{"id":32911,"date":"2020-11-10T15:00:57","date_gmt":"2020-11-10T06:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=32911"},"modified":"2020-11-10T16:18:18","modified_gmt":"2020-11-10T07:18:18","slug":"vomk-report-130","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2020\/11\/10\/vomk-report-130\/","title":{"rendered":"INDIA: WIDOWS OF MARTYRED CHRISTIANS RECEIVE SEWING MACHINES, TRAINING"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”32907″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”This month, 20 widows whose husbands were killed in anti-Christian violence in Odisha State are receiving sewing machines and the training to use them. The project, funded by Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s Families of Martyrs and Prisoners Fund, operates in Lokebadi, in the Kandhamal District of Odisha State. According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley, the project is designed to enable the widows not only to achieve self-sufficiency but also to help other widows and daughters of Christian martyrs in the area who are similarly struggling.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_single_image image=”32903″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>Violence against Christians\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in Odisha state exploded into a massacre ten years ago, but it continues\u00a0<\/span><\/span>routinely even today<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span><\/span>The<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Christian\u00a0<\/span><\/span>minorit<\/span><\/span>y<\/span><\/span>\u00a0still liv<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>\u00a0in appalling conditions, enduring discrimination<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and<\/span><\/span>\u00a0extreme poverty without proper access to any permanent and consistent income.<\/span><\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Representative Foley said women, especially widows, experience the greatest difficulties. \u201c<\/span><\/span>In most cases, jobs are only open to the men, whose wages are barely enough to provide one meal a day for their families<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0But for women whose husbands were martyred, job prospects are non-existent.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s sister mission in Australia worked with local believers on a test project\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in 2019\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to provide sewing machines\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>selected\u00a0<\/span><\/span>widows, along with training on how to support themselves<\/span><\/span>\u00a0through sewing<\/span><\/span>. 25 widows received the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>sewing\u00a0<\/span><\/span>machines and training<\/span><\/span>. A<\/span><\/span>ccording to Representative Foley,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the results exceeded\u00a0<\/span><\/span>expectations. \u201cNot only were the women able to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>become self-sufficient<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>hey also started tithing to their churches and training other\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christian\u00a0<\/span><\/span>widows and young women\u00a0<\/span><\/span>how to support themselves through seamstress work<\/span><\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Kanchana was one of the women who\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was selected for the program. \u201c<\/span><\/span>From 2008 to 2018, I experienced much persecution<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Kanchana<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>Because I\u00a0<\/span><\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span><\/span>\u00a0want to deny my faith, I was forced to move from place to place. I was unable to earn a steady\u00a0<\/span><\/span>income<\/span><\/span>\u00a0but I was also unable to receive any government aid or medical help. I couldn\u2019t manage the needs of myself and my family.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore I received the sewing machine, I would collect firewood in the jungle to sell at the markets. I would move the wood all day and I was not happy in this job.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I came to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Lokebadi<\/span><\/span>\u00a0in 2019, I applied for one of the sewing machines and when I received\u00a0<\/span><\/span>one<\/span><\/span>\u00a0I began to sew my own clothes. Soon, I brought three young ladies who\u00a0<\/span><\/span>didn\u2019t<\/span><\/span>\u00a0have any training to teach them how to stitch and they began to help<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and we produced clothes together to sell.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gave me great joy to share this with them and to build their faith in the Lord<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Kanchana<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/span>I am so glad that even in difficult times, I found help and I am able to help other persecuted women<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0too. God has brought such happiness to all of us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Voice of the Martyrs Korea agreed to fund sewing machines and training for an additional 20 widows<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Lokebadi<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>this month<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>through their Families of Martyrs and Prisoners Fund. \u201cThis donor-supported fund enables us to aid families of martyrs and Christian prisoners as soon as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we receive a call from one of our Voice of the Martyrs sister missions\u00a0<\/span><\/span>telling us\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christian in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a place of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>persecution<\/span><\/span>\u00a0needs help.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The cost for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0sewing machine and training for one widow\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0about 545,000 KRW, says Representative Foley.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”32900″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Widows of Christian martyrs from the original sewing project in Odisha State” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230c0c0c|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_single_image image=”32897″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”New Learners in the sewing class” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230c0c0c|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Representative Foley\u00a0<\/span><\/span>says\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>its\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Families of Martyrs and Prisoner<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0F<\/span><\/span>und<\/span><\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>used to help\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christians\u00a0<\/span><\/span>who\u00a0<\/span><\/span>choose to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>stay in the setting of persecution<\/span><\/span>, rather than those who flee<\/span><\/span>. \u201c<\/span><\/span>Often w<\/span><\/span>hen\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Korean Christians and NGOs\u00a0<\/span><\/span>hear about\u00a0<\/span><\/span>persecuted Christians, their first thought is<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to help them escape<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to somewhere safe<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0But when a whole community of Christians is persecuted,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>like in Odisha<\/span><\/span>\u00a0State, India<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>or in our project last month in Burkina Faso, Africa,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>relocating\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>whole\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christian\u00a0<\/span><\/span>community\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is not<\/span><\/span>\u00a0possible<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>And i<\/span><\/span>f some Christians flee<\/span><\/span>\u00a0or are relocated<\/span><\/span>, those who remain\u00a0<\/span><\/span>often\u00a0<\/span><\/span>face greater persecution,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0since it makes attackers\u00a0<\/span><\/span>more bold<\/span><\/span>. The regrettable outcome is that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>witness to the gospel\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is silenced<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>That is the tragedy we are seeing in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>places like Syria<\/span><\/span>, Iraq, and parts of India<\/span><\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span><\/span>The Christian communities there are\u00a0<\/span><\/span>rapidly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>disappearing.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Other\u00a0<\/span><\/span>NGOs often\u00a0<\/span><\/span>provide funds to help Christians relocate and build a new life as refugees in another country<\/span><\/span>. But there is very little aid for Christians who feel called to stay\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and testify to Christ\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in a place of adversity. That is why we established our Families of Prisoners and Martyrs fund.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Representative Foley says\u00a0<\/span><\/span>she believes th<\/span><\/span>at\u00a0<\/span><\/span>providing the sewing machines and training to the widows\u00a0<\/span><\/span>help<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to stabilize and restore the Christian community that was decimated ten years ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201cProjects like this show the world that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>when\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christians\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are attacked, they\u00a0<\/span><\/span>can do something other than flee or fight. They can\u00a0<\/span><\/span>respond in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>patient\u00a0<\/span><\/span>faith, knowing that God can give them a new life right where they are<\/span><\/span>, with the support of other believers around the world<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0That is the powerful witness to the gospel which these Christian widows are making.<\/span><\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Individuals interested in helping Voice of the Martyrs Korea meet the needs of other families of Christian martyrs and prisoners throughout the world can make a donation to\u00a0<\/span>VOMK\u2019s Families of Martyrs\/Families of Prisoners\u00a0<\/span>(FOM\/FOP)\u00a0<\/span>fund<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or via electronic transfer to<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(KB Bank)<\/span>\u00a0463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(Account Holder)<\/span>: (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the name \u201c<\/span>FOM\/FOP<\/span>\u201d on the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”32907″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”This month, 20 widows whose husbands were killed in anti-Christian violence in Odisha State are receiving sewing machines and the training to use them. The project, funded …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":32908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32911"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32911\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}