Several years ago, I was compelled by scripture and the Lord's leading to open a ministry for orphans and widows in India. Through God’s overwhelming mercy and faithfulness, He has opened multiple doors to help them, as you can see by the photos below. Project India is a non-profit ministry with an orphanage, several tribal churches that teach the Love of God in Christ, and a Jesus film ministry that we take to remote villages so they can hear the gospel. If you would like to know more, you can write to me or see www.ProjectIndia.org for more details. Please say a prayer for us as we face persecution from all sides in India at this time.
Question-Answer with Director Ravindra Pilli
Question: Going into this, what are your thoughts concerning a question-answer session?
Answer: I am happy to share what the Lord is doing here in India. Glory to His name forever!
Question: Great! For our new ministry partners, what are the primary goals for Project India?
Answer: This ministry is 100% dedicated to Jesus Christ. We predominantly serve orphans and widows, but we also serve those oppressed by the false religion of Hinduism through Christian teaching of the Bible, opening churches when possible, although we are currently prohibited to do so.
Question: Where do the orphans come from?
Answer: Many children that we serve were found on the streets, begging for food or living out of dumpsters. Some parents could not afford their children, so they brought them to us or begged us to take their children because they were starving. Each child has a difficult story of abandonment.
Question: Does the Indian government help with any programs or assistance?
Answer: There is no government assistance here for orphans or widows. This is why this ministry and a small handful like us are vital in India. The need is far greater than we can express in words.
Question: What is a typical day at the orphanage?
Answer: The orphans learn to read, write, and do basic math. They also learn to use the local tongue of Telegu and a second language of English. We also teach them the Bible regularly so they can understand and know their true savior, Jesus Christ.
Question: What is a typical meal for the orphans? How often do they eat? What do they drink?
Answer: They generally eat rice and drink water daily. We try to purchase vegetables, milk, and/or eggs when possible, but these are very expensive. Finding children’s vitamins are difficult as well.
Question: Tell me about the orphanage staff?
Answer: The staff that cooks for the children will eat along with them. There are currently 6 staff members, sharing the responsibilities to care for and teach the children 24/7/365. They each make $10.00 a month. A few of them live in tents close to the facility.
Question: Tell us about the facilities where you do most of your work.
Answer: Land is very hard to acquire here, as families keep their land for centuries, but God through HPI have provided the means for us to purchase this lot. We were then able to build a multi-functioning building, a church/school with sleeping quarters. During the week, the children use the facilities as a school, but on the weekend, it becomes a church for the community to worship. As many as 400 people can gather. For now, the community loves our mission. We also try to make sure the Indian government sees us as helpful.
Question: Are there any other facilities?
Answer: We used to have a few rented churches around the region, but we had to shut them down as far as the government knows. We might meet in secret, especially with the widows in these areas to provide some rice and pray with them, but we must be very careful as this is illegal at this time.
Question: How is The Jesus Film project going? Are you able to show it at this time?
Answer: When shown in the past, The Jesus Film was very well received, as many here have never seen such videos nor do they understand much about Jesus. So it serves to introduce Jesus, and many come to accept Him as their Savior when we show the film. But right now, we have no way to broadcast the film. If we did, the computer and projector would be taken by the government.
Question: Speaking of meetings, what are the limitations on church gatherings right now?
Answer: The Indian government will not allow us to meet as a Christian church. And if they find out that we did, they will close our doors and take our facilities. As I mentioned, we carefully check on the members periodically, but only a few at a time, and usually under the cover of darkness. The churches are being very patient within this pandemic, but there is anxiety regarding the length of staying isolated.
Question: When do you expect the churches to open back up?
Answer: We have no answer to this question. Please pray that the pandemic will end, and we can all return to church and have prayer meetings as before.
Question: Is there still a great persecution in India right now?
Answer: Yes, both from the government and because a false religion cloud is over India.
Question: Do you still have regular prayer meetings?
Answer: Yes, we pray daily for many hours, and many times we fast for days.
Question: On that note, what is the most urgent need for the ministry in India right now?
Answer: Emergency medical care for children and needy families in our region must be prepared in advance. A hospital visit may arise very quickly (such as a broken bone) and we have very little money in savings for this. And the children need better food items to boost immunity. Rice does not provide enough nutrients as we fight off this virus infection. Much of India has the virus and even die because their immune system is not very strong like the United States.
Question: Do you have a car yet?
Answer: No. We use a specific courier service driver to help us carry food from the city to the facilities. He tries to help us by being the only one that we work with so he gives us a better deal.
Question: You and your wife recently had your first son. How is your family doing?
Answer: Yes! After many years of waiting, my mother arranged a marriage for me and we were just married a few years ago! She is my helper for the ministry. Our son, Joseph was born in 2022 and we are very blessed that he is healthy. A true gift from God!
Question: If someone wanted to know where HPI was located on the map, how could they do that?
Answer: We are in Southern India, the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. That is all the details that we can share online. Persecution is very real here and we must be careful not to share too much on the internet.
Question: Is Project India on social media or YouTube?
Answer: That is not safe for Christians in India and we do not have time for social media.
Question: Is there anything else you would like to say to the readers of the newsletter?
Answer: We are so very thankful to you all. When the Lord connected us together over 10 years ago. The children were starving and all we had for them was water from a well to try and fill their empty stomachs in a small rental house. Since then, we have seen God provide through you all in a miraculous way so many times. And one day, we will all meet in Glory with Jesus and celebrate together. But until then, family in Christ, we love you all! God Bless you friends and please continue to pray for us as we try to reach many others for the kingdom of God! Hallelujah! Amen! Amen!
Question: Going into this, what are your thoughts concerning a question-answer session?
Answer: I am happy to share what the Lord is doing here in India. Glory to His name forever!
Question: Great! For our new ministry partners, what are the primary goals for Project India?
Answer: This ministry is 100% dedicated to Jesus Christ. We predominantly serve orphans and widows, but we also serve those oppressed by the false religion of Hinduism through Christian teaching of the Bible, opening churches when possible, although we are currently prohibited to do so.
Question: Where do the orphans come from?
Answer: Many children that we serve were found on the streets, begging for food or living out of dumpsters. Some parents could not afford their children, so they brought them to us or begged us to take their children because they were starving. Each child has a difficult story of abandonment.
Question: Does the Indian government help with any programs or assistance?
Answer: There is no government assistance here for orphans or widows. This is why this ministry and a small handful like us are vital in India. The need is far greater than we can express in words.
Question: What is a typical day at the orphanage?
Answer: The orphans learn to read, write, and do basic math. They also learn to use the local tongue of Telegu and a second language of English. We also teach them the Bible regularly so they can understand and know their true savior, Jesus Christ.
Question: What is a typical meal for the orphans? How often do they eat? What do they drink?
Answer: They generally eat rice and drink water daily. We try to purchase vegetables, milk, and/or eggs when possible, but these are very expensive. Finding children’s vitamins are difficult as well.
Question: Tell me about the orphanage staff?
Answer: The staff that cooks for the children will eat along with them. There are currently 6 staff members, sharing the responsibilities to care for and teach the children 24/7/365. They each make $10.00 a month. A few of them live in tents close to the facility.
Question: Tell us about the facilities where you do most of your work.
Answer: Land is very hard to acquire here, as families keep their land for centuries, but God through HPI have provided the means for us to purchase this lot. We were then able to build a multi-functioning building, a church/school with sleeping quarters. During the week, the children use the facilities as a school, but on the weekend, it becomes a church for the community to worship. As many as 400 people can gather. For now, the community loves our mission. We also try to make sure the Indian government sees us as helpful.
Question: Are there any other facilities?
Answer: We used to have a few rented churches around the region, but we had to shut them down as far as the government knows. We might meet in secret, especially with the widows in these areas to provide some rice and pray with them, but we must be very careful as this is illegal at this time.
Question: How is The Jesus Film project going? Are you able to show it at this time?
Answer: When shown in the past, The Jesus Film was very well received, as many here have never seen such videos nor do they understand much about Jesus. So it serves to introduce Jesus, and many come to accept Him as their Savior when we show the film. But right now, we have no way to broadcast the film. If we did, the computer and projector would be taken by the government.
Question: Speaking of meetings, what are the limitations on church gatherings right now?
Answer: The Indian government will not allow us to meet as a Christian church. And if they find out that we did, they will close our doors and take our facilities. As I mentioned, we carefully check on the members periodically, but only a few at a time, and usually under the cover of darkness. The churches are being very patient within this pandemic, but there is anxiety regarding the length of staying isolated.
Question: When do you expect the churches to open back up?
Answer: We have no answer to this question. Please pray that the pandemic will end, and we can all return to church and have prayer meetings as before.
Question: Is there still a great persecution in India right now?
Answer: Yes, both from the government and because a false religion cloud is over India.
Question: Do you still have regular prayer meetings?
Answer: Yes, we pray daily for many hours, and many times we fast for days.
Question: On that note, what is the most urgent need for the ministry in India right now?
Answer: Emergency medical care for children and needy families in our region must be prepared in advance. A hospital visit may arise very quickly (such as a broken bone) and we have very little money in savings for this. And the children need better food items to boost immunity. Rice does not provide enough nutrients as we fight off this virus infection. Much of India has the virus and even die because their immune system is not very strong like the United States.
Question: Do you have a car yet?
Answer: No. We use a specific courier service driver to help us carry food from the city to the facilities. He tries to help us by being the only one that we work with so he gives us a better deal.
Question: You and your wife recently had your first son. How is your family doing?
Answer: Yes! After many years of waiting, my mother arranged a marriage for me and we were just married a few years ago! She is my helper for the ministry. Our son, Joseph was born in 2022 and we are very blessed that he is healthy. A true gift from God!
Question: If someone wanted to know where HPI was located on the map, how could they do that?
Answer: We are in Southern India, the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. That is all the details that we can share online. Persecution is very real here and we must be careful not to share too much on the internet.
Question: Is Project India on social media or YouTube?
Answer: That is not safe for Christians in India and we do not have time for social media.
Question: Is there anything else you would like to say to the readers of the newsletter?
Answer: We are so very thankful to you all. When the Lord connected us together over 10 years ago. The children were starving and all we had for them was water from a well to try and fill their empty stomachs in a small rental house. Since then, we have seen God provide through you all in a miraculous way so many times. And one day, we will all meet in Glory with Jesus and celebrate together. But until then, family in Christ, we love you all! God Bless you friends and please continue to pray for us as we try to reach many others for the kingdom of God! Hallelujah! Amen! Amen!