CALCUTTA MERCY MINISTRIES
KOLKATA, INDIA
July 2017
Home > Updates > July 2017 - Calcutta Mercy Ministries, Kolkata, India
With Founder Huldah Buntain and President Bonnie Long
Strong National Leadership
Huldah Buntain with students
Huldah Buntain was recently in Calcutta to celebrate the 100th anniversary celebration for the Assemblies of God of North India. She comments, "I was so happy to see hundreds of national pastors attend this celebration from the 16 states of North India. However, I was even happier to know that out of the hundreds of pastors present the largest number were from the three States where we have our Bible Schools that Sunday Line is helping to support."
School Prakash
Churches Begun By Grads
The graduate pastors from these Bible Schools not only have opened churches in unreached villages, but also have initiated schools. It is educating the children that bring the families to church and to the Lord. Calcutta Mercy Ministries now have over 1000 churches planted by the graduates of the rural Bible Schools in the languages of 5 different States.
A Different Day
It is a different day now in India than when Huldah and her husband, Mark, arrived in 1954. At that time there were more missionaries than national pastors and leaders. Now, under the new administration, no new missionary Visas are being granted. Many who apply for a Visa are granted only a week or 10 days in the country with the written restriction: "Cannot participate in any religious activities."
Though India is a democracy and honours all religions, it is necessary to have services, guest speakers and special events take place only in the churches. Outdoor crusades and tract distribution is no longer possible. However, it is possible for to have Chapel services each morning in their schools, hospitals and with their church staff. Anyone can come to the services and can accept the Lord, but all activity must take place within the churches.
Having a strong national church with strong leaders allows the ministry in India to continue to grow and develop to meet the divergent needs of the people.
Breaking the Cycle: Providing Hope
Once finished, Hope House will provide a home for girls who were born into the red-light neighbourhoods of India. They will have a home in which they can live away from their high-risk environment, go to school, play safely in their inner courtyard and grow up with a brighter future. Still needed to complete the facility is a water treatment system, a security fence around the pond and some essentials to equip the kitchen and residence. Believe with Calcutta Mercy Ministries that finances will become available to bring the home and classrooms to full operational capacity with funding for staff, teachers, food, medical care and other maintenance costs.
Hope House - Interior Courtyard for Safe Play
Hope House - Residence & Classrooms for the girls
Once finished, Hope House will provide a home for girls who were born into the red-light neighbourhoods of India. They will have a home in which they can live away from their high-risk environment, go to school, play safely in their inner courtyard and grow up with a brighter future. Still needed to complete the facility is a water treatment system, a security fence around the pond and some essentials to equip the kitchen and residence. Believe with Calcutta Mercy Ministries that finances will become available to bring the home and classrooms to full operational capacity with funding for staff, teachers, food, medical care and other maintenance costs.