India is facing one of its greatest challenges with the ongoing impact of Covid on top of several other crises. But there is hope.
Black Fungus disease and flooding in the North are also causing great suffering. Millions are impacted, but Feba India is delivering hope-filled Christian radio programmes as well as radios, media players, and care packages to suffering families. Please join us by praying for India and giving to our India fund today.
FEBC New Zealand is making an urgent donation transfer to India right now to help supply resources for the national broadcasts, the counselling team, and the care packages in Kolkata (pictured here). To contribute to that fund please click the donation button on this page, click ‘Project / Appeal’ and type ‘India’ in the space provided. Thank you.
These care packages contain rice, dahl, salt, oil, sugar and soap etc.
Feba India (a Member of FEBC International) broadcasts on powerful AM stations across the nation, as well as online and numerous social media platforms. Alongside media broadcasting Feba India has set up a Covid Helpline to counsel and pray for thousands of callers searching for help, hope, and practical advice during these dreadful pandemic months. Please join us in praying for India and for those listeners who reach out in desperation.
The staff team face Covid.
No one is immune from the devastating impact of Covid, and Feba staff are as vulnerable as anyone, several suffering themselves from the disease. Anita in particular needs our prayers. She has spearheaded many programmes for Feba India over the years, and is a worker with real zeal, meeting directly with listeners as well as producing programmes. Anita had been unwell with COVID and was being cared for by her husband at home, until he suddenly became breathless himself. He deteriorated very quickly and died in a matter of hours, on 28th April. It is extremely difficult to make Christian funeral and burial arrangements due to the extraordinary demand right now.
Sadly, Anita was unable even to attend her husband’s burial as she was desperately trying to find oxygen and hospital care for her son, who had also become unwell. Anita’s only son – aged 29 – was eventually admitted to hospital on 29th April, but tragically he also died of COVID (on 1st May), leaving her a childless widow. One can hardly imagine her grief.
We help in the progress of our society. The same way God showed his love towards us, we also want to extend our love towards our people in need.
Anita (from an interview in 2018). See below for a video testimony from one of her listeners.
Reverend Benjamin, the Feba India National Director, spoke to New Zealand about the current crisis:
“The picture is very very bad. People are dying. Long queues of ambulances wait with bodies to be cremated. There is no place in the crematorium, no beds and no oxygen. We have lost lots of pastors and missionaries. Please keep praying.”
Why are so many pastors dying?
When asked why so many pastors and missionaries are dying, Rev. Benjamin explained: “Indian people cannot imagine a funeral without a pastor’s prayer. When a family calls for help with a funeral for a loved one, a pastor cannot say no. This means hundreds of Indian pastors are exposed to Covid-infected families every day, and many contract the disease and die themselves.”
As a tragic result, there are now hundreds of Covid widows and widowers, and children without parents.
Rev. Benjamin is preparing new programmes and seminars to train pastors to manage their time and their obligations even when culturally they feel like they can’t say no.
“Our listenership has increased and we are doing many programs through social media, it has opened new avenues to reach people. Please pray for our teams, working from their homes, that we will keep producing relevant programmes to comfort our people.”
India and New Zealand History
Feba India and FEBC New Zealand have an old connection. It was at the opening of the Feba India studio in New Delhi in 1961 that Rev. Graham Miller, Minister of the Papakura First Presbyterian Church, was captivated by the concept of Christian broadcasting for outreach and discipleship, and set about establishing a New Zealand support network with Feba India and FEBC USA. Today, 60 years later, these organisations all serve together under the international association of FEBC International.
India & Feba Today
India today is home to the largest number of unreached people groups in the world. It is 80% Hindu, and is home to the third largest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan. It is the second largest population (1.39 billion) after China, and has over 1600 languages and dialects spoken. Feba India broadcasts to millions in Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali. Listeners respond by phone, email, text message, social media, and letters. Before the global pandemic Feba India was receiving more than 3000 inquiries per month! Your support of FEBC and Feba helps us reply to inquiries and organise conferences in different regions to meet listeners in person.
Testimony of Freedom
Below is a video testimony from featuring Suman, a listener to the programme Hamari Beryan, produced by Anita. The programme ‘Hamari Beriyan’ is aimed at helping women among the rural poor. It address issues around education, health and women’s rights, communicating the heart of God in valuing women and the contribution they are able to make to their communities and wider society.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4. A favourite for the Feba India team during these challenging months.)