Margham is a small U.S. based ministry founded by Darrell Dunham after his family adopted two children from India over 18 years ago. The goal of the organization is to support and encourage Indian pastors and church communities as they reach out to their own communities and spread the Gospel in southeast India. Margham now works with 45 pastors, a leper home, two orphanages, a widows home, and has many other need-based ministries and is supported by churches and individuals all throughout the U.S. Whatever financial support is raised in the U.S. is given 100% to the work being done in India.
MARGHAM NEWS
1/16/10
Please see our new page about the Margham greeting cards. The cards feature drawings by the children at Simon Home and Mum Anita Home, and the proceeds from their sales go 100% to support the childrens' homes.
9/18/2009
Catherine Joiner, Stephanie Hitt, and I, Sonya Dunham have arrived safely at home after a successful 2 week visit to India. We praise God for our overall health and safety during the trip.
During our trip we visited Christian workers in Naidapeta and saw the newly constructed Simon Home, now home to 90 children. It was a humbling experience to travel with the family Margham supports to several of the villages they minister to. The people are hungry for the truth and freedom the Gospel brings as well as for the simple daily meals that they to provide for the desititute widows and children in these rural villages. We also were in awe at the endless, fatiguing work that they tirelessly engage in day after day for the sake of spreading God's word to these "backwards" villages. They have many needs in thier many ministries, including a vehicle (they walk or take unreliable public transport to these remont villages), sewing machines for the training center, support for Gospel workers who have been working with them, and food for the many impoverished believers in their area, but in spite of the great needs surrounding them they have a joy and devotion that I found myself envying.
We were also blessed to visit Arun at the Mum Anita Home with his 30 children. While there we held a Widows conference for about 60 widows that were members of the local church. Our topic for the conference was remembering our identity as daughters of the King, and how that means we have been called for a purpose in His great plan and called to bring Him glory. We also spent time hearing some of their stories - these women, our sisters, life such difficult lives. I was touched deeply by how young many of them are, trying to support several children on less thatn $1 a day from working in the rice fields. These women have faced rejection by their families and families-in-law, but have found new family in the church. We heard stories of coming to the church from hearing the sermons over the loudspeaker while in the fields, and of one woman who was healed of HIV. At the end of the conference we gave each woman 5kgs of rice and a pretty re-usable grocery bag from the US. Our small gift of rice will not last very long, but we hope, as always, that the Lord may help us increase montly support so more help can be given.
We also held a 3-day childrens conference, again focusing on the importance of being children of the King. Our three days with the 160-180 were delightful, and they were eager to learn whatever we had to teach them, whether English memory verses or Duck, Duck, Goose. We did dramas, learned action songs, and even made them take notes on our lessons! During our time with them they made crowns (which seemed to overwhelm them with delight!) and handed out Bibles (from the GIdeons - this was a clever way to get the Bibles into the neighborhood homes!), and passed out more gift bags from the US. The greatest blessing from the childrens conference is that the pastor in whose church we held the confrence told us that already parents have come to him to inquire about what we were teaching the children! Allelulia! We pray that our time with the widows and children may continue to reach people's hearts and bring them to God. The pastor now has plans to start a monthly childrens meeting to continue what we started (and we'd love to help with some support for them!)
In between and after the conferences we visited several village churches and again were greatly impressed with the fervor and devotion of these poor pastor's devotion to spreading God's word. The churches we visited were in staunch Hindu villages, very poor areas, and one across from the city dump and next door to a Hindu shrine! These pastors often face great opposition to their work, yet we heard story after story of churches growing and new villages being reached. I was amazed again by how much our short visit to their churches encouraged these pastors, that we would travel great distances and want to visit their humble churches. I mean DEEPLY encouraged these men. While I was thrilled that God could use our prescence, that of three simple young women, to empower these men, I was struck with the irony of how the effect should be the opposite - How much more should I, after hearing about their work and seeing the difficulties they face, be shaken out of my comfortable life and desire to likewise do all that I possibly can to spread the gospel and care for my brothers and sisters? Each time we visited a church and were requested to pray for the congregation, I also asked that they pray for us and for our churches that God would enliven us and grant us the same zeal for sharing the Gospel. Those of you who have heard Indian churches pray know how moving and powerful it can be, and I know they will continue to pray for us whenever they gather.
Finally, we had the blessing of having quality time with the Aruns. It was an absolute delight to spend several evenings with the children at the Mum Anita Home. Several of them know enough English now that we had a wonderful time playing, singing, dancing, coloring, and laughing with them. To think of these children as unwanted, abandoned, or rejected is heart-breaking, but to experience the joy they have found in a godly home with Arun is sweet beyond measure. Margham currently only supports about half of the children. When we asked several of them what they wanted to do in the future, most of them answered that they wanted to be pastors and gospel singers, eager to follow in "daddy Arun's" footsteps. There were tears in many eyes, including ours, when we had to say goodbye.
We are blessed with such an abundance of Christian literature, teaching, activities, and entertainment here in the US that it is some ways difficult to know how the pastors and gospel workers in India do so much with so little money and resources. This trip has reminded me again of how our life's priority should be our great calling from our father God to "go and make disciples." Our brothers and sisters are on the front lines, facing many difficulties to reach villages and people who truely have never heard the Gospel. Can you imagine - some have still never heard about Jesus. And to think that we can help!
-Sonya Dunham
Carrie Dunham during the March 2007 mission trip
"The Aruns" (the family name of Arun's orphans) sing a song at their orphanage dedication
What is Margham?
Margham is a registered non-profit organization that is based in the United States and supports churches, orphanages, schools, and pastors in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, India. Margham was founded by Darrell Dunham, who is president of the organization. Margham is dedicated to spreading the word of God in India. Pastor John Arun Kumar is the head pastor of Margham in India.
What does Margham do?
Margham consists of many activities in India. Margham builds churches, supports orphans, provides Bibles in the Tamil and Telegu languages, provides motorcycles to ministers who have to travel to serve their congregations; Margham provides study and teaching material on the Bible to ministers, gives donations for medical operations, provides food to lepers, and baptizes hundreds of new believers each year.
What does "Margham" mean?
Margham is the Telegu word for "the Way," which is the earliest recorded word by which Christians described themselves in the early church.
What church is Margham affiliated with?
Margham is not denominationally affilliated. However, Margham works with various Christian congregations in both India and the United States.
What percentage of money donated to Margham makes its way to India? How much money is allotted to fundraising in the U.S.?
100% of Margham donations go to the work in India. No one in the U.S. draws a salary for Margham. All overhead costs are provided by Darrell Dunham and by any specially designated donations for these purposes.
Are gifts to Margham tax-deductible?
Yes.
What happens during Margham missionary visits?
First of all, any U.S. traveller visiting India through Margham either pays for or raises their own funds individually. During Margham missionary visits, many village meetings are attended where the gospel is preahced, pastors' conferences are held to educate and edify Margham pastors, orphans are visited and are encouraged, planning sessions are held between senior Margham staff.
Does Margham have a music ministry?
Yes. Pastor Arun Kumar has begun to record the many praise songs that he has written. These songs are disseminated to Indian Christians and are used extensively in worship services.
Do I have the freedom to designate what my gifts go towards?
Yes.
How can I find out more about Margham?
Click the "Contact Us" tab for more information. There are many services and gifts that can be donated to Margham.
Arun Kumar praying at a pastors' conference
A typical village meeting - this one was held at Pastor Reddy's church
