NICM opened their first sewing center in 2003 through the sponsorship of Helping Hands, an organization formed by Christian women in Indiana. This work has grown and today we have centers in many towns and villages across northwest India. According to the 2011 census, 35% of all women in India are uneducated. These women have no way of entering the emerging work environment. Training women to sew gives them a skill they can use to find employment. While attending an NICM sewing class they are introduced to Christ and many women have come to know Jesus through this outreach.
Testimonies of Sewing Center Graduates
“I live near the sewing center located and I would always see many women going to this place were they would teach sewing to local women. One day out of my eagerness and curiosity I went inside. One of the women instructors informed me about the sewing center and why were we running. I was convinced that this is the place for me to go and learn a new skill. I took the admission in the sewing center. First day I felt strange during prayer but it was good and very comforting. After several days, on Sunday, all were asked to attend the prayer meeting right next door in the church .The man preaching called me and welcomed me, as if I belong to this new people from many years. I felt if I was related to the church people from long long time, like for ages. Now I long for Sundays much more than just learning at the sewing center about stitching.This new skill has helped me find real and living God, and I decided to follow the living God, than the dead Idol Hindu gods. My life has changed, I am at peace and praying that many more in my family to come and enjoy the peace and power of Jesus.” (Name withheld)
“For several days I was in search of domestic work. One day, I went to get ata (flour to make Indian bread) and met a lady at the market who informed me about the sewing center. I started going there every day. While being taught stitching, I was also told about the Lord Jesus Christ. Before I could not understand that how prayer could transform someone. My daughter was very ill and spent much money for her treatment. In the night I remembered that at the sewing center I was asked to pray. I was a bit scared. Someone told me to pray and she would be healed. I prayed and slept. I am much thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ that now even without spending money, my daughter got healed with the help of a Christian doctor, who treated freely. Both me and my husband began to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jai Masih Ki (Praise the Lord!).” (Name withheld)
“I am Ranjeeta (name changed). My husband is a Sikh priest. While attending the sewing center, my friends used to invite me to the prayer meeting but my husband objected. One day, I got opportunity to attend worship service and later I attended the prayer meeting every time, at the sewing center. I convinced my husband one day to come to worship service, and as he heard the message that the pastor preached, he was convicted and gave his life to Jesus the very same moment. Because of sewing center and your prayers both me and my husband received the Living God in our lives. Now, I pray to Lord Jesus every day for my rest of the family. Please pray that all of us would get to know Lord Jesus.”
“My name is Chanda Kaur (name changed). I was born in a Sikh family. I heard about the Lord Jesus Christ only when I began to come to the stitching center. There, I had the opportunity to attend the Christian fellowship where I enjoyed the singing and heard the teaching from the Bible from our stitching instructor. The peace of Jesus and the prayers led me to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. Today I am rejoicing in the Lord. My parents are still Sikhs and follow the Sikh customs and traditions and go to Gurudwara temple everyday. Please pray that I may grow in the Lord Jesus Christ that my whole family may come to the Lord and that I may be better equipped in stitching.”