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When Christ returns, He tells us He will reward those who loved and served Him. "Come," He will say, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me . . . [for] whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matt. 25:34–40).
While the spiritual condition of our hearts is of eternal importance, God also cares deeply about our physical and emotional needs. That’s why so many SIM ministries have both physical and spiritual facets. In everything we do, we want to emulate the heart of Christ!
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Whenever SIM enters a region to establish a program under the Community Development Project (CDP), we have two goals in mind: to help underprivileged people improve their lives physically and to enrich their lives spiritually by sharing the gospel.
In most cases, those goals are met simultaneously. Whether we are conducting literacy classes, training farmers, or providing instruction in health-care techniques, our missionaries seamlessly weave in spiritual lessons while living out their lives for Christ. And thanks to the support of friends like you, our programs have brought the gospel and the chance for a brighter tomorrow to thousands of people.
China, a South Asian woman, is |
Today, Tomorrow, and Forever Through health care, education, agriculture, and microindustry programs today,
SIM gives people hope for tomorrow. By sharing the gospel, we give them hope for eternity.
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one of them. After graduating from our adult literacy class, China joined a Cooperative Savings Group (CSG). At first, each member contributed a small amount (usually about US $.15 each week) until enough was accumulated to start giving loans to group members.
After participating in the group for about two years, China and her husband borrowed about US $14.70 to start a teashop. Today, their business produces a profit of about US $1.50 a day, and they are very pleased with their increased income.
China’s involvement in the CSG also brings other benefits. It gives her access to a library program that helps her strengthen her reading skills, and it gives her better access to improved health care. Each CSG group selects a Community Health Representative (CHR) who receives basic health training from SIM. She is then responsible for monitoring the health of the other group members and their children.
In addition, local midwives can voluntarily join SIM’s Traditional Birth Assistant program and take part in a 10-day intensive training course. This training is critical for community health in an area where more than 70 percent of all births are conducted in homes with only the assistance of a village midwife.
Although CDP programs vary significantly from community to community, most projects quickly become self-sustaining. Then, thanks to the continuing prayers and gifts of friends like you, SIM can begin a new project to start the process of bringing help and hope once again.
Project Number – 98226
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