No conflict, ‘just love and respect’

Gisborne’s Pastor Norm McLeod has just returned from Andhra Pradesh in  Southern India where he says Christian, Muslim, Hindu and communist communities are working together to provide a better future for the next generation.

“I have been working with Muslim, Hindu, communist and Christian groups in southern India for 15 years now. We work together and not only have peace and harmony with each other but we have provided education, clothing, food for hundreds of poor slum children, as well as seven houses for widows and orphans,” Pastor Norm said.

“House of Breakthrough Church supports a school that provides free education to 417 children from poor families in the slums.

“The children are from Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Communist families — there is no discrimination.

“The teachers in the school are Hindu, Muslim and Christian because they believe in putting aside religious and political banners in order to give the next generations a better future.

“There is no conflict or clash of religion or ideology, just love and respect.”

The school has been operating for 15 years in the southern region of Andhra Pradesh.

“It has brought about harmony and peace between the religious groups because religious and political leaders have seen their children transition to a better future as they have gone from illiteracy to education and employment.

“To date, 27 students have obtained Bachelor degrees.

“The school doesn’t only provide for the academic needs of the child but also provides two meals a day, two school uniforms a year and all the school books.”

Pastor Norm’s son Kelly died two years ago, and the church in India now presents a Kelly McLeod Award to the pupils with the highest academic grades each year.

The school was established after Norm had a conversation with a man he  described as “a powerful communist politician” and offered to help provide education for his poor.

“He was initially cynical and said ‘no churches help us’. I said ‘I don’t represent a church or a religion, but I do represent a system that’s not political or religious’.

“I said, ‘It’s called a kingdom and it has two laws — to love God and to love man, our neighbour’.

“I said, ‘We are not each other’s enemies, but we have a common enemy attacking our people which is poverty, illiteracy and injustice’.

“I said, ‘Your poor illiterate children, your widows and orphans are our neighbours and if you would let us, we will help provide education for your children. We will put our money where our mouth is’.

“His attitude toward me changed and ever since, for years now, he has been a staunch supporter of the school.”

Pastor Norm has had similar meetings with Muslim and Hindu leaders over the years sharing the same concept.

Pastor Norm spent 10 days in India with church and other groups he supports.

Besides taking leadership seminars, he visited poor villages, had meetings with political and religious leaders, did a youth meeting, took a marriage seminar and took a healing clinic where 99 people out of 100 personally testified that they were healed of their afflictions  and sicknesses.

“My highlight was to see religious and political communities working together instead of against each other. When any people group show their love for God by their love for people, harmony will be the result — not war and conflict.

“That is the kingdom of God system House of Breakthrough operates under, not just in India but also here in Tairāwhiti and throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand.”