By Rachel Beatty

Psalm 68:5 reveals to us that, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”The fatherless here on earth can take heart because of the scriptural promise that they have an even greater Father in Heaven who cares for them.

Lifeline partners with fathers and father figures around the world who are living out the call found in James 1:27 to care for the vulnerable. Two of Lifeline’s Global Orphan Care partners, Nathaniel and Balu, serve those in India whose lack of love from a father left a hole in their lives. While Nathaniel and Balu’s ministries can never fully close this gap, their ministries point to the One who can.

Nathaniel

Nathaniel Kodavantikanti diligently serves the Lord in Ongole, India. At a time when Nathaniel had established a preaching ministry, God moved him to care intentionally for the vulnerable: He remembers, “God called me and asked me, ‘What can I do for them?’”

As a result of that call, Nathaniel and his wife, Vani, founded New Life Foundation, focusing on caring for children who have HIV/AIDS. The ministry’s programs include a monthly nutrition program, evangelism, discipleship, and family support services. Although the primary tangible goal of this ministry is to provide proper nutrition, “The main aim is reaching their souls with the Word of God,” remarks Nathaniel. When children come to weekly “Nutrition Sundays,” they receive healthy food and hear about the gospel. Nathaniel knows that while healthy food can make the body stronger, only the gospel can provide life-changing hope.

To establish trust, Nathaniel stresses the importance of building rapport with the children. Nathaniel and Vani spend time with each child building relationships with them and praying for them. As they see a picture of a caring earthly father, it becomes a beautiful, redeeming picture of how our Father in Heaven cares for us.

Nathaniel feels a sense of urgency to reach hearts and minds with the gospel in Ongole because of their difficult living circumstances. Factors including the Indian climate, malnutrition, and sickness lead to a shorter life span for the average person living in Ongole, especially for those with HIV/AIDS.

Nathaniel and New Life Foundation are currently taking care of approximately 35 children and 15 widows, but they also make a great impact on the community as a whole. For example, a man named Sai with an HIV diagnosis often felt unloved and untouchable. When Nathaniel’s family willingly interacted with him, they made Sai feel seen. For Nathaniel, “That made me realize, how valuable to be with these people, to give strength to their hearts.” Interactions with the destitute in the flesh and in spirit, like Sai, have left Nathaniel burdened for their acceptance into the local community. For Nathaniel, the acceptance that we can receive by other people is a foreshadowing of how the Heavenly Father opens His arms to accept us.

Nathaniel acts as a father to the fatherless, but he also leads his children to serve the Lord. New Life Foundation’s mission to care for children in Ongole has become a family affair. Nathaniel’s zeal for the Lord, which is evident through his demeanor, impacted his whole family to trust in God and His good promises to care for the least of these. He and Vani, along with their two sons and two daughters (Hannah, 14, Anne, 12, Shawn, 9, and Shane, 8) “are doing ministry together in Ongole.”

In everything, Nathaniel constantly references that the Lord is leading him. He says, “God called me, and He has chosen me to do His work”, and he knows that none of his efforts are by his own merit. Nathaniel says the Church can partner with him in ministry by giving, “a little that multiplies in a big way.” You can know that when you give to his ministry efforts, your gift goes to the direct spread of the gospel.

Balu

Balu Naik runs New Life Children’s Home in Miryalguda, India with his wife, Vinitha. They have two daughters, Sharon Rose, 17, and Keerthana, 14, who live at the home with them. They live as a family among the Banjara tribal community.

The Banjara tribal community live in remote villages far from modern civilization. They are outcasts in India because they are considered gypsies living in a nomadic community. Balu explains that “In our gypsy community most of the people are idol worshippers, illiterate, and they worship their forefathers and ancestors.” They sacrifice livestock to these idols and are unaware of their need for the gospel. Balu witnessed this deep need for the gospel in this community, and he responded obediently to God’s call to live among the Banjara people in this dark and remote environment.

Among the Banjara population, parents often pass away because of alcohol consumption, which leaves their children with only one parent or completely orphaned. These children are often left with unmet physical needs like clothing, education, and food. Balu and Vinitha left their jobs to start their full-time ministry in 2010. Balu describes that “God spoke to us with the words, ‘let the little children come to me.’” As a result, they founded New Life Children’s Home. The orphanage started with four children. Now, 42 children and 10 widows live at the home.

Because many of the children they care for have a living parent or family member, Balu encourages them to keep ongoing relationships with their families. In fact, they often invite family members to come to the orphanage and “share the love of family,” or they take the kids to the village to visit family members. These occasions also serve as outreach opportunities to family members with whom they can share the good news. Miraculously, Balu rejoices that “all the children are saved by the grace of God.”

Balu’s work among the Banjara even led to the planting of a church in which the community can gather. Backlash against Balu has been harsh at times, including persecution, attacks, and injuries from stone throwing. Despite the persecution he faces, Balu persists in ministry. After years of faithful ministry, he can tell story after story of how God has always been faithful.

One such story took place eight years ago, when a man in their village died and left his wife, Shanthi, and daughter, Mahi, to provide for themselves. Shanthi then developed throat cancer and was hospitalized. Mahi came to live at New Life Children’s Home, where together they prayed for Shanthi’s healing. Not only was Shanthi healed, but also, “she was saved by the amazing grace of God,” tells Balu. Today, Shanthi and Mahi are healthy and “happy with the joy of the Lord.” They both live at New Life and take part in the ministry they were once recipients of themselves.

Balu serves as a father figure to his daughters, children like Mahi, and numerous other children in need in his community. Balu celebrates God’s revelation of “Himself as the father of the father-less… He made us His children through Christ Jesus.” Balu knows he is God’s child through faith in Christ, and he considers his role “a great privilege, honor, and responsibility doing God’s leftover work.”

Balu encourages Lifeline families to partner with him in ministry through prayer. He implores, “Pray for their education, health, and future… we can reach more children like them through your support.”

Partner With us in Ministry

Lifeline families can partner with Nathaniel and Balu’s families in ministry by financially supporting them. A gift of $150 will find one entire Nutrition Sunday. Starting this fall, you will have the opportunity to sponsor a child who resides at New Life Children’s Home.