www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToAzSFNk_S8

Vision Nationals plants churches, trains nationals and cares for orphans and widows throughout Asia. We are based in Vizag, India. This video shows you the campus of Master’s College of Theology and Master’s Home for Children -- which includes our K-10th public school. For more information please email lauren@visionnationals.org.

Jay Leno Catches Heat from Sikhs Over Mitt Romney Joke
“On…“The Tonight Show,” Leno displayed a picture of the Golden Temple, a holy shrine of Sikhs in India, and joked that it was the summer home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney…”

Moral Police Against Valentine’s Day
“A day in pics” – photos of protests against Valentine’s day from around India.

Virtual Tour of the India Art Fair 2012
“The India Art Fair 2012, which showcased the work of a thousand artists represented by ninety one art galleries from twenty countries, concluded in New Delhi on Sunday…”

Other posts you might find interesting:
1. Pastor Thomas Takes a Wife
2. A Day in the Life of Santosh
3. India in the News | 1.25.12

HOW TO ARRANGE A MARRIAGE:

First off, arranged marriage is NOT forced marriage. In a forced marriage, one or both of the people involved are married against their will. In an arranged marriage, not so.

Alright, let’s pretend you are the parents of an eligible young lady.

First, get the word out! Once you and your daughter decide she is ready for marriage, it is your job as her parents to start spreading the word. Today it is possible to do that using an online matchmaking agency, or by listing your daughter in the “Matrimonals” section of your newspaper’s classified ads. Many times, however, parents prefer the age old method of word of mouth. Many Indian families have an unofficial “matchmaker” among their relatives who makes it her business to know every young man or woman currently on the market. Remember Great Auntie Lakshmi who lives in Delhi? Yeah, that’s her.

Manage incoming proposals. Once Great Auntie Lakshmi gets rolling and word travels that you are looking for a match for your daughter, the proposals start coming in. Parents of prospective grooms will send in a resume listing the potential groom’s name, age, religion, occupation, yearly income, current place of residence, personality and family connections. Included is a full-length photo of the young man.

Now your work begins. You and your spouse spend time reading through the resumes and researching the families of the proposed matches. You may even arrange to meet the young man first yourself, without your daughter’s knowledge. Arranging a marriage is one of the weightiest decisions you will ever make. Your daughter trusts you to find a quality man.

Selection and approval. Once you and your spouse decide which candidate would be the best match for your daughter, you let her know. She can ask questions and take a look at his photo. Nowadays, she can even stalk him on the internet. If she decides she doesn’t like something about him – for instance, his job is in London and she doesn’t want to live so far away from family – then it’s back to the resumes for you and your spouse.

If she approves, then the two of them will meet.

Meeting for the first time. Often when a couple meets for the first time it will be in the presence of family. Undoubtedly this is awkward and there is nervousness on both sides. Perhaps the young man and women take a walk or grab a coffee by themselves to find some time to talk just the two of them. However it goes, after this meeting they will decide if they want to set a wedding date or keep looking. Either one of them can call it off at this point. But if both are comfortable with their parent’s choice, the families will set the wedding date!

Setting the date. Once a spouse is decided upon, the wedding date can be as soon as a few weeks later! Though most weddings take place 3-6 months after the decision is made. Between the time a couple decides to marry and their wedding day, they are free to talk on the phone, hang out (if they live close to each other), and get to know each other better.

SO HOW DOES IT TURN OUT?

Depends on the couple. Thomas and Rani were wed last December. Pastor Solomon met Jesus after his parents arranged for him to marry a Christian woman, and Pastor Raju has planted four churches with his arranged-bride at his side.

BOTTOM LINE: When parents know and love their child well, and when a child knows and trusts his or her parents, why not let the parents choose? After all, they’ve been married for a couple decades. It could be that they’ll choose a better match for you than you would for yourself!

Thomas on his graduation from Master's College of Theology.

Thomas grew up as the oldest of three children. His mother was a single mom – left to raise her children alone when her husband left. God’s faithfulness in his mother’s life prompted her to dedicate her firstborn son – Thomas – to a life ministry.

Thomas, however, was not pleased with his mother’s plans for his future, and he determined he would never be involved in ministry.

This changed, however, at the age of 15. Thomas fell ill and had to undergo surgery. Before the operation, Thomas asked God to protect and heal him. He survived. Three days later, a patient undergoing the same surgery passed away on the operating table. Thomas knew God had spared his life, and he now committed his life to ministry with a thankful heart.

Vision Nationals' Director, Arjuna, delivers the wedding message.

He joined Master’s College of Theology and graduated in 2010. After graduation he began an internship with Vision Nationals, planting churches in Vizag city.  Marriage was in the back of his mind. He knew he would need a special woman, one who was not looking for wealth or status, one who would be a help and support during the hard times of ministry. His thoughts went towards Rani. He knew her family, and he knew she had a heart for ministry. Yet the timing was not quite right, so he waited and prayed…

Meanwhile, while attending a Bible course many miles away, God was stirring in Rani’s heart a conviction that Thomas was the man she would marry. With this knowledge tucked away in hear heart, Rani prayed and waited…

After two years as an intern, Thomas was asked to step into a leadership role. The time had come to ask for Rani’s hand in marriage. His mother and sister confirmed that the time was right and Rani was the woman. When Thomas came to her, Rani did not hesitate. She accepted his proposal and the two were married on December 14th, 2011.

Key leaders pray over Thomas and Rani.

They will both remember the beauty of the day for the rest of their lives. Their favorite part being the message given during the ceremony.

Together, they will now work towards planting churches in Vizag city. Thomas hopes to plant many churches throughout the city while simultaneously overseeing and training rural planters working with Vision Nationals.

Pastor Thomas has a heart for Vizag city. In his own words: “I love Vizag because it is where God brought me. There were many times I was on the brink of leaving Master’s College of Theology. Finances were short and I didn’t think I could make it. I was supported by Vision Nationals’ Director, Arjuna. He counseled me to stay on and I am thankful for that. I know God has called me Vizag, and that is why I will stay and serve this city.”

Pastor Thomas is one of five key leaders working with Vision Nationals to plant Ten Thousand Churches throughout Asia. We are looking for sponsors for each key leader at $200 a month. If you would like to sponsor Pastor Thomas and Rani you can give online or email lauren@visionnationals.org.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYPldS2vX6o

Master’s Home for Children rescues children from the work force and cares for their physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs from the day they arrive until they graduate from college, secure a good job, and can care for themselves. If you would like to sponsor a child for $30 a month you can give online or email karla@visionnationals.org.

A Tourist Circuit for Every Religion

“India is home to a number of religions and there is a huge scope in terms of boosting tourism to religious places. Our aim is to facilitate a packaged tour like experience to tourists complete with stay and entertainment options…”

Rushdie Vents His Frustration on Indian Television

“Though Salman Rushdie’s video address to a literary festival was canceled because of threats by people enraged by his book “The Satantic Verses,” India’s NDTV still broadcast an interview with Mr. Rushdie, whose book has been banned in India.”

Oprah’s Thoughts on India

“What I’ve learned is, you can’t see India in a week,” Winfrey told in an interview on Sunday. “You can’t see India in two weeks … India is so complex, I would have to say it’s the greatest show on Earth. I’ve never seen anything like it. India, I’ll be back again and again…”

Her husband of many many years died in 2007. Together they had four children, three sons and one daughter. All of her sons are married, but they do not take care of her.

It is her daughter, also a widow, who has stayed by her side. This widowed daughter lives with Appayamma and cares for her as best she can. However, as Appayamma is unable to work, the money the daughter makes as a day laborer is not enough to support them both.

This is where Vision Nationals steps in to help these two widows afford daily necessities as well as medicine for Appayamma . It is our hope that Appayamma and her daughter would meet Jesus through the love we show them.

For more on the situation of widows in India read Compassion is Hard to Come By.

Vision Nationals cares for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of widows throughout Vizag city. If you would like to sponsor a widow for $15 a month, you can give online or email karla@visionnationals.org.

Pastor Solomon

At the age of 22, Solomon Raju, a Hindu, married a young Christian lady. His young wife, Vimalakumari, prayed for her husband each day, and after they had been married a little while she invited Solomon to a Gospel meeting. The preacher that day spoke of heaven and hell. The Holy Spirit placed a realization in Solomon’s heart about hell – that he deserved to go there. That created a deep set fear that led Solomon to confess his sins and put his trust in Jesus.

With a new found happiness, hope and peace, Solomon set out to tell all his friends about the love of Jesus. He spent three years sharing the Good News with all the villagers in his town. All the while working as a bus driver.

In 1991, he was wrestling within himself as to whether or not he should leave his job to pursue ministry full-time. There is no money in ministry. But while he was praying in church one day, God showed him a vision based on Psalm 34:8:

He left church that day filled with joy and the knowledge that he should leave his job. He promptly did so and began doing ministry full-time in the Gajapatinagaram District!

Tribal people have a separate culture, practice animism, and live off the land.

The first church he planted – 28 years ago – has 100 members! He planted two others which have 60 and 40 members. All together, Pastor Samuel pastors 200 people in three villages.

Besides these three village churches, he also ministers in tribal areas. Many tribal people lack education and medicine. They live in huts and work the land.  Pastor Solomon has made many inroads and relationships with the tribal people in his area. He takes them medicine and shares the Good News as he goes.

When asked how we can pray for him he answered: “I would like to pursue more ministry among the tribal people. It is always hard to find medicine for them, so you can pray God provides medicine to give to those in need. Also, please pray that the people of my villages and my tribal friends will come to know Jesus.”

Pastor Solomon is one of nearly two hundred men planting churches in India through Vision Nationals. We currently have 180 more men like Pastor Solomon waiting to be sponsored. If you are interested in sponsoring a church planter for $50 a month you may give online or email lauren@visionnationals.org for more information.

Make Chai, Not War

“The US is sending a comedy group of three Indian-Americans on a seven city tour of India to spread the message of religious tolerance among other things…”

Oprah to Visit India

“The TV talk show queen is said to be coming to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival which is scheduled for later this month. Oprah’s main reason for visiting India, according to her own words on a social networking site, is “to shoot Deepak Chopra there (India) for Next Chapter…”

India: Is the World’s Largest Democracy Floundering?

“Indians may have separated temple, mosque, church and state, but they hold on to a volatile mix of corrupt religion, a highly racist society and deeply entrenched criminal politics…”

John Wesley was originally named after a Hindu god. After his mom came to know Christ, she changed his name. His father, however, was angry at his mother’s new faith in Jesus. So angry, in fact, he murdered her and deserted his children. You can watch a video of young John Wesley and hear more of his story on our Master’s Home page.

John lived with his sister for a while, then he and his sister were brought to Master’s Home for Children. That was 9 years ago. John Wesley is now in his final year of high school. He enjoys playing cricket and reading fiction. He hopes to study business, get his MBA and manage people someday.

In his own words, “I know if I need anything, the director and staff will help me.”

Master’s Home for Children cares for 150 children from the time they arrive until they have a college degree in hand, secure a good job and can support themselves. For $30 a month you can partner with us in changing the future for these children. To sponsor a child contact karla@visionnationals.org or give online.