I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  I am Suraj Komaravalli and serve as CBM Asia Team Leader.  I advance Integral Mission strategies in India and the Philippines. I also concentrate on contemporary and contextual approaches to church-based transformational ministry. 2024 could also see CBM partnering in countries like Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.

CBM, in partnership with Alempang Baptist Church, has started a Vennture Project titled “Meranga Inyaker Takum Alitsü (MITA), meaning “Livelihood through Hard work” in Mokokchung, Nagaland.  The project aims to address the major problem of youth unemployment. Substance abuse, anti-social activities and human trafficking are some examples of issues caused by youth unemployment.

The project began with a vegetable and spice processing centre where the youth work. They create and sell produce like organic vegetables, seasonal juices like gooseberry, lemon and lime, herbal mixtures for medicinal purposes, Naga ethnic pork and beef pickles, candies & spices like turmeric through their shop, weekly Friday market, and social media. An unplanned new activity, a vehicle servicing and a car wash station are an added blessing. The second phase of the project, piggery farming, started in 2022, has been received well.  Despite African Swine flu challenges, piggery farming has created a local market for consumption.  At the very outset, the project has shown that many youths who were once unemployed are now participating, which is a big achievement. We thank God for his grace as beneficiaries can also contribute part of their income to the church so that other unemployed youth can be trained to sustain their lives.  The community now sees the initiative as an employment-creating agency initiated by the local church.

As you walk with us, we thank you for your prayers and support for CBM’s Ministries in Asia.

Please pray:

• Please pray for Alempang Baptist Church as they continue empowering many of their unemployed youth through this sustainable project and for other local churches eager to adopt such a ministerial approach.
• Please pray for three new Projects from 2024 that seek to empower victims of human trafficking and Kids at Risk, as well Income generating programs for low-income pastors in Nagaland.
• Please pray for our ongoing projects, especially sustainability projects that seek to assist the local/denomination churches in standing on their feet and sustaining their projects to address the broken world through word and deed.
• Please pray for the health, safety and guidance of the Team Members in Asia to continue serving the Lord to the best of their ability.