Hopegivers staff member recovers from India bomb blast

India (MNN) — Three men have been arrested in connection with the Mumbai training bombings more than a week ago. Reports indicate hundreds of people have been detained in the bombing, believed to be carried out by Muslim extremists. The bombing killed more than 200 people and injured more than 700 on July 11.

The carnage didn’t leave ministry un-phased. Hopegivers International, which has work all over the country, was affected, says Executive Director Michael Glenn. “One of our board members, a local board member there, was on one of the trains and was injured and he’s the only one that even survived the blast inside his car. It’ll be month of rehabilitation and surgeries that lie ahead. He does have a wife and two daughters to care for, so we’ve kind of adopted the family.” Glenn says he’ll need at least $5,000 to cover the expenses of P-C Varghese.

Meanwhile, Hopegivers Pastor AM Mathew heads the Emmanuel Hope Home orphanage in Vasai. Mathew was able to help transport the dead and injured immediately after the blast. Glenn says that initial assistance has opened the door for ongoing outreach. “We’re going back there on a daily basis to assist those that are still hurt or experienced damaged and just help clean up.”

Hopegivers has a ministry targeting the thousands of street children that live in or frequent the train stations along the tracks where the bombs went off. Glenn says this outreach is having even more impact now. “We’re not coming there to just preach the Gospel, but the meet their basic needs and they see us a good Samaritans. And so, we’re able to communicate Christ’s love in a way that has a long term effect.”

Glenn believes in this age of growing religious hatred and violence, God has called Hopegivers to respond with “help and hope” in disaster and terror relief situations.

“We grieve with Bombay’s residents during this difficult time and we pledge to be there as long as we can and do everything possible to help with the recovery and rehabilitation efforts,” says Glenn.

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, Georgia, the mission exists to rescue abandoned orphans, widows, sick and needy people regardless of race, social class or religion.