Touching The Untouchable
and behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’
[ Matthew 8:1-2 ]
india.
it’s considered by many as a bustling, developing economic power. it has industry and science, even bollywood.
but, underneath the innovation and industrialization we find this:
They are approximately 300 million people who are deemed “untouchable” and comprise the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system. Since the origin of this system 3,000 years ago, the Dalits have lived in bondage to the code of caste. They have been unable to escape their fate and are deprived of even the most basic liberties and privileges, including the freedom to decide where to live, work and worship.i
just to put that number in perspective, as of 2007 the population of the united states was 301 million people.ii
300 million people deemed untouchable, like the lepers of Galilee. relegated to a life of burden and isolation.
Bonded labor is prevalent among Dalits, even their children, who often work in slave-like conditions to pay off family debt. With estimates as high as 150 million working children, India has the largest child labor force in the world. Abuse is common, with long hours in miserable conditions and no hope of escape. This is the fate of the Dalits.iii
in many cases the ‘family debt’ is what keeps these dalit children in slavery.
i had my breath taken away one sunday when i saw a GFA film which revealed that in some cases the total of that debt is as little as $13.00.iv
living in the land of opportunity it’s hard to imagine how a caste system can operate, but for the dalit, it is the only life available…until now.
in 2001 Gospel For Asia began reaching out specifically to the dalit caste through a ministry called Bridge of Hope. now, over 42,000 children are being bought out of bondage, given an education, school uniforms, medical care, having physical needs met, and, most importantly, are being presented with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the God who will touch them, the God who is not afraid to touch anyone.
we can partner with Gospel For Asia in touching the dalit caste.
check this out…are you ready for it?
of any money donated to GFA, 100% goes to the field.
100%
not 50% or 75%
while GFA’s primary goal is to plant churches, the native missionaries also work to dig wells, alleviate illiteracy (as high as 90% in many dalit communitiesv ), establish radio programs, outreaches to regional slums and muslim communities, building homes, churches and Bible colleges, and much more.vi
you can be a part of touching the untouchable. GFA makes it easy.
One Time Donation - any amount at all. you can designate it toward a specific need or simply send it where it is most needed.
Sponsor A Missionary - $30 a month supports a native missionary in some of the most unreached parts of the world.
Sponsor A Child - $28 a month supports a child in the Bridge of Hope program.
for more on Gospel For Asia visit this page, or visit their official site.
above all, join us in praying for the work being done in india, especially in the dalit community.
our God is the God who reaches, cleanses and embraces.
praise the Lord.
- http://www.gfa.org/dalit↩
- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.html↩
- http://www.gfa.org/dalit/reaching-the-dalits↩
- http://www.calvaryhanford.com/videos/bringingthemhope.avi↩
- http://www.gfa.org/dalit/reaching-the-dalits#dalit4↩
- http://www.gfa.org/donation/major-ministries↩
