“Come grow in Christ with us” Directions Welcome Calendar Photos Events Ministries Jr Church Home The following is a letter from Bethany Thienel regarding the needs of the Mekala family. Please contact Bethany at b.r.thienel@gmail.com for more information. June 2, 2010 Dear SWBC Missions Committee,   Earlier last week I had the chance to host Daddy and Mommy Mekala at my home for a time of rest and prayer.  A few from SWBC were able to join us last Tuesday evening, 5/25, for a time of fellowship and prayer with the Mekalas.  As most of you know and have offered support over the past 5 years, I'm acquainted with the Mekala family who runs a Christian ministry in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.  The Mekala family runs "Christ the King of Kings Ministries," and is supported by a non-profit group in Maryland known as "Bless India."  The Mekala family ministry began in 1981 when Devadas Mekala and his wife Sarojini gave their lives up to the Lord and became Christians.  They have three married sons, two of whom are actively involved in the work there in India.   The Mekala family serves by organizing and running an orphanage and public school, supporting widows and the poor in their area, and pastoring several churches in their area (Devadas and 2 of his 3 sons are pastors).  Further, they support church planting physically and spiritually-by faithfully encouraging about 30 other local pastors by way of holding a monthly prayer meeting on the grounds of their orphanage/public school, and distributing a monthly allowance to these pastors from gifts and contributions made to the ministry by believers in the U.S.  In India, once a person converts to Christianity, they are considered and treated as people of the lowest caste (social class), and are not able to find any other means of employment---non-believers simply will not hire them.  This monthly support allows the pastors to provide for their families' basic needs.   Through speaking with the Mekalas last week and sharing in a prayer meeting, I was able to learn more details regarding their present ministry operating situation, which is currently life-threatening to their family back in India who are running the ministry out of the orphanage/public school.  The Mekala family is facing oppression in the form of verbal and physical abuse by a group of people who purchased land that the Mekala family decided to sell.  The group of buyers ended up paying a portion on the price, of which the Mekala family invested in creating a 3-story building that would house a medical clinic, Bible school and a church meeting area.  Contracts and methods of business in India may not be as secure as they are in the U.S., and added to that, the Mekala family took the down payment and used it to start building this 3-story structure by faith.  The buyers ended up breaking their contract, locked the Mekalas in a room, administered violence, and forced the Mekalas to sign a contract saying that the Mekalas themselves took out a loan for $100,000, with interest, and required them to pay it back by July 23, 2010.  Since releasing them, the group has continued to trespass on the Mekala’s orphanage/public school and to use verbal and physical abuse, demanding partial payments from the Mekalas on this "loan."  At one point recently they again locked several members of the family in their own living quarters, poured out gasoline, and attempted to burn them.  The family members were again released without fatality, but the threats continue.   The Mekalas are visiting their current supporters in the U.S., seeking prayer and hopefully financial assistance for this situation through July 20, 2010.  Having been to visit them in India twice myself, and having personally witnessed the work they have been able to do there for the Lord and their commitment to being faithful in their calling to minister to the poor in India, I believe this is a good opportunity for fellow brothers and sisters to be able to share in their suffering and support them through prayer, perhaps offering wisdom, and sharing with them however God may lead them to do so.   I propose we inform the SWBC community of the details of this situation, and let there be a chance for them to continue to pray for the Mekalas and this situation, as well as to offer financial support if the Lord leads individuals to do so.  More information and updates may be available at:  http://www.blessindia.com/news.htm.  Let me know what else I can do to help.    Support may be mailed to: Bless India 9729 Garis Shop Road Hagerstown, MD  21740 Any checks or support should be clearly labeled as intended for: “the Mekala’s debt.”   In Christ,   Bethany Thienel