The Coronavirus pandemic has the world in lockdown. In India, approximately 308 million people are in lockdown and without access to any food and water.
See below the results of our Church's donations to help support those in need in India.
See below the results of our Church's donations to help support those in need in India.
13 July 2020
A message from Binu Thampy in India
"We believe that you are all keeping well under the given circumstances. It’s been uncertain and unsure for many people across the globe on employment, education, finances and many other areas. Thank God that we still have hope in the One who is everlasting and is by our side always.
As the national lockdown began in March, we were increasingly aware that many communities in Kolkata were without food. Most daily wage workers have been without employment and therefore without income during this time and they were quickly running out of supplies.
When we heard about this scarcity and the danger of possible starvation from leaders in the communities we work with, we knew we had to step in and do something about it. We have worked with the community leaders and requested them to identify families that needed help. We were able to distribute food kits that includes grocery, food items and was also able to supply health & hygiene items in the communities that needed support the most. Cross Culture team has been mostly involved in the Covid-19 relief work during these times.
The food kits contained 5 kg Rice, 3 kg Wheat flour, 1 kg lentils, 1 kg potato, and 500 ml oil that will help provide up to 60 meals to one family.
We have been distributing cooked food to the homeless and street dwellers in the city. Many of them had no source of income and they survived by begging on the streets. As the lockdown started, they began to starve. We opened a community kitchen where our team comes and cook meals for people. So many have run out of gas and are not able to replace their empty gas cylinders with full ones. Hence, we cook food, pack it and take it to them daily.
We cooked 150 meals a day, 6 days a week and so 900 meals were made in a week. We are running for 13 weeks and have so far, distributed 11,700 meals.
Over three different phases, we were able to distribute almost 7000 food kits to 16 different regions all over India which will provide over 6,12,000 meals.
We have also distributed masks and sanitisers to the police, people in the communities and people who interact with the public regularly to make sure they are protected.
We have had testimonies of families who had reached the brink of starvation and had no hope but as had approached them with supplies they were so thankful that God heard their prayers and they could survive this pandemic.
Food distribution was not only happening in Kolkata, but in other parts of the State, and other states. Particularly in North Bengal, food kits were taken to large grounds in various villages, where people gathered in the respective areas to collect their kits. Our pastors and team were present to hand out the kits and while doing so, also shared why we do what we do. It gave us a perfect opportunity to share the gospel to all of them through a loud speaker. This opened up 7 new areas for us to go and start home groups.
Praise God !!
In the middle of a pandemic, Kolkata and Bangladesh was hit by a super cyclone called Amphan that killed over 80 people causing great calamities. Thousands of trees were uprooted, hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed or affected, electric and phone lines brought down, flooded streets, and houses flattened. 14 million people were without power for days. A severe cyclone like this hasn’t been recorded for the last 300 years and over 500,000 people had to evacuate their homes. This has been a war-like situation in Kolkata with the Corona Virus and the cyclone together with so much of destruction and chaos. Recovery of the city has been very challenging and slow in a time where supplies and movement are restricted and limited.
In the midst of these challenging times, we have been able to help communities that suffered huge loss of homes and facilities. We had distributed tarpaulins for 100 houses (52,000 people) in a community which will help with the roofing and protection against wind and storms.
We have received 10 applications from our church believers who have suffered severe damage to their homes. But we haven’t been able to help as desired and these families are still in much need.
We want to continue to help the people with food as it’s the most pressing need. As the lockdown continues and the virus continues to peak India has reached over 850,000 positive cases so far. Businesses and jobs are affected and it will take months to come back anywhere near normal. As we continue this work, we are making plans to distribute about 1500 kits in the next month to the most needy. So please do continue to pray and stand with us. Each kit cost us about 500 rupees.
Thank you to all our friends who have stood with us through thick and thin and made it possible to go out into the towns and villages and spread not only the gospel but also the love of God making a difference in the lives of individuals.
Your valuable support and prayers have helped us come a long way and we do believe that there’s much that we can do in impacting lives in our nation in times of crisis such as this.
We love you and are praying for you too. We do know and understand that you have sacrificed much to go out of your way to help.
May God bless you heaps"
A message from Binu Thampy in India
"We believe that you are all keeping well under the given circumstances. It’s been uncertain and unsure for many people across the globe on employment, education, finances and many other areas. Thank God that we still have hope in the One who is everlasting and is by our side always.
As the national lockdown began in March, we were increasingly aware that many communities in Kolkata were without food. Most daily wage workers have been without employment and therefore without income during this time and they were quickly running out of supplies.
When we heard about this scarcity and the danger of possible starvation from leaders in the communities we work with, we knew we had to step in and do something about it. We have worked with the community leaders and requested them to identify families that needed help. We were able to distribute food kits that includes grocery, food items and was also able to supply health & hygiene items in the communities that needed support the most. Cross Culture team has been mostly involved in the Covid-19 relief work during these times.
The food kits contained 5 kg Rice, 3 kg Wheat flour, 1 kg lentils, 1 kg potato, and 500 ml oil that will help provide up to 60 meals to one family.
We have been distributing cooked food to the homeless and street dwellers in the city. Many of them had no source of income and they survived by begging on the streets. As the lockdown started, they began to starve. We opened a community kitchen where our team comes and cook meals for people. So many have run out of gas and are not able to replace their empty gas cylinders with full ones. Hence, we cook food, pack it and take it to them daily.
We cooked 150 meals a day, 6 days a week and so 900 meals were made in a week. We are running for 13 weeks and have so far, distributed 11,700 meals.
Over three different phases, we were able to distribute almost 7000 food kits to 16 different regions all over India which will provide over 6,12,000 meals.
We have also distributed masks and sanitisers to the police, people in the communities and people who interact with the public regularly to make sure they are protected.
We have had testimonies of families who had reached the brink of starvation and had no hope but as had approached them with supplies they were so thankful that God heard their prayers and they could survive this pandemic.
Food distribution was not only happening in Kolkata, but in other parts of the State, and other states. Particularly in North Bengal, food kits were taken to large grounds in various villages, where people gathered in the respective areas to collect their kits. Our pastors and team were present to hand out the kits and while doing so, also shared why we do what we do. It gave us a perfect opportunity to share the gospel to all of them through a loud speaker. This opened up 7 new areas for us to go and start home groups.
Praise God !!
In the middle of a pandemic, Kolkata and Bangladesh was hit by a super cyclone called Amphan that killed over 80 people causing great calamities. Thousands of trees were uprooted, hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed or affected, electric and phone lines brought down, flooded streets, and houses flattened. 14 million people were without power for days. A severe cyclone like this hasn’t been recorded for the last 300 years and over 500,000 people had to evacuate their homes. This has been a war-like situation in Kolkata with the Corona Virus and the cyclone together with so much of destruction and chaos. Recovery of the city has been very challenging and slow in a time where supplies and movement are restricted and limited.
In the midst of these challenging times, we have been able to help communities that suffered huge loss of homes and facilities. We had distributed tarpaulins for 100 houses (52,000 people) in a community which will help with the roofing and protection against wind and storms.
We have received 10 applications from our church believers who have suffered severe damage to their homes. But we haven’t been able to help as desired and these families are still in much need.
We want to continue to help the people with food as it’s the most pressing need. As the lockdown continues and the virus continues to peak India has reached over 850,000 positive cases so far. Businesses and jobs are affected and it will take months to come back anywhere near normal. As we continue this work, we are making plans to distribute about 1500 kits in the next month to the most needy. So please do continue to pray and stand with us. Each kit cost us about 500 rupees.
Thank you to all our friends who have stood with us through thick and thin and made it possible to go out into the towns and villages and spread not only the gospel but also the love of God making a difference in the lives of individuals.
Your valuable support and prayers have helped us come a long way and we do believe that there’s much that we can do in impacting lives in our nation in times of crisis such as this.
We love you and are praying for you too. We do know and understand that you have sacrificed much to go out of your way to help.
May God bless you heaps"
9 July 2020
A message from Binu Thampy in India - Relief for Cyclone Victims
"I just wanted to provide an update with the people who have lost their little homes during the massive cyclone that struck kolkata
There are thousands of people who have lost their homes and are still struggling with the monsoons coming very soon. We have identified about 100 families and we would love to provide a help of 10,000 rupees ($200) which will help them to repair and rebuild so they can live safely.
This is a huge step of faith for us and we know it will make a difference for 100 families. We will be buying them a Tarpaulin for roof, bamboos for support/pillar and helping them financially to repair the floor and also side walls.
Do keep this in prayer as we continue to seek ways to expand the Kingdom and serve the people who are oppressed.
Tapas is one of the victims. His wife, whom he had married while working in Mumbai, left him a few years ago and he came back to Kolkata. In the last three years both his parents passed away. His dad died of cancer and he spent all his savings for his treatment. During Cyclone Amphan, his house was completely damaged and he has no money to repair the house. He is an AC mechanic and works freelance. Due to the COVID situation he has been home without any work or incline in the last 3 months. We are very thrilled at the prospect of helping people like Tapas who have lost their homes and are living in despair. We shared the Gospel with him and now he believes in Jesus.
Thank you Christian Community Church for all that you have done and are continuing to do. God is using you as a mouthpiece to be the voice of the voiceless and the oppressed. The support you provide is a huge blessing and is making a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of people.
May God continue to bless you and use you for His glory."
A message from Binu Thampy in India - Relief for Cyclone Victims
"I just wanted to provide an update with the people who have lost their little homes during the massive cyclone that struck kolkata
There are thousands of people who have lost their homes and are still struggling with the monsoons coming very soon. We have identified about 100 families and we would love to provide a help of 10,000 rupees ($200) which will help them to repair and rebuild so they can live safely.
This is a huge step of faith for us and we know it will make a difference for 100 families. We will be buying them a Tarpaulin for roof, bamboos for support/pillar and helping them financially to repair the floor and also side walls.
Do keep this in prayer as we continue to seek ways to expand the Kingdom and serve the people who are oppressed.
Tapas is one of the victims. His wife, whom he had married while working in Mumbai, left him a few years ago and he came back to Kolkata. In the last three years both his parents passed away. His dad died of cancer and he spent all his savings for his treatment. During Cyclone Amphan, his house was completely damaged and he has no money to repair the house. He is an AC mechanic and works freelance. Due to the COVID situation he has been home without any work or incline in the last 3 months. We are very thrilled at the prospect of helping people like Tapas who have lost their homes and are living in despair. We shared the Gospel with him and now he believes in Jesus.
Thank you Christian Community Church for all that you have done and are continuing to do. God is using you as a mouthpiece to be the voice of the voiceless and the oppressed. The support you provide is a huge blessing and is making a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of people.
May God continue to bless you and use you for His glory."
19 May 2020
A message from Binu Thampy in India
"May God bless you all immensely...
Please do pray for our pastors in small towns and rural areas.
Most of them are in very difficult situations, without proper food for their families. They are not able to get any offering money and now after 2 months they are all in a lot of need.
We are thinking of giving 1000 rupees each to 400 pastors who are in a lot of need. Please do keep in prayer the situation here as the lockdown may continue for longer periods as the spread is much more than the government reports..
Many blessings"
A message from Binu Thampy in India
"May God bless you all immensely...
Please do pray for our pastors in small towns and rural areas.
Most of them are in very difficult situations, without proper food for their families. They are not able to get any offering money and now after 2 months they are all in a lot of need.
We are thinking of giving 1000 rupees each to 400 pastors who are in a lot of need. Please do keep in prayer the situation here as the lockdown may continue for longer periods as the spread is much more than the government reports..
Many blessings"
11 May 2020
A message from Binu Thampy in India
"Hi Christian Community Church. We are so thankful for the very generous gift that you sent us to help the suffering and the most needy in India. We have been able to distribute this in several states and also in Nepal. We gave aid in Kolkata, Durgapur, Kharagpur, North Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Sikkim, Manipur, Assam, Andhra, Andhra Pradesh and Nepal.
It has blessed thousands of families. We can't thank you enough for all the help you have provided during these challenging times.
We constantly pray for all of you and thank God for your heart. May God bless you all abundantly.
Do continue to pray as the situation is getting worse in India now. But God is with us and He will take us through"
A message from Binu Thampy in India
"Hi Christian Community Church. We are so thankful for the very generous gift that you sent us to help the suffering and the most needy in India. We have been able to distribute this in several states and also in Nepal. We gave aid in Kolkata, Durgapur, Kharagpur, North Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Sikkim, Manipur, Assam, Andhra, Andhra Pradesh and Nepal.
It has blessed thousands of families. We can't thank you enough for all the help you have provided during these challenging times.
We constantly pray for all of you and thank God for your heart. May God bless you all abundantly.
Do continue to pray as the situation is getting worse in India now. But God is with us and He will take us through"
