By Staff

Jul. 5, 2017:  On Thursday, June 22, former Concordia president Viji George and Joseph and Shruti Philips co-hosted a dinner party at the Georges' home for approximately 50 guests. One of the purposes of this event was to raise funds to ship a 40-foot container of medical supplies to Bethany Hospital, which is operated by the Christian Mission Charitable Trust.

One of the purposes of the gathering was to inform people about the Christian Missions Charitable Trust ("CMCT") organization operating in India, whose initial mission to serve orphaned and abandoned children has grown over the years to a mission to serve the entire spectrum of needs touching hundreds of lives in India every day. The organization has a staff of over 350 people. 

The organization was founded in 1974 by Dr. Colleen Redit, who came to India as a teenager heeding a call to serve the needy. The primary focus of the organization, which is rooted in the Christian tradition, is to empower the destitute to find a way out of their dire circumstances.

In a time when government services to the poor are meager at best, NGOs (non-governmental organizations) like CMCT carry a much heavier burden in filling the gaps in services to the poor of all castes and creeds.

CMCT currently operates 27 services, including elementary and secondary schools, orphanages, child sponsorship opportunities, vocational education and training, soup kitchens, hospitals, mobile health clinics, leprosy rehabilitation, rural development projects, and food distribution.

Below are descriptions of some of the programs taken from its website:

Education

"Education, in countries like India, is a reliable ladder to social mobility. CMCT provides quality primary and secondary education that launches disadvantaged children into productive careers and out of poverty."

Orphanages and Child Sponsorship

"Children who are orphans or of parents who cannot care for them are cared for by CMCT. An active international child sponsorship program provides support for the care of these children."

Soup Kitchens

"In spite of a booming economy, scores are afflicted by poverty. CMCT operates several soup kitchens that provide much-needed sustenance."

Food Distribution

"In addition to soup kitchens, CMCT distributes 'rations,' or essential food items, so people can prepare nutritious meals in their home for their families."

Bethany Hospital

"Bethany Hospital in Chennai provides both outpatient and inpatient care for those who do not have access to health care. Apart from primary health care, a range of specialists volunteer to see patients on a regular basis."

Mobile Clinics

"CMCT brings medical care to where the need is. Many in rural India do not have access to quality health care where they live. The mobile health clinics provide a much-needed service closer to where people are."

Medical Camps

"CMCT holds regular medical camps where free medical checkups are offered to the poor. These camps draw many who cannot afford quality health care. . . . With the help of Orphan Grain Train, a wide range of medical supplies has been collected that has been loaded by volunteers into the container which awaits shipping."

Those who wish to contribute to the organization may do so by sending a check made out to Orphan Grain Train and mailing it to Viji and Janet George, 1 Langdon Terrace, Bronxville, NY 10708. Contributions are tax deductible.

Pictured here:  Outdoor dinner party on the back patio at the home of Janet and Viji George.   

Photo by Carol Mittelstadt