Three projects get one home
Three SIM projects in a South Asian country will soon unite on a single property with new facilities once the construction winds down.

By Tianna Haas, South Asia

Three SIM projects in a South Asian country will soon unite on a single property with new facilities once the construction winds down.

The projects have operated in temporary or rented facilities until now. These include youth vocational training, school hostels for students from rural areas, and leadership training. The SIM worker overseeing the construction, Jared*, said, “It’s been very difficult. It will be nice to have it all together in one place.”

The extra space gives them a chance to breathe but also to progress. Currently, boys who come from less privileged socioeconomic areas can study motorcycle repair and tailoring. With the new building, the team plans to expand training to carpentry and mobile phone repair.

The upstairs portion of the centre will also have two hostels for the boys, separated by age group. They have one pair of house parents ready to supervise one hostel and mentor the boys, with another soon to start.

Bible instruction and discipling happen alongside the programme, enabling our workers to walk through life with these young men. This approach to witnessing has spilled over to the construction site. Jared said, “We’re finding that we can apply the same strategy and ideals that we use in the youth vocational training in the building process. We can actually disciple the construction workers as they spend time around us.”

Security measures — sadly, a requirement in the country — are also more reliable and efficient with the central location. Jared said, “We can have one boundary around the outside and one set of security guards at the main entrance.”

Another security element is the opportunity for missionaries to live on premises. Historically, they’ve integrated into communities, but due to recent regulations, the shift to the secure locations is now mandatory.

The centre reinforces SIM’s partnership with the local church, as it offers practical skills alongside spiritual formation for the younger generation. Jared said, “We need to equip them so they can earn a living and look after their families.

“Often, when the boys graduate, they go back to their villages and run Sunday school or work with the neighbouring village’s pastor. Sometimes, they even start their own house church. These boys are a very big part of church planting.”

The work on the centre is due to finish next year, but parts of the building will be used in phases as they become available.

Partner with SIM

SIM relies on God to provide donors and prayer partners so we can push forward in ministry. If you’re interested in giving to this ministry, visit our donation page, find the office nearest you, and use project number 98175.

Pray for:

• Finances for the centre, so the facilities can benefit many.

• The youth involved in the vocational training and school to know Jesus as saviour.

• The construction workers to come to faith in Christ and to carry out their tasks well.

*Name changed.