KOTTAYAM, India — At the invitation of Kunjumon Chacko, 13 Virginia Baptists traveled to Kottayam, India, to celebrate the completion and participate in the dedication of the new Precious Children's International Village.
Although the dining hall and first dormitory are substantially complete, electrical work remaining to be done has delayed occupancy until June of this year.
Led by Jerry Jones, the Virginia Baptist Mission Board's glocal missions and evangelism team leader, the team consisted of Jones' wife, Jenny, Dean and Anna Miller, Kent and Ann Brown, Chris and Mary Beth Monroe, Bill Booth, Todd Combee, Ralph Starling, Jim White and BGAV President, Joe Lewis.
Kunjumon Chacko (right) leads a group of Virginia Baptist leaders on a tour of the children's home.
The Precious Children's International Village was the visionary outgrowth of Kunjumon Chacko's vision to provide a home for street children and the children of prisoners with whom he worked. For years Ray Allen, at the time pastor of the Blacksburg Baptist Church, spearheaded efforts to provide financial help to meet the needs Chacko identified.
After the tsunami of December 2004, Virginia Baptists rallied to provide financing for new boats and nets for area fishermen whose livelihoods had been destroyed. They also provided school supplies for children being cared for in various locations under the direction of Chacko and the Precious Children's Home. To date, nearly a million dollars has been given, with the Baptist World Alliance providing another $100,000.
Many of the children, including all those victimized by the tsunami, will move into the new dormitory which will be home to 200 children. Beside the dorm, a site has been prepared for a new 100-child dorm to be built whenever funds are available.
According to Chacko, the greatest current needs are furnishing the new dining hall, kitchen and dormitory at an estimated cost of $25,000 and providing a new $20,000 playground.
The Village includes an apartment house, currently nearing completion, for six seminary couples. When the maximum number of 300 children is attained, each couple will be responsible for the spiritual formation and instruction of 50 children.
Children who have been living in an India Baptist institution march to their recently-completed facilities, wearing uniforms provided by Vinton Baptist Church in Vinton.
During an inspection tour of the new apartments by the Virginians, a workman was preparing to place into the wall a plaque recognizing the financial contribution for that unit made by Kent and Ann Brown — and this at the very moment they were inspecting the construction!
Chacko, always one to seize opportunities, took advantage of the Virginian's presence. In addition to the dedication of the Precious Children's International Village, the following activities seminary graduation, the wedding of two students, a pastors' conference and the ordination of 8 men to the gospel ministry.
Kent and Ann Brown of Gretna watch as a worker installs a plaque signifying that that apartment is a gift from the Browns. It reads, “Connected … Our Virginia family and the Precious Children by Kent and Ann Brown.