[Editor: The following is a report about current events in the Church of the Lutheran Confession in India (CLCI). It is written, in his own words, by the indigenous pastor who is our main contact in the CLCI. Names of people and places are being withheld because of increasing persecution in the area. The report is lightly edited for clarity.]
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are humbled to write these few words on how God is helping the CLCI in time of trouble. Your prayers and support are of utmost importance to the CLCI to survive in the midst of the many difficulties we are facing here in India.
Flash Floods
When we wake up in the morning from bed, we expect to step onto the floor, right? But one morning in late December, many of our members from nine CLCI congregations stepped into water after they woke up. These Christians live near the Krishna River, which experienced flash floods on such a large scale. These floods damaged many of our church buildings and the homes of our members in the districts of Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Bapatla. People in these districts experienced one of its worst floods.
“I was fast asleep then the next minute I heard water running. I thought that maybe I might have forgotten to close a tap, but when I woke up, I literally stepped into a pool of water. Water was literally coming through the windows,” said one of our CLCI pastors.
The floods have thrust many of our members’ lives into poverty. Many lost everything, including their household goods and farming equipment. We are sorry to inform you that four of our members died due to the floods. The loss of life and property affected our CLCI congregations with the saddest feelings.
Though heavy rains began in the month of December 2024, no one expected them to turn into flash floods that took so many lives and destroyed millions of dollars’ worth of property. Homes flooded, dams broke their banks, roads were damaged, and crops were destroyed. And sadly, lives were lost. Some people lost their sources of income as their businesses were washed away by the floods.
We visited these nine flood-affected congregations, and our CLCI volunteers helped in removing rubble. Due to the effect of the disaster, almost all the water has been polluted, thus becoming a risk for spreading various dangerous diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid, cholera, etc. These diseases attacked many of our people. In the first phase of the flood relief program, we have made some immediate efforts to distribute cooked food, medicine, bleaching powder, and floor cleaners like phenyl and so forth. We have also distributed drinking water packets and water bottles to our flood-victimized CLCI members.
We faced a few problems with our relief operations in those effected villages. Besides our members, the other village people who are not our members have started coming to claim our relief materials. So it has also become an important step in communicating clearly with our CLCI pastors and the affected members of the CLCI. We have decided to restrict our relief efforts to our CLCI members only who are severely damaged. We invited them to come to our CLCI mission house to take relief materials. After successful completion of the first phase, we invited them to come to the mission house. We distributed clothing, blankets, saris, towels, and also rice, onions, soaps, and curry dhal grains. We distributed plastic lunch boxes with new testaments to the children.
Also, we gave Rs 1000 money (a little less than $12 USD) to the nine severely affected pastors. Our CLC USA brethren gave generous contributions, and many members from other CLCI congregations have helped us in these relief operations. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all of them for their kind help. I am sure all the CLCI flood victims will gladly remember them all. Because they have shown such heartfelt compassion, Christian love, tremendous encouragement, kindness, and generous help in this time of tragedy.
Please pray for the following needs.
- Repairing the damaged churches and prayer sheds. (nine congregations and twelve preaching stations.)
- Pray that the Lord may grant His comfort to those families who lost their loved ones in the floods. Four deaths occurred.
- Pray for the families who have lost their cattle. There are seven families who have lost their water buffaloes, which are the main source of their livelihood.
We have carried out the relief programs with much hard work and planning. We once again thank all the CLC and CLCI brothers and sisters for their amazing generous donations and help, which have been rebuilding the affected families for a brighter future. Thank you once again for your valuable service and help.
Please pray that the Lord may use the CLCI to bring many Indians into His kingdom. Your prayer support will build the CLCI greatly here in India to do His mighty work. May the Lord bless you all. Thank you.
Above, CLC-funded relief supplies are distributed; below, a CLCI pastor officiates at the funeral of a flood victim.
