In India, Supporting Ministry Shows the Way on How to “Meet People’s Needs”

At first sight the numbers seem staggering. Just in 2024 the Maranatha Volunteers International footprint in India included the construction of 30 Seventh-day Adventist churches in four states and the drilling of 104 water wells.

Overall, Southern Asia Division (SUD) leaders estimate that in the past 25 years Maranatha has built approximately 2,000 church buildings, or more than 40 percent of the current 4,588 SUD churches listed in the regional directory.

As regards water wells, Maranatha has drilled 1,052 water wells, which have benefited 3,000 communities.

“Each well, on average, supports two additional communities,” church leaders explained in a recent review meeting at the church’s Northern India Union Section headquarters in New Delhi. “In some areas, particularly in the northeastern part of India, a single well provides water to three to five villages,” they reported.

In the area of education the numbers are also impressive. According to recent figures, more than 30,000 students are able to learn and study in 405 classrooms built by the supporting ministry across India.

“In our territory we have seven unions [church regions],” SUD president Ezras Lakra said during the review meeting with Maranatha’s leaders. “In each of our seven unions we now have classrooms or churches, or something built by Maranatha.”

SUD treasurer Riches Christian agreed.

“Maranatha has been a blessing, is a blessing, and will keep being a blessing to the people of India. . . . The ministry puts a smile on people’s faces,” he said.

Steady Progress

Leaders believe, however, that sheer numbers don’t tell the whole story of the ministry’s impact, as there are individual institutions and people stories that also highlight the life-changing ministry of Maranatha in India.

In the north, for instance, the Northeast Adventist College in Thadlaskein, Meghalaya, has now become North-East Adventist University. Years ago on that campus, Maranatha built classrooms, an auditorium, a seminary, and staff houses. Roorkee Adventist School in Uttarakhand, a place where Maranatha built classrooms, dormitories, and staff houses, has now become Roorkee Adventist College.

“No doubt about it, the growth of infrastructure has contributed to a significant growth of the church in India,” leaders said. “And as we observe the growth, we also see an increase in tithe and offerings . . . This has been a direct impact of Maranatha’s involvement in India.”

A Daunting Task

Despite significant and steady progress, ministering to the people of India is a daunting task, with 1.4 billion people and many different states that have different languages, cultures, and varying levels of respect for religious freedom, church leaders explained.

Maranatha’s leaders agreed, but added that India has been traditionally one of the greatest places for volunteer impact.

“We don’t simply look at the buildings that are needed; we look at places where volunteers can experience a great impact,” Maranatha’s president Don Noble explained. “Volunteers who come to India are also blessed and transformed.” And in the process of doing so, they “build and transform other people’s lives,” he said.

A Remarkable Case

This was the case, for instance, of Binjipali Adventist School in Odisha. After three years of work, Maranatha recently completed renovations on the school campus in eastern India. The old campus was a group of structures with peeling paint, cracked floors, and not enough room for Binjipali’s growing enrollment.

Students had to sit through classes on the floor. But thanks to donors, volunteer teams, and local crews, students now enjoy bright places of learning, spacious dormitories, upgraded restrooms, beautiful landscaping, and a modern kitchen and dining hall. Binjipali staff are also thankful for new apartments and a boundary wall to increase campus security.

“This is a project that impacted my life,” said Vinnish Wilson, Maranatha’s country director in India. “Before, there were no bathrooms on campus. And some of the students have now slept on beds for the first time in their lives.” He added, “I am glad that God provided us with the means and opened the doors. Thanks to Him, we were able to transform that place.”

The transformation came just in time, leaders said, as the region is growing, with big companies moving to the area. Binjipali, however, is the only Adventist school in the area. “This could be a game changer,” Wilson said.

A Special Purpose

Beyond bricks and wells, however, regional church leaders emphasized that the special purpose of every project is to win souls for Jesus, both in connecting with the people served and the visiting volunteers. At the same time, it is getting more church members involved in mission with a sense of urgency, they added.

“This is what Maranatha does,” one of them commented. “It’s Jesus’ method, showing compassion to people who lack clean water, study at underdeveloped schools, and need a place to worship.” He added, “If we do not provide for their needs, they will never understand God’s love. But when we do, we can connect with people, and they can get to know God.”

The original article was published on the Adventist Review website.