Vision and Purpose
Chapel Missions India’s ministry has grown from helping support one pastor ministering in a Bangalore slum to supporting over 400 orphans in seven Homes of Hope (orphanages), 28 Bible College students, 26 pastors, 46 children’s centers, approximately 70 churches, and 130 Indian staff.
Until recent years Calvary Chapel Boise’s church family made up the majority of sponsors providing for the needs of this expanding ministry. As the parent fellowship of Chapel Missions India we take complete responsibility for the care, discipleship, and financial backing of the ministry in India, however, the ministry in India just keeps growing! The rate of growth far exceeds the ability of our local church to support it. The Lord began directing us toward raising awareness within other like-minded fellowships who value God’s command to preach the gospel to the poor all over the world. One of the ways we do this is by providing an opportunity for others to travel to India to meet those they sponsor through our Open Your Heart tour and see all that God is doing through the ministry. We invite pastors and laypeople alike to join us on a ministering tour of CMI in hopes that they will experience the blessing of sharing Jesus with the people of India in practical ways while there, as well as upon their return home.
The Open Your Heart tour is designed to open one’s heart to the needs of India and those who faithfully serve there. The trip usually consists of visits to our Homes of Hope where we minister, encourage, and disciple our young people. We visit slum churches and our Bible College doing the same. We visit families suffering with AIDS and leprosy – most of whom are Hindu. We have the blessed opportunity to touch the untouchable with the love of God. We lay hands on the sick and pray for the broken. We try to allow people on the tour to use the gifts they’ve been given to share with the Body of Christ whether it is through teaching, helping, showing friendship, compassion, or leading worship. In every way we try to be a blessing and bring a cup of cold water to our brothers and sisters in Christ who serve every day in a very tough place wholly opposed to the gospel. In the end, those who come away from these trips usually end up being the ones most blessed.
The fruit of these tours has been amazing. There have been many who regularly volunteer time, energy, prayer, and gifting toward this ministry. There are others who go and tell about what they’ve seen and heard, and there are those who become sponsors of the people they’ve met in India. We’re excited for you to meet your brothers and sisters in Christ on this year’s Open Your Heart tour.