From Gospel for Asia
The lives of several children attending a Bridge of Hope center in Tamil Nadu, India, were disrupted when fire struck the nearby slum where they lived. Remnants of coals from a cooking fire started the blaze, which completely destroyed numerous houses and killed several residents. According
to eyewitnesses, the flames reached a height of nearly 30 feet.
The slum is located along a riverbank where numerous impoverished families reside.
The fire occurred during the day, when the children were eating their lunch at the Bridge of Hope center and their parents were at work, which greatly reduced the number of casualties. But some residents-including boys and girls attending the center-lost everything.
Suganya and Vignesh are in third and fourth grade, and their parents are completely dependent on the wages they receive through daily labor. The fire destroyed all their possessions.
Sandhya, a fourth-grade girl, lost her grandfather in the flames. Her parents had died earlier from AIDS, and now Sandhya lives with her aunt.
Bridge of Hope staff members have visited the homeless families, now living in a temporary shelter, bringing them food, cooking vessels and clothing. Along with this, they are sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This area is just one of thousands where Gospel for Asia has established Bridge of Hope centers to reach out to impoverished children. Pray that these families would know the Lord's provision for them, and that their hearts would be open to receiving Christ.
Posted by Valerie at October 28, 2005 06:12 PM