Bethania Kids serves nearly 1000 impoverished children, women, and families through ministry sites in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha in South India. Our ministries include:
Bethania Kids Ministries
Children, women, and families in need are welcomed to Bethania Kids irrespective of their religious and cultural traditions. At Bethania Kids they learn first of their value and worthiness as children of God and of Jesus’ steadfast and enduring love for them.
We hope you will explore each element of the Bethania Kids’ ministry and join us in giving thanks for all the lives touched by God’s ever-constant love. We rejoice in the opportunity to help these children and families build independent and productive lives, to break the bonds of poverty, and to succeed in today’s world.
Nurturing and Equipping God’s Children
In the Gospel of Luke, Luke 2:52, we learn “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and men.” Bethania Kids takes this model very seriously, focusing on a holistic approach to child development based on the dimensions spelled out in this scripture passage:
- Wisdom: intellectual growth
- Stature: physical growth
- In favor with God: spiritual growth
- And of man: social growth
The nurture and care of all the children at Bethania Kids, in residence homes and care centres, are based on these four crucial elements of development, giving every child the best possible chance to change their world through Jesus’ love.
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By the time children come to live at one of our residence homes, they have already had unimaginable tragedy and trauma in their young lives. Most have lost one or both parents and have experienced abject poverty, malnutrition, physical and/or emotional abuse, violence, and more. Their spirits have been crushed, and they have lived in great fear, having come to distrust adults and society. They are brought to Bethania Kids by family members, church workers, teachers, or others who recognize their hopelessness and despair. Our staff members are trained to recognize the emotional needs of the children and help them integrate into a loving environment where they can begin to feel safe and trust caregivers and adults. The children already living in the home welcome them immediately, extending their love and assistance in every case.
Building on the assurance of God’s enduring love, care for the children begins with meeting physical needs, including nutritious meals, clothing, a safe place to live and sleep, as well as the medical attention so many initially require. From there we focus on the holistic development of each child, including physical, social, spiritual, and intellectual/educational growth and development. This model includes the best in nurturing care, excellent educational support, and a sound spiritual foundation, giving each child a new and abiding sense of love and hope.
Children in Bethania Kids residence homes understand at a young age the importance of both love and education in their lives, the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty and building productive lives for themselves, their families, and for generations to come. They become very hard workers and many earn awards in academics, sports and the arts at the local schools. We are proud of their work and their accomplishments, and so are they!
Bethania Kids Care Centres are located in and around the town of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, and in two remote tribal areas of Odisha. All are thriving community centres and have waiting lists for day care and after-school programs. Children served are provided academic assistance, Christian nurturing, nutritious meals, health care, clothing, uniforms, and a safe refuge in which to learn and receive the love of Christ. Children flourish in an atmosphere of love and joy while learning through song, dance, stories, and many other activities, offering so much more than simply a place for children to go while their parents work.
During Jesus’ ministry here on earth, he reached out especially to those with physical and mental challenges, valuing their lives as children of God. Bethania Kids has taken to heart Jesus’ direction to care for those differently-abled in two rehabilitation centres, giving those who attend purpose in their lives and value in their communities.
The women who participate in Bethania Kids Women’s Empowerment Programs face the difficult challenge of intense poverty, often coupled with spousal abuse, abandonment and/or alcoholism. We offer women with no financial means the opportunity to positively change the lives of their families and the chance to learn skills they can use to work in the textile industry or to create a business of their own from home. Many bring their children to the local Bethania Kids Care Centre for safe and nurturing care while they learn.
Hold the Hand of a Child in Need
Hold the Hand of a Child in Need
There are countless ways to participate in this vibrant ministry and share God’s love with the children at Bethania Kids.
