History of the Hostel-
In the Fall/Spring of 1952 our beloved Missionaries Rev. and Mrs. D. Carlisle Hanna arrived in India. Right at the beginning of their ministry they were moved by the prevalent illiteracy, and plight of little children, and they knew that without education a bleak future awaited them. Moreover they also realized that if the Indian Community and leadership needed to be strong, then solid education was something .
This moved them into action and with two little boys they started a Free Baptist Boys Home. This Home was started in a non-descript thatched house and later on it would be named in loving memory of our first Missionaries, the Rev. Paul and Nell Woolsey. Over the years, this place would become a real Home for hundreds of boys, where they would be nurtured socially, physically, intellectually.
Current Hostel Operations-
At present this hostel is a home for 60 boys. Most of these kids come from far flung rural areas and belong to either nomadic communities, very low income families or are orphans and destitute. What is common to all of them is that they were deprived of basic livelihood, education and a caring and nurturing environment – something we strive to give every kid in our hostel.
The Hostel Building is located in our main campus and it is adjacent to the residence of our Uncle Missionary Rev. Carlisle Hanna. Right next to hostel is a playground where kids play football, cricket and other games during their leisure time and this keeps them physically agile and fit. Several Community leaders reside around the Campus which provides kids a vibrant atmosphere that impacts them positively.
Impact of the Hostel Ministry-
- Most of our current community leaders studied in our hostel and today are serving the community and impacting many lives in different regions
- Many who studied in hostel are now working in public and private sector areas and because of their spiritual formation in hostel, they volunteer, are very active in local communities and shoulder many responsibilities.
- When they go back after studying in our hostel, they become a witness, a light and salt in their respective villages and communities.
- Many of them are local community leaders and serve in their local villages/ communities in various roles.
How to Support-
Hostel ministry has played one of the key roles in the ministry expansion of Freewill Baptist Church and it has had a positive long term impact upon individuals and communities in West Bengal. Therefore we invite you to join us with your hands and hearts and touch the lives of young children and their world, and they have potential to impact wider world.
You could get involved in following ways:
- By praying regularly
- Through financial support
- By volunteering and
- Through your wise counsels
1. You can support 3 meal a day for 60 Children for-
| Daily expense | $35.00 |
| Monthly expense | $2100.00 |
| Yearly expense | $25200.00 |
2. You can bless the 60 Children with Clothes-
| Warm Clothes | $2000.00 |
| Summer Clothes | $1200.00 |
3. You can bless the 60 Children with Bed and linens.-
| Metal wooden bunk bed (3x6 feet) 30 unit | $6000.00 |
| Bed sheets, two unit for each 60 Children | $640.00 |
| Mattress for sixty Children | $1800.00 |
4. You can support the sixty Children with Hygiene and cleaning items -
| Monthly | $120.00 |
| Per annum | $1440.00 |
5. You can support academic (Book and stationeries) expenses of sixty Children-
| Per month | $500.00 |
| Per annum | $6000.00 |
6. You can bless few Hostel students for higher education-
| 3 year training Bible college for one student | $2000.00 |
| 4 years Nursing Training | $5000.00 |
7. You can support to set up
| A small Library with books | $7000.00 |
| A computer Lab with 5 Computers | $3500.00 |
