Starting in June 2020 to Currently, the India Programs page will direct to our “Recent Update Page” to reflect our current programs in North and Central India and neighboring countries. Life Seeds is supporting 27 pastors and given Food Outreach during COVID-19 pandemic from Spring 2020 through 2022 1st, 2nd, and 3rd wave of Coronavirus variants and historic 2022 flooding. This was done through Jayan and Jyothi’s A.S.H.A.’s Ministries in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. Life Seeds has also helped fund Self Sustaining Projects, Sewing and Tailoring Classes, Literacy Classes, Pastors Support, Pastors/Leaders Trainings, and Community Buildings through A.S.H.A. Ministry.
We are so thankful to Life Seeds donors who supported the Widowed Feeding/Discipleship Program through Prem and Grace of Zion Ministries for 14 years. In 2020, the Andhra Pradesh government started sending pensions directly to the widowed to self sustain.
From December 2006 to June 2020, Life Seeds helped fund a widowed feeding and discipleship program in Borrampalem, Andhra Pradesh. The widowed received loving care, medical help, food, clothes and discipleship through Zion Ministries. In 2016 Life Seeds helped build a Multipurpose Building to facilitate this feeding program for all seasons of weather. Earlier in 2020, the government of Andhra Pradesh announced the elderly (over 60), widows, single women, weavers and fishermen will get 2,250 rupees every month as pension. People with disabilities get 3,000 rupees per month. Those with chronic kidney diseases get 5,000 to 10,000 rupees per month. Life Seeds is grateful to God for Andhra Pradesh direct pension support to the widowed which allows Life Seeds to transition the widowed support funds to North and Central India State areas where their widowed are not self sustaining.
Life Seeds School Built in 2009 Became Self Sustaining in 2017
Life Seeds had a wonderful opportunity to help build and establish an accredited school in Borrampalem, India through Zion Ministry. The school opened in June of 2009 with 80 poor students, several coming out of bonded labor. Originally named Grace Public School it grew to 650 students in 2016. The school offers grades pre K-10th Standard, after which they take exams to prepare for college. The school is life changing, especially for Dahlit and Tribal poor children, giving them more opportunities in a culture where your caste or designated level in society can severely limit your education and options in life. The school is open to all castes and all religions. In July 2016, the school started transitioning to self sustaining and completed that process in 2017. Sincere appreciation to all Life Seeds donors who’ve supported the school over those 8 years before it became self sustaining.
The Pastors Support Program is Transitioning from South India to North and Central India and Neighboring Countries of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal
Many Pastors work long hours just to support themselves. After work, they travel back home to remote villages to help the poor and share God’s love, often facing intense persecution. Life Seeds provided a Pastor Support Program through Zion Ministries in India states of Andhra Pradesh and Telegana. This program offered Pastors financial and prayer support so they could bring God’s love in Word and Deed to unreached villages. The struggling labor colonies, tribal, and Dahlit poor villages desperately need the love and support of these Pastors with health issues, domestic violence, addictions, literacy, economic challenges, and persecution. Life Seeds has helped support many pastors monthly from 2007 to 2020 in Andhra Pradesh and Telegana and helped them repair homes, build toilets and churches where community literacy classes, sewing/tailoring classes, and medical and eye camps can be held. In June of 2020 we moved our Pastor’s Support program from Andhra Pradesh and Telegana to unreached areas of North and Central India States and neighboring countries of Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal with oversight and mentoring by Jayan and Jyothi of ASHA Ministry. You can view Life Seeds’ continued outreach in “Recent Updates” that has been taking place since June 2020 to currently.