No Longer a Slumdog

A few weeks ago I ordered my free copy of No Longer a Slumdog by K. P. Yohannan. Some of you may know that Mr. Yohannan is the founder and international director of Gospel for Asia which brings hope to the people of India. The book is filled with stories of children rescued from dark situations and brought into one of the Bridge of Hope centers in their community. Here they learn that they are special in the eyes of the Lord. The children are given an education, basic necessities and health care. The community benefits as well with health education, vocational training and literacy classes. It is a program that we can get involved with by sponsoring a child for $28 per month.
There are 50 million child laborers in India alone and 1.2 million children are trafficked as slaves and prostitutes each year. In Matthew 18:10, Jesus said, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” The dictionary states the word “despise” means “to regard as unworthy of one’s interest or concern.” Jesus sees, He cares, and He feels the pain of these children.
Calcutta alone is home to more than 100,000 street children. They are left to fend for themselves.
In India, there are 11 million children who have been abandoned, and 90% of them are girls. Three million of these end up living on the streets. (Operation World)
According to UNICEF, more than 1 billion children around the world are deprived of one or more of these essentials: adequate shelter, food, safe water, sanitation, health care or education.
Some of the most disturbing information that I learned from this book was about the Dalit’s or Untouchables. I’ve heard them mentioned before but this gave me a closer look. Dalit literally means “broken,” “crushed” or “oppressed.” They are the lowest rung of the ladder in Hindu society. They are considered to be polluted or unclean. If they touch someone of a higher caste, the upper caste would supposedly become contaminated. How sad to be thought of in this way.
Psalm 10:17-18 says “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”
For more information about Gospel for Asia, go to www.gfa.org.