The Lord Jesus School and Orphanage was founded by Carlton and Heather Rixon in 1999 in Gangnapur, West Bengal, India. Currently, there are close to 40 students, ages 4 to 19, and five residing staff members. Carlton and Heather, who live in Kolkata, alternate being at the orphanage and being at home, sometimes taking turns and other times going as a family with their children on weekends or holidays.
On the property in Gangnapur exist a girls’ dormitory, medical center, kitchen, staff dorms, classrooms, playground, gardens, a sports field and the worship center. Just down the lane is the boys’ dormitory, another kitchen, more staff dorms, the baptism pool, and the soon-to-be Bible college and dorms.
All the children are up at 4:30 in the morning in order to have prayer, eat breakfast, and do chores before the heat of the day begins. Classes commence at 8am and break for lunch at 2pm. There is a study period at 3:30pm and worship at 6pm. Supper is at 7pm, and, shortly after, the children are in bed for the night.
Classes are taught strictly in English and include: reading & writing (in English, Hindi, & Bengali), math, history, social studies, and music. Many of the students play instruments and some play several! These students also lead the worship services that take place in the mornings and evenings.
