The Harvest Kids Program, is reaching over 400 children in 5 different areas of Maharastra. These children who come from the slums, streets and leprosy parents are brought to our churches where they get a basic education along with teaching them Bible truth, songs, and Bible stories. This ministry also provide them snacks and juice. God is bringing great life change to these children. The kids also provide an opportunity to reach their parents. This is not a regular school but a literacy program our churches started to teach those children who are not going to school regularly.
Beginning: In 2005 HMU director had the opportunity to visit some of the new mission fields in Solapur district, Maharashtra State. The two mission fields that he visited were the remote Village and a leper colony located in the Solapur District. The local missionaries arranged a couple of public outreach programs for both the children and the adults in the colony and village to enjoy. He saw all of the children eagerly participating in the programs, singing and responding to the stories and gospel truths the missionaries were sharing with them.
His visit to this region revealed the difficult conditions that most of the children live in. He learned that most of them do not go to school and many of them come from homes that are either neglected or abandoned. In the leper colony, many children are born to lepers. There is no school located in this community. Even if a few of them could make it to the school located in the next village, they do not attend on a regular basis. Our missionaries proposed the idea of possibly starting two new Play schools in this area in the future. We called it Harvest Play School. Later we called it ‘Harvest Kids School'. Currently, we have 5 Harvest Kids program in Maharashtara.
Testimony: Here is a testimony from one of the children the Lord has touched. Before coming to the Harvest Kids School, I used to sell fruits and other eatable items in the railway compartments and on the platforms. I do not have any parents but my aunty looks after me. Today, I am so happy because Jesus has changed me. Before that, I used to steal passengers luggage, chew tobacco and ghutaka along with smoking beedis. Now, I have come to understand that there is someone who loves me so dearly and cares for me. After hearing about this wonderful Lord Jesus, I surrendered my life to Him because this was the first time I heard about Jesus. I have promised to Jesus from now on I will leave only for Him. You can support a child with $20 per month.