| It’s 6:00 in the evening in Chennai, and the city is
bustling with streams of traffic. India is a nation of
over 1 billion people, and almost 6 million of them
live in Chennai—the largest city in South India. Water
buffalo walk freely through the dusty streets, and
throngs of people walk beside them. Despite the vibrant colors and archaeological details that characterize this lively city, observers can’t ignore the dirty and neglected children that seem to be everywhere… Many people in densely populated cities like Chennai die of illness or disease and are forced to live in extreme poverty, leaving children behind to scavenge the streets for morsels of nourishment. Here, children are the ultimate victims—abandoned and exploited every day in the city. All around the world, children have become the casualties of poverty. But at Joyce Meyer Ministries we have chosen to be part of the answer to the overwhelming need of so many who need a place to call home. In 2005 we opened twenty-two new orphanages and took over the operation of seventeen other existing orphanages. With these new additions, we now fully fund and operate more than forty children’s homes throughout Asia, in countries such as Cambodia, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and India. For the past ten years, children have found refuge from the streets at our Hope for the Children orphanage in Chennai. Blessy, who was abandoned near a hospital, currently lives at Hope for the Children and is a shining example of the significant impact a stable home can have in the life of an orphaned child. Blessy has playful short hair and a wide grin that she gladly displays to everyone. Today, it is hard to imagine that this precious little girl, so full of life, was so very close to death only a few short years ago. |
In addition to providing home cooked meals
and a clean and safe environment, our orphanages
also serve to meet the children’s educational
and spiritual needs. As in every area of ministry,
the teaching of God’s Word and prayer are both
greatly emphasized. Jenitha Holyangel, a girl who has grown up in one of our homes in India, is now working toward a degree in engineering. She says, “When I get my degree, I want to earn a lot of money to help others like me. I thank the Almighty for giving people wonderful hearts for the marvelous work that is the backbone of this organization.” Thousands of children all across Asia are currently thriving in homes that you support. Six-year-old Sandhya was found at a bus stop. Three-year-old Bhanu was abandoned at a hospital. For both of them, this is their first experience in a loving home. The simple truth is that your faithful, compassionate giving is making it possible for us to open more orphanages and save even more lives each year. We want to thank you for the joy that you are bringing into the hearts of these children. Thank you for your unceasing support and care that is showing them what the love of Jesus is all about. Thank you for showing these children that each and every one of them is a valuable, precious child of God. |
“Nothing is more heartbreaking than the
thought of children with no one to take care of
them. Imagine your own kids alone, trying to
survive. Through our children’s homes, we are
able to take children living in fear and pain, with
no hope for their future, and literally change
their lives. We take care of their physical needs,
give them love, hope for the future, and most
importantly, we introduce them to Jesus. What a
blessing that God is allowing us to be a part of
their lives."
Shelly Meyer, International Relations Office Manager of World Missions