2021–2023 LWML Mission Grant #19

Sharing Jesus’ Love in India

Lutheran Braille Workers — $100,000

LBW Funds Reallocated from India to Central and South America

Lutheran Braille Workers requested a reallocation of funds for MG #19 in August 2022.

Per LWML Bylaws: ARTICLE XVII—MISSION GRANTS

Section 3b. In the event that changes in mission grant plans occur after the recipients have been selected in convention, the Board of Directors shall be authorized to approve the amended grant or reallocate the funds.

Three main issues prohibit outreach in India currently: Covid 19 virus long-term impact, Indian government regulations and global supply chain issues. However, God has provided a new opportunity for Lutheran Braille Workers in Central and South America, with orders for Spanish Braille Bible from United Bible Societies. The first order of 500 Bibles for Argentina is 22,000 volumes of God’s Word. Today Lutheran Braille Workers is the last ministry in the world mass-producing Spanish Braille Bibles.

At the October 2022 LWML Board of Directors (BOD) meeting, the BOD approved reallocating the distribution of the $100,000 from India to Central and South America. It is our prayer that God’s Word will be shared in India one day soon.

Watch the video about this mission grant!

About This Mission Grant

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). This verse is important to the individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired as they seek to know the love and light of Christ. This is especially true in India where there are over 62.6 million people who are Blind or Visually Impaired, and most do not know Jesus or have access to the Scriptures. Lutheran Braille Workers (LBW) already produces Braille and specialized large print Bibles and other Christian materials in multiple languages used in India and has extensive experience distributing these materials with partner ministries and churches. This grant would help fund the formation of a Ministry Production Center in India to produce and distribute its materials, and train workers on the equipment.

Mission Grant Resources

Mission Grant Poster — color

Mission Grant Poster — b/w

Bulletin Bytes (Word doc)

Bulletin Flyer (b/w half page insert, 2 per page)

Devotion

Prayer Guide & Story (combined)

Prayer Guide

Story

Large Print Resources for Grant #19

Devotion — large print

Prayer Guide — large print

Story — large print

Indian Adult Students — Adults in many part of India have limited resources and those who are Blind or Visually Impaired often have no access to Braille materials. There are additional schools for the Blind in India which focus on adults who are very happy to receive the Bible in Braille!

Indian Man with Book of John — Missionaries and pastors use the books of the Bible, especially the Gospels, to share with individuals in their community, including this man standing on a street corner. He was very happy to receive a free book of the Bible to learn about Jesus!

Approved Resolution at the LWML Convention

WHEREAS, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5), and it is important for individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired to know the love and light of Christ; and

WHEREAS, there are over 62.6 million people in India who are Blind or Visually Impaired, most of whom do not know Jesus or have access to the Scriptures; and

WHEREAS, LBW already produces Braille and specialized large print Bibles and other Christian materials in multiple languages used in India and has extensive experience distributing these materials with partner ministries and churches; and

WHEREAS, it has become more difficult to ship Braille and specialized large print materials to India due to rising anti-Christian sentiment; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the delegates of the 2021 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Convention scheduled for Lexington, Kentucky, vote the sum of $100,000 to help fund Sharing Jesus' Love in India.

More Mission Grant Photos

Indian Ladies Receiving Bibles — These young ladies were not told what they were receiving at first and began to feel the cover. When they read these were books of the Bible, they became incredibly excited!

Indian Ladies Excited with Bibles — These young ladies could not believe their fortune to receive books of the Bible for free! They couldn't wait to start reading the Bible and began doing so standing up!

Group of Indian Students receiving Bibles — There are many schools throughout India which serve children who are Blind or Visually Impaired as India has one of the largest populations of this community. These young men are all excited to receive books in Braille, especially the Bible!

Bhima Bhoi School for the Blind — This is one of the many schools and organizations with which Lutheran Braille Workers has partnered over the past 40 years. There are many relationships which exist in country, but unfortunately, a lot of materials produced in the United States does not arrive. Due to rising anti-Christian sentiment, many boxes of Braille and Large Print Christian material is returned destroyed to the United States!

Malayalam Large Print Bible — This is a copy of the book of John in Malayalam Large Print. In addition to Braille, there is a significant need to produce Large Print Bibles and other Christian resources for Indians. Lutheran Braille Workers is the only known producer of the Malayalam Braille Bible in the world, and is the only free producer of the Malayalam Large Print Bible.

LWML—Lutheran Women in Mission