INDIA
Asansol, India
Asansol is a metropolitan city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the second largest city, after the state capital,Kolkata, and the most populated city in West Bengal. The main religion in Asansol is hinduism, followed by Islam and Christianity.
In light of the pandemic, West Bengal has a total of 1.52 million cases and 18,085 deaths. The rural areas are harder hit as they lack information, technology, and communication, and have no access to COVID-19 testing or vaccination. Many have developed serious symptoms, causing a rapid spread in the rural population, where basic medical facilities are absent or non-accessible to them.
The Community
Needs faced by the Community
During this pandemic, many in Asansol, India, have lost employment and income as many of them are daily wage workers. There is a widespread food shortage and severe shortage of medical supplies.
How RiverLife has been working with this Community
RiverLife Church has partnered with the AOG Church of Asansol in reaching out to the local and rural churches, where some have lost their church members to Covid-19. Through daily rations and medical resources, we are meeting their immediate needs; and through prayer meetings and relationships with the Indian Pastors, we hope to lend strength and hope to them.
How can you pray?
Pray for:
Those who have lost their jobs. No money for livelihood, eat, phones (for school/basic communication).
Many who have lost loved ones because of COVID-19.
Pastors who are working hard to support their church members, though many of them are unable to reach them as many members don't have phones, and pastors can't visit them.
The poor, hungry, sick, hopeless, and needy.
Where will your Donations be Channeled to?
Daily rations and medical resources for 500 families in Asansol India
Due to the loss of jobs, many do not have the finances for their daily meals, and much less for basic medical aid or school supplies. Though many Pastors have sacrificed and given their resources to the poor in the community, it is still not enough.
Through our collection, we hope to collect donations to help bring relief to these families who are suffering during this pandemic. We will be providing food rations, of both perishable and non-perishable items, and medical resources to the families who have been most affected, this includes daily wage workers, farmers, and children.
We work closely with our partner churches in Asansol to ensure that all donations will go directly to supporting our beneficiaries in the city and in the rural areas.
Encouragement and prayer with pastors from Asansol, India
We are truly privileged to be able to soldier and stand in prayer with our brothers and sisters in India via Zoom Prayer Meetings. Our MFH team engages with over 20 local pastors from Asansol once a month to further understand the needs on the ground, provide a word of encouragement, and to take time to pray together with them as they labour on.
In our first Zoom prayer meeting, we focused our prayers on the lives who have grown desperate and depressed during this pandemic due to the loss of jobs and lack of essential resources. Many are helpless, some even hopeless, as they struggle to see the light in their situation. We joined our hearts with the pastors and sought the Lord for His providence, deliverance, strength, and grace through this period.
Virtual House visits with local pastors
If the hem of Jesus’s garment and the shadow of Peter can bring forth the healing power and work of God, what more the spoken word of prayer (via Zoom/Whatsapp calls)! We believe that God can work powerfully, even through digital platforms.
As such, we are so excited to have actively engaged with Pastors from Asansol to partner with them in some of their ministry home visits. As we hear the needs of the families themselves, we are given the opportunity to minister to them directly, and bring spiritual and emotional restoration through these sessions.
We are trusting God for miracles, healings, and salvation, as we press into His presence and power with our brothers and sisters in India. Would you join our hearts in faith and strength?
Giving to our Brothers & Sisters
One Bowl of Rice & Lifestyle Change for Change
We believe that missions is a lifestyle. The One Bowl of Rice and Lifestyle Change for Change are personal giving projects that will stretch throughout the entire period of #MFH from July to October 2021. The purpose of these projects is to inspire lifestyle change in our hearts and lives, as we allow the Lord to lead us to give generously.
How will your giving bless our brothers and sisters in Asansol, India?
Candle-Making Workshop – Shine Your Light
“Shine Your Light” Candle-Making Workshop was birthed out of a desire to encourage our India brothers and sisters to continue to soldier on during this pandemic and to be a beacon of LIGHT and HOPE to the community around them.
At this workshop, you will get to customise your own soy-based, essential oil scented candles with our workshop instructor and facilitators. You will get to experience the joy and skill needed in learning how to make your own candles, which can then be used in your homes or as gifts for friends and family.
Basque Burnt Cheesecake and Oat Cookies
The cheesecakes are baked with love by Cecilia Wee & Linda Lim, who are worshippers from RiverLife Church and enjoy baking; and the cookies are hand-made by a mother and son duo, Molly Foo and Zi Yong are passionate bakers! Molly worships at RiverLife Church, and Zi Yong is currently working as a Trainee at the Cerebral Palsy Centre, GROW.
Notebooks and Postcards
As part of our collection efforts to help our brothers and sisters in Asansol, India, tide through the challenges of COVID-19, we are selling postcards and notebooks designed by our team members! All proceeds will go directly to Asansol, India.
Make a Donation.
You can also donate via UEN or Bank Transfer.
Via UEN: 200100806DTNO
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Kindly indicate MFH-India
Via Bank Transfer: UOB Account 450-309634-4
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Kindly indicate MFH-India
Follow our Journey.
If you have any enquiries, contact us:
Email: india.mfh@gmail.com