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"Peace Gospel Ministries International\n\r\nInitiative:\n\rFounded in 1993, Peace Gospel Ministries International (PGMI) seeks to advance native missions in South Asia.\n\r\nFocus Country &amp;amp; It\u2019s Issues:\n\rIndia\n\r-Ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir\n\r-Massive overpopulation\n\r-Environmental degradation\n\r-Extensive poverty \n\r-Ethnic and religious strife\n\r\nReality Check:\n\rAs recorded on PGMI\u2019s website, the World Health Organization estimates that nearly 1,600 children die every day in India due to diseases caused by contaminated water. One of PGMI\u2019s initiatives is to deliver clean water to those living in some of the worst parts of India: the slums\u2014where people\u2019s livelihoods are based on survival. \n\r\nHow long did you wait for a glass of water today? During the summer, \u201Cslum dwellers line up at public wells for up to 12 hours at a time. In many cases those waiting in line do not get to the well before it is shut off for the day,\u201D the website explains. \u201CFinding water is the number one survival challenge for those living in the city slums of South Asia. Peace Gospel sees clean water delivery and education as the key to solving several fundamental problems for the poor of South Asia, not to mention offering a strong symbolic Christian witness.\u201D \n\r\nThe Numbers:\n\r-5.1 million Indians are living with HIV/AIDS (2004 est.) \n\r-Religion: Hindu 81.3%, Muslim 12%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other groups 2.5%.\n\r-10,000 people will die of HIV every day in India over the next 10-15 years\n\r-The average person earns $445/yr. ($37/mo.)\n\r-A quarter of the world's truly destitute\u2014300 million people each subsisting on less than $1 a day\u2014live in India.\n\r\n\n\rEstablishments made by PGMI:\n\r42 congregations\n\rPeace Gospel Bible College\n\rAn Orphanage/Child Immunizations\n\rClean Water Initiatives\n\r\nCool Outreach:\n\rYou have probably seen outreach infomercials that show children sifting through trash piles as they search for usable items. This can also be found happening in South Asia where children earn only pennies a day for such a task. Often, they compete with rabid dogs for scraps and are also susceptible to infection because of working without gloves or shoes while digging through refuse. PGMI has taken action by setting up a local clinic near the orphanage which is located near such garbage deposits. Here, people receive medical attention, clean water and a meal. Their future mission is to rescue the children by placing them in schools and in healthy environments. PGMI has also delivered rice, bottled water, cooking supplies and new clothing to tsunami victims in other areas. \n\r\nWorst Flood on Record:\n\rLast August, India endured its worst recorded Monsoon flood in its history. While American\u2019s were dealing with the affects of Hurricane Katrina, Indians were also facing devestation. 283,000 homes in over 15,000 cities and villages were destroyed, leaving over 10 million people abandoned in the midst of chaos. PGMI stepped in to provide food, water and tents for the displaced people. The hardest part: workers of PGMI returned to a village they had closely worked with only to find it had completely vanished.\n\r\nCurrent Project:\n\rPGMI is in the works of creating a water buffalo dairy farm that will provide jobs for locals, supply milk for the community and serve as income that will help sustain the ministries and livelihoods of the people.\n\r\n\n\rI bet you\u2019ve heard nothing like this:  \n\rIn 1999, native missionaries were able to record Christian worship music in the Telugu language\u2014all of which were original songs. Telugu is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Track # 4 is entitled, \u201CSeavinthamaa Najareyuni.\u201D Try saying that five times fast.\n\r\nFor more info: peacegospel.org\n\r\n\n\rEditorial note: Where are you serving? How is God moving? What does the world look like through your eyes? Send your articles to missions@relevantmagazine.com. \n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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