On August 15, 1947, India gained its independence. Just as the Fourth of July is a day of celebration in the U.S. the same is true in India but on a different day. The children at Grace Children's Home celebrated this day with special edible treats and gifts of lunch boxes to take to school. Below are photos of the children with their treats. From the smiles on their faces, it looked like it was a success! ...

The orphans at Grace Children's Home are doing well and as you can see by these photos, it was feeding time at the home. James 1:27 says, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."  (New Living Translation) In his epistle, James is making it clear that in God's Eyes true religion is putting aside your own interests and caring for those unable to care for themselves.  In other words, "self" is either controlling you or you are in control ...

Dear friends of C.M.M. Just a word to let you know that all of us connected to the operation of this ministry are very grateful for your support through your offerings and prayers.   Every person on earth has a purpose, sometimes multiple purposes, to fulfill during their lifetime.   Christians must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in this process.  God has placed a sense of purpose in my life to support devout Christians in Ghana to win others to Jesus Christ in that nation and more.  Additionally, it includes Rev. Sikila Cornelius' ministry in India, a man who has ...

Although Hindu politicians and other government officials rule the country at every level, from the national to the local, the Holy Spirit is still actively working in India, to change it . . . . . one person at a time.  Any attempt to convert others to Christianity will result in imprisonment, physical beatings, and/or death.  But that does not stop some who are driven by the call on their life to share the Gospel regardless of the consequences.  Such is the like of the founder of Grace Children's Home, Rev. Sikila Cornelius, and the pastors who work with him ...

Just today we received a short video from India of a Christian pastor who was pulled out of his church yesterday and beaten for preaching the Gospel.  In India, where the national and local governments are dominated by Hindus, this is not uncommon.   If such an incident was to be reported to the authorities it would be of no use and might even provoke greater anger, which would result in a worse outcome.   Pastor Cornelius explains that is the reason they plea for assistance from outside of India.  Practically no support exists from within, either financially or spiritually.  So, please ...

Here in the U.S., we take so much for granted.  For instance, when was the last time you went without a toothbrush and/or toothpaste?  How about soap?  For many in India, these items are not taken for granted.  In fact, you could say they are considered to be items of luxury, available only to the "rich".  Thanks to many of you, this ministry is able to continue to feed the orphans and pay the staff but sometimes God provides a little extra, and we are able to give more to the orphanage.  That happened recently.  We received a little above ...

In September 2022, Rev. Sikila Cornelius visited Pastor David and his wife at their home in a remote village in India.  Pastor David has the foundation for a small church close to his home but lacks the funds to finish building it. In this short video, Rev. Cornelius introduces the pastor and shows the foundation of the church.  He also gives a glimpse of the inside of the very small home of Pastor David.  Here is a link to the YouTube video:  Pastor David In addition, below are photos of the orphans at Grace Children's Home at dinner time.  By ...

It has been a while since we posted news from India so here is the latest:  August 2022 - The Lord blessed Grace Children's Home in India with mosquito nets through this ministry.  This time of year, mosquitoes are very thick, so mosquito nets will make sleeping at night more comfortable.  Using the nets will also help prevent the kids from contracting malaria, a disease spread by mosquitoes.  Rev. Cornelius messaged us to say the kids were thrilled to get the nets, which is obvious from the smiles on their faces in the photos.  Each net can cover two children ...

Rev. Sikila Cornelius, founder, and director of the Grace Children's Home, also goes to the streets to find and feed the poor and homeless.  Most of them are Dalits (untouchables) and their only source of income is from begging on the streets.   On this evening, Rev. Cornelius found several to bless with packets of food.   Thanks to all who give into this ministry. We wire your offerings directly to Rev. Cornelius' bank account as soon as possible. Rev. Cornelius provides hot meals in the evenings to over 90 children from poor families in addition to the orphans at Grace Children's ...

Pastor Sikila Cornelius recently sent us a short video of Grace Children's Home after they had done some painting to the compound, inside and out.  Please take about 5 minutes or less to watch the video and if you have comments you can email us with the email address: valblack.cmm@gmail.com The orphanage usually has over 40 children.   Not all of them are included in the video but it gives you an idea of how they begin their day before going to school.  On this particular day, they were blessed with plenty to eat.  That is not true every day.    ...

In April 2022, a special offering was given to the ministry to be used to purchase food for the needy in India.  We notified Rev. Cornelius of the offering and he advised us the money should be used to buy rice for the 60 residents at the Bethesda Leper Colony.   I asked Rev. Cornelius to take photos of the people as they received the bags of rice that was bought with the special offering.  He obliged by taking several photos and forwarding them to us.  With the exception of an occasional charitable gift, these 60 lepers have not had any ...

Proverbs 31:8-9 says, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.   Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice." You may be wondering about the title of this article, Speaking Up, but in reading Proverbs 31:8-9 the bottom line is for us to"speak up for the poor", so that is what I am doing.   From time to time, Evangelist & Pastor Sikila Cornelius, also the caretaker of the Grace Children's Home for orphans, will send us photos of the many needs of those he sees on a ...

Most people would be surprised to learn that leprosy is alive and well in some countries.  One of those places is India where 120,000 to 130,000 new cases of the disease are reported every year.   Old myths still linger about the disease such as it is very contagious and it is incurable.  But in both cases the very opposite is true.   You cannot get leprosy by casual contact such as a handshake, hugging, or being close to someone and it is curable if treated in its early stages.  Most experts agree that 95% of the world’s population is genetically immune ...

In March 2022, the founder of Grace Children's Home, Rev. Cornelius, along with seven other pastors traveled 200 miles on motor scooters (two per scooter) to a remote village to preach the Gospel and encourage local Christians.    They made videos of the trip and we have combined them into one 5 minute video.   The pastors found one church building in which construction had stopped because of a lack of funds.   The church was crudely made with mud bricks but it doesn't have a roof, windows, or a door.   You will see it in the video.  There is also a ...

In January Rev. Cornelius in India contacted us to share there was a desperate need for blankets for villagers who could not afford to buy for themselves.   Many people were getting sick and some of the elderly were even dying because of the cold nights without proper means of warming themselves.   Consequently, we did a fundraiser on Facebook and raised money for the blankets.  We wired the money to Rev. Cornelius as soon as possible and the next day he went to several stores and negotiated for the best price.  One store had good-quality blankets for the equivalent of $3.29 ...

It was getting closer to Christmas yet there still were not enough funds to provide food and celebrate Christmas.  Rev. Cornelius gathered the orphans, widows, and all concerned to fast and pray that God would come through for them.  Finally, on December 20th God provided enough funds for them to celebrate Christmas and at the same time, feed up to 800 people, including the orphans, widows, and pastors with their families.   As described in the video, Christmas celebrating is different there.  There is eating, singing, and dancing, all to the Glory of God and His celebrated Son, Jesus. Many thanks ...

In America, many lounges, bars, restaurants, clubs, etc., offer the public discounted rates for a certain time they call the "Happy Hour".   Millions of people across this great nation enjoy the lower prices, if only for a short time. In other places in the world, one hour of happiness may mean something entirely different.   In India, especially at the Grace Children's Home, it may mean having rice with vegetables, curry sauce, and occasionally, one hard-boiled egg.   This is what a small offering can do for children without parents or parents unable to care for them for various reasons.   It costs ...

Thanks to a few who have given in support of the Grace Children's Home in India, the children are being fed and pure joy can be seen in their faces in the photos below.                  Pastor Cornelius travels many miles to encourage pastors and sometimes in very remote areas such as the photo below.  P. Cornelius encouraged the pastor, his wife, and their congregation in the photos below.  The structure behind the pastor and his wife is their church.  You can see their congregation in one of the photos.   Another photo is a ...

Because of your generosity, this ministry was financially able to assist Rev. Cornelius and volunteers  in feeding 40 people who live in the slums.  These people are Dalits, the lowest in the caste system, a system which was supposedly outlawed several years ago but still exists in many places in India.  The Bible is very clear that we feed the poor.  Many thanks to those who sacrificed in their giving.  He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.  Proverbs 22:9 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy ...

India is still a developing nation and although its economy is growing, it has around 84 million people living in extreme poverty. When they are able, Rev. Cornelius and a few volunteers go to the streets to provide food for the homeless Dalits, the "untouchable class" in India.  On this occasion they prepared plates containing rice, curry, a hard-boiled egg, banana, and a bag of water for each of the homeless people they encountered on the streets.  We thank those of you who have given so generously for this cause.    Proverbs 19:17, "He who has pity on the poor ...