Stan and Lana started the Father’s House project in Odisha, India, in the spring of 2009, and it has been thriving ever since. So far, through our mission, Jesus Unlimited, we’ve built two spacious family-style homes — one for boys and one for girls. We also established a Christian school that provides a quality education, not just for our children but also for kids from poor families in nearby villages. Many of the children who joined us at the start have now grown up, graduated from the program, and moved on. They’re studying in colleges, getting married, starting careers, and continuing to follow the Lord. This is the story of how it all began.
Download Video
For nearly a year, Christians in Odisha endured intense persecution. The government set up seven refugee camps, and people fled there in desperation. No one knows how many Christians died in the camps from disease and poor conditions. Even something as simple as diarrhea could be fatal because there was no medical care. Food and clean drinking water were scarce. Outbreaks of malaria, typhoid, and fever claimed countless lives, including children. The cries of India echoed with grief — mothers mourning their children, unable to be comforted, because they were gone.
Fanatics marched through villages, shouting, “India for Hindus! India for Hindus!” They threatened anyone who tried to return home with brutal death. For an entire year, Christians couldn’t even buy bricks, cement, or sand to rebuild their homes. With no way to return, many families ended up back in the refugee camps, sinking into hopelessness. When the government eventually shut down the camps, orphaned children were left with nowhere to go. They were destined to live on the streets, even though just a year earlier they had families, homes, and schools. The people wept, and so did we.
When the first fragile girls arrived at the Father’s House, it broke our hearts. At night, they would sit quietly next to us, watching us with cautious eyes. Some were so scared they slept under their beds. Whenever we walked outside, small hands would grab hold of ours, clinging tightly, desperate for love and reassurance. We are so grateful to our partners who, for years, have helped us care for these precious children. As they grow up and step into independent lives, we release them, making room for new orphans who need a safe place to heal and grow. We invite you to be a part of this mission by committing to monthly support. Together, we can transform the lives of these children.
Support Now
Support Monthly
More Ways to Support
Project Updates
Can You Help One Child? – Receive One to Change the World
Odisha Father’s House – Children’s Home for Girls
Those who survived in the jungles now were in danger of dying because of the lack of food, clean water and medicine.
We were crying when the first exhausted little girls arrived at the Father’s House.
Thank you for changing lives with us!
We welcome new children to the Father’s House.
Become a Partner Today
