Westminster's Mission in India
Doug Mitchell, Outreach Commission
Jesus tells us to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” Westminster has been loving our neighbors in India for the past 31 years, when 10% of a capital campaign funded a cardiac monitor for Miraj Medical Centre and provided operating funds for Sangli Industrial School (SIS), Creche Nurses Training Centre (CNTC), and Vadeketh Development Centre which offers therapy for mentally and physically disadvantaged children. Prabhat Tara Sanstha (Bright Morning Star) offers support through worship services and nutritional and pastoral care for children who are clothed, fed, educated, and treated for HIV/AIDS. This ministry’s relationship with Westminster began when Creche Nurses Training Centre closed. Westminster has provided generations of underserved students and patients in Miraj, India, with life-changing education and support.
Pastor Timothy ministers to the church at Prabhat Tara Sanstha (Bright Morning Star).
This year Sangli Industrial School was completely renovated. Its 125-year-old main Chapel Hall was severely damaged by destructive monsoon flooding in 2019. Westminster’s Endowment Fund provided nearly $46,000 to repair the building and to replace damaged equipment used to train auto mechanics, HVAC, welding, and electrician students. Without this project the school could not have remained certified and would have closed.
Sangli Industrial School before renovation.
Sangli Industrial School after renovation.
Sangli Industrial School was founded in 1888 by a Scottish engineer to train boys, especially Christian boys, who would not be allowed to learn a trade otherwise. The Chapel Hall holds about 300 people and provides classroom space around its perimeter for such trades as electrician, welder, fitter, auto mechanic, small engine repair, HVAC and refrigeration, computer operations, carpentry, and tailoring. Other nearby outbuildings house work areas for these trades. A hostel and kitchen make available food and lodging for most of the students.
Miraj, India, is 8,163 miles from Upper St. Clair, USA. Despite the distance, since 1990 Westminster has sponsored nine mission trips to India. A tenth trip is being planned once travel restrictions end. If you are interested in being part of the team to make the tenth visit to Miraj, contact Doug Mitchell at 724-316-7511.
For a 30-minute video with many more details about Westminster’s India missions, go to this link and go to 23:21 on the timeline: https://www.westminster-church.org/assets/media/video/2021.02.28%20Westminster%20Mission%20Pilgramage.video.mp4.