The charitable child welfare organisation Christian Mission Service (CMS) began life after an Indian pastor visited Germany in 1957 to speak about India’s needy children. A Christian businessman, Emile Richter, responded with compassion. Believing that the love of Jesus could meet these needs, he had the idea of asking friends to give money as an expression of this love in the lives of the children. This was the seed from which Christlicher Missiondienst, known in India as Christian Mission Service (CMS), was born.

CMS today cares for more than 6,000 children in some 40 homes all over India. The homes are funded by sponsors in Germany and Switzerland who ‘foster-adopt’ a child and supply the money needed to meet his or her monthly requirements.

The children live in family ‘groups’ each looked after by a house parent. The groups consist of around 16 boys and girls of different ages, a system which recreates a near-Indian family atmosphere. In the groups the children’s physical, mental, social and spiritual needs are cared for. A team of more than 600 skilled and dedicated Christian staff makes this possible. (SR26/9 - 04.01)