India's caste system is brutal; a system of injustices perpetrated upon the old and young alike, discarding hundreds of millions of individuals not only as undesirables,but "untouchables". Cows, held sacred within Hinduism, are treated with greater respect and dignity than the "untouchables", cast aside as unworthy of human kindness or compassion. One people group suffering under this unjust system are the Banjara people. Banished from the burgeoning slums of Mumbai, India these "untouchables" and their children have settled into a small segregated slum located on the outskirts of Mumbai. Isolated, this unreached people group has had no Christian witness.

That all changed 9 months ago as Crossroads staff members, working through our Slum Ministry Outreach, began carrying a message of hope and renewal to these forgotten ones. It's been a long and tedious road of building credibility and trust among this isolated people group accustomed to abuse, neglect, persecution, and violence. But hearts are opening. Winning the favor of community leaders Crossroads opened an Alpha Care Center in the Banjara slum this August utilizing a single rented room.

In September, with the help of Calvary Chapel of Oxnard,California a more "permanent" home was constructed for the Alpha Care Program. Soon this Alpha Care Program will have upwards to two dozen children attending it.


















But herein lies our problem - opportunity has knocked, but we haven't all the required resources needed to respond. Here is what is needed - school supplies, educational materials, and funds for feeding the children.

You can play a part in bringing hope and meaningful change to the forgotten, abandoned, and neglected children of the Banjara Tribe. How? Consider sponsoring a child! For $22 a month, you give a child an education, medical attention, spiritual instruction and daily meals. Think about making a lasting difference by reminding these children that though others have discarded them God never has.