Ministry to Poor and Orphans Financially Devastated by Court Battles

By Palmer Holt

KOTA, India - The six-month legal battle against Hopegivers International here has been financially devastating to the ministry's hospital, orphanages, churches and schools, even though the Rajasthan High Court lifted restrictions and allowed its Emmanuel Mission outreach to resume two weeks ago, says Hopegivers founder M.A. Thomas.

"It is true that the damage to the ministries is irreparable by us," said Thomas. "Only God can heal it. Whatever we may be able to do, it would be only patchwork. But, when God does it, it will be totally new."

The legal fight has caused many problems, especially with the July 1 start of school, said Michael Glenn, Hopegivers' chief operating officer.

"Many children didn't have a place to go and registered with other schools," said Glenn. "That had a big impact on us financially as well. Many had to borrow money. Some of our leaders were even jailed because they couldn't pay the bills."

However, no orphanage or Bible Institute was closed, said Thomas. The persecution also unified believers in Kota.

The number of people affected by this legal fight is literally thousands, said Glenn.

"We've started more than 20,000 churches there. You're looking at 96 orphanages with 10,000 children and an operating hospital, plus 187 schools. All but five schools are working now, but the legal fees continue to be a burden," said Glenn. "Every appearance before the court system costs thousands of dollars, plus travel expenses. It has a devastating impact."

However, Hopegivers plans to continue helping the children and protecting them. "We're not going to take food and medicine or anything away from our children. So, we're looking at ways we can guard against that," Glenn said.

Hopegivers faces at least one more court hurdle in November, when the High Court renders its final judgment on discharging the criminal and civil cases. If that fails, the cases will all be transferred to the Supreme Court in New Delhi.

"The bottom line is, funding is needed to help replenish bank accounts to help with their legal defense and its many programs, such as the orphanage. A dollar a day can help support a child for a full year. The support provides food, clothing, education, and most importantly, God's Word," Thomas said.

Hopegivers International is a faith-based, not-for-profit humanitarian agency that cares for more than 20,000 at-risk children, primarily in Africa, India and Haiti. Founded in 1960 and based in Columbus, Ga., the mission exists to rescue abandoned orphans, widows, sick and needy people, regardless of race, social class or religion.

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