On Christmas Eve, many of us in the western world can’t wait for Santa to visit with his reindeer and sleigh to drop off the most perfect gift we have had our eyes on for MONTHS. But for many people around the world, this is far from the case…
Every year on the 24th of December, Pastor Frank goes out of his way to purchase 600 (yes, you read that right, 600!!!) brand new Saris for local women in need, many of whom are widows. Wow!
A Sari is a precious gift; 1 sari costs 6,000 rupees, converted into NZD is $100 per sari… I’ll leave you to work out that math! But it’s not the dollar value of the Saris that is most impactful. To understand how truly life-changing the Sari gift is, you have to understand the cultural significance of a Sari.
Most of us understand that India operates under the oppression of the caste structure. As both females and widows or outcasts, they become the lowest caste, making them very low value in society. By giving these women such a valuable gift, Ps Frank is countering the culture and sending them a message of truth – “You have value, we believe in you.”
And just when you thought Ps Frank was an incredible man, we tell you that not only is the 24th of December Christmas Eve – but it is Pastor Frank’s birthday! How moving is that?
It reminds me of the scripture found in Acts 20:35 – In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
What sets Pastor Frank and his wife Gladys’ work apart is their desire to counter-culture this value system through doing something that comes from a Kingdom culture. Often we are looking up to Christian celebrities in the spotlight (which is fine by the way), but Pastor Frank and Gladys are real giants of the faith, moving mountains for Jesus in their local communities. How incredible! Partnering with Pastors Frank and Gladys is a great joy of ours. Through your generous giving, we can empower this incredible couple to impact their community and change lives for Jesus. We can’t wait to see what’s to come for our India Mission Campuses.
