Just imagine preparing for your wedding and budgeting for all the expenses involved. In India, a bride’s parents are not only expected to pay for the wedding; they’re also expected to pay the groom a dowry. In many cases, dowries aren’t just one simple payment to the groom; new husbands in India often make huge demands. Greedily, they pressure brides to make their families pay. If they don’t, new brides in India are often tortured, humiliated or beaten, by their husbands or in-laws. (In our churches we don’t practice the dowry system. But, we do allow voluntary gifts to be given to new couples.)
K*, whose marriage was torn apart because of her husband’s dowry demands, was devastated. She couldn’t bring herself to tell her parents about her husband’s insults and beatings, since they had already given so much. She quietly endured 2 years of abuse, but then things got worse. Her husband and in-law’s had wanted a boy, so when she gave birth to a girl they were furious. When the baby was 3 months old, she left, and went to live with her family. The next 6 years were very difficult. K* found a job as a field hand, which left her with an aching back and trembling legs, as well as many other health issues.
A year ago, she met some of our sisters who were attending a house church leader training program in her village. They shared the Gospel with K*, and prayed for her. They also told her about our tailoring center in a nearby village. K* joined the tailoring center, learning quickly. There she also gave her life to the Lord. Since then, she has regularly attended a worship group, and wants everyone to know the one true God she has met, who loves her just the way she is. After graduating from the training, K* started a small tailoring shop in her village. God blessed her and she is now earning enough to provide for herself and her daughter.
In addition to running a business, K* also joined our house church leader training this year. In the last few months, she has led more than 11 people to the Lord. Last week they were baptized in her training center.