The Sheep and the Goats
HOLY BIBLE TEACHING ON THE LEAST OF THESE
MATTHEW 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
SHARMILA ANDERSON FOUNDER OF Karishma Girls Home
http://www.markandersonministries.com/category/karishma-girls-home
MARK ANDERSON MINISTRIES
P.O. BOX 66
Cody, WY 82414
USA Phone: 307-587-0408
MARK ANDERSON MINISTRIES
EMAIL FOR ALL COUNTRIES: GoodNews@vcn.com
USA
Mark Anderson MinistriesP.O. BOX 66
Cody, WY 82414
USA Phone: 307-587-0408
CANADA
Mark Anderson Ministries P.O. Box 231 Foremost AB TOK OXO CANADAINDIA
Phone: 0562-260-2913 Phone: 0989-707-0198
Forsaken; but not Forgotten!
India is a country 1/3rd the size of the USA with a population exceeding 1 billion people. Majority of the people live in extreme poverty. The hapless Indians bow down to a multitude of gods hoping to find redress from their fear and hopelessness as they try to appease the idols in vain. They worship the cow, monkey, snake, elephant, rats etc. In a large strata of society these animals are given preeminence over human beings, especially girls, women and the Dalits.
In India, amongst Hindus the birth of a girl is often viewed as a curse while the birth of a boy is heralded with much celebration. One of the reasons is because of the dowry system that holds majority of the Hindus in bondage. Dowry is a huge financial undertaking for the bride’s parents, as they have to buy their daughter a husband. Often the girls parents will promise the groom and his parents financial amounts that they cannot possibly meet, just to get their daughter married. They do this because an unmarried woman is viewed as cursed and every woman’s destiny is fulfilled only in marriage. Only too often a young bride is set ablaze and burnt to death by her husband and in-laws because her parents were unable to pay the dowry. This act of murder is performed at home behind closed doors and is passed off as a kitchen accident. (In India kerosene is used as fuel for cooking). The girl’s parents are usually indifferent to her fate, as they believe it was her destiny to die at the hands of her husband. The police and justice department do nothing, as no one ever reports these homicides. It has come to be accepted as a way of life. The women have no option but to succumb to the domination of her husband and in-laws, because often they are not qualified to be in the work force and support themselves.
How do I know this is true and is happening today? I was born and raised in India. A friend of mine was murdered this way. Nothing was ever done for her! Her life meant nothing to her parents, husband or anyone. With tears in my eyes I write that she meant something to Jesus who died for her, but she never knew that she was of value to anyone!!!! Dowry burnings take place all over India on a daily basis.
Women on the whole are considered inferior to men. Newborn baby girls are abandoned right after birth in garbage dumps. Why? Because the baby is a girl! How do I know this? My mother has picked up babies from the garbage. She has scoured the filth to save a soul. Today a number of people work for her scouring the dumps in Agra, searching for precious lives abandoned because of the evil of this religion. Some are murdered by their parents and buried in their back yard. People have unfortunately come up with very creative ways of disposing off their little baby girls. Some little girls who get to live are never really treated like their brothers would be. They are often deprived of food, shoes and education. First the boy’s needs are met, and then if any is left over the girl is tended too. Only too often, nothing is left over. Her parents may well sell a little girl to a man 60+ years for money.
The clippings on female infanticide appeared in one newspaper in the town of Patiala on one day alone. It grieves me to
think of how many more baby girls are murdered or abandoned everyday without any remorse or guilt by those who perform these heinous acts.
Why am I writing these horrendous facts of life in India to you? Because God is good and through these dismal and grievous circumstances He has given us platform to reach out to these hurting women. Mark Anderson Ministries and our partners run a Sewing School in Agra, India where women are taught to sew and can make a living sewing if things get hard for them. We have received wonderful testimonies of how this skill has changed the lives of these girls. We also run a daycare where 65+ girls attend from the slums. Here they are fed clothed, educated and given medical attention. Recently we were able to purchase land to construct Karishma orphanage in Agra. This orphanage will house 30-35 girls.
There was a time when I struggled with sharing the plight of the women in India and brought it to the Lord, hoping He would spare me the pain of talking about it. He however spoke to me saying, “They have been forgotten by their own! Will you forget them too? I will never forsake them!” These words have shaped my resolve that I will never forget them; I will do all I can to bring awareness to their plight and do my part in trying to change it.
In India, amongst Hindus the birth of a girl is often viewed as a curse while the birth of a boy is heralded with much celebration. One of the reasons is because of the dowry system that holds majority of the Hindus in bondage. Dowry is a huge financial undertaking for the bride’s parents, as they have to buy their daughter a husband. Often the girls parents will promise the groom and his parents financial amounts that they cannot possibly meet, just to get their daughter married. They do this because an unmarried woman is viewed as cursed and every woman’s destiny is fulfilled only in marriage. Only too often a young bride is set ablaze and burnt to death by her husband and in-laws because her parents were unable to pay the dowry. This act of murder is performed at home behind closed doors and is passed off as a kitchen accident. (In India kerosene is used as fuel for cooking). The girl’s parents are usually indifferent to her fate, as they believe it was her destiny to die at the hands of her husband. The police and justice department do nothing, as no one ever reports these homicides. It has come to be accepted as a way of life. The women have no option but to succumb to the domination of her husband and in-laws, because often they are not qualified to be in the work force and support themselves.
How do I know this is true and is happening today? I was born and raised in India. A friend of mine was murdered this way. Nothing was ever done for her! Her life meant nothing to her parents, husband or anyone. With tears in my eyes I write that she meant something to Jesus who died for her, but she never knew that she was of value to anyone!!!! Dowry burnings take place all over India on a daily basis.Women on the whole are considered inferior to men. Newborn baby girls are abandoned right after birth in garbage dumps. Why? Because the baby is a girl! How do I know this? My mother has picked up babies from the garbage. She has scoured the filth to save a soul. Today a number of people work for her scouring the dumps in Agra, searching for precious lives abandoned because of the evil of this religion. Some are murdered by their parents and buried in their back yard. People have unfortunately come up with very creative ways of disposing off their little baby girls. Some little girls who get to live are never really treated like their brothers would be. They are often deprived of food, shoes and education. First the boy’s needs are met, and then if any is left over the girl is tended too. Only too often, nothing is left over. Her parents may well sell a little girl to a man 60+ years for money.
The clippings on female infanticide appeared in one newspaper in the town of Patiala on one day alone. It grieves me tothink of how many more baby girls are murdered or abandoned everyday without any remorse or guilt by those who perform these heinous acts.
Why am I writing these horrendous facts of life in India to you? Because God is good and through these dismal and grievous circumstances He has given us platform to reach out to these hurting women. Mark Anderson Ministries and our partners run a Sewing School in Agra, India where women are taught to sew and can make a living sewing if things get hard for them. We have received wonderful testimonies of how this skill has changed the lives of these girls. We also run a daycare where 65+ girls attend from the slums. Here they are fed clothed, educated and given medical attention. Recently we were able to purchase land to construct Karishma orphanage in Agra. This orphanage will house 30-35 girls.
There was a time when I struggled with sharing the plight of the women in India and brought it to the Lord, hoping He would spare me the pain of talking about it. He however spoke to me saying, “They have been forgotten by their own! Will you forget them too? I will never forsake them!” These words have shaped my resolve that I will never forget them; I will do all I can to bring awareness to their plight and do my part in trying to change it.
Outreaches to Women and Girls in India
I still remember the day in 1998, when I took my three-month old daughter, Charisma to India for the first time. I was filled with joy at the thought of bringing her to my country. At the airport, moments after we had arrived a security lady asked me if Charisma was my first child, to which I proudly answered in the affirmative. She looked at me with pity and said that maybe the next time I would be fortunate enough to have a son! Anger and pain filled me, though I really should not have been surprised as this is the usual response mother’s with girls and girls get in India.
I began to cry out to the Lord to change this, to make the life of the women and girl children better in India. He began to speak to me that I should do something about it. Pretty soon He had told me that I would start an orphanage and other ministries to women in India. Looking at my own ability I felt like Gideon, incompetent and helpless. The Lord unmistakable spoke to me from Zechariah 4:10,“Who has despised the day of small beginnings.” It was a small beginning when I took that small step and began sponsoring one girl. As others heard about this vision they came on board and more little girls began to be sponsored through our ministry. In 2005 we started Karishma Girl’s Home (an orphanage) and currently we have 23 girls at the home!
Soon we started Karishma Daycare where we cared for 65 children (mostly girls) who live in the slums of Agra. The ministry to women began to mushroom as well. Our workers started a sewing school, Karishma Sewing School. By now over 1,200 girls have been trained and have been provided employment because of this outreach entirely supported by the friends and partners of this ministry.
On our recent trip to India I visited the Sewing School where quite a few women shared the positive way this outreach has shaped their lives. Basically all of them said that the trade this sewing school has given them has permitted them to achieve a level of independence they could never imagine. They are now able to contribute financially in their home, which gives them a measure of security in a society driven by greed for money. I guess you had to be there to really comprehend the positive way their lives are changed.
Karishma Sewing School runs 2 1/2 sessions each year. Each session has about 22 girls 15 years and older. Learning to sew has really helped the girls to earn a living without leaving their homes. The tailoring shops of the area know about the sewing school and regularly provide the girls with work. Since we began the sewing school about 1,200 girls have passed through it.
The Sewing School has only Hindu girls, but sharing the love of Jesus with them through this outreach has helped us build a very good relation with them and their parents. Often they share their problems with us and we pray for them and teach them to pray for themselves as well.
We have regular Bible studies with them. They love to sing and are part of the church choir. The older girls are being taught to cook and help out in the kitchen.
Once they graduate if a relative wants to take them home they are free to go. The orphans and those who stay back will go through college education and then Mark Anderson Ministries will find a way to settle them in life. THANK YOU FOR MAKING ALL THIS POSSIBLE!!!
Karishma Girl’s Home has 23 wonderful little girls, ranging from the ages of 4 to 13 years. Some of them are children of persecuted Christians from the state of Orissa and have lived very difficult lives; before the came to us. They were extremely malnourished when we received them. One little girl was suffering with tuberculosis of the intestines, but is healthy now. Some of the girls are from the state of Bihar and were in danger of being sold into the sex trade and kidnapped for their organs. Fortunately pastors of the area intervened and rescued them.
Just thinking of the lives they led prior to coming to Karishma Girl’s Home sends shivers down my spine. Many of these girls have witnessed great brutality by Hindu militants. Yet today they are happy and full of joy. They love to pray. They even cast up prayers for safe travels for truck drivers. (To date I have never thought to pray for truck/Semi drivers.). They are attending school for the first time in their lives now; as a result they love to study and learn. Any opportunity they get they sit down to read. They literally have to be forced to go out and play.
When they came to the girl’s home they could only speak their vernacular, which made communication very hard. Our workers diligently tutored them and now they speak both Hindi and English. Hats off to the dedication of our workers and the girls thirst for learning.
I began to cry out to the Lord to change this, to make the life of the women and girl children better in India. He began to speak to me that I should do something about it. Pretty soon He had told me that I would start an orphanage and other ministries to women in India. Looking at my own ability I felt like Gideon, incompetent and helpless. The Lord unmistakable spoke to me from Zechariah 4:10,“Who has despised the day of small beginnings.” It was a small beginning when I took that small step and began sponsoring one girl. As others heard about this vision they came on board and more little girls began to be sponsored through our ministry. In 2005 we started Karishma Girl’s Home (an orphanage) and currently we have 23 girls at the home!Soon we started Karishma Daycare where we cared for 65 children (mostly girls) who live in the slums of Agra. The ministry to women began to mushroom as well. Our workers started a sewing school, Karishma Sewing School. By now over 1,200 girls have been trained and have been provided employment because of this outreach entirely supported by the friends and partners of this ministry.
On our recent trip to India I visited the Sewing School where quite a few women shared the positive way this outreach has shaped their lives. Basically all of them said that the trade this sewing school has given them has permitted them to achieve a level of independence they could never imagine. They are now able to contribute financially in their home, which gives them a measure of security in a society driven by greed for money. I guess you had to be there to really comprehend the positive way their lives are changed.
Caring for the Least of These
By Renuka Frank
In India Mark Anderson Ministries is very successfully reaching out to orphans and destitute girls by showing them the love of Jesus.Karishma Sewing School runs 2 1/2 sessions each year. Each session has about 22 girls 15 years and older. Learning to sew has really helped the girls to earn a living without leaving their homes. The tailoring shops of the area know about the sewing school and regularly provide the girls with work. Since we began the sewing school about 1,200 girls have passed through it.
The Sewing School has only Hindu girls, but sharing the love of Jesus with them through this outreach has helped us build a very good relation with them and their parents. Often they share their problems with us and we pray for them and teach them to pray for themselves as well.
We have regular Bible studies with them. They love to sing and are part of the church choir. The older girls are being taught to cook and help out in the kitchen.
Once they graduate if a relative wants to take them home they are free to go. The orphans and those who stay back will go through college education and then Mark Anderson Ministries will find a way to settle them in life. THANK YOU FOR MAKING ALL THIS POSSIBLE!!!
Karishma Girl’s Home
Karishma Girl’s Home has 23 wonderful little girls, ranging from the ages of 4 to 13 years. Some of them are children of persecuted Christians from the state of Orissa and have lived very difficult lives; before the came to us. They were extremely malnourished when we received them. One little girl was suffering with tuberculosis of the intestines, but is healthy now. Some of the girls are from the state of Bihar and were in danger of being sold into the sex trade and kidnapped for their organs. Fortunately pastors of the area intervened and rescued them.Just thinking of the lives they led prior to coming to Karishma Girl’s Home sends shivers down my spine. Many of these girls have witnessed great brutality by Hindu militants. Yet today they are happy and full of joy. They love to pray. They even cast up prayers for safe travels for truck drivers. (To date I have never thought to pray for truck/Semi drivers.). They are attending school for the first time in their lives now; as a result they love to study and learn. Any opportunity they get they sit down to read. They literally have to be forced to go out and play.
When they came to the girl’s home they could only speak their vernacular, which made communication very hard. Our workers diligently tutored them and now they speak both Hindi and English. Hats off to the dedication of our workers and the girls thirst for learning.
November 2012 Update
A huge shout-out and thanks to a couple of businessmen and Art for Orphans fundraiser (Rena Trail) for raising the entire amount and more to pay for completion of construction of the second floor and purchasing furnishings and transportation. This has come at the most crucial time as we now have 18 girls and the ground floor is over crowded. Construction is commencing in the beginning of December and if all goes according to schedule, should be completed by the end of February.
Recently a missionary visited the Girl’s home and commented that the children were very emotionally stable and confident. She has visited orphanages in other countries and noticed that the children were not so emotionally stable. Hat’s off to our workers, Robin and Shobha the house parents and Dr. Hanook Massey who have loved these children with such a passion that they are so well adjusted. Most of them are children of persecuted Christians and have witnessed great brutality. When the first came to the home 1 1/2 years ago they were full of fear, very quiet and suppressed.
The girls are doing well in school and have picked up in health. I visited them on our trip in November and was blessed to see them laughing, giggling and communicating with me in English and Hindi.
Thanks to all you who keep this outreach running with your monthly donations. Great is your reward for caring for the “Forsaken but not Abandoned”.
Recently a missionary visited the Girl’s home and commented that the children were very emotionally stable and confident. She has visited orphanages in other countries and noticed that the children were not so emotionally stable. Hat’s off to our workers, Robin and Shobha the house parents and Dr. Hanook Massey who have loved these children with such a passion that they are so well adjusted. Most of them are children of persecuted Christians and have witnessed great brutality. When the first came to the home 1 1/2 years ago they were full of fear, very quiet and suppressed.
The girls are doing well in school and have picked up in health. I visited them on our trip in November and was blessed to see them laughing, giggling and communicating with me in English and Hindi.
Thanks to all you who keep this outreach running with your monthly donations. Great is your reward for caring for the “Forsaken but not Abandoned”.
April 2012 Update
Charisma and I had a wonderful time visiting the Karishma Girls Home in April. We shared a meal with them and played games with them. The girls also sang and prayed for us. It was such a blessing to hang out with them. They are so innocent and shy, but also full of joy.
In April 2012 our girl’s ministered to unsaved children in a village where Christians have an outreach. They sang and prayed for the village children. They are quick to pray for each other too. On one occasion they conducted the entire church service at a church of about 100 people; Praise and Worship, Message and prayer, much to the delight of the congregation.
Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
In April 2012 our girl’s ministered to unsaved children in a village where Christians have an outreach. They sang and prayed for the village children. They are quick to pray for each other too. On one occasion they conducted the entire church service at a church of about 100 people; Praise and Worship, Message and prayer, much to the delight of the congregation.
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