India Christian
Mission Center


The India Christian Mission Center (ICMC) exists to serve India's orphans, widows, lepers and the unreached, irrespective of caste, creed, community and religion through the love of Jesus.
 

Evening in September

Save the date!  Saturday, September 23 at the Buttes Resort in Tempe, Arizona:  dust off your ball gowns for an entertaining Evening of elegance, interaction, and auctions to benefit the children at ICMC.

Do you have a . . .

Service (maybe you're a wedding planner or prepare taxes or make custom furniture or do Pink Jeep tours)

Event (like a vacation or sports or concert tickets)

Talent (you're a fishing guide or a party clown or a piano teacher or a Skydiving instructor)

. . . that you would like to give to the event to auction, please contact Jeanne at jzahn@icmcindia.org or 480.861.5630

Last year, God blessed us with $36,000 for the children at ICMC thanks to all the wonderful people who donated their time and resources and those who came and enjoyed the Evening!

Praying in Thirty More . . .

Left:  A precious woman of God, Grace takes care of about 40 girls at the House of Peace in Salem.

The children need more hands on mentors, substitute moms and dads -- we call them caretakers or house parents.  They need more men and women from India who love children, who love Jesus, and who are committed to seeing them become whole: mind, body, and spirit.

ICMC is hiring more Christian workers to partner in raising these children.  They are trusting the Heavenly Father to bring more committed, experienced, educated, people to be their earthly hands and feet of Jesus.  We are asking the Lord to draw them to ICMC.  We have already seen Him do this.   And we are asking Him to bring more.  

SO PRAY WITH US for . . .

Thirty more caretakers who are called, believers, educated, and willing.  Pray for married couples to model family life.

A called and gifted manager to run the children's homes at the Promised Land.   (This was just answered this week!!!  Pray for the manager's transition and effectiveness).

Dr Jay writes, "We must know that child care ministry is a continuous battle. It is not one day work to cook and feed. It is hard work. We have advertised in Christian and secular magazines to get some more good workers.  Please do pray that the Lord will give more dedicated workers and more support and grace to carry on God’s ministry more effectively and fruitfully to the fullest satisfaction of our Heavenly father."

Onsite Clinic/Sick Room Expands

ICMC hired another part-time doctor, Dr. R. Raja Ganesh.  He is a graduate of an area Medical College and lives about 15 kilometers from the rural Promised Land.  He is working alongside Dr. Selvi Kumar each afternoon. 

The "sick" rooms are now separated into a triage and treatment room and an overnight room for sick children who need more attention.  Someone recently gifted $5300 for equipment, medicine and treatment for the children as well as a scooter for the good doctor to go get supplies.

A few ICMC Projects in Progress

Staffing:  Need thirty plus caretakers/house parents.  Pray.

Dam work:  50% complete, need $5000 to finish.

New Primary Boys hostel:  20% complete, paid for.

Girls hostel in Salem addition:  75% complete, paid for.

Well work at four wells:  50% complete, paid for except $3,000.

Third set of clothing for 1500 children:  need $7,500.

Shoes:  Stayed tuned next month for some great stories including people in Mississippi going barefoot to church to raise awareness.

Timothy Students Tell Their Stories

Olimba from Tamil Nadu

I was born in a Hindu family.  My father was a Hindu priest.  He was making puja (sacrifices) in the temple.  In my family, no one knew Jesus.  When a pastor came to preach, my father was against him.  I started to go to his church and my sister too.  My father forbid us to go to the church.  When I would go, my mother called me back.  There were many problems in my family.  My brother made problems and would beat my parents.  My mother was slapped so hard she hurt her leg badly and had a hearing problem.

We were in confusion about what to do.  Only in my family I go to church.  I said to my pastor, “Please pray for my family.”  I had to work to support my family and also take care of my younger sisters.  I was in a car accident and cried, “Lord, save me! Save me!”  A brother was near and he ran and saved me and was injured.  My father was crying, “You have come to the Lord so why so many problems in our family.”  I comforted them and spoke words of God to them.  But my family stopped speaking to me well. 

When I came here to the Timothy School, I left many things.  In my village, I was alone.  No one talked to me.  I was very lonely.  When I came here I learned many things and was no longer alone.  At Christmas I shared the gospel with my family and they believed!

Read more stories from other Timothy students on the website at
www.icmcindia.org/trainer.htm  
 (must be logged onto the internet)

Did You Know?

The earliest translation of the New Testament to be printed in a language in India was in Tamil.  Translated in 1714-15 by Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg, an early missionary to India, assisted by Johann Ernst Grundler.  Most of the ICMC children's first language is Tamil.

Sponsor a Child!

Click on Sponsor a Child and log on to provide a home, an education, and a place to learn Christian values and ethics for an orphan, semi-orphaned or abandoned child in India for $25/month.   Questions about sponsorships?  Click on Sponsor FAQ.
 

Sponsor Question of the Month 
How do the children write letters to me?

Some of the children go to English-medium schools.  Most of them go to schools with a Tamil curriculum.  If your child can write in English and is a little older, you may get a more personal letter from them.  The children in the Tamil schools (many of them also younger) write the letters as part of their class assignments three or four times each year. 

In school work, learning by memory and repetition is the way they like to learn.  So you may see letters that are alike as they write what their teacher relays and as they learn writing skills.

If you would like more personal letters, you may write them a letter back and ask questions.  Include a note that you would like the office staff to translate it into Tamil for the child.  Most often the child will write you back more personally. 

If you are a sponsor, and you didn't get a letter this month, please let us know at jzahn@icmcindia.org

Other questions?  Visit the website!

Short Term Teams Plan Trips

 

June 8-22 2006:  Interested in working alongside the doctors in the sick rooms or helping a dentist screen teeth and take children to the dentist with returning dental student Brad Milde?  Contact jzahn@icmcindia.org 

Late August:  John Jackson plans to take a small team of pastors and business leaders ready to investigate partnering with ICMC.

 

 

August 4-14 2006:  Brendon McCarthy from Ireland is bringing 45 teens and chaperones on a short-term trip to ICMC.  Trip Full.

Set it Up in Your Area

Are you a school, a church, a rotary club, a mom with friends, a motivated sponsor?

We have rotarians, pastors, business leaders, teachers, sponsors, and moms who are awesome speakers, passionate about ICMC, and willing to speak to your club, church, school assembly, or home dinner party. 

The speakers are engaging and will be experienced in your field or interest area.  They also have already been to India and ICMC and can speak personally.

Contact Jeanne at jzahn@icmcindia.org and you will be linked to the right speaker in your area and field.

Update from Mrs Christy

The Lord was so gracious to us during this period. +2 exams came to an end on 24.03.’06. (like US junior college level) Please pray for these precious children who have written their exams. 

During Fridays until 14th April special meetings for Salem children were conducted. They were very fruitful for them.

On the 25th of March special lunch was given to all the children at ICMC from David Livingston’s birthday.

On the 29th of March Standard X (like the USA senior year High School) Board exam started for the children at ICMC. 34 children from St. Graham school, Promised Land, 44 from Salem centre, and 19 from Eden Garden wrote their exams. Their exams came to a close on 10.4.’06. All together 97 children of House of Peace have written their X Board exams. Your valuable prayers for these children are appreciated.

On the very first day of April 2006 there was a special get together with the students and staff of St. Grace Lilian Teacher Training Institute. Heads from the surrounding Primary and High School and A.E.O graced the function. I too attended the same with Neva and Bright. Dr. Jay could not attend as he broke his ankle on that day. Dr. Jay’s ankle became well off by His grace after a week.

On the seventh of April a memorial prayer service for my bereaved mother was conducted. Dr. Jay gave a wonderful message on resurrection.

On the 14th of April Good Friday service was held at all the village churches and at our three orphanages. Peter was in charge of the service at the Promised Land. Panner Selvam was at Eden Garden. Bright our youngest son spoke on the ‘Third Word’ of Jesus at the cross. Easter was celebrated very well. Dr. Jay’s message was fantastic. Easter cakes were served after the church service. All the boys from the Eden-Garden and the big children from the Promised Land gathered together at St. Basil school campus and had a common lunch. Special chicken briyani was served to all the children and the workers. All the children danced, sang and acted. It was a day of great joy to all.

Work is going on at the Dam and the Poultry farm at the Promised Land.

St. Graham Memorial school was closed for summer vacation on 10.04.’06 and the Primary school was closed on 29.04.’06. Some children go to visit relatives for holidays. Some returned from their holidays.  Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Eden Garden was conducted from 26 to 30.04.’06 by Panneer Selvam.  Local children too participated in that. It was very very hot during this period.

Please pray for our protection from natural calamities. We whole heartedly thank all our sponsors, donors and prayer warriors.

May the dear Lord bless you all continually!

Yours in Him,

Mrs. J. Christy
 

Set up an automatic payment on the website now!

Use your online bank's BillPay to automatically send a check to ICMC each month!

NOTE to existing sponsors: Children are being linked to you as I write, but you may not see your children yet.   We have you linked to your child in ICMC's manual system.

What's Happening for ICMC in the USA

MARYLAND

ICMC Rep Doug Carlson will be in Ocean City, Maryland on May 19-20 and in Frederickson on May 21 if any sponsors would like to meet to hear about India and the children.  He has video and great stories.

dcarlson@icmcindia.or

If you have an event or trip to post for your state, church, school, or organization, please contact Jeanne at jzahn@icmcindia.org

  

What do you Think?

Do you like this format of getting information from ICMC?  You will get it each month via email.  Make sure to let us know email changes as this saves on costs.

Let us know your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, or problems viewing at jzahn@icmcindia.org

jzahn@icmcindia.org

  

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March 2006

February 2006

January 2006

December 2005

  

Addresses

For sponsorship checks:

ICMC

PO Box 530758

Henderson, Nevada  89053

 

For letters/cards to children:

ICMC

Dr. S. Jayaraj Krishnan

(Your child's name)

House of Peace

Vasanthapuram,

Chinna Thirupathy PO

Salem - 636 008

Tamil Nadu India

It cost .84 in stamps and write "airmail" on the envelope.

  

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength.  And love your neighbor as yourself."  

© Indian Christian Mission Centre