Martha Emmerson

Pastoral Training—Discipleship Ministry Training (DMT)
Over the past year, NICM has been working hard to provide training to a new generation of ministers. The
organization hired two full-time trainers who have been working with a group of 15 students, preparing them for
graduation in May of 2023. The training has involved a combination of practical and theoretical elements, covering a
wide range of topics related to Church ministry.

Huge thanks to IDES for their increased support for 2023 through their Harvest of Talents program. In fact,
we will be using this increased support to help provide full meals to the leper families in Mandoli. Praise God
for His generosity through our loving supporters.

• A huge thanks for funds for helping us acquire 8 smartphones for our pastors.
• Appreciation for funds for motorcycles, which our pastors will be thrilled to receive.
• Our staff will be overjoyed when they receive new office laptops.

• Thousands of blankets were distributed to keep people warm and alive during the cold weather due to generous gifts

• More ladies can join are sewing centers because new sewing machines were donated.
• Thanks to generous donors, we are able to purchase songbooks and Bibles for members.

So much more to share, if you would like to join the newsletter, please request to be added by emailing [email protected]

 

Here are some updates from April and May:

• Vocational Bible School has been off to a great start this summer, with many children in attendance

• Many parents and single mothers have been supported through their children’s attendance at our Evening Schools

• We have been able to help the physical needs of the poor and the elderly during the hottest season of the year in India because of your support

• We’ve been caring for children with physical impairments like Kishan

For a deeper look into the good work NICM has been doing, click on each hyperlink.

Blessings,

The NICM Team

MISSION WORK:

Over 300 families attended the Christmas celebration at the mission school and heard the Gospel.
• About 15,000 people attended our holiday Church celebrations (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years).
• There is a new village church in Mandoli. This is a heavily Muslim-occupied territory, which is difficult to
penetrate with the Gospel. This is a location we want to work heavily in the future.

REQUESTS:
• More blankets are needed for the next two months.
• There are still hundreds of other children whom NICM can help for the many years to come at our
Children’s Home in Badagaon cost is $120 a month.
• A new vehicle for ministry work is needed (at a cost of about $18,000).

Help Now by Clicking Here

PRAYER REQUESTS:
• Pray for protection from the ongoing Covid viruses, for our staff and the people in North India.
• Pray for protection from the increased persecution to Christians.

PRAISES:
• 2021 brought many new believers to Churches in North India.
• Hundreds of families were fed throughout the year because of the gifts of our generous supporters.
• Sewing Centers grew through the gifts of new sewing machines.
• Hundreds of children and families were fed (and some saved) through the generous funding of IDES
and the HOT Food Program.
• IDES has pledged to support NICM with funds for 2022; that means food for many starving people.

Here is the latest letter from Simmi regarding the Covid catastrophe in India

Let me see how I can explain the situation. 

An apt way of describing the current situation of India as a whole is that we are in a terrifying predicament. God knows why I am safe along with everyone in my immediate family, NICM and among all of our partner Churches here in North India. It has to be your prayers along with God’s blessings upon us up till now. It’s unbelievable how people are dropping dead from this pandemic at exponential rates. The dominance of the virus in India is slowly swallowing the entire country, and little did we think that India would soon head towards becoming the leading country for coronavirus hosts.

 

While certain experts, social and health workers, epidemiologists and other think thanks are predicting that the surge of infectious cases is going to rise in India before it falls, no one, however, can be sure, especially with the availability and dispersion of vaccines. As of right now, there have been thousands of deaths in the last 24 hours. The state of Delhi is running out of crematorium spaces, and the government is frantically erecting last-minute pyres as a means to dispose of bodies succumbing to this persistent air-borne virus. Many states have gone into complete lockdowns while some have initiated curfews. Commencing the beginning of the virus, little we anyone expect that India would become a breeding ground for the coronavirus, but then again, given the density of our population and the general carefree attitude towards this pandemic, it’s no wonder that India is in a critical state. 

 

The biggest problem right now is that crowds of people are still rallying and gathering for festivals, rituals and political gatherings, which is absolutely foolish, sadly speaking. Many states have slowly started enforcing Section 144 as a means of crowd control. Our state of Punjab is in complete lockdown. Haryana has gone into curfews, but there are rumors that we will also be under complete lockdown soon enough. Borders of Himachal Pradesh have been closed off with selective entries for certain travelers traversing in emergencies. Himachal State has started enforcing people crossing borders to show registration certificates of being inoculated. Through and through, it seems like India is heading for another complete lockdown.

 

International help is being pledged for India amidst this second wave, and our biggest concern is for oxygen supplies for patients in critical care units. Of the 200,000 deaths so far in India up till now, most people are simply unable to make it due to lack of proper care. Even more saddening is the fact the death count in India does not even include people dying in their huts, homes and villages who are unable to be admitted in hospitals. Hospitals are out of beds. We are out of Hospitals. Families desperately vie for oxygen supplies, as people attempt to care for their sick while Hospitals are unable to admit patients anymore. The entire country has become a funeral ground. Clinics are now at full capacity, and mobile clinics are unable to keep up. India is a major coronavirus vaccines maker, but we are unable to keep up with demands. It seems people are neither able to live nor die peacefully. States are utilizing what once used to be playgrounds for the children as a venue for burning bodies. 

 

We here at NICM have temporarily suspended all activities and projects for a period of two weeks for now until we can figure out what all we can do or not do while adhering to government regulations. As of right now, NICM board is organizing an emergency board meeting in order to see how we can aggressively help combat the spread of the virus and to prepare all of our constituents from a gruesome and horrifying end. For now, it seems like we would benefit from oxygen supplies, but we will send another letter describing in acute details about how we might be able to cheaply purchase effective oximeters, portable O2 tanks, electric Oxygen concentrators and nasal tubes. We are communicating with Dr. Neeraj to see how we can help others. Any ideas would be immensely helpful. Although, many ladies from our Bible study groups are setting up home kitchens and cooking food during the lockdown in order to deliver them to the poor who can neither afford to eat nor get out to buy food. This is something that we can help them do on a larger level by purchasing food bags and disposable tiffins. In any case, we need to purchase a few oxygen kits for the time being just to stock up in a worst case scenario, but any help towards food stocks will be appreciated greatly. 

 

I want to thank everyone for keeping us in your prayers, but India needs your prayers and help at the moment.

 Praying   

Simmi

If you would like to help feed hungry families during the lockdown click on this link  Help Feed Hungry Families

Thanks to all of you generous supporters, the High School is closer to becoming a reality at the NICM  headquarters in Barwala.  In order to serve more students and expand their educational offerings they need to add a building to house their upper grades.  This High School will consist of 10 classrooms and based estimates the cost will be around $110,000.  This may seem like a low estimate but both materials and labor are much less expensive in India than the US.   Fortunately, God has already been moving in peoples hearts and generous donors have stepped forward to contribute 3/4  of the total cost.  So, here is how you can help out;

1.  Prayerfully consider how much you should contribute

2.  Share the story by forwarding the need to friends and family in your address book and on Facebook and other social media

3.   Encourage your small group, sunday school class, ministers and mission board to get involved.   Thanks so much for making the future brighter one student at a time.

We are pleased to announce that $55,000 of the $110,000 needed to build the High School has been donated by generous supporters as a challenge to others to join in, step up and invest in the future by helping build a High School to provide a high quality education to young people who would not have an opportunity to learn if not for NICM.    Donate Today

On behalf of NICM, I want to take the time and words at the beginning of this newsletter to personally thank IDES, Parkside Christian Church, Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, Eastview Christian Church, Martha and as well as the rest of our supporters for making this tremendously difficult crisis bearable and livable for so many poor families in and around all of our Churches. Each of our pastors thank you. Each of the beneficiaries of your support appreciate your kindness for not letting them go hungry. Our family, staff and volunteers here at NICM recognize your passion for serving, which has allowed us to partner with you and serve the needy as well. It has been honorable working in North India with you as our supporters.

We want to send over our newsletter update about the situation over here, and how NICM has had to adapt to new circumstances. It goes without saying that each one of you has had to adapt to new circumstances along with everyone in the world who has had to do the same too. No doubt, like with everyone else, the COVID-19 has affected all of us in different ways.

First of all, our Sunday services have taken a new turn, as all of our pastors are sending in their recordings of their messages to their Church members. They do this for Sunday services as well for other times throughout the week during regular Bible studies. WhatsApp has become a common digital avenue for sharing messages. WhatsApp is easily accessible even on low-budget phones and requires very little data connectivity. However, we have now more than ever found use for our solar digital panels. We want to thank GNPI for their innovative ideas and generosity in giving these to us.

We continue to spin the wheel of our prayer chains, as it has become necessary to use our time to communicate with God so that he can continue to hear our prayers and requests. All of you are always in our minds while we pray for your safety, the safety of your children, the safety of your mothers and fathers along with the safety of each one of our brothers and sisters supporting us in all of our Churches. NICM represents the Kingdom of God here in this part of North India, and people need us for their spiritual, physical and emotional nourishment. With your help, partnership, loyalty, support, prayers, passion and long-standing commitment, we have been able to help people and are continuing to do so.

 

We have distributed 395 out of 500 bags so far. Out of the 395 bags, Pastor Beera Masih, Jagmol and Jagtar Masih have provided a month’s worth of rations to over 30, 40 and 30 families respectively. Many families are immensely thankful for the help we have accorded them. Moreover, it has strengthened their faith in the power of the lord in that he always provides. Due to lack of food available for sale in Rajpura where Pastor Jagtar serves, he only managed to pack a week’s worth of snacks and supplies for the time being. With time, he will make sure to deliver a month’s worth of rations to these families. From Pastor David Roshan Lal’s Church, we have a short testimony from a man who used to work as a cleaner of gutters but later found it in his heart to also volunteer at the Church. Moreover, David Roshan Lal also helped distribute 45 bags of food and medicine to our evening school located in his village and associated with his Church.

Very recently, NICM had also traversed in and around the local city to distribute snacks and food to areas most severely affected because of COVID-19. In fact, we focused on migrants who were walking on foot with their wives and children back to their villages far away. It was quite a pity to see them walking on foot without transport. These migrants were truly vulnerable, as traveling long distances makes them susceptible to crimes. We stopped throughout the different parts of the city to help and pray with these migrants while providing them with some supplies for their journeys.

 

Testimony of Sohan

 

“If you look at me, no one would think much of me. I do not care much for the pleasures of this world anyways. I was born a simple man and was always thought that I would die a simple man. I served humbly cleaning all gutters in the villages, and I was content with that little I received to support for my wife and daughter. My wife is a housemaid. After the virus hit us, lowborn folk like us were the last on anyone’s mind. No one dared to help us, as no one wanted to be seen associating with the likes of us, as we were of humble birth. For generations, we were mistreated and bonded to low-wage labor. We got used to it. However, after God recognized my humility towards my work, he privileged me with the task of serving the Church in whatever little capacity that I could help. I was born with little, but he blessed me with more than I could handle. Moreover, the Church serves as my new family wherein everyone looks upon me and my wife and family as an equal. Thanks to the pastor, I do not have to see my family starve to death on account of hunger.

 

Now I have rations, thanks to the generosity of many who care for me at the Church. My loyalty is to Christ for the love he has shown me on the cross.”  

Even more importantly, during this deadly time when very few from the other communities have stepped out or contributed towards the needy, non-believers have looked up to believers and are moved by the generosity we have bestowed upon them during this time of misery, joblessness, poverty, death and disease. Despite hostility and tension ensuing amidst religious groups between extremist majority groups and minorities, Christians have been able to cast aside any reasons or excuses that anyone could falsely accuse us through our acts of kindness. Even though many popular misconceptions have prevailed in India for decades against Christians, we continue to press hard for the cause of the Lord. Irrespective of how people will continue to think about us, we will always serve selflessly.

 

Our duty to Christ is to bring the message of his salvation to lost souls, and we will continue to serve the poor and weak till we die. Thank you for your support enabling us to carry out the will of the Lord here in North India. It is a difficult time for all of us, but our work here is incomplete, and the reward for our hope of our Lord and savior outweighs all the troubles we face in this life.” 

 

Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burden, and this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

 

Thanks & Blessings

 

Simmi, Suraj & Team NICM

As some states in the US consider reopening, many in India are struggling to find their next meal due to the Coronavirus lock downs.  Here is an excerpt from Simmi’s recent email;

The villagers from all of our Churches will need supplies of masks, hand sanitizers, gloves and soap bars, as they won’t be allowed to get out on account of the curfew sanctions in place. Our organization, however, does qualify as a non-profit so we have full permissions from the respective authorities to help those afflicted in this crisis. The government is actually seeking our help additionally. Apart from that, we need to get at least one month’s worth of ration out to as many families as we can among our Churches, evening schools and leper colonies. The cost to provide one family (of five members) with enough hand sanitizers, bars of soap, gloves, masks and essential food rations for one month will cost around Rs. 6000 (or $85). We have a count of over 500 families, which amounts to around 500* $85=$42,500. 

More importantly, if NICM can serve its community selflessly in this extremely critical time, our ministry will serve as an extremely powerful testimony.  Very few people are stepping up to help those who are in dire need. Let us grab a hold of this opportunity for Christ to show who we are, what we are made of and the love that Jesus wants to bring about to North India.   

So far giving has been very generous, but they still need about $10,000 to provide the protections and food to families at risk.  Please consider making a donation today to help save lives and show the love of Christ.  

Some of the recent highlights;

• With the help of skilled female doctors, health and hygiene awareness programs were conducted to improve prenatal health.  These health initiatives help to prevent delivery related infections and reduce complications associated with pregnancy and delivery.
• In one of the nearby villages, none of the children are attending school.  Providing Christian education to these children, along with some hygiene and basic medical needs is vital.  To open the school, provide teachers and utilities requires $300 a month.
• The sewing centers are busy training women and 112 graduates are expected in 2020, providing an income, stability and a future.
• With the help of IDES, NICM provides thousands of meals a year to needy families.   In order to get food to one of the remote villages in a timely and efficient manner, a small vehicle is needed.  If you would like to help with the funding, please designate so on your check.

Please continue praying for NICM because prayer is what provides strength to the many NICM workers.

Also, your financial support has never been needed more by NICM.  There is so much work to do, and without your support we cannot move forward.

Please consider sending a contribution to:

NICM, P.O. Box 1823, Martinsville, IN 46151.

We are so thankful for all of you, and pray daily that you will be blessed through your partnership in the work of NICM.

Jeff Huston

NICM US Board Chair

[email protected]