INDIA -- What do we do when we see destitute young girls in the red light streets, children in bonded labor abandoned and uncared for? If we look the other way and walk away, we are no better than the priest and the Levite mentioned in the parable of the Good Samaritan. They too passed by the man grievously wounded on the Jericho road.

James Varghese, founder of Indian Rescue Mission (IRM) cannot turn a blind eye to them.

A year ago, when he was on a visit to a Red Light brothel in Pune city for an exclusive news interview of a girl sold, trafficked and forced into prostitution, Varghese was unable to look at the pathetic life of the minor girls at the brothels in that Red Light area.

In an interview a minor girl broke down, cried bitterly before him and said: “If my mother was alive, I would have not been sold.”

Hearing these few words, he was shocked and broken, tears flowed freely. (Read the interview at:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2009/s09070072.htm

In the interview, the girl pleaded with him to free her from the terrible life at the brothel. James promised her that he would rescue her in a few days.

As promised, he returned in few days later with a team of Police and rescued the girl. He was in utter horror and shock to see the joyful tears of the girl after her rescue, and was especially touched by the way she responded back to him saying: “Brother, Thank you for helping me out.”

Deeply disturbed and very moved by this incident, James was reminded of his calling in life through Proverbs 24:11: "Rescue those being led away to death, Hold back those suffering towards slaughter, If you say 'But we know nothing about this,' Does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?"

So in 2009, Varghese founded a new organization called Indian Rescue Mission, with the motto “to set lives free.”

James Varghese also serves as the Special Correspondent in India for ASSIST News Service.

My senior in the field of journalism, I am deeply touched by Varghese's sincere service towards God, the time he spends on different activities, writing news, rescuing girls, supporting pastors and ministries, running a school for poor kids. He is truly a man who cannot withstand injustice.

As a youngster, Varghese wanted to enjoy his life as others did. Born into an orthodox Christian family, he wanted to break away from all the shackles that he felt restrained him.

Because his father was a Church pastor, he was brought up in a Christian environment. He wanted to come out from under the limits set upon him as the son of a Christian minister. However, he strongly believes in the predestination of God, the Almighty, the predestination of God that should be conformed to destitute people and later become part of that ministry. He found he could understand how difficult is life for the girls at the brothels. This later helped him to empathize while working with girls in the Red Light areas.

His main inspiration to start IRM came in 2009, after the interview with the young girl and as God spoke to him from Proverbs 24:11,12 and these verses echoed in his mind. That's where God visited him. It was then he decided he wanted to work with the girls forced into prostitution and boys in bonded labor. He says he wants to go out and be with them to wipe away their tears.

God showed him the vision that he was to work with the castaways of Indian society. He shared it with his colleagues and prayed for this.

In 2009, Varghese saw the beginning of his dream, and IRM was born. His dream became a reality as IRM started to carry out the ministry with the love of God and with the purpose that IRM was to be the means to help the destitute realize they were being rescued by God's love.

Varghese said the IRM team was once attacked and severely beaten up by 'the local goons of Pune red light district,' when the team had gone into the area for a rescue. One of their team members sustained severe bone fractures during the attack.

IRM invites volunteers to come and work with them. They seek people with loyalty, faithfulness -- and a big heart for the victims of child trafficking and prostitution.

Indian Rescue Mission also runs a school for the poor and underprivileged kids of Indian society. They plan to especially work to educate kids of prostitutes and help make them better and responsible citizens for the future.

Most of the people IRM rescues from the streets often have serious ailments. They need to be provided with good medical care and other facilities.

Let's keep this ministry in our prayers and wish James all success in his upcoming rescue operations and projects.

Readers who are keen to know more about the work of IRM or to sign a petition to end child trafficking can contact James Varghese at 09871744707 / 09916822084/ 09481938184 Email: jamesvarghese@sify.com or indianrescuemission@gmail.com

Website: http://rescuemissionindia.weebly.com