Tragically, 14-year-old Vishal could not escape. He watched helplessly as the attackers killed his father, amputated his mother’s legs, and turned to stab him several times in the abdomen.
Helping Vishal overcome his deep sadness and anger is what Samson Parekh—Orphan Outreach’s newest India team member—lives for. A former drug addict, Samson knows from experience how Christ can transform souls.
“If Vishal’s anger is not dealt with now, he might grow up to be a destructive person in the society. So I listened to him and provided counseling,” Samson said simply.
Born in the West Indian state of Gujarat, Samson, 58, is a father of two (Jason, 13, and Christopher, 12) and holds a Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey and Ph.D. in Old Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas.
After he became a follower of Christ, Samson joined Operation Mobilization, a post he held for six years. In it, he traveled to remote villages to preach the gospel. He went hungry and suffered physical assault from unbelievers. “Living in the worst village conditions gave me a strong foundation for my Christian life,” he said. After earning his doctorate, three U.S. churches offered him pastoral positions.
“But the faces of those unreached and poor village people forced me to return to India,” he said. “I started to teach in a small village seminary, namely Methodist Bible Seminary in Gujarat, and my wife, Rina, started Jivan Anand Charitable Trust to help orphans and poor village children.”
The Elwin Parekh Children's Home, named in honor of Samson and Rina's young son who passed away, is now home to twenty girls, where they receive basic necessities as well as an education.
Eventually Samson was appointed president of Union Biblical Seminary in Pune. “I enjoyed the education part but was not comfortable with the administrative aspect of my position because I am an evangelist at heart. I want to be with people to know them and their needs more intimately and help. I was praying [for a new direction] when I came in touch with Steve [Spencer] and Mike [Douris] and shared my desire with them.”
Since June 2009 Samson has worked for Orphan Outreach, counseling children as well as providing training for orphanage staff.
“I hope that we will be able to provide adequate facilities, education, and personal care to the children and see them well established where they can live independently with dignity and make meaningful contributions to God’s kingdom and Indian society,” he said. “Americans need to know of the vast needs involved with taking care of orphans and neglected and suffering children in India. Most have resources to help such kids. They can develop a partnership with Orphan Outreach by providing financial support for the operating expenses and for building projects. They can also promote Orphan Outreach’s ministry to individuals, churches, and other agencies,” Samson addezd. “It is good if they can visit to get to know the real and firsthand picture of the need in India.”
