THE DAILY LEADER / RHONDA DUNAWAY / First Baptist Church Women’s Ministry members Sunday Holmes (left)and Missy Kilpatrick are sorting through items for the “I Love India” garage sale coming up next Friday and Saturday, April 4 and April 5.

The First Baptist Women’s ministry is having an “I Love India” garage sale. Leaders in the group say every penny raised will go to support the missions of the Agape Outreach India Ministries.

A preview sale will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 4, in the First Baptist Church Gym. Admission is $5.

“This is the garage sale you do not want to miss,” said Sandra Gerald, member of First Baptist women’s ministry. The garage sale is 6:30 until 11 a.m. Saturday, April 5. Admission is free.

The India ministry is headed by Sam and Jezy Varghese who call Brookhaven and India home – alternatively living in each every six months. They were first-time visitors to the church over 20 years ago, Gerald said. Jezy had a nursing job at King’s Daughters Medical Center, and Sam was studying at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson.

“They had come to America for Sam to go to RTS,” she said. “They have been a blessing to us ever since they showed up. After getting to know them and finding out more about their mission efforts in India, I have had the conviction that there is something I can do to help. The harvest there is definitely plentiful and the workers are very few. We are trying to help Sam and Jezy make a difference.”

The Indian couple has started 55 churches in India. They have mentored over 40 pastors and evangelists that serve these churches. They have an orphanage, The Agape Children’s home, which serves impoverished and homeless children.

Gerald explained that last year’s funds raised from the garage sale went to furnish windows and doors for the first ground floor of the children’s home. And, she said the carpenters are currently constructing frames and panels for the home.

Gerald and others like Sunday Holmes, who is also a First Baptist member, is excited about this year’s sale and has a vision for selling enough to create funds not only for completing the children’s home, but enough to begin building a badly needed church and help members of Varghese’s multiple congregations.

“In India where they live, they have a long rainy season,” Holmes explained. “And, most of their congregations meet out in the elements. The most they may have is a tent. Whatever money we raise above the needs of the children’s home will go toward the construction of a church. We also try to help meet the physical needs of many in those congregations who live in some of the poorest areas in our world. But, first we will complete the second floor of the children’s home. This will be a safe place for children to live and receive an education.”

Gerald points out that participating in the garage sale is one way to do something good for someone else.

“Even though I am not called or able to be a missionary,” Gerald said. “I can do my part here in Brookhaven to help spread The Good News.

“We have been blessed with so much,” she added, “that to be able to donate our ‘excess’ to raise the amount of funds we do for these missions is just mind boggling. God truly does provide a way for the willing.”