India India and and

South South AsiaAsia

PunePune

Why India?Why India?

India is probably India is probably the biggest the biggest challenge for challenge for mission and the mission and the Gospel among Gospel among the countries of the countries of the world the world

Setting the Scene – Some of Setting the Scene – Some of the Mission Challenges of India the Mission Challenges of India

(1)(1) The most people in the world: Over 1 billionThe most people in the world: Over 1 billion The most people in poverty – over 300 million The most people in poverty – over 300 million

living on less than US1$ a dayliving on less than US1$ a day One of the most unequal countries in the world One of the most unequal countries in the world

with wide gaps between rich and poor, with wide gaps between rich and poor, reinforced by the caste system which still reinforced by the caste system which still dominates the social system in most of India dominates the social system in most of India

The largest number of people with HIV-AIDS in The largest number of people with HIV-AIDS in the worldthe world

The highest number of child labourers in the The highest number of child labourers in the world – 40 millionworld – 40 million

One of the world’s major conflicts e.g. KashmirOne of the world’s major conflicts e.g. Kashmir

Setting the Scene – Mission Setting the Scene – Mission Challenges of India (2)Challenges of India (2)

One of the most unreached nations for One of the most unreached nations for the Gospel - officially less than 2.5% the Gospel - officially less than 2.5% ChristianChristian

A multi-religious society - more religions A multi-religious society - more religions than most other countries; 75-80% Hinduthan most other countries; 75-80% Hindu

The birth place of: Hinduism, Buddhism, The birth place of: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and JainismSikhism and Jainism

The second largest Muslim nation in the The second largest Muslim nation in the world after Indonesia – Islam is one of the world after Indonesia – Islam is one of the great issues & challenges for world great issues & challenges for world mission todaymission today

A rise of persecution in recent years with A rise of persecution in recent years with many states passing anti-conversion lawsmany states passing anti-conversion laws

Mumbai – home to 18 Mumbai – home to 18 million peoplemillion people

Paradox and Positives of Paradox and Positives of IndiaIndia

The world’s largest cross-cultural The world’s largest cross-cultural mission movement – 75,000 Indian mission movement – 75,000 Indian missionariesmissionaries

Fast growing new emerging mission Fast growing new emerging mission movements and churchesmovements and churches

The worlds largest democracyThe worlds largest democracy

One of the world’s fastest growing One of the world’s fastest growing economies & 5economies & 5thth largest economy largest economy

The worlds largest middle class – over The worlds largest middle class – over 250 million250 million

Who is Dr Lalita Edwards?Who is Dr Lalita Edwards?

Lalita Lalita Edwards…Edwards…

A medical doctor who has A medical doctor who has served in Christian missions served in Christian missions for many yearsfor many years

A consultant and trainer in A consultant and trainer in HIV-AIDS care and HIV-AIDS care and prevention, sex education prevention, sex education and child developmentand child development

A CMS co-mission partner A CMS co-mission partner who shares the Gospel who shares the Gospel through her work and leads through her work and leads people to Christpeople to Christ

A family person - married A family person - married with three adult daughters with three adult daughters and several grandchildrenand several grandchildren

What does Lalita Edwards do What does Lalita Edwards do now?now?

Runs “Santvana”, a new small home Runs “Santvana”, a new small home for children affected by HIV-AIDSfor children affected by HIV-AIDS

Conducts medical clinics in the red Conducts medical clinics in the red light and slum areas of Pune citylight and slum areas of Pune city

Provides training and consultancy in Provides training and consultancy in HIV-AIDS and child care for various HIV-AIDS and child care for various Christian organisations and Christian organisations and churcheschurches

Counsels those with various needs Counsels those with various needs and shared her faith in Christand shared her faith in Christ

Lalita counselling Lalita counselling

ladiesladies

Outreach Medical Clinic in Outreach Medical Clinic in

red light area of Punered light area of Pune

Lalita’s heart is Lalita’s heart is especially for especially for young people young people

from poor from poor backgrounds at backgrounds at risk from HIV-risk from HIV-

AIDS . AIDS . She believes She believes

that Bible that Bible values rooted in values rooted in

faith in Christ faith in Christ are the key to are the key to

preventionprevention

Lalita shares her faith with Lalita shares her faith with those who do not know Jesusthose who do not know Jesus

Santvana Children’s Home, Santvana Children’s Home, PunePune

ShankarShankar

RobinRobin

The three boys The three boys who recently who recently

came to came to Santvana HomeSantvana Home

YogeshYogesh

Preeti and Suwarta help to Preeti and Suwarta help to care for the children of care for the children of

Santvana HomeSantvana Home

How will St Andrews connect with How will St Andrews connect with Lalita Edwards?Lalita Edwards?

A gift of £2500 in 2006 and a A gift of £2500 in 2006 and a similar gift in 2007 . similar gift in 2007 . This will be from the funds This will be from the funds allocated for overseas mission allocated for overseas mission from the Legacy Fund.from the Legacy Fund.We hope to have regular contact We hope to have regular contact with Lalita, receive her news and with Lalita, receive her news and pray for her and her work.pray for her and her work.

What can we pray for?What can we pray for?

1.1. For a new For a new larger home larger home for the for the children of children of SantvanaSantvana

2.2. For children For children and women to and women to find Christ find Christ

3.3. For more For more fellow workers fellow workers for Lalitafor Lalita

4.4. For Lalita’s health For Lalita’s health and strength & and strength & wisdom for the wisdom for the futurefuture