationship with Thingan, Nepal. We could never have imagined this outcome when we started reading the book.”

Joel Vestal had the opportunity to travel to Lyndhurst and speak at their church and share at the dinner about the ServLife Hope Fund.

“It’s so encouraging to see a new church take initiative and be a global witness,” said Vestal. “The people at the Church of the Good Shepherd gave me a wonderful welcome for my first visit to Cleveland.”

Currently, the Hope Fund in Thingan is 82% funded.  Will you consider giving towards this initiative and helping us reach our goal? Give Now

*ServLife has held dinners around the United States as an informal way to both introduce and inform people on the work of ServLife around the world. Please contact us to help either organize or host a dinner with a multi-media presentation, images, and many stories of what God is doing through the work of ServLife around the world.

(Posted: 2010-03-24)

These gods are false, of course, but the people cling to them in darkness as if they were real. This deception and misunderstanding highlights the Nepalese’ false hope even more, as they not only have cities built around temples and altars to multiple, lifeless deities, but they also have these demons being brought to their front door. They have a desperate need for Truth and the Most High God to come and break through their false reality of idol-worship.

Are we so different? Our idols are not necessarily in the shape of deities, carved out of wood or stone, but they are present in our culture nonetheless, and don’t require door-to-door salesmen to usher them into our lives. We worship our money, our homes, our children, our jobs, our time, our comfort, and our achievements. The list could go on. Joel Vestal, the founder and president of ServLife, recently spent time in Nepal, capturing this image of an idol salesman. He said, “We have things we put up in our lives that keep us from being the people that God wants us to be – to love God with our whole being.” Our darkness is just as great as the darkness in Nepal, and maybe even greater, because our idols are sold under different names. The Nepalese know that they are purchasing their gods while we are deceived by gods that have no faces.

Nepal houses eight of the ten highest mountains in the world, including Sagarmatha, or what we know as Mount Everest. These mountains stand in stark contrast to the spiritual atmosphere of this country. How glorious they are in comparison to the paltry idols being sold at every door! How majestic they are looming above even the grandest temples! Psalm 95:3-4 says, “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.”

Idols are found door-to-door around the world, invading every person’s heart in an attempt to shut out Jesus, the only one who can save. It’s easier to see in Nepal because they’re tangible, but the unseen idols of our hearts are just as sinful, and easier to be ensnared by.

“I hope that you will examine your own life and see where those idols exist in your journey, and the you would lay them at the feet of Jesus, that you would love Jesus with your whole heart, and that he would be the center of your worship and your devotion in your life.” (Joel Vestal)

Watch a video of Joel Vestal sharing about false idols from the Pashupati Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal and how idolatry is a reality for westerners as well:

(Source: ServLife News by Sarah Buckner)

(Posted: 2010-03-15)

It’s hard to imagine living in a country with no religious freedoms. It’s even harder to imagine the foundation of that country based on Hindu beliefs and systems, with leaders who oppose and persecute Christians and their beliefs. Imagine, though, an opportunity to revisit and revise those original documents that have barred the Gospel from reaching the people’s hearts for so many years. Nepal, a country that has operated on traditional Hinduism for years, is meeting to create a new constitution. All twenty-five political parties are involved, as well as a new and somewhat surprising committee founded three years ago.

“The Christian Advisory Committee to the New Constitution” was formed to represent the Christian population in Nepal. Their goal is to incorporate Christian-based laws and rights into the new constitution.

Lazarus Thulung, Director of ServLife’s new registered organization in the nation, ServLife Himalaya Development, is an active member who has been building relationships with political leaders re-writing the constitution, including the Prime Minister of Nepal.

“The Christian Advisory Committee to the New Constitution submitted our agenda with our President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav (see photo top left),” said Thulung. “Our committee also went to meet with the prime minister and the other 25 offices of the political parties involved in creating the new constitution.”

The Committee also hosted a tea party, connecting with over forty members of the government who are in charge of revising the constitution. The Prime Minister has already promised to provide Christians with certain rights, one being as simple as graveyards, a right not previously afforded to believers. The foundations of this country are slowly being changed.

One huge step in this process occurred in one of the constitution meetings. Philemon Chhetri, a man in ministry with New Life Mission, had the rare and incredible opportunity to distribute four gospel tracts to leaders present at the meeting, including the President of Nepal. These members were also invited to and attended a Christmas celebration, where they watched as Nepalese believers worshipped and praised the Lord for the birth of His son. The Committee has been able to advocate on behalf of the sick in a recent epidemic, and has persuaded a new “Prime Minister Relief Fund” for emergencies. The Nepalese government is not only acknowledging Christian leaders, but is giving them rights and freedoms, and responding to their requests. God is faithful. He has brought the Christians in Nepal hope.

Udaya Bhatta, Director of ServLife’s Children Home in Nepal and director of another ServLife birthed organization, AS Nepal, said, “Here many people usually do not like Christians but little by little people are getting influenced from the way that Christians’ are living their life…It was a different thing seven or eight years ago as I suffered a lot, but now it’s quite nice.”

The years of seemingly fruitless toil, the persecution, the martyrs, the pain are now bearing fruit. Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.” Penetrating secular countries often seems impossible, leaving missionaries and native Christians feeling defeated. Many times, all they can do is live a life of service and love in hopes that the people will see the life of Jesus in them. The return for their hard work is often unseen and unnoticed by outsiders. And then, all of a sudden, lives are changed, nations are affected, and the Gospel is spread.

(Source: ServLife News by Sarah Buckner)

(Posted: March 1, 2010)

ServLife has been working in southern Thailand since the Tsunami hit in Dec. 2004, view images of our work there. In our efforts to help these victims have an opportunity to live life with a sense of dignity and have the means to provide for their basic needs, ServLife began the Hope Fund in Thailand to give out small loans to unemployed and under-employed people in the region.

A management committee, comprised of members of the local church and the community, was then created in 2006 to manage the Hope Fund in Thailand. Ownership of the fund has since been handed over and has been run by the Thai people in the community.

When the earthquakes hit Haiti, the believers in southern Thailand mourned and could relate with the devastation the people of Haiti were experiencing. Sujit, one of the local pastors on the Hope Fund committee in Thailand, decided to respond by joining with four local Thai churches to raise and donate $550 to ServLife’s work in Haiti. Read Sujit’s message to ServLife below:

“We, in Thailand, after hearing about the earthquake in Haiti, were very sorrowful. As Christians, we knew we should do something for the people in Haiti and not only praying. So I told our brothers in the church and 4 other churches in the area that we need to come together and help. Although we are small churches, we believe that many drops of rains make the seas. We are glad to be a small part in joining others that are helping in Haiti. Because we know you, Servlife, and have seen many things you have done with us in Thailand when the tsunami came, we are glad to join with you in this time. We always pray for you. God bless, Sujit. (Hope of Phuket Church)

Give to Our Work in Haiti Today

(Posted: 2010-02-19)

Looking at the big picture can be overwhelming. Hundreds of thousands of people dead. Approximately 300,000 injured. A million homeless. Mass graves. Looters. People desperate for a roof over their heads and some food. How do we even begin to make a difference in the wake of such a tragedy as the earthquake in Haiti? It seems nearly impossible to even scratch the surface of their needs when looking at them as a whole. But these are individual people. These are children who need parents, parents who need food, friends who need medical care. These are people who need us to reach out our hand and help them, one by one.

ServLife set out to do just this, sending a team of six doctors, five nurses, and a coordinator to the capital city of Port-au-Prince on January 28. The team worked at a temporary hospital set up by Mission Haiti that was one of two in the area, attempting to serve and treat the 200,000 people that are currently residing there. Gideon Tsang, the ServLife volunteer and team leader and Pastor of Vox Veniae church in Austin, TX said that this hospital was one of the best in the area – organized and well-staffed by health-care professionals from around the world who, when they left, equipped a team of Haitian doctors and nurses to keep the facilities running.

ServLife provided 1500 pounds ($260,000 of value) of medical supplies which came just in time, according to Tsang. He said, “Every morning we awoke to a line of hundreds waiting to be seen. The supplies were practical and a good fit for the needs of the Haitian community. The hospital could not have sustained the rush with their existing pharmaceutical supplies.” One by one, the team of doctors and nurses reached out to the community to meet needs. An area populated by approximately 200,000 is an overwhelming task, but when the day is done, and the ServLife team has seen a few hundred patients, and wakes up the next day to see a few hundred more, the impact is great.

Haitian lives were destroyed in an instant with the impact of the earthquake. Little by litte, that impact is being lessened as teams go down to serve and meet needs. ServLife had the incredible opportunity to meet tangible needs and make a difference in the lives of the Haitians. Even so, there are so many more needs to be met, and so many more people to be reached there. It’s an enormous task, but one that will be accomplished by faithfully helping and giving. One by one, every single life that was affected by the earthquake can be changed.

Joel Vestal reflects, “Responding to Haiti can seem like taking a drink of water out of a fire hose but we must continue to pray, act, give, and go as we are able. Please pray as we continue to see how ServLife will best be helpful to the people in Haiti.”

Click here to see our goal and give

(Source: ServLife News by Sarah Buckner)

(Posted: Feb. 15, 2010)

The Evangelical Fellowship of India is deeply concerned for the victims of communal violence in Kandhamal, Orissa. Many villages continue to remain tense and sensitive to violence, evident from the recent outburst of protests in both Bhubaneswar and Kandhamal, in the wake of the visits of the delegation of European Union to the region. In one incident in Kandhamal, Orissa, stones where pelted at a Christian house in Badimunda village under the Tikabali Police on February 2, 2010 to protest against the visit of the EU delegation.

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(Posted: February 10, 2010)

We believe God intends for His church to multiply. With this in mind, ServLife provides financial support to church planters and leaders who are trained for one year.

Consider giving to the Training Leaders and Church Planters Fund today!

Anil Shahi was born into a Newari family that was very religious and worshipped Idols and goddesses. His father had epilepsy and became mentally unstable. After a year his younger brother also became mentally unstable. That brought terrible fear to Anil because he was worried he would become the same way.

His family sold all their possessions and property to buy medication for their father and younger brother, but it did not help. In 2001, his friend brought him to a Church; it was his first time at a church. The songs and sermon touched his heart and in 2002 he received Christ. He began to pray for his father and younger Brother and there were tremendous changes within a month. His mother was impressed and began to go to church.

Now, his father and brother are well and other relatives have come to the Lord. He graduated from the ServLife Leadership Training Institute in Nepal in May 2008 and planted Hossanna Church in the Sindhupaalchowk district of Nanglebarai in Central Nepal.

Anil Shares a Testimony from his Ministry

“18 month ago, I decided to start a ministry in Sankhu. I was looking for a room to live and found a house in Ittakhel village. While living in that house, I came to know a young man who was 18 years old and living with his grandparents. His name was Rupesh Kunwar and they are from Bhahmin Hindu family. Due to his paren’ts work, Rupesh’s parents were living in different city. As time passed, I started to notice Rupesh was not doing well and was very disruptive in the community.

I wanted to know about Rupesh, and I asked his relatives and people in the community about him. I came to know that he has been sick for a few years. His family members believed that Rupesh was made sick by the Mantra (chanting words of the witch doctors). They had visited different witch doctors but they could not help.

After hearing his story, God put a burden in my heart for Rupesh. I looked for the opportunity to meet with him, and when that opportunity came, I shared the Gospel with him. It helped us to build our relationship and he started to come to my room regularly for prayer. I started to pray for him every day and he started to open up. After hearing about his life firsthand, I found he was experiencing much pain and was going through a lot of personal problems. He could not sleep at the night and he tried to play music at night to help him sleep. In the middle of the night he would wake up and see different kinds of figures and appearances of demon spirits. He has written many words on his wall which we do not know and cannot read. He has cut his hands several times and they were full of scars and wounds.

God met him in his painful situation. After our meeting his life was totally transformed and his family and community have been amazed by his new life. He is now a living witness for his friends and was recently baptized. Because of his testimony, his other two brothers came to Christ. I thank God for this work He has done in Rupesh and his family.

Prayer Requests:

• For Anil’s church in Sankhu that he started almost two years ago
• Anil desires to plant two more churches by next year. Pray for God’s leading in this.

(Posted: Jan.8, 2010)

We always work to create relationships with the local church and community so that those who receive the loans know that the local church, no matter how small, is concerned for the community. We believe this opens doors and builds trust for sharing faith and relationship.

The following report is from a village in Nepal where a Hope Fund was started:

“Hope Fund loans not only help people get started from the ground up, but also helps those who are coming from behind. Mina comes from the Magar ethnic group, the most common group in this area of the Himalayan foothills. Being from this group in no way translates affluence.

Mina has a child and was married until her husband left her for another woman, leaving her to raise a child in the home of her parents. In Nepal, Mina’s situation is not pitied or shown sympathy, but rather looked down upon.

Mina was interested in getting a loan to start up her goat farm. The local committee saw her situation and selected her as one of the most-needy applicants. Mina was thankful that she qualified to receive the Hope Fund micro loan and now has hope to support her child and begin to change her unfortunate circumstances.

We have 42 targeted villages where we have workers, and a Hope Fund can be started in one of these villages for as little as $12,000. Over a 5 year period, a single Hope Fund in a village will help over 500 individuals living in poverty and suffering from hunger.

Please consider giving to the Hope Fund today and help start a Hope Fund in one of these villages.

Lalan Yadav was recently beaten by three men and harassed by a mob of twenty-five. Why? He would not abandon his faith to please the people and the religious traditions of his country.

Yadav is forty-five, working as a driver with ServLife in India, helping the Children’s Home there. When he started working ServLife, he was a practicing Hindu and came from a strong Hindu family. Over the years he has been working with ServLife, he has slowly been drawn closer to Christ, as he has witnessed faith in action through the work ServLife is doing there.

Lalan decided to respond to the growing faith in his heart and his actions stood out amongst his family and community when he refused to participate in Durga Hindu festival, sparking the interest of the mob that beat him. Not only is this a man who is questioning his traditions and continuing to work for and associate himself with people following Jesus, but he is willing to stand up against those traditions as an example to his family and his Christian friends. He was a witness to his four children and family members and showed them what faith in action looks like.

Yadav suffered the consequence of his choice – cuts and bruises, easily treated at the local clinic. His choice was worth it, though. The eternal reward is great for those willing to take a stand against those things that don’t line up with Christ. His witness in his community has increased with his willingness to publicly confess his faith. Religious persecution does not just happen in Bible stories; it is a reality in the world today. Remember to pray for the Christians facing religious persecution and pray for Yadav and his family as he continues to walk in his growing faith and face the strong Hindu opposition that surrounds him.

We always work to create relationships with the local church and community so that those who receive the loans know that the local church, no matter how small, is concerned for the community. We believe this opens doors and builds trust for sharing faith and relationship.

The following report from a village in Nepal where a Hope Fund was started, was shared from Mark Storm, ServLife staff member on the ground in Asia. This is an example of what the ServLife Hope Fund is all about and what separates it from other micro-enterprise initiatives: not only meeting economical and physical needs, but relationship building and providing an open door for the Gospel to be experienced an explored.

“Two years ago, Hom Bahadur was released from prison in Dhankhuta. After his release, he moved back to his home village. He had just served 12 years for murdering his brother over a family financial dispute. Jail time behind him, he was ready to get back on with life.

Fast forward a year or so (that brings us to December 2008), and Hom Bahadur is receiving a loan from ServLife’s Hope Fund program in eastern Nepal. The information about his criminal history was unknown to me until last week. Had I already known his background, I probably would have had reservations about mixing it up financially with him. But when our own human, worldly wisdom fails, God steps in.

Hom Bahadur now is financially better off than he was a year ago. He has a milk and offspring producing buffalo, he has a buffalo calf, and another buffalo calf due to be born in a month or so. His microloan is being paid off in regular installments. His family is healthier due to the increase of dairy products in their diets.

When he received the loan, he was hesitant because it was from a Christian group. He confronted the church planter because he wanted to know why the Christians would want to help him. Why would they loan money without collateral and without threatening collection techniques? After all, he is a convicted murderer. The church planter explained that helping those less fortunate is part of acting out the faith. Hom Bahadur left from this impromptu meeting feeling much better about being involved with Christians.

Other discussions followed, and five months later Hom Bahadur started attending the weekly fellowships in his village. A month later, he officially joins the church. Two months after that (roughly present day), Hom Bahadur was attending one of ServLife’s training sessions in Kathmandu geared to develop layleaders. That’s where I saw him last. Hom Bahadur was almost giddy with excitement when I saw him at the training center. We were both surprised to see each other in this context. When we had met previously in eastern Nepal, he was a practicing Hindu, offering pujas under a hillside pipal tree. But there he was in the training session, still trying to find his way through his Bible. We would love to see more of this.”

The Hope Fund is designed to be this type of open door. A door where one can peek in and ask all the questions they’d like, whenever they’d like. Helping people economically and spiritually with the same effort is our goal.

Make A Donation to the ServLife Hope Fund in Nepal today!

(From the “Fund” drop-down box, select Project Support, then enter the dollar amount and select “ServLife Hope Fund” for the project to give to. Then enter “Hope Fund Nepal” in the Comments section)

Trafficking in Nepal

“While we are extremely thankful that Shuva was rescued, we need to continue praying for those who fall victim to this crime,” he says, “I have come to find out that there have been many, many such kidnappings lately. Many children are taken for ransom, but others are taken for forced labor or sexual exploitation.”

And tragically, Mark adds, “Some of them aren’t even kidnapped, but sold into this situation by someone in their ‘family’!” Human trafficking is a growing issue in Nepal, and is sometimes perpetuated by impoverished families who sell children into slavery to pay off debts or simply to make ends meet.

The U.S. State Department’s recent report on human trafficking estimates that “twelve thousand Nepali women and children are trafficked every year into sexual exploitation in Indian brothels, and an unspecified number are victims of internal sex trafficking.”

Mark says that “Many parents, especially those of young girls, are in a constant state of worry for their children. It is a terrible situation that requires intervention through prayer.”

How You Can Make a Difference

ServLife operates a home for at-risk children in Kathmandu, Nepal. These children live in a community environment where they are offered education, clothing, food and love. Knowing the limited options for them, we believe that the homes we run in Nepal and India have rescued many from child labor and the sex trade that is rife in the region.

If you would like to act to help endangered Nepali children, consider supporting ServLife’s home for children in Kathmandu, Nepal, or sponsoring a child there. You can also download our prayer calendar to stay up to date on prayer requests for our work around the world.

(Posted: September 14, 2009)

Among the unique opportunities available to ServLife volunteers is working in the ServLife Store. This mobile gift shop features items created by talented artisans in regions where ServLife is working — from victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Nepal to HIV+ widows struggling to survive in South Africa. Items are fashioned by women who are working to escape the brutal trap of extreme poverty and human trafficking.

Items for sale in the ServLife Store include beautiful pieces of jewelry, wallets, table linens, pillow covers, paper products, clothing, bags and purses, soaps, and candles.

By purchasing these products, customers help provide viable economic alternatives for the oppressed and survivors of sexual exploitation, as well as helping empower local indigenous communities and spreading the love of Jesus Christ in word and deed through the work of ServLife.

The ServLife Store will be featured at several upcoming events this summer and fall. Upcoming shows include the Penrod Arts Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana (Sept. 12, 2009), the Louisville Travel Show in Kentucky (Sept. 26-27), and the St. Joan of Arc French Market in Indianapolis (Sept. 12, 2009).

If you are interested in volunteering to help run the ServLife Store at any of these upcoming festivals, let us know! Either way, we would love to see you there!

You can also shop online at the ServLife Store. Giving gifts from the ServLife Store is a tremendous way to make an impact – both at home and around the world.

(Posted: August 25, 2009)

Steve and Amy Nicholson, ServLife staff in South Africa, are happy to report on the positive involvement of three ServLife interns at the Musha Wevana Home for Children in Zimbabwe. Megan, Meredith, and Kristine, all returned to the States recently, and were able to share with ServLife about their experiences abroad.

“We worked with the kids every day, Monday through Friday,” Meredith explained, “The first month we spent at the home, playing with the children.”

Kristine adds, “Our main goal was to create a sustainable project, and in the end we created two projects – an after school arrangement and a chicken coop so the kids could have fresh eggs.”

Steve Nicholson says that the interns “did a great job building ServLife’s relationship with Family Praise Fellowship and their Musha Wevana home for orphaned and abandoned children.” He adds that “They were able to launch two new long-term projects within the home that will be locally led and continued into the future.”

When asked how the trip impacted their lives, Kristine replied that “the one big thing for me was my outlook on life, missions and the kingdom of God, just learning from the people of Zimbabwe and how they live their lives. Being with the children was incredible. Putting a face and a name on their poverty and injustice helped us to see they are not just orphans, they are children who have been orphaned or abandoned.”

“By the end we all felt as it if was our home,” Meredith said. “I think being there longer makes a huge difference.”

“The main thing for me was putting a face to a different part to the world,” Megan says, “Instead of just reading and hearing about sad situations, just realizing that these people are just regular people that you can get to know. We met so many people with such strong faith.”

With the interns arrival back in the States, Steve asks for prayer for “absorption of all they’ve learned and experienced, and for their re-entry into a very different culture.”

The work in Zimbabwe continues on, and Steve suggests to “continue praying for our friends who minister in Zimbabwe full-time – for the leadership of the local church, for the mothers and care-givers at Musha Wevana home for orphaned and abandoned children, and for the members of the church who continue supporting this ministry despite unimaginable hardships.”

When asked if they will return to Zimbabwe in the future, Meredith, Kristine, and Megan each reply, “Yes, definitely.”

Learn more about the work in Zimbabwe, and how to support ServLife’s work there.

(Posted: August 17, 2009)

The DREAM OF JUSTICE VESTAL FAMILY TOUR that took place in May and June successfully covered 23 cities and 4,000 miles in 40 days. Reaching an estimated 10,000 people with 25 events inside and outside of churches, including 40 speaking engagements, the tour elicited a strong and stirring response from longstanding ServLife supporters as well as brand new supporters across the Midwest and Southwest.

As a result of the tour:

• 65 children are sponsored
• $30,000 was raised
• $6,000 worth of products was sold from the ServLife store
• Over 50 photographs were sold for people to hang in their homes and offices to pray for the work of ServLife

“I learned that ServLife is meeting urgent human needs in remote places in the world and in ways that bear witness to Jesus’ care for the ‘least of these’ among us,” stated attorney Bill Brian of Amarillo, “The work is a bold response to God’s call to be a light to the nations. One cannot help but sense an urgency to join with ServLife’s proven ministry.”

Joel Vestal was inspired by the “strong connections” formed on the tour, as he met with individuals from varying backgrounds who were impacted by the ServLife vision. The ServLife store particularly met with great success, as event attendees were excited to purchase items created by former trafficking victims – knowing that proceeds directly benefit the women who are now recovering from such harsh circumstances.

“It’s such an inspiration to us to see Joel and Elise’s unwavering commitment and devotion to make a difference in the lives of ‘the least of these’ in our world,” Melinda Studinka of Texas commented, “We want very much to see more people and more churches exposed to their vision and work and to come alongside them as they obey God’s call on their lives.”

Melinda said that her prayer was that “the Dream of Justice Tour would serve that purpose. And I believe God answered that prayer.”

Joel says that he focused his speaking engagements on the Tour around three issues central to ServLife’s mission – confronting spiritual darkness, aiding children at risk, and empowering victims of poverty. The response was outstanding. “I was encouraged by the broad demographics of ServLife supporters,” Joel recalls, “It was remarkable to see people from so many diverse backgrounds impacted for service.”

The Tour might be over, but the work of ServLife continues – strengthened by the enthusiasm and involvement of supporters around the world.

“We’re still dreaming of a more just world,” Joel says, “and we’re excited to see what God has ahead as we serve in Christ’s name. It takes just one step at a time and not getting overwhelmed with the great needs of the world that we do nothing. With God’s help and creative dreaming, transformation can be a reality.”

(Posted: July 20, 2009)

“Our Cape Town work is in motion,” Steve writes, “with all parties working toward our common goals of training more township pastors and extending micro-loans to township entrepreneurs.”

Steve is encouraged about the potential of the new training curriculum that will be used for church leadership training. “Our new Biblical Community Development curriculum for the pastor training college is being edited, revised, and expanded by the local teachers,” he says, “and will soon enter the translation stage.”

Three new ServLife interns recently arrived in South Africa, and Steve delivered them to the Musha Wevena Children’s Home in Zimbabwe.

Meredith, Kristine, and Megan are already a part of the family,” he notes, “and our toughest job seems likely to be getting them to leave Zimbabwe at the end of their assignment!”

As ServLife continues to expand in Africa, we need your prayers and support now more than ever. Prayerfully consider giving online today to help continue our work throughout Africa.

Saturday morning dawned early for ServLife staff and volunteers as they worked to set up the 2nd ServLife Fundraising Yard Sale, held on Saturday, May 30. The yard sale was conducted to benefit the work of ServLife International around the world.

The sale was a success, drawing crowds of shoppers who not only purchased items but donated funds as well. The sale items filled the parking lot at Trinity Church in Broad Ripple, where an estimated 90% of the items sold. Only a single parking space of leftover items remained after the sale. Leftover items were donated to charity.

We are so grateful to all of the individuals who contributed items for the ServLife Yard Sale, Joel Vestal said, and we are especially grateful for the support and help of numerous volunteers who gave of their time to help tag and sell items. Their efforts made a huge difference.

If you would like to organize a benefit yard sale in your community or church, please contact us.

(Posted: June 2, 2009)

“Reading Dangerous Faith together was a great tool to help our group discover and wrestle with the challenges of mission and social justice,” Dustin  recalls. “The discussions prompted by the book brought about unity in an unfamiliar group with varying life experiences. It quickly exposed the uncertainties and discomforts of being removed from our normal lifestyles and forced us to trust God daily. This vulnerability created an environment that allowed us to comfort and encourage one another.”

After reading Chapter Eight, “A God of Justice,” trip participant Carrie Lynn challenged the group, “Have you experienced a country where people did not have access to clean water or good medicines? How did this make you feel? What did it make you want to do?” Every day in India the group was faced with questions posed with words and without, as they confronted poverty and injustice firsthand.

“To hear that God was at work in these foreign lands long before I arrived gave me strength to join in,” Dustin says, “It was at the same time humbling and empowering to know that God did not need me, but desired me to be a part of what he is already doing.” Dustin calls Joel’s accounts of serving the Church worldwide energizing and motivating, and hopes that others will be encouraged to use the book as study resource while confronting injustice worldwide.

Contact us about having Joel Vestal come to your group to speak about the book and do a book signing event.

Nicholas Kristof writes, “As America’s unemployment rate rises, those paying the severest price aren’t necessarily in Detroit or Miami. One of the newest street children here in this northern Haitian city is a 10-year-old boy whose father was working in Florida but lost his job and can no longer send money home. As a result, the family here was evicted, the mother and children went separate ways to improve their odds of finding shelter, and the boy found refuge in an abandoned wreck of a car.

The boy is one of 46 million people in the developing world, more than double the New York State population, who will be driven into poverty in 2009, according to a World Bank estimate.”

Read the Rest of this Article

(Posted: May 6, 2009)