Archive for September, 2008

After spending a month in the US, Suresh and Christina Kumar returned home on September 17th. They were excited to see their children and extended family. Suresh specifically commented that it was great to get back to the “smells” of India!

On a fun note, the Kumar household just had high-speed wireless Internet installed. Skype is in the works so that Harvest India can communicate with leaders and churches around the globe in an easy, low-cost way.

After returning, Suresh joined his team in an effort to visit pastors and churches who are experiencing heavy flooding due to a 7-8 foot rise in waters from the Krishna River. Hundreds of villagers flee to the village cyclone shelter during these times, and Harvest India seeks to help as much as possible. Please pray for the safety of the Harvest India staff as they travel in remote areas.

As many of you know, Harvest India has a vision that centers on “soup, soap, and salvation” - originally articulated by a man named William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army). Here are two quotes by William Booth that Suresh has recently been inspired and challenged by…

“In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.”

“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight, I’ll fight to the very end!”

Each week, we’ll post an update about what’s going on in the ministry of Harvest India based on a phone interview with Suresh Kumar. Here are a few things for this week…

Kumars Are In Baltimore
Suresh and Christina are visiting Lifehouse Church Bethel near Baltimore, Maryland, and they’re excited to share the vision of Harvest India. This church has been financially supporting the ministry for the past 4 years, and they’ve visited India once. Suresh will be sharing with a new church plant on Wednesday night about Harvest India, and he’s excited to develop more and more ministry contacts on the east coast. Christina and Suresh will be leaving the US on September 21st, and they are excited to see their children after traveling for a month.

Raj and Usha Had a Girl
Suresh’s personal assistant, Raj and his wife Usha, are the proud parents of a brand new baby girl. After the customary 6 month waiting period, they will host a special party where they will dedicate their child to God and give her a name.

Persecution in Neighboring Orissa
In the last 2 weeks, Communists killed a top Hindu leader and 4 of his disciples. Hindu militants believe that Christians hired Communists to perform this act of violence, and this is why they have initiated widespread persecution in the state of Orissa.

According to Suresh, over 600 churches have been burned and 2 pastors were killed in the last 2 weeks in Orissa. In addition, 20,000 Christian homes have been burned. Over 50,000 people were directly affected by these actions, and over 30,000 have fled into the forests to protect themselves. The churches in Andrah Pradesh are protesting and seeking help from the government to stop the violence.

Let us pray for peace in the nation of India!

My name is Jyothi Rani, age 13, studying 6th standard. I have no father and mother, and there is nobody to look after me. My mother is prostitute, I don’t know my father. I came from Red-Light area at Chilakalutipet. When I was living among the prostitutes in Red-Light area, nobody cares me, nobody gives food and no shelter, I was so sad that time. I thought my life might end in this red-light area.

One day a woman brought me to Bishop Suresh Kumar’s attention who was visiting our area to share the good news to the prostitutes and she explained about my condition. Immediately Suresh Kumar has accepted me and brought me to the Children’s Home where I met the Lord Jesus Christ. By His grace now, this is my fifth year. God is so good to me. I am the first in my class in education and first in the athletics. I am thankful to this place of hope where I am so happy. They are giving me good food, clothes and what ever I need. And they are teaching good education, prayers, and the stories from the Bible.

After spending the month of June in the United States travelling to many different churches, Christina and I made our way back a 2nd time in late August to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Continental Singers at their invitation. What a wonderful celebration!

As you can tell, we’ve launched a brand new website. Tell your friends and be sure to spread the word by posting a Harvest India banner on your site or blog. And, stop by the Facebook Cause page to join me in making an eternal impact in India. God bless!