After-school tutoring and daily Bible studies might seem mundane. For the poor children that the Stepping Stone Centers minister to, they are often a route to a new life, for them and for their parents. Our hearts are encouraged by an episode in Tamil Nadu.
“Daddy, Jesus will help you stop drinking.” Chhavi, Eesha and Janya had learned about Jesus from a nearby Stepping Stone Center. They pleaded with their father, who had fits of rage, fueled by alcohol, during which he would beat their mother. “Jesus will help you stop drinking,” the girls said, but their father ignored them. It looked like their lives would never change. Then one day their father drank so much and became so violent that he clubbed their mother to the ground, leaving her bleeding and unconscious. Believing he had killed her, their father fled. The girls ran to the neighbors, who summoned medical assistance.
It was a desperate time for the three girls. It took weeks for their mother to recover. And, despite what he had done, the girls wanted their father to come home. The church that hosted the Stepping Stone Center learned of their plight and took up their cause. People prayed. People fasted. Two months after nearly killing his wife, the father came home.
He had not wanted to come home, he told the girls, but their words had echoed in his ears: “Jesus will help you stop drinking.” Their words had pricked his conscience and tapped a deep longing to be set free from his compulsive use of alcohol. After much counseling, and the continued prayers of the church, the three girls’ parents were reconciled. Now they attend the church and possess an eternal hope. Chhavi, Eesha and Janya were right: Jesus helped Daddy to stop drinking.
You helped us teach them about Jesus. Your support for the Stepping Stone Centers, your generosity and sacrifice, makes a difference to many families in India. Thank you.
*Generic Picture of Three Girls in India
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