This year as the season of our dear Savior’s birth drew near we asked our partners to give one additional gift for Christmas. Through prayer and the multiplied resources that were given, Harvest India blessed thousands of men, women and children by giving clothes, breaking bread, and preaching the Good News.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

          Our 24 children homes worshiped Jesus and prayed for all of our patners on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas morning, all of the children recieved new uniforms for school.

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We also gathered with our Staff to bless their families and gave clothing to the widows and elderly in each village we ministered to throughout the Christmas Season.
     

THANK YOU! Through your prayers and support we watched many receive Christ’s love and find the true meaning in Christmas.

Name: T. Pradeep
Age: 11 years old
Harvest India Ministry: Children Home

Pradeep is a young boy in Harvest India’s children home at Telaprolu. He and his older brother are both studying in the home. Pradeep was born tongue tied. Tongue tie occurs when the tissue on the underside of the front of the tongue is positioned too far forward, making it difficult to move the tongue. Without the ability to speak Pradeep was having difficulty communicating and his opportunities looked dim. Through Harvest India’s partners, who financially stand behind procedures that will benefit the quality of life for those deemed candidates, Pradeep underwent a reconstructive surgery last month. He now has greatly increased movement of the tongue and is beginning to learn proper pronunciation and spoken sounds. His studies have greatly increased as well as his spirits.

“I am staying and studying in Telaprolu at Harvest India’s children home with my older brother. My parents were not able to care for us or get me surgery due to financial problems. One day my Harvest India Dad took me to see Bishop Suresh. After some medical exams I received the money for my operation. Now I am able to talk freely with anybody! I thank God for His help and also thank all the donors who made this possible.”

Name: Shake Saahina Bee
Age: 65 years old
Harvest India Ministry: Elderly Home

Shake Shahina was born and brought up in Visaka Patnam. She is from a strong Muslim background, and has two children. Her husband worked as trucker. This is her story:

“After his(her husbands) sudden demise my family scattered. I was able to sustain myself for a few years, but when I grew old my children pushed me out of my house. I was left with nothing, no food, no clothes, no shelter. I was starving for food but nobody would help me. I decided to visit some of my relatives in another region in hopes they would offer me shelter. I got to the local train depot and headed for Tenali. When I went to my relative’s house they also rejected me. I didn’t know what to do. I was so alone; I decided to die. I came to the railway station with fear in my heart, trembling in my body and hunger in my stomach. I spent ten days at the station and grew weaker each day. I started to beg. The police began to hassle me for begging. They could see I was getting near death and they asked me my story. Then a miracle happened. They told me about Harvest India’s elderly home in Tenali. I went there and they didn’t reject me. They provided for my needs, gave me food, shelter, fresh clothes, medical examinations, and nursed me back to health. Now I am very happy to stay in this house. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord and I’m enjoying life growing in the knowledge of God and praying for this ministry and those who stand behind this work; to give hope to those in need. I know that my life is nearly finished on this earth, and soon I’ll meet my God. I have requested my Harvest India family grant my wish to be buried, following Christian custom. I thank God for restoring my health, my hope, and my future. I pray continually for Harvest India, for the donors, and for the lives that must still be reached through this work.”

Name: Chelaka Naveen
Age: 18 years old
Harvest India Ministry: Children Home & College Financial Aid

Chelaka Naveen is now studying his second year at Intermediate College (M.P.C.) He and his two sisters have all been a part of Harvest India ministries as they have grown up. His eldest sister recently got married and his younger sister is in 9th grade at the Harvest India Orphanage at Vadlamudi.

Five years back Naveen joined Harvest India’s children home. At a young age, his father deserted his mother leaving the family in a desperate situation. His mother was concerned with how she could possibly provide for herself, let alone her three children. When she heard about Harvest India’s children homes she inquired a way to enroll Naveen and his two sisters. Harvest India provided hope in what seemed to be a hopeless situation and allowed for her to work and provide for herself, resting easy in knowing that her children were under superior care. She visited often and was continually blessed to see the ways that her children were growing into amazingly gifted young adults and establishing a relationship with Jesus Christ. Naveen has completed his time under Harvest India’s care and after graduating 10th grade he continued his education at M.C.P, a local intermediate college in Tenali. He spends his days studying hard and planning for his bright future. With endless possibilities on the horizon he still volunteers his free time to help at the orphanage, continually building relationships with those that invested so much in his life and helping set the younger kids on the right path.

“I was very happy in this children’s home, I still love to visit and help out. I am receiving everything that I ever needed and more. I’ve accepted Christ as my personal Savior and Lord and I thank God for His goodness in my life, for Harvest India, and for God’s grace on my family.”

We have just returned from our pastor and leader conference in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. For the last nine years Harvest India has been growing its presence in Tamil Nadu and we now share the gospel in over 38 villages in this state. Tamil Nadu is a six hour train ride plus ten hours by bus from Tenali. The language is Tamil instead of Telugu where the majority of our ministry is conducted. It’s a foreign land even to us, but the workers are few and the harvest is plenty and we believe that God has a great work to be done in this desperate land. Under the leadership of Pastor Mony and the servants God has called to the ministry, the work in Tamil Nadu is growing; more churches are being planted; the unreached are hearing the Good News and lives are being eternally transformed. It has been a powerful and wonderful four days.

God used Pastor Andy Silva (a partner from New Mexico), Pastor Kevin (a partner from Arizona), and I to train, equip, and encourage these faithful men and women in the work they endeavor for the Glory of God. We are encouraged to see the faithfulness and strength of our pastors and leaders working in Tamil Nadu. We are overjoyed to hear the stories of the harvest that is coming from the laborious years of faithfully planting seed and prayerfully protecting that seed as the Lord grows the believers in this state.

God spoke to our pastors and leaders about the authority they have been given in Christ Jesus. He led us to specifically pray over our younger ministers who are laboring for the Lord; that they would not be hindered in their work and that they would rise up to stand as an example of right living for the next generation. The theme of the conference was “wah” the Tamil word for “come.” We encouraged our pastors to walk in faith and speak out their desires to the Lord; to pray unceasingly for the things they need to effectively run the ministry and to call those things to “wah” in Jesus name. Above all else we gathered to give ourselves to the Word of God and prayer. We also had much time of praise and worship. The spirit of the Lord broke out and we all rejoiced with praise and dancing to honor God for His faithfulness and thank Him for His grace on our lives. We are so thankful for the work the Lord is doing in Tamil Nadu, for the ways He has revealed himself to us over the last few days. He has given us encouragement through His Word and in revelation through the Holy Spirit to continue to run the race. Anyone can begin the job, can start to walk in the Christian life, but to those who faithfully press forward, seeking first the Kingdom and remaining focused on the eternal prize, will be rewarded greatly.

Please continue to pray for the harvest in Tamil Nadu.

Specifically that:

• the 400 plus pastors and leaders in attendance would be strengthened and remain encouraged.
• we would be able to conduct more ministry in Tamil Nadu as the Lord provides resources.
• Pastor Mony and his team would remain focused on the Lord and not be distracted or hindered by the enemies schemes.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support, glory to God!

The last few days at Harvest India’s main campus in Tenali have been busy and blessed. A few weeks ago we received an unexpected e-mail from a college student involved with one of our partner churches. She is currently studying children’s education while participating in a Semester at Sea program. While in port in Chennai, she wanted to see if it was possible to spend her three day in India experiencing Harvest India, an organization she has heard so much about and partnered with through prayer and child sponsorship. We were thrilled to hear the news and invited her to come and see what the Lord is doing through our ministry.

With a team of four college age students we have had an exciting few days. Bringing in these young men and women who are passionately serving God’s Kingdom is so encouraging to see. Though they could have spent the three days enjoying the more developed Chennai shopping malls, restaurants, and beaches, they chose to come and serve, the children, the ministry and the Kingdom of God.

On the first day of their arrival they taught English at Harvest India’s Public School and on day two they really got their hands dirty and cleaned the construction site of our Tenali church building. By faith we prayed that God will continue to bring the right hands, finances and resources to further the construction so that this project can be completed and many more people can come to know Jesus, gather, worship and praise the Lord. In reward for their hard work and in true Harvest India fashion they were each gifted an authentic Indian outfit. The following day we toured some of our ministry sites to allow each of them to experience the breadth of Harvest India. And that afternoon, they returned to Chennai to re-board their ship and head to their next port. Truly grateful and blessed by their visit, Harvest India is thrilled to be reminded, by these passionate young people who are serving God instead of serving themselves, that God is continuing this great work through the generations, forming young partnerships that will stand in the days to come, and creating catalysts for the faith today!

Thank you, Alex, Mike, Michelle and Leah, for all your hard work and passion these last few days. May God continue to enrich your lives as you seek first His Kingdom. Safe journeys to you and your shipmates during the remainder of your Semester at Sea.

As we prepare for the opening of our second sewing center in partnership with the International Princess Project of Costa Mesa, CA, it has been exciting to see the ways God is already at work in the lives of those He has called to this work of hope and dignity. The new center is located in Peddaparem, which is one of the largest red light cities in the state. There is a darkness in the streets of Peddaparem by day and by night fall the only thing you feel comfortable doing is staying inside. There are few women who roam the streets at night, most are already working, but many pimps pushing prostitution and men looking for deals flood the streets.

We’ve acquired a house in the middle of it all so that we can begin our ministry presence. We visited for the first time last week and as we gathered to pray over the land and buildings God’s goodness and light filled each room. The residential building is a good size, with two bedrooms in the front portion and two more in the rear. Previously a house where prostitution ran rampant, we have commissioned this building for our ongoing staff presence in Paddaparem and the teams who will come from near and far to conduct ministry in this desperate land. The house was previously modified for sex work with secret doors masked to look like closet space and a hidden room in case of police invasion. It weighs heavy on the heart to know that from the outside the street looks similar to most other residential areas in Andhra Pradesh but inside more than half the homes in Peddaparem the lives of women young and old are being destroyed, enslaved to a sin that appears to give no hope of a better life, no sign of change.

Just minutes away from our residential building is the sewing center. The former owner of the house is renting us the building. She too use to be involed in the sex trade industry, but falling on hard times was forced out of the area. We’re praying that Christ will allow us to minister to her as well. She’s made some beautiful upgrades to the doors in the home that are hard-carved pictures of Jesus. When we enter the center their is peace. It’s daytime so the streets have resumed normal business. We meet twelve of the twenty women who are have left or desire to leave the sex trade and we open in prayer, thanking God for the way that he has brought each woman here today. That he has restored hope to these beautiful, cherished women and that he has had a plan, since the begining of time, to prosper these women, to bring each one a hope and a future.

We spend the day explaining what the women will be doing and giving instruction on cutting patterns, sewing, and construction. The women are all excited to get there hands in and have a try so they spend the next hours sewing old fabric, focusing on straight lines and even margins. They seem to picking it up quite well. With much help from the teachers, one pair of punjammies is assembled by the days end. The punjammies are not perfect by any means… but they are beautiful. Their story makes them so and then again that’s what this is all about!

To learn more about the International Princess Project please visit http://www.intlprincess.org/

Dear Friends and Partners,

Greetings and blessings in the name of Jesus! I am following the example of the Apostle Paul as he was always praising God for his friends and partners. I am so thankful to God for your faithful partnership and prayerful support of Harvest India over all the years. Your faithfulness allows our ministry to do many great things for the Kingdom of God in India. Without your financial and prayer support, Harvest India can do nothing. We deeply appreciate your kind hearts and love.

A Challenging Season
Although I have greatly enjoyed my visit with you in the US this Summer, it has been another challenging year in terms of raising funds for the work of Harvest India. Because of the bad economy and loss of jobs, there are so many people who are facing financial problems. I am extremely thankful that we have been able to raise funds for designated purposes such as sponsorships for many orphans and Bible College students, but we are experiencing a challenging season when it comes to our general fund. These are the financial resources that allow us to minister on a daily basis to the poor and needy in India…feeding, clothing, and sharing the good news of God’s love.

At the end of the day, I know the Lord is in control. I have seen the hand of God through the continual growth of the ministry over the years. I am confident that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He is always faithful to you and to me.

Will You Invest in Harvest India?
As I trust God to fulfill the vision He has placed in our hearts, I am requesting that you passionately pray for our ministry and the entire nation of India. I believe this is a very important time, and we need to look to God for His direction. Our mission is to take the good news of Christ to every unreached village and bless many untouchables, orphaned children, elderly, and desperate people living with HIV and AIDS.

Will you…?

Open your eyes to the tremendous needs?
Ask God how you are to respond to the needs of Harvest India?
Listen to God’s direction and respond generously?

Please consider investing in what God is doing through Harvest India.

Once again, thank you so much for your support and love. We want you to know that all our staff, pastors, children’s homes, and old aged homes pray daily for you to be blessed. Please stay in touch with us, and let us know how we can pray for you.

God Bless,
Suresh Kumar

We are so blessed to have Suresh speaking in California for the next several weeks. The Lord is continuing to use him powerfully as he proclaims the truth and reminds this American Nation of God’s call to missions. Please join us at one of our partner churches.

Speaking Dates and Locations

June 5th: ROCKHARBOR CHURCH, Costa Mesa CA @ 6PM
June 6th: ROCKHARBOR CHURCH, Costa Mesa CA @ 9AM, 11AM, 7PM, & 9PM
ROCKHARBOR CHURCH, South Orange County @ 10AM
June 13th: St. Peters Church, Huntington Beach @ 9AM & 10:45AM
ROCKHARBOR CHURCH, Fullerton @ 7PM & 9PM
June 20th: Revolution Church, Long Beach @ 10AM
June 27th: TBD (please check back soon)
July 4th: Newsong Church, Los Angeles @ 9:30AM & 11:30AM
July 11th: Grace Fellowship, Tehachapi @ 9AM & 10:45AM
July 18th: North Hills Community Church, Rancho Cucamonga 9AM & 10:45AM

Also join us for two evenings of great fellowship as we gather together to pray for Harvest India, celebrate what God is doing in India, and look to the future together:

INFORMED | God’s story in India
When: Tuesday, June 8, 7-9pm
Where: the living room @ ROCKHARBOR
Q&A with Suresh Kumar from Harvest India to discover how the gospel is moving throughout India and how to join the work God has already started.

CULTURED | Experience the beauty of India
When: Monday, June 14, 7-9pm
Where: the box @ ROCKHARBOR
Capture a taste of India… the colorful beauty, its rich, vibrant culture, and the deep heritage of its people

Continue to ask God how you can become a part of the Kingdom work in India. We love you, we are praying for you continuously and we hope to see you.

In His Love,
The Harvest India USA Team