India is the second most populated country in the entire world with a population of 1,148,000,000!¹ So when you think of the world that God so loves - remember that it is largely Indian!

Although a rich country in many respects, India still suffers widely from high poverty levels, malnutrition, illiteracy and corruption.

India has over 1 billion people; of this number, it's estimated that around 2.3 million people are now living with HIV AIDS.²

HIV surfaced much later in India than it did in most other countries. In fact, at the beginning of 1986, despite  20,000+ reported AIDS cases worldwide,³ India had no reported cases of AIDS.⁴  This didn't last long however. Once 1990 hit, infection rates quickly rose and today the HIV AIDS epidemic touches every sector of Indian society, not just the poorer groups with which it was originally associated.⁵

AIDS can often be seen as an issue that only affects people living on the margins of society with immoral lifestyles. Even as it infects the general population, the HIV epidemic is still widely misunderstood among the Indian public. People living with HIV risk being rejected by their families and communities, are often refused medical treatment, fall victim to violent persecution and, in some reported cases, even denied the last rites before they die.⁶

In a country where poverty, poor health and illiteracy are rampant, the increasing number of HIV AIDS cases presents an intimidating challenge.

The HIV AIDS epidemic leaves countless children orphaned and spouses widowed. The poor are left without necessary medical care and left to fend for themselves. Many turn to the streets and are exploited as prostitutes. Others are forced to have limbs broken by pimps so they can be more convincing as beggars. Many have to steal just to survive. There isn't much hope for children... there are just SO many  children and so many needs. The message of hope and worth in Jesus Christ, His gospel of compassion for the downtrodden and salvation for all is a message that desperately needs to be told.

We are working with a local charity group there that is reaching out to change lives in Andra Pradesh, India.

The leaders in this ministry are conducting much needed medical camps in their surrounding villages and areas. They are providing needy people with check-ups, counseling and prayer, as well as providing necessary medicines with limited resources.

A big part of this ministry is educating people about HIV AIDS, how it is contracted, safety precautions and awareness of this disastrous epidemic.  If workers can educate the people's minds, the hope is that the people will then take steps protect their bodies and help one another.

Project workers maintain an orphanage as a safe home for children left parentless because of HIV AIDS, physically handicapped children and children orphaned by other unfortunate circumstances. The orphanage survives on meager donations from churches in their area.

Your help is needed to provide food, clothing, educational materials and other provisions to these children. Without help, there simply is not enough to go around.

The Lord tells us in James 1:27 that "Pure and undefiled religion before God is this - to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
 
Widows once afflicted are now  being helped, visited and comforted with regular care and attention - as well as being given the food, clothing, blankets, medicines and hygienic products that they must have.  Widows that would otherwise be without care are shown the love of God through this important and heartfelt outreach.

The Lord is also mightily ministering through local workers to spread the gospel!  They are establishing rural churches and conducting crusades and seminars.

Religion has always been an important part of the India's culture. The vast majority of Indians associate themselves with at least one religion. Indian census has established that Hinduism accounts for 80% of the population of India. The second largest religion is Islam, at about 13% of the population. About 2% of Indians consider themselves Christians.⁷

Pray for the leaders of the Hope for India Project, as Christians are a persecuted minority in India. All the workers are currently self supporting.

So far, these faithful workers have  established seven congregations in different parts of Andra Pradesh state. About ninety percent of their evangelistic work is done throughout the Hindu and tribal peoples in rural and urban slum areas.

It is exciting to see many peoples' lives change for the better! They've gained a contentment and satisfaction in the Lord that no one and no circumstance can take from them - they have internal and eternal hope!

3 big needs in this outreach are:

(1)  Prayer - This is a life changing effort that can be heavily persecuted. 
(2) Action - Use the gifts God has given you to give something of yourself to get involved. Pray about it, look inside and then check out the Do Something page for ideas or email us your own ideas.
(3) Some financial support - even a little bit helps, and besides, the rupee to dollar conversion is looking pretty good right now (1 US dollar = about 47 Indian rupees).  

[1] http://www.aneki.com/populated.html
[2] NACO (2007) 'HIV sentinel surveillance and HIV estimation in India 2007: A technical brief'
[3] Bureau of Hygiene & Tropical Diseases (1986) 'AIDS newsletter' Issue 1 January 30th
[4] Ghosh T.K. (1986) ‘AIDS: a serious challenge to public health’, Journal of the Indian Medical Association, January;84(1):29-30
[5] http://www.avert.org/aidsindia.htm
[6] UNDP (2006), The Socio Economic Impact of HIV and AIDS in India
[7] Census of India, 2001