Shining Stars Annual (Directors) Report - 2013-2014

Johan Du Preeze, an advocate for children, stated that, Children are the
largest forgotten people group. Wouldnt we agree that they are neglected
almost anywhere we look? Here are a few staggering facts about children in
India:

40% of India's population is below the age of 18 years which, at 400 million, is the world's
largest child population

Every sixth girl child's death is due to gender discrimination

500,000 children are forced into the commercial sex trade every year

Over two million children die every year from preventable diseases in India

50% of Indian children aged 6-18 do not go to school

Poor and bonded families often "sell" their children to contractors

There are 20 million street children in India
At Shining Stars we see children in several of
these categories and believe that our calling is to
intervene, where possible, build relationships,
help ease the suffering and train up children in
the way that they should go (Prov. 22:6) - in
short, to be there for them and disciple them.
This last year we ran 9 daily tutoring centres
In three districts of Telangana State (Hyderabad,
Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar). Our desire is to
help the children with their homework and, at
the same time disciple them. There were 5
centres run by our staff and 4 partners. By the
end of the year, two centres discontinued their partnership with us (they felt that they could not
meet the requirements, no hard feelings), thus we closed the year with 7 centres. A partnership
means periodic training, supporting financially (where possible) and regular visits to the centres to
encourage the staff and children.

We strive to help organize various

programmes throughout the year for the
childrens growth and enjoyment. VBS
happens as soon as the academic year ends
in April and May, during the kids summer
vacation. In 2013 we ran 11 programmes
over 3 weeks. 35 teachers and volunteers
were involved and about 927 childrens
lives were touched. 90 children indicated
an interest in following Jesus and 127
recommitted their lives to Him. 8 showed
an interest in becoming full-time Christian
workers after hearing the story of C.T.
Studd.

During the Dassera holidays (usually

in October) we have our annual
Discipleship Camp. We were able
to use the Bharat Bible College
Campus for the three days and the
theme was Follow to Lead. As
Jesus followed His Father, as an
example to us in His leadership, we
are to look to Him. 55 children and
21 staff attended. 12 children
rededicated their lives to Christ.
Camp is one of the only times where
kids from the different centres get
together and meet each other, so it is
a highlight in that way too. One of
the specialties this year was that we had the children write a letter to themselves. This was to
challenge themselves in the things that they had learned and strive to put them into action. We
mailed the letter to them after 3 months. It was a surprise, and hopefully, a reminder of camp and
the commitments they had made.
Our centre's planned Christmas programme's this
last year. In two of the programme's some of
our youth went out and assisted in running the
programme, by performing skits and singing. In
the Nacharam centre the staff went out and took
a small gift and snack to the children's homes both opportunities to reach out with the message
of Jesus' love.

Among other special programmes, we invited youth from our various centres to a one-day premarital seminar. There is much curiosity and confusion today in the area of boy/girl
relationships and it was an enriching time together of learning. Our Nacharam centre holds a
weekly youth meet named 3G (guys/girls going after God). We generally meet together as a
group for some singing and teaching, and then break into smaller groups for closer learning,
discipleship, fellowship and prayer.

This past year we strove to intentionally share the vision of discipling children more broadly. We
shared briefly in three places; a
church in Secunderabad and two
pastors fellowships (Jeedimetla and
Nalgonda). Out of these first
contacts we invited those who were
interested to come to a half-a-day
programme, where we shared, in
more detail, what we do and why.
Out of these trainees we were able
to invite some new partners for the
next year. We are trusting God for
8 new partners, brining our total
number of centres up to 15 for the
upcoming year.

In closing I would like to give an update about some some of our alumni. This is truly what helps
keep us going . . . seeing the fruit of our labours. It happens only by Gods grace and we are truly
thankful. We saw five marriages happen. There were also two babies born recently. Two others
are pregnant, expecting their little bundles very soon. One of the marriages was a miracle, in the
sense that, the parents of Renuka were strong on her marrying a person in her caste and religion.
She fought it and we all prayed against it. Finally, after quite a tussle, God led the family to a
believer, they are now happily married.

Ritu, who was a student with us in

the late 90s, is now married to a
pastor. She works as a school
administrator and is a great help to
her husband in the ministry. We
were just recently at a baptism,
where three of their church
members were baptized. Ritu and
Uttam have three sons.

Swathi, also with us in the late 90s and early

2000s has been married for some years now.
Ummapathi and her have two lovely children, a boy
and a girl. Several months ago they came to visit us
and we had the privilege of sharing the Good News
with him, he did decide to follow Jesus. He has
liked Jesus for a long time and finally made the
decision to step over the line. I am sure that Swathi
was very instrumental (through her godly lifestyle
and prayers) in his being interested in and coming
to the Lord.

We ran in to Tulasi recently at a wedding. She was with us back in about 2004 (we havent seen
her since). Sometime shortly after 2004 she
married and now has two children. It is a Hindu
marriage. It is quite common, when girls are so
young (maybe just out of high school) to be
married by their parents without having much of a
say. Tulasi shared that she still has some of the
Bible verse cards that we gave her back then, she
still reads them, goes to church and is holding on
to her faith. Her husband is understanding towards
her and gives her freedom. She had the
opportunity to take her mother-in-law to her church
for prayer after she had an accident and hurt her
leg.