You can help build homes like this one for persecuted believers. (Photo courtesy of GFA and NRB)
India (MNN) ― This summer, the National Religious Broadcasters plan to raise money through television and radio stations for persecuted believers in India.
Thousands of Christians lost loved ones and everything they had during violence last fall in the state of Orissa. Maoist rebels had murdered anti-Christian extremist Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati on August 23, but the World Hindu Council (VHP) blamed Christians for his death, sparking intense persecution.
There were "Christians who were being killed, churches being burned, homes being burned--many times with the Christians inside the homes," NRB's Ron Harris explained.
"Some of the people are still homeless from what took place back in the summer and early fall," Harris said. "They need their homes, and they need their churches. Some are still living in tents and out in the woods, and we need Christians to come alongside."
Now that the violence has subsided, Gospel for Asia can begin to rebuild the devastated communities. $2,500 will construct a simple Indian-style home from local materials with local labor, and $11,000 will build a church.
"It helps build their economy; it's just helping on so many levels," Harris said, plus, "It's very affordable." However, the project will have a greater impact than simply constructing buildings.
"I see this as a way not only to rebuild homes and churches, but to unify and solidify Christians in areas where they are often persecuted. It is also a strong witness for Christ in those areas," Harris explained.
GFA and NRB invite radio and television stations to raise money for this project in June and July. If a station raises $40,000, it will be able to reconstruct an entire community as well as its church building.
"That's pretty astounding," Harris said. "That would be a worthy goal for a station to throw out there to their listeners. We can rebuild a whole community and their church in a place where Christians are persecuted; we can come alongside them and encourage and strengthen them."
100 percent of the donations received will go straight to the mission field. NRB will provide stations with Web site banners, Web pages, and their own toll-free number, as well as spots and interviews with GFA's president and founder, Dr. K.P. Yohannan.
To learn more, see NRB's information on the partnership and GFA's information on the project.
