Diaconal projects serve primarily as a means to open doors for bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations. A drilled well providing clean water is intended to point the way to the “Living Water.” Wells are particularly effective in Muslim and animist communities for creating an open door for the spread of the Gospel. This also applies to Hindu village communities in India, where we have drilled wells in front of Christian meeting houses; these serve as the most effective protection against the burning and looting of such buildings. This act of Christian charity—like the provision of care for widows—stands as a testament to God’s mercy, a concept entirely foreign to Hindu culture.
Providing the local population with a nearby water supply is especially beneficial for women and girls. Beyond the physical strain of walking for kilometers to fetch water, women face the constant danger of violence and abuse.
In addition to the lack of water, inefficient agriculture is a major problem, particularly in South Sudan. To improve these primitive farming methods, we acquired a tractor equipped with the necessary implements for tilling the soil.
Another issue among African tribes is female circumcision—more accurately described as female genital mutilation. This practice inflicts psychological trauma, rendering girls vulnerable to sexual exploitation. To counter this, we are planning to establish “rescue centers” in various locations. These centers allow girls to flee their families, escape this diabolical ordeal, and continue their education.
We also find great joy in our work among Gypsy communities. In the Balkans, we support the social integration of the Roma people; in India, we have launched a school project for Gypsy children. In addition to instruction in standard academic subjects, the children receive biblical teaching. Feeding the children and paying the teachers presents a financial challenge; however, the children’s academic progress and the love shown by the teaching couple in charge are very encouraging.
We would be happy to share information about other projects with you.