Baptist Global Response training center changes woman’s life, family situation

Baptist Global Response training center changes woman’s life, family situation

Purnima and her husband recently celebrated one year of marriage and they’re even thinking about having children. But their love story is an unlikely one that began because of a job training center supported by Baptist Global Response (BGR).

In Purnima’s South Asian home most women are born into poverty and destined to stay there. A woman is expected to marry early, bear children and obey her husband. Because most marriages are arranged marrying for love is rare. This is what Purnima had grown up knowing.

Due to her father’s frequent absences from the family and her mother’s health problems, Purnima and her younger sister supported the family for years, paying the rent and putting food on the table. 

But Purnima had an ally many girls don’t — a local handicrafts training center. 

She and about 30 other girls have spent years coming to the center, learning skills like embroidery and sewing. They earn a respectable wage for their work so they’re able to provide for their families. The beautiful bags, jewelry and accessories they create are shipped around the world. But it was only a matter of time before Purnima’s father arranged her marriage. Depending on who he chose she could be condemned to poverty forever.

An unexpected turn

That is … until the program leaders paid for Purnima and other girls to attend a Christian camp.

While they were there, a Christian man noticed Purnima. He came home and told his parents to stop looking for his wife — he had found her. He sent word to the center that he wanted to marry Purnima.

At first Purnima’s father disapproved. But in time he changed his mind and Purnima said yes. The training center arranged all the wedding plans between the two families. They paid for all of Purnima’s share of the wedding expenses since the family had such little money.

On the day of the wedding two of the center leaders escorted Purnima into the ceremony.

Purnima finally has love and security in her life. The center has hired her as a full-time staff member teaching younger girls embroidery and older girls more complex sewing techniques. It wasn’t long ago that she was one of them, another girl just trying to make ends meet. 

Now she’s an example of what their lives could be, thanks to gifts to BGR. To read more stories of lives changed or to give go to www.gobgr.org. (BGR)

How to pray

Pray for women in South Asia and around the world to find hope and a future through Christian job training ministries.

Pray for Purnima and others who minister to women in poverty through vocational training. (TAB)