Who We Are
Beginnings
The ZEST Evangelical Service was started in 1981, when Mr. Krupanandam Kotha together with Pastor Ebenezer had a vision to bring the gospel to villages of Andhra Pradesh State in the South of India. Over 80% of people live in villages and 6000 of these villages have never heard the wonderful message of Jesus Christ.
Planting House Churches
So far ZEST has evangelized dozens of villages, and by the grace of God, has been able to plant 26 village churches. There are currently 20 pastors and evangelists working hard to encourage, strengthen and disciple about 1500 people attending these village churches for worship on Sundays.
The ZEST School
Zest Evangelical Service also runs a school aiming to help poor children in the small town of Vinukonda. These children are orphans and street children, who cannot afford to go to school. Many of these children live and sleep on the streets begging, rag picking, and collecting plastics from town dumps, in order to earn money to buy a meal. They’re often engaged in petty theft and prostitution to survive and suffer from malnutrition and the lack of emotional and psychological support of family. Education is an important key to break the cycle of poverty in India and offers these children a better life. The Zest School currently provides 80 children a daily meal, and education following the State curriculum.
Future Plans
Zest seeks to expand its ministry by establishing and maintaining more churches, schools, and also providing homes for orphans and destitute children. They will also continue printing and publishing Christian literature, and funding health needs, economic development and disaster relief programs. We ask God to grow his Kingdom through this work.