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Life Light Ministries, India

Interdenominational, indigenous Christian mission organization

Frequently Asked Questions Draft

Frequently Asked Questions

About Life Light FAQ

 

About Missions

 

Become a volunteer

 

Sponsorship

 

Financial Integrity

 

What is Life Light Ministries?

Life Light Ministries is a registered 501 (c )(3) organization whose goal is to empower communities and lead a national evangelistic movement in India, one of the least-reached countries in the 10/40 window. Our priorities include training and empowering indigenous Christian leaders, reaching youth through children’s homes and Christian schools, and serving the poorest of the poor in their communities.

 

What is your mission statement?

Our mission is to empower communities and lead a national evangelistic movement in India.

 

What is your belief statement?

We believe that:

  • The Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God for life and ministry
  • There is one God, existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
  • The Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God; that He was born of a virgin; that He redeemed sinful humankind by His atoning death through His shed blood, that He bodily resurrected and ascended into heaven, and that He will come again in power and great glory
  • Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning work on the Cross, making it possible for individuals who come to faith to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit
  • The present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whom Christ indwells each believer, gives power to Christians to live a godly life of obedience and grow into Christian maturity
  • The Holy Spirit unites all past, present, and future true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and that together they form one body, the church

Where does Life Light work?

Life Light is located in the central part of India, near Mumbai. Our U.S. mailing address is P.O. Box 8125, Louisville, KY 40257.

 

How is the ministry structured?

The ministry was founded by Rawindra and Pushpa Dongerdive. It is now led on the U.S. side by the founders’ son, Executive Director John Dongerdive. John works closely with a President and Board of Directors who provide oversight and accountability within the ministry. Life Light is led on the India side by a capable staff of more than 100 people who are dedicated to the Lord and to the ministry of Life Light.

 

What ministry projects is Life Light involved in?

Child sponsorship, community health evangelism (HIV and lepers), women’s empowerment through faith seed planting, Bible correspondence courses, community gardens, business as mission, indigenous pastor development, New Beginnings Children’s Home, micro-financing and micro-lending, native missionary sponsorship, Christian schools, and audio gospel.

 

What Makes Life Light different than other sponsorship organizations?

There are many things that separate Life Light from other organizations. Life Light is a completely indigenous mission organization, begun by the Dongerdive family. Because of this unique aspect of the ministry, Life Light can remain a respected and influential part of the community in India.

Life Light has also been able to maintain its work in India while other organizations like Compassion have unfortunately been forced out. Life Light also has on-campus children as well as off-campus children under their care and provision. The off-campus children are visited regularly by pastors who provide spiritual guidance. Life Light is also involved in many other aspects of ministry in the community, allowing us to influence every aspect of society.

 

What is AmazonSmile and how does it help Life Light?

AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. When you select Lifelight Inc, you are helping to make a difference in the lives of people and children in India.

 

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

Please direct any unanswered questions to lifelightindia@gmail.com or call us at (502) 212-2944. We would be happy to help!

 

What are forgotten pastors and churches?

These are indigenous pastors who work independently in the rural parts of India without any kind of prayers or encouragement. They are in great need of opportunities for continued theological education to ensure that they remain biblically sound in their teaching. They are also in need of support, partnership, and prayers to be able to grow, especially during the persecution they face. They do not have any contact with the global church.

 

What is the 10/40 window? How many evangelism efforts are made in this region?

The 10/40 window is an area approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude consisting of high concentrations of unreached people groups. This area is known for poverty, low quality of life, and a lack of access to the gospel. According to an article published in “The Gospel Coalition,” only about 10% of the global missionary force is currently serving in the 10/40 window.

 

Why are indigenous ministries more effective?

Indigenous ministries tend to be more effective because the missionaries already know how to speak the language and also know the culture. Because of this, they understand the most effective way to present the Gospel both in word and action.

 

Where is India on the persecution watch list?

India is currently number 15 on the World Watch List for the persecution of Christians.

 

Where does India fall on the Operation World and Joshua Project lists?

According to Operation World, 88% of India’s people groups are considered unreached. According to the Joshua Project, only 2.1% of peoples profess to being Christians in India.

 

How can I be a volunteer?

We are so glad that you are interested in volunteering with us! Life Light always welcomes new volunteers! We have many ways that you can volunteer, including hosting an Indian Chai Tea event, telling others about Life Light, allowing Life Light to come and speak at your church, sponsoring a child, going on a short-term mission trip, or even interning with us!

We also encourage you to represent Life Light in your mission’s committee or at your church’s missions conference and to connect Life Light with other mission organizations and churches. We want you to be able to use your talents to glorify God and meet needs through this ministry, so if you are skilled in video production, social media, website design, etc., we need you! Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering.

 

What are some of the urgent needs of the ministry?

We are always looking for donors who are committed to contributing monthly to Life Light. You can contribute gifts of $100, $250, or $500 monthly. This helps to ensure that Life Light will have funds we can count on to continue our ministry in India. You can also donate as a one-time gift!

We also need a new ministry SUV, as our current one has over 200,000 miles and is sixteen years old. This SUV is important, as it shuttles children to various places, takes staff into more remote villages, and takes people to conferences. We already have $5,000 in the fund, but are in need of about $15,000 more.

We are always in need of more sponsors! We have many children, pastors, and staff who are still without sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring, let us know!

Lastly, we need your prayers! This ministry simply cannot continue without the constant prayers of our supporters. We believe that this is the most important aspect of our ministry, as we know that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16, ESV).

 

What is your long-term sustainability plan?

We have an upcoming building project for the New Beginnings International School, which will begin construction as soon as we have enough committed sponsors for this project. The NBIS will begin using a new international curriculum that is in high demand among parents. Parents are willing to pay more for this curriculum. By charging small tuition costs, this school will provide enough funds to sustain the ministries in India all on its own for years to come! If you are interested in helping “buy a seat” in our school or if you would like to see our business plan, please contact us at lifelightindia@gmail.com.

 

Do you have opportunities for short-term mission trips?

We do have opportunities for short-term mission trips where you will have the chance to work closely with our Life Light staff and volunteers in India! Here, you will be able to partner with Life Light to meet the physical and spiritual needs of many unreached people.

The first seven days of the trip consist of things like working with lepers and orphans, training indigenous pastors, spending time with the children at our school, teaching English and computer skills, performing maintenance work, and being involved in medical missions and business as mission. The last three days of the trip are where you will have the opportunity to learn about various aspects of Indian culture and religion. We will be travelling to Delhi, Agraha, and Jaipur where we will visit the Taj Mahal, Jama Mosque, Akshardham Temple, Ajanta and Ellora (Buddhist and Jain caves), and various forts in order to better understand an Indian worldview.

All groups/individuals who plan to go on one of these trips will be provided a handbook to adequately prepare them before they leave. For more information, please at email us.

 

How can I be a voice or advocate for Life Light?

We are so glad that you are interested in partnering with us! There are many ways that you can be a voice and advocate for Life Light right where you are. You can host an Indian Chai Tea event or invite Life Light to come speak at your church. You can also represent Life Light at your Mission’s Sunday or mission conference at your church. You can even do something as simple as wear one of our super cool t-shirts, which is sure to be a great conversation starter! As always, your prayers for the country of India are one of the most important things you can do to be an advocate for this ministry.

 

How can I be a missionary where I am and speak out on behalf of these children?

We encourage you to speak out on behalf of our children and let others know about Life Light! This ministry simply cannot continue without people like you. Feel free to tell everyone you know about Life Light and the children in our program. You can also invite Life Light to come speak at your church or ministry. We also encourage you to use your social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) to raise awareness about Life Light and its various ministries.

 

What is the book Precious Children of India?

Precious Children of India includes first-person narratives directly from the boys and girls living in Life Light’s New Beginnings Children’s Home. The book features the children’s stories of survival and hope.  Help us raise awareness for this exciting new book by sharing with friends and family.

Get your copy here.

 

How can I host an Indian Chai Tea event?

An Indian Chai Tea Party is a friend-raising event to invite your family and friends to, where you share about India and in particular, Life Light Ministry. For more information on how to host this event, please email us and we will be happy to email you a handbook that will guide you through everything you need to know about hosting this fun opportunity!

 

How much does it cost to sponsor a child through Life Light?

The cost to sponsor a child is $35/mo. or $36.50/mo. online (to help cover online transaction fees). Sponsorship is not limited to one child.

 

What does my child receive through my sponsorship?

Life Light focuses on the spiritual, physical, educational, and relational development of all our children. Your child will receive medical care, nutritious food, the ability to attend a good school, and a daily opportunity to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

Can I write my child a letter online?

You can send your child an email anytime you want! Send all emails to lifelightindia@gmail.com and we will ensure that your letter is translated and that your child receives it. We also have opportunities for a group Skype session where multiple sponsors can Skype the children at the home. For more information on how to participate, please email us.

 

How long will I be able to sponsor the same child?

Our children remain in our program until they reach age 16. However, at that point in time, you as the sponsor can continue providing support for your child as they pursue further educational opportunities.

 

How does my sponsored child hear about Jesus?

Most of the children who come into our program are not Christians. But every child who walks through our doors has the opportunity to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ. Every day the children see our staff demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ to them in the way they act and through the words they speak. Children are also provided the opportunity to participate in church and VBS. Devotions are led in the morning and in the evening at our children’s home. The children also memorize Scripture and can even compete in a Bible Bowl.

 

How does Life Light ensure financial integrity?

Life Light is a 501(c)(3) organization through which all donations are tax deductible. All our 990 forms can be viewed online through GuideStar, a charity review program that provides financial and organizational transparency of many non-profits including Life Light. To view our profile on GuideStar, click here. Life Light also sends out an annual report to our donors, detailing where our money went and how it was utilized. If you would like to sign up for our newsletters, please email us.