Manu and Shanti were excited when they heard from a friend that something special was happening in a nearby village. That’s why the two young girls set out by themselves, walking for over an hour to reach Fatehpur Churian. When they got there, what they found was a great surprise: a summer camp hosted by ServeNow.
“I had a great time and made new friends,” Manu says of the experience. “I learned about Jesus and his love for us and spent time in prayer with the pastor. I would like to thank you for the gift of the wonderful Bible. I plan to read some of the colorful pages as soon as I get home.”
In partnership with Biblica, ServeNow conducted children’s camps and medical clinics in Punjab, India in June 2018, sharing the hope of God’s Word with 250 children – children like Manu and Shanti who live in poverty, some of whom have lost their parents. These are boys and girls who are desperate for both physical and spiritual care.
The majority of the nearly 28 million people in Punjab are Hindi. That means churches in this region are few, and most cannot afford to minister to the children living in their streets and slums.
“The smiles on the children’s faces,” reports a ServeNow representative, “tell us that [we] can share the love and joy of Christ with those who matter to God. Coming from poor communities, they rarely get proper medical attention. The medical clinic and free medicine were a great blessing to them.”
Manish is a young boy who lives near Fatehpur Churian.
“I feel happy to be at this gathering with so many who are my age and have fun and learn about Jesus’ love,” he says. “The favorite parts of my day were receiving the colorful Treasure Hunt Bible and eating the great food that was served. I have never had my own Bible before as we share one Bible at home so this one will be a prized possession.”
ServeNow also held Vacation Bible School in Jagatpura, one of the worst slums in Chandigarh.
A pastor involved in this outreach explains, “I have been working among the laborers in the slums of Jagatpura for two years now. We have a fellowship here where four families attend church regularly. As this is a new mission field, ServeNow’s initiative of a children’s camp will most certainly help the church grow as the children and their parents go through the wonderful Sunday School materials and the colorful Bibles provided.”
Manju attended the VBS in Jagatpura. “I never thought that I would have such a fun weekend,” the young girl says. “Here in the slums, we don’t get to go out or enjoy time with friends like we did today. I enjoyed listening to stories from the Bible, though I am from a Hindu family, and enjoyed coloring the book given to us and hearing the Bible stories.”
