Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from here in Nagpur, India.  May you be able to spend it with all your loved ones.  Please see my personal greeting and update video by clicking on the photo to the right.

As we approach the end of the year, there are some program areas still in need of funding.  We were also a little down this year in overall giving.  Therefore, would you please consider a special, year-end gift to help the ministry?

Thanks for holding the rope and we look forward to partnering with God’s people until He returns to bring us all into His glorious presence!

Dr. Saji K. Lukos
Founder/President
RIMI

PS. Did you know that besides monetary gifts, there are many other ways to help:  estate planning through a will or trust, a gift annuity, donor-advised funds, IRA Charitable Rollover, or donating a stock gift.  Contact the office for more information.

PPS. Please share our ministry video with your friends, family, and other contacts.  The video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mod-F-xntSE&feature=youtu.be.

As we approach the end of the year, there are some program areas still in need of funding that I would like to highlight.  First, Married Students Housing

construction on our seminary has been stopped most of this year due to lack of funds.  We would like to restart in the beginning of the new year as the Lord provides the funds.  There will be 24 apartments and each one costs about $50,000.

To help get the hospital self-sustaining, we need to establish 9 departments to get accredited for Nursing training.  Each department costs about $25,000.

If we can get accredited this year, we will be able to start training in the fall of 2020.  These students would pay their own tuition costs, which would help with the operating costs of the hospital.  Right now, we are working with a company who will be able to help us get some urgently needed equipment and supplies for the hospital.  Pray that this partnership will work to benefit both RIMI and this company and allow us both to continue our God-given missions work.

We also want to see God greatly expand His work throughout all South Asia.  To do this requires great prayer and financial partnership.  To help meet various needs of the ministry, and to make up for some shortfalls this year, we need $100,000.  This will help us finish the year strong.  Therefore, would you please consider a special, year-end gift to help the ministry?

Thanks for holding the rope and we look forward to partnering with God’s people until He returns to bring us all into His glorious presence!

Dr. Saji K. Lukos
Founder/President
RIMI

PS. Did you know that besides monetary gifts, there are many other ways to help:  estate planning through a will or trust, a gift annuity, donor-advised funds, IRA Charitable Rollover, or donating a stock gift.  Contact the office for more information.

PPS. Please share our ministry video with your friends, family, and other contacts.  The video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mod-F-xntSE&feature=youtu.be.

One of the projects we have been able to start this year is a couple of new Child Development Centers (CDCs).  These CDCs are essentially after-school programs where children from the villages can receive tutoring help with their schoolwork, a good snack, and help with learning English.  As you can see in this video, being able to read and speak English is critical to going for higher studies and getting a good paying job, especially for these rural students.

On Giving Tuesday, you can help RIMI with the operation needs of these CDCs as well as helping support those on the front lines sharing the love of Christ with those who have never heard.

Dr. Saji K. Lukos
Founder/President
RIMI

Reena is one of the 16 brilliant students at the Raipur MIBC. All except one come from a Hindu background.

Reena grew up in a small village of the state of Chhattisgarh in Central India. She has one brother and three sisters. Her mother is alive. However, she grew up without a father who committed suicide due to various family pressures. They served all the Hindu gods, especially the goddess Kali.

Reena was raised by her grandparents, but her grandmother was very brutal to her. She did not go to school and was forced to do all the work in the house. She would receive one meal a day. Her grandma tortured her daily. One day, Reena was weak and unable to get up and do the chores around the house. Her grandma became furious with her and threw scalding hot water on Reena’s face and she had to seek medical assistance.  Fortunately, no serious damage was done to Reena.

Through one of her distant relatives, she heard about Jesus Christ and one pastor led her to faith in Christ. Today she is happy and has found a new purpose in life. She is confident of her eternal life. Her mother works in a factory to support the family. Reena shared with her family about Christ and today all of the siblings have come to Christ and attend a local church.

Reena’s desire is to study further and to be involved in compassion ministries, especially taking care of widows. God willing, under her leadership, we may open a center for widows at the campus in Raipur. If you are interested to help poor widows, please contact the RIMI office today.

Like Reena, around 600 students are receiving theological training through RIMI. Most of them are not able to pay anything toward the tuition fees. Please be a partner to raise up next generation leaders. I look forward to hearing from you. Please continue to pray for Mony and my ministry travels in India until December 24.

Until All Have Heard,

Saji Lukos
Founder and President

As we approach Veteran’s Day, all of us here at RIMI want to say THANK YOU to all the men and women who have given themselves to protect our country from those who would seek to harm us.  You sacrifice of time is greatly appreciated and we salute you.

As we celebrate those who have given us the freedom to freely worship, let us also celebrate the one whose ultimate sacrifice gives us not just freedom here on Earth, but freedom to enjoy eternity with the all-mighty Creator.  Jesus’ one-time sacrifice on the cross has paid the price for our sins and allows us to call God, “Abba, Father”.

Our goal as a ministry is to bring this message to all parts of this earth, especially those areas of South Asia with little or no Gospel work.  We are encouraged daily by the fact that you are praying and supporting on a regular basis to meet the ongoing needs of the ministry.  We are asking God to work through His people to give special gifts of $500,000 before December 31^st to meet various pressing needs of the ministry such as Nursing school project, completion of church halls, major repair works on various buildings, an upgraded sound system for the seminary conference hall, completion of the seminary married students’ housing, purchase of land for Bible colleges, and continued service of the poor through various community development programs. I am asking all of you to be generous with a special gift. Also share the ministry of RIMI with your families-children and grandchildren. I am also asking all of our board members and ambassadors to be generous and mobilize friends to donate for ministry.

Any gift would be a great blessing. Thank you.

In Christ,

Saji Lukos
Founder and President

PS. Please continue to pray for Mony and me and we travel throughout India over the next month and a half, returning home just before Christmas.

Self-Supporting Nursing School

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Greetings in Jesus’ name!  Mony and I have been in India for the past few weeks and enjoying seeing our friends and family members and teaching and preaching at our churches and on our campus.  The Leadership Conference is going on now and it has been a great celebration thus far.  Keep an eye out for updated photos and videos over the next week.

At the September board meeting, and with much discussion with the India staff, we have made getting the hospital nursing school up and running a priority.  In order to be ready for the next academic year (June 2020), we must have the funds for supplies and equipment for the new departments by the end of November this year (just one month away).  According to our best projections, within 2-3 years of starting the nursing program, the hospital can become self-supporting.  Therefore, we need your help to raise the $216,000 needed to accomplish this goal.  As always, this is a big dream, but with our Great God, nothing is impossible!

There continues to be a serious doctor and nurse staff shortage in India, and we hope to help supply some of the nurses needed through our training program.  The WHO recommends a minimum of 2.5 nurses per thousand people.  India right now has barely 1.7 per thousand – a shortage of nearly one full nurse for every thousand people.  With a population of roughly 1.4 billion, that means an additional 1.4 million nurses are needed today just to provide the minimum care.  We also provide employment opportunities for those being trained which helps boost the local economy.  We will be able to offer degree programs in General Nursing and Midwifery and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  In addition, the tuition fees from these programs will allow the hospital to become self-supporting.

Please pray about this need and consider what God is prompting you to do.  A gift of any size is greatly appreciated.  Also, please share this project with your friends and family, especially doctors and nurses.

Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you.

Partnering Together,

Saji Lukos
Founder and President

PS. As we quickly approach the end of the year, please consider sending a special gift to support the Evangelism outreach and Leadership programs.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Greetings in Jesus’ name!

I am in India now for the next three weeks.  I will be visiting various locations for strategic planning for the next year.  Please pray for safe travels and good health.

I received this touching letter from P.D. Joseph, our Chief Functionary.

“It is with a heavy heart I write this letter to you. Our pastor Chand [name change for protection] from Odisha, who has been working with Mission India for more than a decade, does not have a house to live in now. His house that was built years ago with mud and bricks was heavily damaged by rain and wind on August 2, 2019. Chand and his family were sleeping in the room when it happened, but God miraculously saved their lives!

He has three children going to school and is pastoring the church along with his tailoring job. Recently, due to a kidney infection, his doctor restricted him from working.  Also, in January while returning from the doctor, he met with an accident. Although he did not have any broken bones or fractures, the accident left him weak.

Pastor Chand accepted Christ in 2004 after being healed from a serious sickness. Eleven families from Gondh and Hindu communities worship the Lord in his church. The land for the church was donated by a believer who also had experienced the Lord’s healing touch.

The village leaders passed a rule that they wouldn’t give any help for pastors or pujaris of temples.

Chandrashekhar needs a shelter where his wife and kids can sleep in safety. Will you, dear brothers and sisters, stand with him? Will you please extend your helping hands to build a safe shelter for Pastor Chand and his family? Shall we be our brother’s keeper?”

This is exactly the kind of need for which we have a benevolence fund.  Your gift will enable us to help Pastor Chand with this urgent need as well as the many other needs that come to our office every day from our missionaries.  They are living by faith in their big God.  Please consider giving a special gift today to help these dear brothers.

Thank you.

Partnering Together,

Saji Lukos
Founder and President

There are currently 600 million people in India struggling for water due to lack of rain in many states. Almost every day we are receiving requests from the field to help with water.  Due to the high demand and lack of supply, many providers are greatly increasing the cost for water.  In fact, in Chennai, a tanker of water actually costs more than a gram of gold!  This picture is from one of Chennai’s biggest reservoirs, Chembarambakkam Lake.  As you can see, it is now nothing but a dry, cracked wasteland.

One way to help with this need is to drill deeper bore wells. Although other water well projects can cost several times as much, we are able to drill a well for only $2,500. Our wells provide pure water for an entire village or Bible college. Over the years, RIMI has drilled many wells throughout India. The Lord has used these wells profoundly. The water is freely offered to all, regardless of their religious background. Hundreds of communities are being blessed by the clean water project and are seeing the love of Christ through these good deeds. Your gift of any size ($50, $100, $200, $250, $500, or more) will make a huge impact in communities. Act Today!

Partnering Together,

Saji Lukos
President

Photo courtesy of NPR – https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/07/18/742688141/the-water-crisis-in-chennai-whos-to-blame-how-do-you-fix-it

PS. People of all ages can help solve the water crisis.  Even children selling lemonade can make a difference!

The apostle Paul charged Timothy to entrust biblical truth to faithful (reliable) men and women who will be able to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).  Paul was passionate to multiply churches throughout Asia and beyond.  Therefore, he was careful to give spiritual instruction to Timothy, not only to protect the existing churches,but also to spread the gospel to other areas. This is the principle of spiritual multiplication. There are four levels of spiritual leadership (domino effect) that can be seen in this verse (Paul – Timothy – Reliable Men – Others).

Domino Effect: Entrusting to the next generation

One of the foundational leadership principles of RIMI over the years, has been spiritual multiplication to reach the unreached peoples in India and beyond. That is why we have established bible colleges in every state of India that teach in the local languages, to develop Christ-like indigenous leaders. This domino effect has impacted not only the ministry of RIMI, but hundreds of other ministries. Over 8,000 graduates of our ministry are transforming India and beyond working alongside other ministries.

As a growing ministry, RIMI must continue to develop leaders in various leadership levels to be professors in our seminary, bible school teachers in our colleges, pastors in local churches, and district and state leaders. Therefore, we send our graduates to other reputed seminaries and universities for master’s and doctoral programs.

Shashikant Nayak at the SAIACS campus in Bangalore

Shashikant Nayak is our seminary graduate who received a Master of Divinity in 2015 and served in Bangalore with a local ministry. He originally hails from the state of Odisha and grew up in a poor family background. He is enrolled at SAIACS (www.saiacs.org) for a Master of Theology (2-year program). When he finishes, he will be joining the MITS faculty.

It costs $6,000 for the entire program (including tuition, housing, and food). There are other graduates who are also ready to be sent for further higher studies. If you are led by the Holy Spirit to sponsor Shashikant, or anyone else, please donate towards the Higher Education Scholarship Fund. Together we will have a strong domino effect in developing leaders for advancing God’s kingdom in Asia.

Developing Next Generation Leaders,

Saji Lukos
Founder and President