Oppressed for centuries, many Dalit kids grew up hearing from their parents that they were worthless.  This is based on the old Hindu belief that your caste (or rank in society) is based on good or bad deeds from previous lives. If you are born Dalit, you have much to be punished for.  You are told God doesn’t love you.  You are taught it’s impossible to change your position in life.  You live in poverty, without health care, and without justice in the legal system.  Until now. 

In 2001, Dalits began to stand up for themselves, formally rejecting the caste system and the beliefs behind it.  The Christians in India stood in solidarity with them, and huge numbers of Dalits turned to Christianity, discovering they are loved by God, and have dignity and value as His image bearers.

Since then, this move of God has swept across India, with more than 1 million Dalits now following Christ. At times, OM teams have planted new churches at the rate of one every other day. The result is an indigenous church movement, linking thousands of Dalit churches and hundreds of Dalit pastors. This is the Good Shepherd Community Church (GSCC) movement.

Every GSCC fellowship is involved in the holistic transformation of their communities.  Pastors and members serve together tutoring children, teaching literacy classes, visiting inmates, and feeding the poor. OM India trains pastors through these ministries in various places. There are now nearly 100 schools available for Dalit children, something unheard of ten years ago.  God has birthed an expansive spiritual awakening among the Dalit people like nothing experienced before in India.

Please continue praying for this tremendous move of God among the Dalit people.