Development Activities Dumbfound Youth Congress Secretary

14th January 2013 was an exciting day in Rajasthan as needy community members in Believers Church Udaipur Diocese gathered to receive gifts such as sewing machines, livestock and a solar lamp.

These gifts were distributed through Believers Church’s poverty alleviation project. The chief guest of the distribution program was Mrs. Mumtaj Kureshi, chief council member of Udaipur Congress rural area and vice president of Kherwara Panchayat Committee. Mr. Premlal, Youth Congress Secretary, joined her as a special guest.

Rev. Fr. Jose spoke about the various community development projects of Believers Church in Rajasthan. “Believers Church is always looking forward to help the people in their need based on the love of Jesus,” he said, mentioning projects such as Bridge of Hope, Safe Water Supply and Sanitation. “There is only one purpose behind doing lots of community development projects,” said Rev. Fr. Jose, “which is to develop the citizens of India.”

Mrs. Mumtaj Kureshi appreciated the church’s concern and burden for people’s development. “Dear people, whatever gifts you are getting are precious,” she said to the recipients. “Be thankful for that and make use of these gifts for the betterment of your life. Sewing machines, cows, buffaloes, chicken farms and goats are durable gifts for you, which will bestow self-employment.”

Mr. Premlal also addressed the crowd. “I am excited a lot about this gift distribution program,” he said, “and dumbfounded on hearing of Believers Church activities…It is really a great help for the people who are in need.”

Community members were so grateful for the gifts. Babli, a mother of four small children, recently lost her husband to a severe sickness. “After the death of my husband, I was really helpless and broken,” she said. But Babli received hope when she got a cow from Believers Church. “I will sell the milk to the milk factory to get money for the expense of my family,” said Babli. “My children will also have milk to drink. This cow will be really an amazing gift for our living.”

A young man named Kalubai got a solar lamp. “There is no electricity facility in my village,” Kalubai said. “My younger brother is studying in 10th standard. So far, we have been using kerosene lamps, which are not so bright. Because of this, I and my sister could not study properly. But now this solar light will be a great help for my brother’s study.”

This gift distribution is just one example of Believers Church’s work in undeveloped regions. The church gives thousands of poverty-alleviating gifts to needy communities each year.