Miracle Month
December 31, 2024 All day
It is truly more blessed to give than receive! Every December we recognize what a miracle it was for God the Father to give us His Son. As we reflect on this, our challenge at Ebenezer is to give a gift above our normal giving that is designated for our missionaries. This year we would like to raise $50,000 to help both Mukti Mission in India build orphanage housing for teenage girls, and Kafaram Church in Syria purchase a building for their congregation to meet in. Special envelopes are available in the pews for this offering, or you can give online. Please read below for more information about each of these projects. Questions can be directed to Swannie Griffin, Elder and Missions Committee Chairman.
Project #1: Help Kafaram Church in Syria Purchase a Building to Meet In
Kafaram, Syria is the hometown of Joseph, one of Ebenezer’s missionaries. He grew up there until age 14 before immigrating to America. During his mission trip to Syria in 2019, Joseph spoke at a home Bible study at Kafaram to a group of about 15 people. Through partnership with the York Arabic Church in Pennsylvania, they became a church plant reaching different ages with the Gospel message. The church body grew to about 100 adults, 70 Sunday school kids, and 40 teens that meet weekly. Because they have been persecuted by the town Orthodox priest, they had to change their rented location three times. In early 2024 they tried to purchase and renovate a storage building, but the deal fell through and they were unable to obtain the deed due to violations on the property.
Then, during his mission trip a few months ago, the church leaders showed Joseph an even better place for the Kafaram church building. It was a very big house with a garden behind it. The house could be renovated into a beautiful church. The garden could be made a beautiful church playground for Sunday school kids, and special occasion gatherings. The owner agreed to bring down the price of the whole property from $70,000 to $60,000. The church in Kafaram currently has $35,000. The need is to raise another $35,000. $60,000 will be used to purchase the whole property, the house and the garden behind, and $10,000 will be used to renovate the place and make it a church building for the believers in Kafaram.
Project #2: Help Rebuild Orphanage Housing in India
Mukti Mission runs seventeen Orchard Projects scattered across seven states of India, these projects care for children from extreme poverty, children of day laborers, and children Most@RISK from trafficking issues – among others. One of these Orchard Projects, “Nutmeg,” needs to rebuild their housing for teenage girls, and Ebenezer would like to help fund this important undertaking.
There are over 800 children enrolled in Mukti Mission Orchard Projects. All responsibilities for operation, staffing, and care are borne by Mukti. The first expansion home (Orchard Project) was opened in 1993 as a pilot project for local tribal boys and girls. (This home is referred to as Nutmeg) Currently, there are 73 boys and 52 girls between the ages of 6 to 18 in this residential home.
Home activity starts at 5:30 am when the children share devotions, followed by house cleaning activities. They attend school from noon until 5:00 pm, with a cooked lunch provided. After school, they play, do homework, are provided with a cooked dinner at 7:30 pm, study to close out their day, and then their bedtime at 9:30 pm. (This is a typical schedule for all of Mukti’s residential homes)
Nutmeg was started because the area is known as a sensitive part of India – due to extreme poverty, alcoholism, illiteracy, and the harsh schemes of rich landlords and money lenders.
In the Orchard Project: Nutmeg, a few children are orphans, while some come from single-parent families, all come from poor families. They are very much attached to their tribal traditions. The children’s parents work very hard and are mainly farm laborers and woodcutters. They are exploited by money lenders who have taken advantage of their poverty and made them bonded laborers from generation to generation.
The significant highlight and outcome of this Orchard Project are that the children are educated to the post-graduation level. Currently, 4 children, now adults, are working in the Government service. The impact the project has accomplished can be seen in a significant decrease in crime, alcoholism, and family violence, and a rise in nutritional levels. This has led to better health, improved maternal and baby health, general health, and hygiene practices.
The goal of Mukti is to develop a network of Orchard Project homes that will provide safety, security, and a future. Educational resources are provided through schooling, tutoring, and the care of concerned adults. Many of the children in these homes come from situations where trafficking puts them at great risk. Mukti has four homes dedicated to children Most@RISK.
