At present, it is monsoon season in India. This means that construction projects and much ministry is hindered or even obsolete. Mosquito nets are a must and prayers against outbreaks of malaria are lifted daily. Access roads to ministry are often washed out in remote areas. In other words, this is the season for much endurance for our missionaries. God continues to bless, despite opposition of weather, culture, or false religion, which arise as obstacles. We know that there are no obstacles that God cannot overcome. In these times, God teaches us to be patient and to wait upon Him. His timing is perfect and His power is unstoppable. The rains will bring good rice crops and replenish water levels. The Lord continues to guide us toward new beginnings in the south and keeps us flexible concerning works in Orissa. We praise Him for all things…for His sovereignty, His provision, His peace in trials, and His perfect timing in all situations. Thank you for the prayers in India. They are what move His mighty hand!


Blessings,
Riley and Debbie

For now, things in Orissa, India are fairly quiet. The outcome of the spring political elections is only the result of God’s mighty hand. The Congress party gained control on the national level, despite the threats at the election sites and the horrific persecution of Christians imposed by the opposing BJP group in the fall of 2008. Recently, there has been some prosecution and sentencing of the ones in charge of the persecution in September of 2008. This has caused some uprising in a few small village areas in Orissa, but overall, things have been better. We are still trying to jump many hurdles of opposition in beginning construction of the new children’s home in Orissa, but in God’s timing it will happen. Ministry is moving along in south India, as God has provided the resources needed to purchase 7 acres of land for a new children’s home in Tamil Nadu. He provided it through a loving couple in Indiana. He continues to amaze us and to prove that he is Almighty God, despite any financial crisis in America. We just continue to give Him praise for all He has done and all He continues to do. We covet your prayers for the hard-working missionaries of the Gospel in India, for the protection and health of our precious orphan children, and for all who work to care for them.


In His Hands,
Riley and Debbie Shelton

Work in India continues and the needs continue to rise. Feeding programs are proving successful to open doors of opportunity to share the Gospel. Our orphan children continue to be a blessing and are growing bigger both physically and spiritually each week. However there are many more who need help. We have been waiting to begin construction of a new children’s home in Orissa due to persecution problems in the area where we work. Because of much prayer answered, the problems have decreased as the elections ended in April, despite the fact that the same anti- Christian group won re-election in state positions. We are now at the stage of choosing an engineer to begin construction after receiving several quotes. Despite other obstacles, God proves Himself to be sovereign to overcome each one. We are hopeful that the children will be in that new home very soon, taking them off the floor and into beds, giving them a dining hall with tables to have meals and a chapel to worship. We are also in the process of viewing new land to start a new home in south India. God is working and we remain steadfast and hopeful despite the economic situation or any other obstacles in the natural realm. We serve a God of the impossible who has no problems, only plans. May it all be done to His glory! God bless you all as you keep reaching out and beyond for the cause of Christ.

We recently returned from our mission trip to India. Our journey there and back covered nearly 25,000 miles. We were blessed to witness the hand of God move in many miraculous ways. We were used to feed the hungry, as nearly 1500 people received meals. We laid hands on and prayed for hundreds of people who were sick or afflicted. God used us to put our arms around and love on those who were hurting and living in despair. We witnessed an untold number of people giving their hearts to Jesus for salvation!
We distributed many Bibles to new believers in their own language. We hosted our annual mission conference where over 500 pastors and their wives attended. We were privileged to see the Holy Spirit redeem, refresh, restore, and empower those in attendance. I am totally convinced that what we were able to witness was due to the prayers of family, friends, and partners of this ministry. On behalf of the team, Michael Lee, Lisa Dolan, Kelly Allums, Debbie and me, thank you so very much for standing in the gap for us. Your prayers truly made an impact for the cause of Christ. Let us, together, continue to reach out and beyond in His Name and in His love until He comes.

2008 proved to be a challenging year in India. Though there were many obstacles to face, God enabled us to overcome. Persecution was at an all time high in the state of Orissa where we had begun a new work just last year. God provided the funds that we needed to begin construction on a new children’s home there, but construction has been on hold due to problems of persecution in the Kandhamal district where we work. He also provided a much-needed new vehicle for the children’s home in Orissa. God has been so good. Despite the difficulties we have faced, God is still working faithfully to His glory. We know that God has no problems, only plans. He has opened the door to purchase land close to Madurai, Tamil Nadu to begin another new children’s home. We are trusting Him to provide the $75,000.00 that is needed to purchase this land by April. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible! Our children and the workers are safe and healthy and we are thankful. Our missionaries are safe and God has used them greatly to grow His Kingdom. Please join us in prayer for more saved souls, continued safety in Orissa, and the provision of land in Madurai. May God bless you in this New Year.
Riley and Debbie Shelton

I returned from India with Leah and Forrest on Sunday night. We were able to go in and out of Orissa without any problems because of the Lord's protection. We were able to see our friends, John, Simon & family, and the children. We then continued to south India until the remainder of my trip. Riley will remain in India, traveling to different remote areas of India until Oct. 24th. Please keep him in your prayers for safety, good health, strength, discernment, and favor. God bless you all and thank you for your prayer coverage!
In His Hand,
Debbie Shelton

In recent weeks, an extreme level of persecution was unleashed on our brothers and sisters in Orissa India. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, churches and business were burned down and countless numbers of Christians were killed for their faith. I was given a report right in the area where we are serving that 17 pastors were burned alive and another 45 Christians were also murdered. Thousands have fled to the jungles and are hiding in fear.By God's grace our missionaries and children are safe. Thanks to many of you, we have been feeding many of these helpless refugees who have lost everything. Please continue to pray for those who are suffering and are in much need. We also need your prayers as we leave next week to go their.

Blessings
Riley & Debbie

All of our children in Tamil Nadu have passed their year-end tests for school and are now on summer break until June 1. We have 6 children who graduated lower level (10th grade) and will advance to higher level learning in June. In Orissa, God continues to confirm our involvement there as He has provided the resources to purchase the land for a new children’s home for 49 children (presently). We still desperately need a used vehicle to transport children to and from doctor visits. Right now, motorcycle is the only means to transport them. One adult drives and another adult holds the child en route to the doctor in all kinds of weather. With the heat of summer comes sickness. For $5,000.00 we could purchase a used vehicle. We praise God for the generator just purchased which provides electricity. With temperatures of 100+ in summer, the ceiling fans have been a blessing for the 49 children sleeping on the floor of a one-room building. We hope to begin a new children’s home, with beds, for them soon. Our native missionaries are working hard in remote areas and 100’s are coming to Christ. Feeding programs are proving to be successful in all areas as a tool to share the Gospel. God is good and He continues to bless the work entrusted to Hope For The World India.
Serving Jesus In India,

Riley & Debbie Shelton

We returned in February from our most recent trip to India. It was an amazing mission with a team of 8 people and the presence of God was most powerful. Below are some of the things God allowed us to experience:

1. God allowed us to host a 2 day crusade where many were saved and people were delivered from many strongholds.

2. The team ministered at a clinic where people are taken to die because of different diseases. Most of them suffered from T.B. We brought food in and feed over 250 patients, shared the Gospel, and prayed over them individually. Riley and another man were blessed to be used to lead a young woman to the Lord who was watching her father die in the hospital. She also had
just recently watch her brother die. To make things even worse, her husband had just abandoned her and their 3 children. When we met this young woman, she was weeping out loud. When we left, God had put a smile on her face and hope in her heart. "Thank You Jesus! "

3. We held a 2 day Pastors and Wives Mission Conference in which over 260 pastors and wives attended each day. The Spirit of God moved and 3 pastors wives were saved.

4. Riley had the privilege of baptizing 16 of our children who had recently accepted Christ as personal Savior.

5. There was one of our young boys who had been extremely sick and had not been able to get out of bed for several days due to a high fever. Riley and two other men laid hands on him and prayed in agreement that God would heal him and restore his health. Within a couple of hours he was up out of bed no fever, walking around and looking for food to eat. We Praise God for he is still in the healing business.

As the team returned back to The States, Riley, Debbie, and Eric Hoover of HFTW Media, made a visit up to the state of Orissa where we visited 49 orphan children living in a one-room house, sleeping on the floor. God is leading us to begin a new work there. Purchasing land, building a new children's home and providing sponsorships( which will provide food, shelter and education for these helpless children) will be the things taking place in the future in Orissa. We are excited for the new challenge God has given us. We will just listen for His instructions and watch Him work! We covet your prayers as we seek to obey Him.

God Bless You,
Riley and Debbie

December 2007

2007 proved to be an exciting year in India. Many orphans were rescued, thousands were fed, hundreds were saved and baptized, churches were planted, and many hurting and hopeless people were loved and cared for. Despite the hurdles, obstacles, and the rise of persecution throughout India, the Lord Jesus is still showing Himself sovereign and strong. We look forward to a “new beginning” in 2008 in the direction that God will lead. Whatever God has in store for us to do will be exciting and challenging and will be done in the way in which only He can do it.

Our next team trip will be from January 30-February 11, 2008 during which we will have our annual missionary & wives conference in Tamil Nadu. The theme for the conference this year is “Champions For Christ”. Please pray for us as we bring in missionaries, pastors, and their wives from different parts of south India to be washed and refreshed in His Word, rested, renewed and refreshed, ready to face the challenges of 2008 before them. Also be in prayer as we minister to terminally ill tuberculosis patients who need salvation and lepers who have been outcast from society. As always, we will be spending time with our precious children in the Hope For The World Children’s Home in Tamil Nadu. May God be glorified in it all! Happy, healthy, and blessed New Year to each of you in 2008!

In His Grip,
Riley and Debbie Shelton

Dear Friends,

Once again, having just been in India, we saw that the needs were overwhelming everywhere we looked. However, God helped us to focus in on a group of orphan children in the state of Orissa. 47 children living in a one-room building, no beds, no blankets, clothes or food. They had no electricity, thus studying by candle light.

We need $500.00 to feed these children for a month! We need money to buy a generator for power, blankets and clothes for cold weather and this is just to help them to survive! If God has blessed you and your family this year, please consider how you can help these children in need. Two missionaries living on faith and prayer are caring for them right now and God allowed us to see it. Of what we know, we are accountable. Counting our blessings, we wish to you and yours a Merry and Christ-filled Christmas and a Happy and Heathy New Year.

God Bless You,
Riley and Debbie Shelton

Dear Friends,

Though summer is usually not a good advocating season, God has faithfully provided resources for us personally and for the needs in India. He right now has us in position to build 3 new churches as soon as monsoon rains subside. He has allowed us to start new feeding programs in 3 areas now.
Once hungry stomachs are filled, the village chief is more willing to listen about our God who fed them. Thus, they hear The Gospel. Our vision is to have a feeding program in every state of India and to build at least 10 churches this year. One church is complete and the second one will be completed by October. With the 3 waiting to be built, that will total 5.

Will you pray and ask God what part He would have to take in planting churches and feeding the hungry?
Church Plant: $3,000-$5,000
Feeding Program: $300 will serve 1000 people.

God Bless You!
Riley and Debbie
 

July 2007

2 new missionaries just joined HFTWIndia, Pastor Gabriel near Pappakudi in Tamil Nadu & Sarah Garner working with the deaf in Kanyakumari. 2 new feeding centers have started-one in Tamil Nadu & one in the Sudaman Islands

Construction of 3 new churches will soon be built in different parts of India: Jarkhand, Tamil Nadu, & Sudaman Islands .
New classrooms are under construction at the school in Tamil Nadu after destruction by the monsoon winds and rains last fall.

4/1/2007

Urgent Prayer Needs

Rebuild 5 classrooms destroyed by monsoon rains $5,000 each

New school bathrooms to meet code requirements approx. $8,000

Classroom furniture $1,500

New vehicle to transport goods and children for doctor visits when need

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