Jump directly to the Content
Jump directly to the Content

Sermon Illustrations

Home > Sermon Illustrations

'Unwanted' Indian Girls Receive a New Name

In October, 2011, the Associated Press ran a deeply moving story about a name-changing ceremony for girls in Mumbai, India. At birth the 285 girls had been named Nakusa or Nakushi, which means Unwanted in the primary Indian language of Hindi. The name Unwanted is widely given to girls across India where families often value sons much more than daughters. As a result, female babies have been aborted or neglected at an alarming rate.

But the renaming ceremony was an attempt to give the girls a new identity. The article reported, "The 285 girls—wearing their best outfits with barrettes, braids and bows in their hair—lined up to receive certificates with their new names along with small flower bouquets." Some of the girls chose new names that mean prosperous, beautiful, good, or even "very tough." One girl who had been named Nakusa by her grandfather who was disappointed in her birth said, "Now in school, my classmates and friends will be calling me by this new name, and that makes me very happy."

Related Sermon Illustrations

How a Pizzeria Highlights the Gifts of Those with Down Syndrome

In 2000, two parents founded a pizzeria in Rome with the goal of employing people with Down syndrome. Inspired by their son, who had the condition, they named it La Locanda dei Girasoli ...

[Read More]

Chicago Man Discovers His Real Name

The headline in the Chicago Tribune was poignant: "Living a Life Unknown." The subhead said, "Dozens of John, Jane Does turn up yearly at Illinois police stations and ...

[Read More]