Outreach through art

Christian arts organisation Veritasse is funding the launch of a project to provide water buffalo for pastors in India to help support their ministry work.

Through the charity ROPE (Reaching Oppressed People Everywhere), Veritasse will provide the initial funding for a revolving loan scheme from which pastors can borrow the money to buy a water buffalo, then repay the loan at minimal interest rates from the funds generated by use of the animal.

Veritasse was founded eight years ago by artist Aidan Meller as a non-denominational arts group through which Christian artists can sell their work, giving part of their profits to aid charities, such as ROPE, working in India. As well as viewing or buying the artists' work from the Veritasse website there is now also a magazine available from Christian or cathedral bookshops or call 0845 123 5884.

ROPE operates in 80 countries around the world 'bringing grass-roots relief to suffering communities, without duplicating the work of other agencies'.