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Last updated: March 3, 2023

March 3, 2023

Thank you for your support of Bethany Blessing! Please find Pastor James’ update below:

Where would you like to see your home in five years?

God is always faithful to us. I enjoy helping the children with their activities and hope to serve many more children. Thank you for your financial support.

Spotlight on Santra

Age: 7

Birthday: May 7

Franka and Santra are sisters. Their father started having an affair many years ago but finally left his family completely more recently. Their mother has taken work as a domestic worker, which prevents her from caring for her children. Santra is cute and friendly. Like many little sisters, she loves to fight with Franka. She likes dancing and praying. Please pray for her studies, good health, and that the family will be reunited.

Prayer Request

For Pastor James and his family – For health and peace

For the kids – The kids are taking their yearly exams that will allow them to move on to the next grade

For India – For peace from religious strife and for all the vulnerable children to find a place to go

New Headshots

January 23, 2023

K husband Kanchana Sagaya Mary James Shalini Bethany 10.22

January 6, 2023

Thank you so much for supporting Bethany Blessing in 2022. We’re so grateful to have you with us for another year. Please enjoy Pastor James’ update below:

What advice would you give someone if they told you that they wanted to start a children’s home?

Running a children’s home is a God-given mission. You need a lot of patience and harmony with the Holy Spirit. Getting trauma-informed care training is also important.

Spotlight on Akshaya

Age: 11

Birthday: August 1

Akshaya is a great reader and loves to pray. She is very quiet but has a strong temper. Please pray for her studies and her health. She often misses her parents.

Prayer Requests

For Pastor James and his family – Pastor James has been having some painful health issues. He is feeling better now. Please pray for health and peace for the whole family.

For the kids – For their return to studies after Christmas break and for the four children with chickenpox (Immanuel, Ashwini, Ajay, and Santra)

For India – For discrimination and bigotry to cease

December 2, 2022

Thank you so much for supporting Bethany Blessing! Please enjoy your November update from Pastor James.

What is one way you tell your kids you love them without using words?

I am working very hard to understand their unique needs and make many sacrifices to care for them.

Spotlight on Prajwal

Age: 12

Birthday: October 3

Prajwal seems older than he is because he is pretty tall. He has gained a lot of wisdom since arriving at Bethany. Please pray for him to grow in wisdom and obedience to God.

Prayer Request

For Pastor James and his family – For good health and especially for healing for Kanchana

For the kids – That they will all trust God and grow strong

For India – There are many divides right now in India, by caste, ethnicity, political party, etc. Pray for peace.

December 2, 2022

New Children Spotlight

Franka and Santra’s father started having an affair many years ago but finally left his family completely more recently. Their mother has taken work as a domestic worker, which prevents her from caring for her children. Pray for Santra and Franka to have a smooth transition to their new home, as well as that their mother will be able to find a job that allows her to care well for her children as well. Thank you

November 9, 2022

New child spotlight

Age: 6

Birthday: February 1

Immanuel is an only child. His father left shortly after his birth and his mother stayed for two more years before leaving him with his grandparents. When his grandparents died, he was brought by what was left of his family to Bethany Blessing. Please pray for a smooth transition and for Immanuel to feel the love of God and his new family.

October 25, 2022

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a bonus update with you. At the beginning of the month, we finally returned to India for the first time in three long years. It was such a huge blessing! Since we were able to visit the home that you support, I wanted to give you a brief update.

We got off the airplane and snagged a few hours of precious sleep before heading to Bethany Blessing. As we pulled down the street and saw Pastor James’ family and the children spill into the street to greet us, relief and joy washed over me. We’d done it. We were really there and being reunited with our partners and their beautiful families. We did a lesson, played outside, and gave out a lot of hugs. What a wonderful time.

Taylor and Maggie returned the next day while April and I led house parent training. They had another lovely day and Maggie was able to get pictures and interviews for her media projects. Maybe you’ll get the chance to see some of those videos once they’re ready! Thank you for your continued support.

September 1, 2022

Thank you so much for supporting Bethany this month! Please find Pastor James’s update below:

How could your home be improved?

We just need to make changes to satisfy the government and know God will provide. God has provided the wonderful home we have.

Spotlight on Ashwini

Age: 10

Birthday: November 1

Ashwini has a strong faith and is a good student. Please pray for her to stay healthy and have peace.

Prayer Requests

For Pastor James and his family – For health. Pastor James’s daughter, Kanchana, lives at Bethany and helps run the home. She has had many health problems and has recently been having heart trouble.

For the children – For their health, faith, and studies

For India – For religious freedom, a cease to persecution, and for everyone being harmed by flooding

I hope you’re having a great summer so far. Please find Pastor James’s update below:

If you could relive one day from the past at your children’s home, which day would it be and why?

We love worshiping together as a family at church.

Spotlight on Jennifer

Age: 14

Birthday: April 28

Jenefer and her brother, Abhi, have grown up at Bethany. Their father abandoned the family for another woman and the kids’ mother brought them to Bethany. Jenefer is entering ninth grade at an English language school. Please pray for her health and faith.

Prayer Requests

For Pastor James and his family – For health, God’s favor, and protection against evil

For the children – That they will grow up to be good citizens with a strong faith

For India – For peace and religious freedom

Last updated: May 4, 2022

Thank you so much for continuing to support Bethany Blessing Children’s Home. See Pastor James’ update below:

If a reporter were to interview you about your children’s home, what would you want to be sure they wrote about?

Raising this many children is not a normal job. We could not do it without God’s help. God has called us to care for fatherless and helpless children and He always helps us. We would also want everyone to know that the children here have hope for their future.

Spotlight on Ruthvik

Age: 8

Birthday: December 10

Ruthvik’s father died a few years ago and his mother is living with cancer. Between the heavy cost of medical bills in a one-parent family and the burden of raising a child alone while battling cancer, Ruthvik’s mother determined she was not able to care for him. He is very cute, smart, wise beyond his years, and quiet.

Prayer Requests

For Pastor James and his family – That he will walk closely with God and follow His leading. For the whole family to be patient and wise in raising the children.

For the kids – That they will grow up to be good citizens.

For India – For everyone’s health during the hot season in southern India. It gets so hot that many people get sick. Also for the salvation of many and wisdom for the government.

Last updated: March 1, 2022

Thank you so much for continuing to support Bethany Blessing! Please find Pastor James’ support below:

Can you tell us about a specific challenge you saw God overcome for your home?

God has helped them to overcome many challenges over the last few years. The Center for Women and Children, part of the Hindu nationalist government, came and told them that they had to close their home. They begged for mercy but were ignored, but still, they continued to pray. God answered their prayer when the commissioner in the office was transferred. Since then, they have been less harsh.

Before that, their prayers had been answered by your support! They ran the home for 8 years, never knowing how they would be able to feed their children from month to month. Your faithful support has given them peace of mind.