While the friends had lost touch over the years, Baalaark’s family had fallen apart. His parents fought every day, and his efforts to unite them were traded in for a divorce.

“I don’t know what to do,” Baalaark said. “I did my best to make them understand, but it was worthless. I feel embarrassed, and I don’t want to show my face to anyone out of shame. I just want to finish my life.”

Despite his despair, Baalaark hoped his friend might advise him. Was there a way to save his parents’ marriage? For them to live in dignity and peace?

Kaaliya knew exactly what to tell him.

Friend’s Plea Answered

Kaaliya’s father was a pastor, and over the past semester, Kaaliya had been training to become one, too. He comforted Baalaark, prayed for him and shared the Good News that Jesus has the power to transform lives.

As Baalaark listened, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace and asked Kaaliya to share this message with his parents. That night, the whole family chose to follow Christ.

Over the next two weeks, Kaaliya connected Baalaark’s family with his father’s church, and they began regularly attending Bible studies and meetings. Meanwhile, Kaaliya continued sharing Jesus’ love with everyone he met.

As Baalaark’s family grows in their new faith and others respond to Christ’s call, Kaaliya knows this is only the beginning. With each new year of school, he’s working toward a lifetime of service—a lifetime of seeing families united under the redeeming shelter of God’s grace.

See how you can pray for Bible college students like Kaaliya as they prepare for full-time ministry.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The village had a tube well, which should have been a blessing, but between the arsenic and the bad smell, it was a “blessing” the villagers only approached out of desperation. Most chose the pond water. And because filters are too expensive for them, they got creative when it came to purifying water.

“Our family used water from the pond,” said Saatatya. “When it rains, the water is muddy, so we fetch it and keep it for hours at home to let the mud settle so we can use it.”

Situated in an area prone to flooding, Saatatya’s family depended on their improvised “filtering” methods quite often. During monsoon season, the prospect of non-muddy water was an absurdity.

A Clean-Water Solution

When Gospel for Asia missionary Naajy heard about the village through a friend, he began talking with his team about what could be done for them. That summer, they arrived at the village with a surprise.

“Today, through some people I do not know, I received [a] water filter, and I am very excited,” said a housewife named Ubika.

Naajy’s team brought 30 BioSand water filters, providing Ubika, Saatatya and 28 other families with 24-hour access to clean water. Even the arsenic-laced water is safe to drink now.

“My family used water from the tube well, and we don’t like to drink the water because of the smell,” said Omja. “But . . . when we filter the water from this filter, the smell is gone, and I feel great to have this filter.”

The BioSand water filters don’t just provide clean water, though. Because they require some light upkeep, they also provide continued opportunities for Naajy and other workers to visit and build relationships with the villagers. And as they do, they’ll take every opportunity to share the pure, Living Water of Jesus Christ.

See one student’s take on World Water Day and what he’s doing to help families in Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

It seemed only natural, then, that the missionary at Labangalata’s door should listen when she shouted at her to go away.

“The very first time [I visited], I feared the woman so much,” says Gospel for Asia missionary Chaaya, “but with the help of God, I approached her and stood at the door.”

As Labangalata shouted, Chaaya simply prayed God would touch the priestess’s life—and determined she would return.

“At least once a week, I visited her and tried to make a friendship with her,” Chaaya says.

As Chaaya overcame her fear, Labangalata overcame her aversion to the missionary’s faith. After a month, she let Chaaya share from the Bible. Labangalata soon realized she needed to change her life.

She started attending church to learn more about Jesus, and one Sunday during the morning service, she decided to embrace His love.

The villagers were amazed to see Labangalata give up her priestly duties and begin worshiping Jesus Christ at church. But they didn’t oppose her—they wanted to come to church, too.

Now, in a place where missionaries struggled to reach a busy and unreligious community, people are talking about Jesus. And the woman who used to see into the future has an eternal future worth seeing.

GFA missionaries face opposition every day. See their heart to share the love of Christ despite the costs.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Like many South Asian widows, Naamagal had lost any semblance of a normal or safe life after her husband’s death. Her children offered no help, and society saw her as a curse.

Each day presented the new challenge of finding work. As a wage laborer, she earned just enough for food. And without a house of her own, Naamagal was always on the move, completely dependent on those merciful enough to offer her a roof for the night.

Alone and unaware of what each new day would bring, Naamagal used to think of ending her life—it wasn’t as if anyone would miss her. One day, however, she heard someone calling for her outside her hut.

Prayers, Provision and Peace

Naamagal invited the married couple into her borrowed home, though she didn’t even have a chair to offer them. The husband, a Gospel for Asia pastor, happily sat on a piece of log and introduced himself as Omprakash. He had heard about Naamagal’s troubles and wanted to tell her about the love of Jesus.

As the pastor talked about his merciful God, Naamagal began to open up about her problems, her eyes filling with tears as she shared her story. With sympathy, Pastor Omprakash prayed for her, and for the first time, Naamagal felt true peace.

After that day, she began attending church. She chose to embrace Christ and started both reading the Bible and praying each day.

When she unexpectedly received a small piece of land where she could build her own home, Naamagal knew it was her God who had answered her prayers.

“There are many parents who are left behind without love and care,” Naamagal says, “but I thank Jesus for loving me this much. Today I am no longer worried in my life because Jesus is with me.”

Naamagal may still be a wage laborer, but with her own small hut now, she knows she has a place to call home—both for now and for eternity.

Learn more about the plight of South Asian widows and how God is bringing them hope.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Adding to their frustration, some unwanted visitors had arrived to screen a film about the life of Jesus. Ignoring the villagers’ objections, the village leader granted the GFA film team permission.

That night, 150 people gathered to give the film a chance. Taksheel also came, providing the villagers relief that their possessions were at least safe for the moment. After the show, though, something unexpected happened: Taksheel asked the team to come to his home and pray for him.

Taksheel had an upcoming court case, and the missionaries gladly agreed to pray for it. They also took the opportunity to share the Gospel with the rest of Taksheel’s family.

As the missionaries explained Christ’s love, Taksheel felt guilty about his way of life and repented before God. He decided he wanted to follow Christ. When his court case was dismissed the same week, his whole family joined him in that decision.

As Taksheel began to grow deeper in his faith, his neighbors were amazed at the change they saw in his life. What kind of God could transform such a notorious thief into a loving, morally upstanding man? There was only one thing to be done: They chose to follow Christ, too.

Now when Taksheel walks around the village, his neighbors don’t eye him with fear. Instead, he is joyfully welcomed into a fellowship of 29 other new believers. Each with his or her own story to share, together they are a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ life-changing love.

See how you can pray for film teams bringing the Good News to those who have never heard.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Why Women Missionaries?

In many Asian cultures, it is wrong for a woman to interact with a man who is not her husband. That is why a woman missionary is the perfect solution! Each woman missionary already lives in Asia. In preparation for ministry, she has gone through three years of intensive ministry training. She knows the cultural taboos instinctively. She has already mastered the language or a related dialect. She lives among the community, eating the same food, wearing the same clothes, and sharing the same cultural interests.

Above all else, she has a passion and burden to reach the women on Asia with the message of the gospel.

You Can Make a Difference for Women in Asia

It only takes $30 a month to help support a woman missionary to serve full-time to reach other women.

Through Bible studies, house visits, and the personal ministry of our missionaries, thousands of women have found hope in Christ. But the need in Asia is great. Millions of women have still never heard the Good News. Give them the opportunity to right now! Watch this video, listen to these sisters’ testimonies, see their passion and sponsor them.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Young Raya couldn’t help but overhear as her neighbor poured her heart out to Raya’s parents. The neighbor, Bulbul, shared how her husband, Samen, had been sick for a year. He had difficulty drawing each breath and his family was paying enormous amounts of money for treatments, in hopes of a cure. But his condition remained the same.

Bulbul shared about their latest visit to the doctor’s office. They recommended Samen be taken to a hospital, but the family’s finances would not allow it. Samen’s job was the only source of income in their home, and Bulbul wondered how they could survive.

Faith for a Miracle

Raya, a student in the local Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope center, had learned to read the Bible and pray every day, asking God to meet her needs. As she listened to the adults talk, she knew Jesus could do a miracle, so she spoke up. Raya told Bulbul not to worry; she would ask her teachers at Bridge of Hope to pray for Samen. Jesus could heal Samen, Raya assured them. And then she ran to the center.

Raya explained her neighbors’ situation to Jivaj, the center’s director, and Jivaj decided to go visit the family’s home.

When Jivaj saw the seriousness of Samen’s condition, he shared the Gospel with the entire family. After he prayed for Samen, Jivaj told them that God could do a miracle; all they needed to do was believe.

Jivaj continued to visit and encourage Samen’s family each day, as they prayed and hoped for healing. Fifteen days later, God healed Samen.

Today, not only can Samen breathe freely, he has new life in Christ as well. And so does his entire family.

Please pray that God will continue to use Raya’s life, and for the Bridge of Hope center to bring many people to know Him.

Read how God used some young children’s prayers to change the life of their friend.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The end results make the journey worth it.

Two hours is a small price for Bhima to pay. He’s made this journey countless times, but when you’re feeding the hungry, the joy is worth it all.

Pastor Bhima travels to the surrounding villages of his home, sharing the love of Jesus with many who have never heard Christ’s name. When Bhima came to a town two hours away, he discovered that several people were hungry to learn about God. So he kept returning.

A Village Steeped in Religion

The majority of the villagers believe in karma and are bound in superstition, and most don’t know how to read. But these hard-working farmers will not put up with anyone mocking their faith.

Padma, a quiet young woman in the town, has worshiped and sacrificed to idols since childhood. Her family is often separated, because her father works in a different state, but she works hard to help her mother and brothers take care of their home. A dedicated student, one would never guess from Padma’s smile the difficulties she has to endure to make it through school.

Tormented by Spirits

Why they chose her, Padma didn’t know, but every time she tried to concentrate on her studies, demons attacked. She wanted to learn but frequent headaches prevented her.

Padma and her mother visited many doctors, but no one had answers to free Padma from her misery.

Pastor Bhima happened to visit Padma’s home one day and shared the Gospel with her mother. Padma arrived later, and he got to pray for her. Padma’s mother noticed a difference in her daughter after the prayer, so she asked Bhima to keep coming. He gladly consented and visited often, reading from God’s Word and asking God to heal Padma.

Where Two or More are Gathered

Bhima invited two believers from his hometown to begin a regular prayer meeting in Padma’s home. One day, as the three believers prayed over Padma, she fell down unconscious, but Bhima and his friends continued to intercede for her deliverance and the Lord rescued her. In moments, Padma stood up, fully restored.

Padma and her mother were overjoyed and thanked the believers profusely. From that day on, Padma started to attend prayer meetings, and gradually God convicted her heart of her need for Jesus.

Now, there is a wide-open door in this village to hear the message of Jesus. The people are amazed at what God accomplished in Padma’s life and they see the power Christ has over darkness. Padma also joyfully shares her testimony with others, and no one opposes her witness because they are so happy that she is healed.

Read how another missionary traveled great distances to tell a village about Jesus.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Girl

The question lingered in the air. Should Sanjaya’s parents burn incense to their gods, or pray to the Lord? They knew their daughter’s life hung in the balance.

A Difficult Journey

Sanjaya was only fifteen when the demons first attacked her, and her health quickly went downhill. She suffered for two years as the condition worsened. Her frightened parents called the village sorcerer to treat the unknown sickness, but nothing he did brought healing.

There was one thing left to try.

Would the Missionaries Pray?

Three young women had been visiting the village, sharing about Jesus to all who would listen, but that number proved to be small. The villagers were content in their religion and ignored the women’s attempts to share Christ’s love. The three missionaries, Gospel for Asia Bible college students, were not to be deterred. Fasting and praying, they continued witnessing, knowing that God would bring fruit in His timing.

Sanjaya’s family had joined with the village in ignoring the missionaries, but now her parents wondered if the God these women spoke about could heal their daughter. They called the missionaries and asked them to come and pray for Sanjaya.

A Choice They Must Make

The women prayed earnestly and asked God to deliver Sanjaya, and to her parents’ delight, her condition improved. Sanjaya’s mother gave her food and then Sanjaya fell asleep.

The women returned to their home to continue their prayers for Sanjaya when the phone rang. It was Sanjaya’s father asking them to come again. Sanjaya’s sickness was back.

They came at once and began to pray, but soon a villager who was burning incense to the traditional gods joined them. As he brought the smoking incense closer, Sanjaya lost control and violently thrashed about.

One of the missionaries recognized the spiritual battle before them and put the question to Sanjaya’s parents: Who did they want to trust for their daughter’s healing—the gods of their religion, or the Lord Jesus Christ? The desperate parents chose Jesus.

The women continued to pray and God brought deliverance. The demons left and Sanjaya was completely healed.

Sanjaya’s family held onto the choice they made, and today the entire family follows Jesus.

Find out how God brought deliverance to another family trapped in darkness.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

There was water in the village—plenty of it. But Shaunak and the rest of his people were not allowed to have any. Shoemakers by trade, they were low caste, hated and considered to be untouchable by the elite of society.

“I was praying daily for the provision of water,” Shaunak remembers.

His people, already suffering in poverty, were desperate and thirsty. He didn’t know what else to do.

A Dedicated Pastor

Pastor Abhik never had to worry about what he would do each morning. God’s calling on his life was to share the Good News. So every morning Abhik got up and went from house to house in the surrounding villages, talking to people about Jesus.

When God led him to Shaunak’s village, he encountered a huge need. Not only were these people part of the 163 million in South Asia who lack access to clean water, but the vast majority were also in need of the true Living Water: Jesus Christ. Abhik knew a solution.

‘What Does a Jesus Well Mean?’

He arranged to have a Jesus Well drilled for the needy villagers. Open to all, high- or low-caste, the well brought much joy—and curiosity.

“What does a Jesus Well mean? What is written on it?” The questions poured out as water flowed for the daily visitors. Pastor Abhik happily answered their inquiries as he shared about the love of God. He explained John 4:13–14, the verse written on each Jesus well, and how He can give water that will cure spiritual thirst forever.

“The Lord has answered my prayer,” Shaunak jubilantly declared. “We were badly grieved, but now we are happy because we have a well for our group.”

More than 30 families now have access to clean water, and many have decided to follow Christ because of the love they saw demonstrated through the well.

World Water Day

More than 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water, and every 20 seconds a child dies from a water-related illness. Gospel for Asia’s clean water ministry is delivering clean, disease-free water to families across South Asia through Jesus Wells and BioSand water filters.

As the world joins together on March 22 to combat the water crisis, you can partner with Gospel for Asia to provide not only clean water, but also Living Water, to the thirsty millions in South Asia.

Make a difference today.

Sources: UNICEF, WHO World Fact Book 2012, www.water.org

Gospel for Asia - Reports

As he grew older, Ekachith stopped caring about even the Sundays. He had a nice life with his wife and three children. But one day, his regular rhythms of life came to an abrupt halt.

Ekachith began suffering from stomach problems, and the doctors couldn’t figure out why. As his health deteriorated, each day became a struggle, and Ekachith decided suicide was the only way to solve his problems.

His only hesitation was a question that kept running through his mind.

“If I die,” he thought, “what would be next?”

One day, he woke up to the answer.

Answers on the Radio

It was early in the morning, but Ekachith couldn’t sleep. He turned on the radio and heard a man praying for the sick to be healed.

Ekachith joined the GFA Radio speaker in prayer and then called the phone number given at the end of the program. After Ekachith explained his problem, the man at the station shared the love of Jesus and prayed for his complete healing.

Within three days, Ekachith’s stomach problems vanished. And after seeing the power of Jesus, Ekachith’s life was transformed.

He began attending church again, praying regularly, and desiring that his family would come to know Jesus, too.

“I praise God for this radio program,” he says. “Every day without fail, I listen.”

With the love of Christ in his life, Ekachith no longer has thoughts of suicide, but he rejoices to know that whenever he does die, what happens next will be greater than anything he can imagine.

Read more stories about how God is working through GFA Radio.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Sampat was discouraged. No matter how he looked at it, his business was in trouble. When he first opened his goldsmith shop, the business had flourished and the profits were good. But now he was in debt, and he saw no way out. How was he ever going to provide for his four children? At least he still had his gods. He trusted that they would take care of him.

As the days went by, Sampat’s financial situation got worse. He wanted to sell the business, but he was afraid that his friends would mock his failure.

One day Sanjiv, a local believer, visited the store. He realized that Sampat was struggling financially and tried to talk with him about it. Sampat wasn’t interested in talking with a Christian, but Sanjiv gave him a pamphlet about the love of Christ and invited him to church. Sampat laid the pamphlet aside and carried on with his work.

Some time later, Sampat was opening his shop—praying to his gods and beginning his cleaning—when he found the tract Sanjiv had left him. He didn’t want to read it, but something compelled him to. When he finished reading it, he felt a peace in his heart that this God would do something for him.

Sampat went home and told his wife that he believed Jesus would help his business. He took his wife and children with him to church and met Pastor Galav Chopra. Sampat shared with the pastor all that had been happening in his life and business. Pastor Galav urged him to trust Christ with his problems.

The next day, as Sampat was opening the shop, he prayed and asked for God’s help. At the end of the day, his profits were so great that he knew it could only have been the Lord answering his prayer.

Sampat and his family have chosen to follow Christ and are now regularly attending worship services at the church. His life was changed and the Lord is meeting his needs—and it all started with one believer giving him Gospel literature.

Find out more about how God is using Gospel literature to reach Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Indrani’s childhood habits were drinking, smoking and gambling.

“I learned these things from my parents, but now Jesus has redeemed me from my bad habits,” this mother of eight girls joyfully shares.

A New Legacy

Indrani’s eight daughters, due to the family’s poverty, roamed the streets of their slum village and got into trouble. They couldn’t afford to go to school. But all that changed when they met a GFA-supported missionary who enrolled the girls in the local Bridge of Hope center, and soon the entire family was attending services at the local church.

Rather than continuing the pattern of drinking and gambling, this family has started a new legacy – one of joy and singing and praising the Lord.

Through GFA’s Bridge of Hope program, entire families and villages have been transformed! Thank you for your partnership.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Things were not better once the morning came. The new day would only remind Shamila of how hopeless her situation at home often seemed and that she probably wouldn’t be attending school. Shamila’s family couldn’t afford to consistently send every child to school, so she would often skip days so that her five older brothers could attend.

Even though Shamila and her family were wholeheartedly devoted to their gods and goddesses, there was still no peace to be found in their home. It was as if no one heard their prayers.

Through all her struggles, Shamila had been attending a church with her aunt where Pastor Lalan served. As she continued to join in these times of worship, she started praying to Jesus. Her faith in God grew more each day, until she fully embraced His love for her.

She did not stop praying

Sometime later, Shamila became very sick one day. She had a high fever and couldn’t keep any food down. Although her body was weak, God kept her faith strong. She got up in the middle of the night and asked Jesus to heal her. She stopped vomiting and the fever immediately left her body. She was amazed by the love Jesus had for her, and her new faith grew when she saw that He was able to do anything.

She started to pray that her mother would come to church with her, and she invited her the following week. Her mother agreed, and the two of them went together for the first time. After the service, Pastor Lalan prayed with Shamila and her mother, who had asked for prayer for her sick husband.

The very next week, Shamila’s father was completely healed of his mental disorder. The entire family rejoiced in what God had done for them and chose to accept His offer of love and peace. They now worship only one God, the One who hears and answers their prayers.

Shamila’s father recently found a job and makes a good income now and all of the children—including Shamila—are thriving in school. The family is thankful to God for providing in their spiritual and physical needs. Their home, which used to be full of anxiety and unrest, is now covered in the grace and peace that comes only from Jesus Christ.

See how you can pray for missionaries like Lalan who are serving families like Shamila’s.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

But lately, 11-year-old Oja had been learning about a different God—One who cared and could make things happen.

A few months ago, Oja’s best friend had invited her to Sunday School, where they learned songs and stories about Jesus. Oja loved it so much she had stopped going to the temple and started going to church services. She even decided she wanted to follow Jesus.

Then she began to pray.

Counting Her Blessings

When Oja was anxious about her grades in school, she prayed to Jesus and scored at the top of her class, but she had higher aspirations still.

Oja began praying that God would allow her to attend one of the best schools in her area. Her family didn’t have the money to send her, but she knew God could provide a way.

After earning a high score on her exams, Oja received a full scholarship.

Next, Oja prayed for her parents. Her family didn’t have their own land or house, but after Oja prayed, the government started a program to distribute free land in the area. And two weeks after Oja asked God to fulfill her father’s desire for livestock, a relative bought two goats and gave one to the family.

As her family’s herd of goats and income grew, Oja knew there was just one more thing that would make their life complete: Her family needed to know Jesus, too.

Through Oja’s prayers, her parents recognized how greatly God loved them, and they decided to open their hearts to Him. Now the whole family attends church together, and as others look on, it’s clear to see that Oja’s family follows a God who answers those who call on His name.

Find out how GFA staff members are praying for the ministry, and pray with them.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

It was not the first time Roshan had thought about these things. Although he, his parents and his two sisters were devout followers of one of Asia’s traditional religions, the lack of response from their gods often left him wondering if there was at least one God who would listen.

He struggled with these thoughts for many years, but Roshan never found anyone who could answer his questions—until he enrolled in a Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope center.

Is There an Answer?

Roshan was a very rebellious 12-year-old when he first started attending Bridge of Hope. As the staff lovingly counseled him, though, he began to realize they might have the answers he’d been looking for.

When he met Baldev, the local pastor, Roshan opened up to him about the questions he had been struggling with. Why had his gods never answered him? Did Baldev know the One who would?

“Jesus came to earth to save people from their sin,” the pastor told Roshan.

The Truth Set Him Free

As Roshan carefully listened to the pastor, the Word of God reached deep into his heart. Roshan was deeply convicted about the way he had been living. He realized that this was the answer he had been searching for all along, and he decided to put his trust in Jesus.

After his heart was transformed, people began to notice a difference in his life also. Roshan began attending church and became an active participant in church and the Bridge of Hope center.

Parents See the Change

Leading in prayer time at Bridge of Hope and taking on more responsibility are just two of the ways Roshan has changed. An obedient and disciplined young man, he enjoys his 10th-grade studies in English and science, as well as playing soccer. He also is skilled in playing the mandar, a local musical instrument.

The difference in Roshan has transformed his family, too. They now attend church regularly and spend their evenings praying together and reading God’s Word.

As he grows in his faith, Roshan knows God has a special plan for his life. He wants to become a servant of God and tell others the Good News that changed his life and his family.

Watch an interview with K.P.Yohannan to find out more about how God is showing His love through Bridge of Hope.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Features:

• ‘I Share by My Experience’
• Truckin’ across Asia
• Prepared to Be a Powerful Witness

Departments:

• Conversations
• Our Community
• Resources
• Pray
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The students spent most of their days passing out Gospel literature and visiting families, but one of the houses they visited often was that of their next-door neighbors, Leena and Gayan.

Leena was a mother to eight grown children, and had always lived a fairly ordinary life. But two years ago, her whole world changed. Leena became mentally ill, talking to herself constantly.

Dhevan and his friends decided to go to her house every Tuesday night and hold a special prayer meeting for her. As they prayed, Leena’s condition improved, and she began to act normally again.

A few weeks after Leena was healed, she chose to follow Jesus and make a public testimony of her faith. The villagers saw the change in Leena’s life and began to show an interest in what Dhevan and his friends were sharing. Not long after Leena decided to follow Christ, seven more villagers embraced the love as God as well.

Dhevan and his family are no longer the only believers in their village. They now worship and fellowship with nearly 30 other brothers and sisters in Christ.

“When we start to sing, the villagers like to listen and they come and attend the church,” Talib said.

Bible colleges equip students like Dhevan and his friends to reach their own villages with God’s love.

Find out how you can help support a Bible college student.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Clean water or dirty water?

That sounds like a ridiculous question to all of us, yet the reality is that many people in the world don’t have the choice between clean and dirty water.

For many in Asia, safe, clean water is hard to come by. Confined to stagnant ponds, filthy rivers, and rusty wells, these people are struggling daily with waterborne illnesses. They don’t know much about hygiene, and they have no idea what is causing their premature deaths.

You can make a difference in their lives

Share a cup of clean water with someone in Asia while teaching them about the Living Water found in Jesus.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The turning point in Lalasa’s life and relationship with Jesus came when she married Mardev, a pastor who encouraged her and showed her what it meant to really follow God.

Because she had grown up in poverty, she was never able to go to school and she hadn’t learned to read or write. Lalasa wanted to help and support her husband in his role as pastor, but she was still hindered by her inability to read the Bible or write anything at all. She began to pray that God would show her what to do about her education.

God answered Lalasa’s prayers when an adult literacy class was started in her church through Women’s Fellowship. In less than a year, she learned to read and write very well.

“When I started to attend the literacy classes, often times Satan brought many obstacles and discouraged me,” Lalasa remembers, “but my husband encouraged me to stand firm for God’s glory and fight against Satan. I am very happy that I can read the Bible now.”

Her newfound skills have helped her grow in Christ, and she now leads the Women’s Fellowship group that helped make her learning possible in the first place.

Now she can teach many women about the love of Jesus by sharing the truths in God’s Word and enabling them to grow, too.

See how you can pray for the women whose lives are being transformed by Women’s Fellowships.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The man had been a nominal Christian when they tied the knot, but soon he started attending prayer and worship services at the local church.

Tabassum did her best to keep Edi away from the church, verbally abusing him and his family, but something had changed in Edi. He sincerely wanted to follow Christ.

Edi and local missionaries tried to explain God’s love to her. He set up prayer meetings in their home, hoping she would attend.

Instead, Tabassum grew more hostile to the Good News. Whenever her husband held a prayer meeting, she locked up the house and retreated to the field.

But there were some things Tabassum couldn’t run away from.

Come Back to Haunt Her

Her dead parents’ spirits began to haunt her at night, appearing in her dreams as demons who ravenously devoured her.

Although she sought the help of religious leaders and witchdoctors, her terrifying dreams continued for months.

One day, exhausted from her search for relief, she shared her nightmare with Edi.

She needed to come to church with him, Edi told his wife confidently. “In the name of Jesus Christ, those demons will flee and never come back again.”

After all her other efforts, Tabassum was still reluctant to try church as a solution, but Edi knew it was the only way. Finally, Tabassum agreed to come, just for prayer.

When they heard of Tabassum’s problem, all the believers began fasting and praying, and she soon felt God’s peace. After she chose to follow Him, the dreams left and she gradually grew to love Christ dearly.

Now she eagerly shares of the peace Jesus brought to her life and frequently prays for the lost.

Through her story, two families have chosen to embrace Jesus, too, and she and Edi are seen as an example for many in the church. The couple is now united in love for one another and for the One who rescued them.

Check out our prayer resources to see how you can pray for the field and start prayer meetings of your own.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

“God says we are supposed to help those in need. How often do people go and buy new  clothes? $11 is not a big deal. $11 can provide chickens for the families in Asia, so they have not only food, but also an income from selling any excess eggs that are produced.

I want to raise enough money to buy one million chickens for the children in Asia. Will you please help me make a difference in these families lives? Through our efforts, many in Asia will hear the Good News of Christ’s love. Let’s do this together!

Thank you!!!!   -  Xiaoyun “

Will you join this precious little girl in her quest to provide 1 million chickens for needy families in Asia?

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The only glimmer of hope in Sachi’s and Javesh’s lives was that their son Chakor was enrolled in a Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope center. They knew he was being cared for and given a nutritious meal every day.

While Chakor received the opportunity to learn and grow, things were looking grim for the rest of the family.

One day, during a regular visit to the family’s home, the staff members from the Bridge of Hope center realized how dire Chakor’s family situation truly was. After meeting with the family, they decided to offer Sachi a job as a cook at the center. She was overjoyed at the prospect.

The new job meant income, and an income meant their family wouldn’t have to starve. Sachi was very happy to be able to meet all her children’s needs again.

God Answered Their Prayers

The Bridge of Hope staff continued visiting with and praying for the family, and slowly, Javesh’s life started to change. He stopped drinking alcohol, and he began to use his wages to provide for his family again.

Through the prayers and friendship of the Bridge of Hope staff, Sachi and Javesh saw the love of Jesus and knew that He cared very much for them. The couple and their children embraced the hope that can only be found in Christ.

Today the family attends the local fellowship together, and their home is full of God’s peace. Not only has their outward situation changed drastically, but their inner lives were transformed as well.

See how your prayers can impact Bridge of Hope children and their families.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Maagh worked overtime; Saaras worked occasionally.

Maagh lived on his own; Saaras depended on his parents financially.

Maagh followed Jesus; Saaras was faithful to a traditional deity.

It was the last difference that Saaras could never understand. Religion should have been something they could agree on, but Maagh was always offering Saaras Gospel literature and inviting him to church.

“Being born and brought up in our tribe, how come you ended up following the low-caste religion and worshiping the foreign god?” Saaras asked. “I wouldn’t expect it from an educated person like you. Aren’t you supposed to honor your . . . own god?”

Same Message, New Heart

Gospel for Asia missionary Maagh had been sharing the Gospel with Saaras for a long time, but this query was the golden opportunity he had been waiting for. With excitement, he began clearing up his old friend’s misconceptions, explaining that God’s love was for everyone—not just low castes or foreigners—and that it had the power to change lives.

Maagh’s message hadn’t changed, but this time, Saaras listened. He decided he wanted to know more and happily received Maagh’s pamphlets.

Saaras pored over the information, and the following Sunday, he attended church for the first time. The believers joyfully welcomed Saaras, and as he listened to the songs and the message of hope Maagh preached, Saaras began to understand why his friend loved Jesus so much.

After the service, Saaras asked Maagh how he could follow Christ, too, and Maagh happily told him. Most of Saaras’s family mocked him when he started speaking of the wonderful change in his life, but his brother Udar listened attentively and soon embraced Jesus as well.

Now, in addition to sharing the Gospel with their family, the two brothers regularly join Pastor Maagh in his efforts to tell everyone about the eternal love of Jesus. When people ask how they can possibly follow, they are eager to share.

Find out how you can pray for national missionaries’ specific needs every week!

Gospel for Asia - Reports

BioSand Water Filters

Millions of people in South Asia live without access to an adequate, safe and clean water supply. They are among the many that rely on muddy pond water for all their needs. Introduce Biosand water filters! These all-natural filtration devices remove harmful substances and produce clear, clean drinking water. They don’t need electricity so they’re perfect for people who live in remote villages.

Doing Something About the Problem

Even areas closed to all other types of Christian ministry welcome teams bearing gifts of water filters. One of the local officials praised the project, saying everyone knows waterborne illnesses are a major problem, but Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries are actually doing something about the problem. Distribution teams visit remote villages, slums and suburban areas in their quest to bring clean water to the people of South Asia. As the people in these villages use the water filters, they will open their hearts to learn more about the Living Water Jesus offers them.

Share a cup of clean water with someone in Asia in Jesus’ name.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

“It’s very difficult to survive, especially during winter season when the weather is chilly and damp,” says Pastor Taha. “At the same time, prices are going higher every day.”

Because many South Asian homes don’t have heating, even in the form of a wood-burning stove, winter clothing is vital to staying warm. Missionaries who don’t have such resources find it extremely difficult to continue to visit homes, and when they do come in from the cold, they have no way to warm themselves.

But through Christmas gift distribution programs, GFA is able to provide warmth to local pastors and missionaries.

A Daily Gift

“During the winter, we need at least two or three blankets to cover ourselves at night,” Pastor Taha states. “I am very grateful to the church and its leadership for providing me with such a wonderful gift. . . Since I got the sweater and blanket as a gift, I was able to save money and buy warm clothes for my kids and other household things.”

Pastor Laabh had planned on buying a blanket, but didn’t have the money for anything more than the cheapest ones.

“I knew it would be very cold in the winter season, and it was very tough for me to bear the cold last year. But I kept thinking that I would buy it next time,” Pastor Laabh remembers. “However . . . I was given a blanket—and a good one. I am so happy for this and now I am using it daily.”

As the cold continues to hit South Asia, GFA missionaries with blankets and winter clothing will stay warm and healthy tonight, allowing them to return to towns and villages tomorrow to share the enduring love of Christ.

Watch this video and see for yourself the help winter clothing provides GFA workers.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Join us and lift up your voice

Now is your chance to take part in a powerful opportunity to intercede with us on behalf of the millions who have never heard Christ’s name. ʺPraying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with perseverance and supplication.ʺ – Ephesians 6:18

Pray with the GFA family via live streaming services the first Friday of every month from 7:30 to 9:30pm, CST. See updates from the field. Be a part of the work. Prayer is the foundation of Gospel For Asia - it is our driving force behind everything we do here. These prayer meetings echo with the voices of many interceding for one another, crying out for the lost, asking God to meet the needs of those on the mission field and worshiping our Creator who hears all these prayers.

From marriages being restored, to physical sicknesses being healed, to children being educated and provided for, to the Gospel being preached in village after village that has never once heard the name of Jesus – your prayers are making a difference in Asia!

Visit our live feed prayer meeting page for more information and for updated prayer needs.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Anyone would have expected complaints from Edha, always working long days and nights so her children would have a better future. But she was the epitome of motherly devotion, and besides that, she had a dream to keep her going. . . .

When she collapsed into bed with exhaustion, she thought about her own future, and how, naturally, her cherished children would care for her as she aged.

It was a dream that might have come true, were it not for a diagnosis that none of her hard work could have prevented.

Edha’s husband, Gagan, took her to the doctor for what seemed a regular illness, but her lab results returned with devastating news. When word spread about the diagnosis, Gagan sent her away, and she became the newest resident at a leprosy colony.

Abandoned in Disease

All Edha’s life, leprosy had been something to fear and despise. Now she was surrounded by people in varying stages of the disease.

As she watched her neighbors, her hopeful dreams faded away and she saw her future for what it was: decay, destitution and death.

Every night away from Gagan and the children added to her pain. She longed to know how they were doing, if they were healthy and if they had the life she had worked to give them. But they never came to visit. No one did.

Edha was alone.

Love She Had Never Seen

Over the next 15 years, Edha’s body slowly deteriorated. The woman who once filled her days with work lost her ability to even walk, leaving her completely destitute. But after 15 years of waiting, Edha finally received her visitors.

The women who came were unlike anyone else. Instead of eyeing the patients with fear and repulsion, they walked into the colony with boldness and embraced the suffering with love.

As they shared the Good News of Jesus with Edha, they helped her bathe, washed her clothes, combed her hair, cut her nails, cooked her dinner and cleaned her hut. For the first time since she came to the colony, Edha felt truly loved.

“Never in my life have I seen someone do for anyone what you all are doing for me,” she told them.

The women shared that Jesus was the reason for their compassion, and Edha knew there could be no other explanation. With a heart of gratitude, she chose to follow Christ and began attending local prayer meetings.

As Edha grows in her faith, she still thinks of the family she left and cries at the pain of losing them. But she rejoices in the new family she has been given and knows she has a better future than anything she could have achieved.

Hear the firsthand account of a visitor to a leprosy colony, and see how God is showing His love.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The opposition was strong, but Haady and his family held tightly to their faith, drawing encouragement from communication with the GFA Radio staff and worshiping with a local congregation. And as they grew in their faith, they began doing something new: They prayed for their persecutors.

Whenever Haady’s family heard of an illness in the village, they asked God to heal the afflicted person. One of those people was a woman named Idhaya.

An Unwelcome Visitor

For months, Idhaya had been possessed by a demon. Her family helplessly watched as she began to act like a crazy woman, laughing for no reason.

They had spent lots of money on treatment and begged their deities for favor, but their efforts were powerless against the evil spirit.

When Haady heard about Idhaya’s condition, he knew there was only one cure. He began to pray for her and then called the GFA Radio prayer team and asked them to join him.

The team prayed with him over the phone, trusting God to deliver the woman. Overcome, the demon fled.

Idhaya was amazed. After months of bondage, she was free, healthy and able to return to a regular life—and because of that, she wanted to make a change. No longer would she oppose the God Haady followed. Now she would follow Jesus, too.

As Idhaya grows in her new faith, Haady and his family continue to pray, and they all know God will continue to do mighty things.

Find out what languages GFA Radio broadcasts in and hear sample programs.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

At just 10 years old, Angeline has already suffered the anguish of losing both of her parents. Her mother died from AIDS when Angeline was only four, then her father abandoned her. At age six her grandmother died and she was taken in by her uncle and aunt. You can imagine Angeline’s fear when her aunt became sick – would yet another person she loved die?

Angeline describes herself as so afraid, so quiet and sad. Watch how Jesus can change the life of a small child and raise her up from the depth of despair and hopelessness that she had lived in all her short life and give her courage to be a bold witness for Him.

How can you help transform the lives of children who have suffered such loss and endured such pain?

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Realizing the unique pain this causes, Pastor Barnabas’s fellowship decided to hold a special event for elderly widows.

The believers invited women from nearby villages as well as their own, and more than 150 people gathered to celebrate the 48 widows who accepted the invitation.

Each widow received a headscarf, a true honor to women who had been soundly disregarded for years.

“I am really happy and thankful to Pastor Barnabas, because for the first time in my life, I am receiving this special gift,” said Sadhvi, a 97-year-old widow. “No one had given me one before.”

After distributing the scarves, three women from local churches shared from the Bible, expressing Christ’s love for them and sharing how they could follow Him.

“I came to know that there is someone who always cares about people like us,” said 75-year-old Laabha. “He is the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The widows left with joy in their hearts, and the church is already praying about what they can do next to show God’s love.

See how a widow’s testimony of God’s love can change the lives of those around her.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Six months ago, he’d been arrested at the border between his country and its northern neighbor. Like many others, he had made his living by crossing over to find work.

Now that he was out of jail, he didn’t know anyone in the area to help him. With no food or place to stay, his good health soon deteriorated.

One day, though, a missionary named Tamkinat visited the area to share the love of Jesus with the people who lived and worked there.

Seeing Ibrahim’s poor condition, Tamkinat asked the other villagers about him. He took Ibrahim to a hospital and prayed for him. As Ibrahim’s health improved, Tamkinat allowed him to live at the church and encouraged him through the Bible.

Ibrahim began attending worship services, and as he experienced Tamkinat’s genuine care, he began to understand the grace of Jesus and chose to follow Him.

“I am so thankful to God for caring for and loving me,” he said. “In fact, I have now committed the rest of my life for Jesus.”

Now, as Ibrahim grows in his faith, the fellowship is praying for the Christians he met in prison, trusting God will lovingly protect and provide for them, too.

Many prisoners don’t have to wait for release to hear the Good News. Read what happens when a missionary goes to prison.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The word Dalit literally means “broken”, “crushed” or “oppressed”. In Hindu society, Dalits are at the lowest rung of the ladder. The vast majority of them are impoverished, exploited and powerless to change their fate. Considered to be polluted or unclean, they are called “Untouchables”. If they were to touch someone of a higher caste, the upper-caste person would supposedly become contaminated. Explore a rural village filled with people of Asia’s lowest caste: “Untouchable” Dalits.

Meet the missionary who is bringing hope to the broken and needy.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

It wasn’t the first time Cauvery had asked for a blanket—and certainly not the first time she was turned down. Every time she asked, others were always deemed more deserving, and Cauvery could only watch her future grow dimmer.

When Gospel for Asia missionaries started inviting people to a Christmas gift distribution program, Cauvery had no reason to believe she would be included. But to her joy, she received an invitation to attend the event, and the workers presented her with a thick, new blanket.

She was elated by the gift and heartily thanked the distributors.

Later, when a pastor visited her home, Cauvery shared her story.

“I had asked the nearby village leaders so many times . . . explaining that I desperately needed a blanket to survive this winter,” she sadly explained. “They had given blankets to many people, but they did not give one to me.”

“But,” she said, with joy, “I received a blanket from the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is why I am thankful and grateful to God.”

As the pastor shared the Gospel with the old woman and prayed for her, he knew she had been given much more than a warm winter. She was on her way to a whole new life.

Learn how GFA missionaries reach out to the homeless through blankets.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Would you sacrifice everything you knew and loved to live in a slum in South Asia?

By definition, a slum is a densely urban area marked by extreme poverty, filth and social tension. Life in the slums of South Asia is filled with scavenging, begging, bonded labor, and hopelessness.

So why would this missionary choose to give it all up to move into a slum?

It’s because he’s motivated by Jesus’ love. This man offers these people compassion, acceptance and hope. “To some, they are worthless. But to me, they are God’s creation.”

For $30 a month you can help bring the message of hope to millions living in poverty and darkness.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

When Pastor Jiva first arrived at the leprosy colony, the patients desperately needed help in many areas, but he and his team decided to start with something simple.

Without anyone to clean their wounds, the patients were susceptible to infections, which can lead to the mutilation and loss of limbs. Knowing this, Pastor Jiva’s team began showing Jesus’ love through a wound dressing service, run by one of the women on the team.

Next, they opened a small shoe making center. Because leprosy patients’ feet are often mangled by the disease, the missionaries provide each person with customized shoes, which protect them from further infections.

Overwhelmed by the generosity, the leprosy patients soon began to understand that Christ offered them an acceptance and love no one else did.

Growing Pains

Pastor Jiva was able to establish a small fellowship. Unfortunately, the believers could only meet in a small rented building, far from the colony, and as more believers joined each year, the fellowship ran out of space.

It was clearly time for a building of their own. Along with the other operations of the growing leprosy ministry, there were now 220 believers attending worship services. With the prayers and support of Pastor Jiva’s leaders, construction began on a new church building.

Despite the stigma of the leprosy colony, local villagers happily cooperated to make the church a reality, and this summer, the building was ready for services.

The believers are thrilled to worship the Lord together without any hindrances, and the building provides a headquarters from which the rest of the leprosy ministry can grow.

The local community is impressed, and as the number of believers continues to rise, the building is filled with a joy even leprosy can’t hamper.

Church buildings are helping ministries across Asia expand. Find out how.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Adding to the island nation’s problems, which began nearly a month ago, the minister of health announced an outbreak of leptospirosis, or rat fever, a potentially deadly disease often caused by contaminated water. Citizens were advised to stay hydrated, but many have lost their clean water sources.

With this in mind, Gospel for Asia Compassion Services teams are cleaning out wells and areas destroyed by landslides.

Other teams are organizing temporary shelters and distributing dry rations, including rice, lentils, canned fish, milk powder, potatoes, onions, biscuits, toothpaste and soap.

With more than 31,000 people living in 246 relief camps, the extent of the long-term aid needed remains to be seen. Many areas in the north are still underwater, and in some places the floodwaters are still rising.

In parts of the country where waters have receded, families have returned to find thousands of farming acres destroyed and livestock washed away. In addition to the 5,437 homes completely destroyed, more than 25,000 have been partially damaged.

“The majority of the work is restoration,” said GFA President K.P. Yohannan. “There is much hard work ahead.”

Please continue to pray for our missionaries as they reach out with short-term aid and long-term restoration.

Your gift toward flood-relief efforts will help Compassion Services teams provide assistance to the suffering, touching lives with the love of Christ.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

As Taanusiya processed the news of her husband’s sudden death, she didn’t have time to block the onslaught of questions.

Today Vadiraj had died, but tomorrow their two young children would still need to eat. With no close friends or relatives to help her, Taanusiya was certain of one thing: They would all die if she didn’t think of a plan soon.

Determined not to beg, Taanusiya found work as a daily laborer, gardening or fishing according to the season. She earned enough to survive, but had little time left over to properly raise her children.

No Longer Alone

Taanusiya often wished she had a friend to sympathize with her and share her troubles, but as the years passed, she only became lonelier. Her daughter married, her son found his own work and Taanusiya continued the same daily struggle.

But one day, a group of women missionaries came to visit Taanusiya. They talked with her and told her all about the love of Jesus.

Taanusiya was delighted to finally have someone to listen. The women truly cared about her.

“For many years, I was longing for someone to talk to me and understand my struggles,” Taanusiya said. But now with regular visits from the women missionaries, Taanusiya doesn’t feel lonely anymore.

After years of pain, Taanusiya can see the love of Christ through the care of her new friends. Now she can know true hope.

See how widows like Taanusiya can find freedom from poverty—and receive new life.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

During the last two weeks, a continuous downpour of rain fueled flooding throughout a large portion of the island. Now, at least seven people are missing. The floodwaters have destroyed nearly 4,000 homes and damaged 10,000 others. They have also caused landslides, blocked transportation and wiped out thousands of acres of crops.

Even for those who still have their homes intact, their lives have been dramatically affected. With floodwaters, wells become contaminated, which means clean water is not accessible. Crops, which provide many families their only source of income, are completely destroyed. And with food prices skyrocketing, as a result of the disaster, food is unaffordable to many.

This flood comes on the heels of Cyclone Nisha in early November, which affected approximately 200,000 people and displaced close to 20,000. Unlike many of us, these desperate people don’t have the ability to relocate to areas less prone to flooding. They just have to endure whatever comes their way.

Because Gospel for Asia has hundreds of national missionaries in Sri Lanka, we already have Compassion Services teams mobilized to supply help to these displaced and hurting people. Some of the help comes in the form of desperately-needed food. Other workers are busily cleaning wells, helping to eliminate water-borne diseases as quickly as possible.

And although we are working to help meet their basic needs, the people affected have an even deeper-desire to have someone who will listen to them as they pour out their hearts. Counseling those whose lives have been destroyed is part of what makes our workers so unique. As the flood victims discover a God who loves them enough to send help, they are open to hear the Gospel—and many respond.

Gospel for Asia is able to be first-responders to such disasters because of generous friends like you who provide funds for our Compassion Services ministry. If you are able to help our flood-relief teams, we would greatly appreciate it. And remember, 100% of your gift will go to the field to help these needy people.

Whether you are able to give or not, those in Sri Lanka need our prayers at this time.

Please Pray For:

• God’s comfort and peace to those who have lost homes, crops or loved ones—and for many to embrace His love
• Continued provision and grace for Compassion Services teams as they minister to suffering people
• Opportunities to help Sri Lankans recover and rebuild.

Your gift toward flood-relief efforts will help Compassion Services teams provide assistance to the suffering, touching lives with the love of Christ.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Although the pleas broke her heart, Aadita’s mother, Sachika, was hardly moved to action. If she rushed to the rescue, she already knew what she would find: Aadita, completely alone, insisting that death was at her door.

In a sense, Aadita was right. In addition to being tormented by evil spirits, she had recently been infected with malaria, and no medicine the priests gave her had cured either matter.

Even if it wasn’t by murder, Aadita would likely die soon.

A New Proposition

When Pastor Kalapriya first visited their home, it was only to be a short visit on his way to church, but Sachika and Aadita’s need was quickly apparent. He told them about an upcoming Christmas gift distribution program and invited Sachika to come.

To her surprise, Sachika received a blanket at the program, and she eagerly listened as another pastor shared about Jesus.

“The love of God is for all those who are in need,” he said,” not only in materials, but in everything. He helps people through His Son, Jesus Christ.”

For years, she had followed her own traditional gods, but that evening, Sachika decided to ask Jesus to heal her daughter. Then she and Aadita covered themselves with the blanket and fell asleep.

According to Their Faith

As the sun rose the next morning, Sachika and Aadita were full of joy. The night had been free of evil spirits, the blanket had protected them from the cold and all signs of Aadita’s malaria were gone.

Sachika called Pastor Kalapriya and told him of the miracle that had taken place. After praying with the pastor, the mother and daughter decided they wanted to follow Jesus with all their hearts. And now they sleep peacefully through the night, knowing their God is able to protect them from all harm.

Check out just a few of the many ways to bring hope to a family in Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Sai’s father, a proud and angry drunkard, made her childhood a nightmare. Sai watched him pray to his god faithfully, but he often argued with her mother, sometimes physically abusing her. Sai and her siblings were not spared from the pain, enduring many beatings as well.

In response to the question, Sai’s mother only gave a faint smile; she had no answer for her daughter.

Nothing changed for Sai as the years passed. Even after she got married and moved out of her abusive home, her husband’s frequent illnesses robbed her of any peace.

Radio Messages of Peace

Sai enjoyed listening to the radio in her home and she often heard Gospel for Asia Radio’s broadcast. Every time Sai heard the truth about Jesus in her own language, she experienced peace.

After a month of listening, Sai decided to attend a worship service. There, Sai discovered Jesus loved her. With this realization, she and her husband decided to embrace the love of Christ.

Sai’s bold witness and faith inspired many women in the village to find out about Jesus’ love. Now, several have joined her in following Him.

Learn more about Gospel for Asia Radio.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Angels in Disguise

Gospel for Asia’s local Women’s Fellowship group found out about Nabanipa’s situation and immediately came to her aid. The sisters prayed for Nabanipa and carefully bathed and fed her. Along with a few other believers, they stayed by her side during five days of recovery, sharing the love of Jesus through their every action.

Nabanipa was deeply impacted as these women cared for her, and she decided to embrace the God they followed. As she grew in the Lord, she saw the reality of His love as He took care of her every need. Today, because God has provided for her through the Women’s Fellowship group, Nabanipa no longer has to beg for food and is growing strong in the Lord.

Partner in prayer with us for the widows of South Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Bhadra has learned not to expect much from her husband, Jugnu. He has a job painting, yet their family’s house remain unfinished and unpainted. Every day Jugnu spends the money he makes on alcohol and gives nothing to Bhadra for their family’s needs.

Her Children Needed to Eat

Bhadra had to get a job as a housemaid in several homes in order to feed her family. She leaves home for work as soon as her children head to school, and then she comes back midday to make lunch when they return. Her evening is spent cleaning more homes. With her small income, she’s able to provide for most of the family’s needs.

As the chilly and rainy monsoon season approached, Bhadra was faced with a new difficulty: She had no way of keeping her children warm.

“I had made some bedding with old clothes and worn-out saris of mine, by stitching them together,” she explained, “but those are not capable of protecting us from severe cold.”

A Blanket of Love

“The church thought about our poor family and helped us in our time of need,” Bhadra shares gratefully.

Her daughter Pallavi is enrolled in a Bridge of Hope center, and when the staff members discovered the family’s condition, Gospel for Asia’s gift distribution program provided them with a blanket.

“I am so happy for receiving this blanket,” Bhadra said. “This protected me and my children from the breezy monsoon weather at this time. Thank you for considering my situation and for this timely help.”

See how a simple blanket can bring hope to a family.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Because many people do not know how HIV/AIDS is spread, the workers focused their campaign on education. In addition to leading a march, the team of 200 believers offered personal counseling as well as booklets and other educational materials.

There is no cure for HIV, but the disease’s progress can be slowed by various medicines. Because of this, these Christians are committed to not only educating the public, but also making sure HIV/AIDS patients get the care and support they need to live long lives.

As the rally began, one pastor called on the public to support government and charitable efforts to build a healthy state and an awareness of AIDS.

Explaining the team’s efforts, he quoted Exodus 15:26, which speaks of “the Lord who heals you.” The passage motivates them to improve the healthcare and general well-being of all the nation’s citizens.

The rally was well received and extended to 11 Bridge of Hope centers, where 1,200 children also attended special programs.

Find out more about Gospel for Asia’s Compassion Services.

See how missionaries are showing God’s love to kids with HIV.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Many of the hands that clapped were merely stubs; others were missing fingers, but that didn’t prevent the people’s rejoicing. Christ’s love was enough for this gathering of families from a leprosy colony. They wanted to celebrate Him.

He Is with Us

Gospel for Asia-supported Pastor Sadashiv shared a message resounding with the theme of redemption—the reason Jesus came to earth. Afterward, cultural dances and skits entertained the audience, and children in the community gave presentations. Then, some of the leprosy workers shared a skit demonstrating life without Jesus and the hope we can experience when He becomes part of our lives. Everyone listened with rapt attention.

The special night concluded with a delicious feast prepared by the missionaries who serve the leprosy patients. The 63 families who participated were blessed upon seeing the love of Christ in action and thanked God for His bountiful provision.

Learn more about Gospel for Asia’s work among the leprosy colonies.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The Power of Prayer

During this time, Reshmi was enrolled in a Bridge of Hope center. Surrounded by the staff’s love, Reshmi’s heart softened and she told them about the struggles at home. The BOH staff responded by praying for her family and teaching Reshmi how to pray, explaining that Jesus can solve her problems.

Reshmi began to spend time in prayer and reading God’s Word. She watched in amazement as her father gradually overcame his drinking habit.

“Earlier I prayed to my deities for peace at home,” Reshmi said, “but they failed to answer my prayers. But I received answers in the name of Jesus. My father has stopped drinking, and there is peace at home.”

It encouraged her faith and emboldened her to ask for something else from God.

Dreaming of Greater Things

Seeing how God answered her first prayer, Reshmi dared to ask God for another miracle. Would He bring her entire family to know His love? She faithfully prayed and God again answered. Reshmi’s entire family embraced Jesus’ love. Now they come to church and are growing in the Lord.

Reshmi’s dreams have not stopped there. The 15 year old plans to become a teacher so she can have the same kind of impact her teachers had on her.

See how Bridge of Hope is making a difference.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

One day, another villager shared Laranya’s predicament with a staff member at the local Bridge of Hope center. Uttam, the Bridge of Hope coordinator in Laranya’s village, wanted to help, so he visited her family’s home. When Laranya told Uttam her story, he knew of a way to help.

Hope Makes a Difference

Today, Laranya stitches on a brand new machine given to her through Gospel for Asia’s gift distribution program. She works hard to use this gift well.

“Before, I was earning only a little amount in a day,” Laranya explained. “But after receiving this new machine, I am able to earn more money.”

This was not the end of God’s provision for Laranya. Her two children are now enrolled in a Bridge of Hope center and are receiving an education. As Uttam and a local pastor continue to visit Laranya, encouraging her from the Word, she shares her gratefulness to God and has only one more request: “God bless all the people who have supported me.”

See how one sewing machine can change an entire village.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The vegetables Aadi sold brought in a little income, but nearly a third of the money went to renting the rickshaw. Whatever was left over, Aadi put to use housing and feeding his family of four. Setting aside money for the future was impossible. Aadi just hoped to provide for his wife and two children.

A Gift that Opened Doors

A bright future opened up for Aadi the day Gospel for Asia’s gift distribution program presented him with a rickshaw of his own.

“Now I save money each day,” Aadi happily shares. “I am able to take care of my family. I feel freedom. At any time, I can move to do business because I have my own rickshaw.”

No longer under a time restriction, Aadi works hard to better provide for his family. His joy spilled out as he spoke to the church and people who provided this gift.

“I am very thankful to all of you from my heart. God bless you.”

See how you can make an impact this Christmas.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The news had rattled Harij. His long search for healing had yielded no results, and now he had to face telling his family goodbye.

The Lord Gives Life

As he thought on these things, he met a group of Bible college students who were returning from an outreach program. They handed Harij some Gospel tracts. Looking at the pamphlets, Harij told the students they wouldn’t do him any good because he was going to die soon.

Concern filled the students and they asked Harij to explain why. Harij shared his whole story, but he was met with an unexpected response.

The students told Harij that the Lord gives life and no one dies unless He allows it. They encouraged him to believe in the Lord and prayed for his healing.

God heard and answered their prayers, and Harij was healed! Now he worships the God who gave him a second chance at life.

Read more about how God is using Bible college students to reach the most unreached.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Drowning in Debt

Life used to be easy. Modak had a good job and adequately provided for his wife and three children. But a mysterious, debilitating sickness began to afflict him. It sapped all his strength, and he was unable to keep his job.

Every hospital and medicine had proved fruitless, so his neighbors suggested witch doctors. Modak was willing to try anything, but the witch doctors also demanded payment, something he couldn’t provide. Modak began borrowing money from others and plunged deeper into debt. He and his family had no money to buy food and were forced to survive on whatever they could grow. His children were slowly starving. They had no hope.

An Invitation He Didn’t Refuse

It was in this helpless condition that Dayal, a Gospel for Asia pastor, found Modak.

Pastor Dayal prayed for Modak and shared the Good News of Jesus with his family, inviting them to come to church.

Modak and his family began attending the church and soon embraced the love of Jesus. The church prayed for Modak, and gradually his health and strength returned.

Seeing Modak’s desperate financial situation, the church leaders presented him with the necessary materials to run a small provision shop.

Modak opened the shop in the front of his house. Because there were no other shops like it in a 10-mile radius, his little store soon flourished. Modak paid off his debt and once again provided for his family’s needs.

Today, Modak and his family continue to grow in the Lord, and have opened their home for prayer meetings. Modak is so thankful that God saw his family’s need and abundantly provided.

Bring hope to families with gifts that make a difference.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

A Drunken Crowd

The rocks that hit the screen didn’t fall on accident: A group of drunken men threw them as they threatened Palti.

“Why are you showing this film? Leave right now,” they demanded. “Otherwise, we will destroy your projector.” Faced by more than ten angry people, Palti seemed outnumbered. But he took his fear immediately to God, asking Him to change their hearts or send someone to help.

Palti didn’t have a vehicle for protection, so he decided to pack up, but before he could, the head of the village and some soldiers showed up. The authorities arrested the drunk men and asked Palti to continue screening the movie. This time, no one interrupted.

Will You Show it Again Tomorrow?

Although Palti planned to leave the following day, the villagers asked him to show the movie one more time. They promised him there would be no trouble, so he agreed

Palti translated the words into the local language, as the movie played, a woman in the crowd began to cry bitterly.

“I have never watched such an impressive movie in my life,” shared the woman, Mya Nu. “I have never heard that God dies for sinners. This is the real God.”

After the movie was over, Mya came to Palti and asked him to explain about Jesus. Palti gladly answered her.

The next day she came back to ask more questions, and Palti told her more about Christ.

“This is the God whom I’ve been searching for,” Mya realized. Right there, she embraced His love and now, she is growing in her faith and is involved in the local church.

Palti gives thanks to God for going before him and preparing the way.

Read how a film showing impacted another alcoholic.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Gifts that Changed Their World

Altogether, 51 families were blessed with livestock, rickshaws and sewing machines. As the Christians received the gifts, they were overcome with gratefulness. A few communicated what their gifts meant to them:

“I came from a poor family,” said Rani. “My family and I work as daily labourers. I feel that this gift is God’s grace upon us. I received a sewing machine. I know a little bit of stitching, and I believe that I can earn some money through stitching.”

Manik shared, “I thank God for the gift I received, a cow. I have two children. Previously, I was not able to provide proper food for my children since my income was very small. Now, I believe that this gift will be a great help for my family.”

“Most of the time, my children wore torn clothes,” Haradhan said, “but I did not have a sewing machine to repair them, and I do not have the money to buy new clothes. By the grace of God, I have received a machine. I hope I can mend my clothing and even stitch clothes for others who face the same problem I did.”

Hope for the Future

Ever since Somat and his family chose to follow Christ, they faced a lot of opposition and rejection from the villagers. Even his relatives do not allow him to draw water from their pond. Nobody wants to give him work. But now, he doesn’t have to depend on others to offer him jobs because the pastors chose him to be the recipient of a rickshaw van, allowing him to easily cart goods around to sell.

“I am thankful to God for providing me a rickshaw van to meet my needs,” Somat said.

He longs for his relatives and the others who are opposing him to know Jesus as their Savior very soon. Meanwhile, the gift of a rickshaw will allow him to earn a living—and testify of the God who blessed him.

See how you can meet the needs of poor individuals like Somat, Hardhan, Manik and Rani.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

But Something Changed

Aamani and her family started following Jesus several years ago. Although they grew in the Lord and became respected in the village for their good character, they still struggled financially until the church saw the family’s great need. During a Gospel for Asia Christmas gift distribution program, the church blessed Aamani’s family with a goat.

Overcome with joy and gratitude for this gift, Aamani began to diligently care for their goat, treating her like a member of their family. With the nutrients from the goat’s milk, the children started to thrive, growing strong and healthy. And since Aamani was able to sell the extra milk, the family now had enough funds for the children to start attending school.

The Gift that Keeps Giving

After some time, the goat had a kid, but unfortunately, it died after just a few months. Aamani promised God that if their goat had another kid, she would give it to Him. A year later when another kid was born, Aamani presented it to the church, and it was eventually given to another family in need.

Aamani hopes that their goat will continue to bear more kids so she can sell them and help meet her family’s financial needs.

Learn more about how one animal can make a difference in a family’s life.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

They Outgrew the House

Pastor Mardav initially led worship services and prayer in a believer’s home, but soon it was not able to hold everyone. The believers began praying for God to provide them with a church building, and He answered.

The other villagers had no problem with the worship services, but when construction of the new church building began to take place, they made their disapproval known. They contacted the police and filed a complaint, claiming that forced conversions were taking place. But when Pastor Mardav showed the police all the needed paperwork, the police realized they had no basis to halt the work.

A Day of Celebration

The believers gathered on Christmas Day to celebrate the completion of the new church. They dedicated it to God, desiring it to be used for His glory.

The villagers, once against the Christians, have stopped their opposition.

See how a church building can change the perspective of an entire village.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

These two sisters live in a village dominated by rebel insurgency groups, and most of the people worship multiple gods. But one day, Gospel for Asia Pastor Bhaskar took the time to share the love of God with Ragini. She responded by eagerly embracing it.

She Couldn’t Keep Silent

When Ragini experienced the joy of Jesus, she couldn’t keep it to herself. She told everyone she met about His love, and people began to respond! One of them was her older sister Hridya. A fellowship was started and as the new believers got involved, it flourished. This growth upset those who still followed their traditional religions, and they complained to the village leader.

They Refused to Deny Jesus

The sisters were threatened by the leader and warned by their family to give up their faith in Jesus, but they would not. This angered the community.

They called Ragini and Hridya to a meeting and challenged them to renounce their faith. When the sisters again refused, they suffered a severe beating. Their persecutors then took them to a temple and tried to force them to worship other gods.

Ragini and Hridya still remained resolute, so the villagers thrashed them again. Even in the midst of the increased abuse, the sisters cried out to Jesus and stood firm.

Seeing their strong faith, some of the onlookers told the attackers to leave the girls alone. By God’s grace, the group dispersed.

Pastor Bhaskar met with them, encouraged them from the Word of God and prayed for them. Today, Ragini and Hridya are grateful to have suffered for Jesus.

The sisters continue to share about the love of God and want to be strong witnesses for Him.

Learn more of what is going on in the persecuted church.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

A Gospel for Asia church is just a short distance away from Vaneet and her mother’s small hut, but Vaneet never visited because her mother wouldn’t allow her. That all changed, however, when they received a unique little gift: a piglet.

A Gift Opens Her Heart

Even though Vaneet never went to this church, Pastor Dhiraj saw the family’s need and decided to show them the love of Christ. Dhiraj invited Vaneet to a Christmas gift distribution program where he gave her a piglet. He also welcomed her to come to the church any time for prayer.

Vaneet was encouraged by this and got involved in prayer meetings and activities within the church. She embraced the love of Christ and prayed along with the other believers that her mother would do the same. God heard and answered her prayers, and now both mother and daughter are standing strong in the Lord together.

Learn more about how God uses animals to change lives.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

They Had it All

Sansita’s life had been peaceful. She and her husband Balbir, along with their three children, lived in a small village where most people raised animals for their livelihood. Sansita was blessed and didn’t need to work to help provide for the family.

But her husband joined the wrong crowd. In one year, Balbir became an alcoholic and began beating Sansita—often banishing her from the house.

Gone

Then all of a sudden, Balbir simply disappeared. Sansita had to figure out how to provide for herself and three schoolchildren. Not used to working outside the home, she took a job she knew how to do: washing dishes. She went from house to house for work, and even found a need for her services in hotels. With the income, Sansita was able to keep her family afloat. But life was hard.

They Cared Enough to Ask

One day, as Sansita stood alone and discouraged in the village, two strangers approached her. Gospel for Asia pastor Ghalib and his wife Trayi were visiting the village, and stopped to ask Sansita about the area. Their conversation soon turned to Sansita’s life. For the first time, someone cared enough to ask about her problems. All of Sansita’s pain and struggles came rushing out as she opened up to the couple.

Soon after, Pastor Ghalib started a fellowship in Sansita’s village. Trayi continued to spend time encouraging Sansita from the Word of God, assuring her that happiness she had lost was still possible. This idea, entirely new to Sansita, sparked a glimmer of hope that her husband might one day return.

Trayi invited Sansita to join prayer meetings, and Sansita soon became involved in a Women’s Fellowship group and other church activities, too. At these meetings, she began to sense God’s presence and hear His voice. She put her trust in His Word and started praying regularly. Meanwhile, her fellow believers joined her in prayer for Balbir’s return, never knowing that they would be praying for the next seven years.

God Answered Their Faithful Prayers

Just as suddenly as Balbir disappeared, he reappeared one night on Sansita’s doorstep. She knew it only happened because of Jesus. Seven years of continual prayer had been answered! Sansita’s faith grew stronger and her children soon decided to follow Jesus. Balbir is now caring for the needs of his family, and he wants to know more about Jesus, too!

See how God worked in another woman’s life through prayer.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

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Gospel for Asia - Reports

An Island Marked by Sorrow

The island is unique, filled with widows and their children, most having lost a husband or a father to a tiger attack. In this part of South Asia, 50 men are killed by tigers every year, leaving their widows and children in a desperate fight to survive.

Gospel for Asia began work with the widows in 2008, and their ministry has now expanded to meet the needs of the children as well.

Welcomed with Joy

As the crowd moved to a nearby school to accommodate the unexpectedly large number of attendees, each child carried a different sign with sayings like “No More Tears,” “Born to Fly,” “Bridge of Hope Will Set Us Free” and “BOH Is a God-Sent Blessing”.

These children now have an opportunity to hear about the love of Jesus, receive a warm meal each day and grow in their education. Instead of a bleak future, their world is now flooded with potential and possibility. Many leaders in the community also expressed their appreciation for Bridge of Hope, promising to help in any way possible.

Many More Children Wait for Their Turn

Among the 700 in attendance were more than 300 poor and needy children who hope for the day when they, too, might be able to enroll in a Bridge of Hope center. One young boy asked with tears, “Uncle, can I also join Bridge of Hope?”

Please pray that all these children might soon hear of their Father’s love for them.

See how God uses Bridge of Hope to transform the lives of children.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

For Dhumal, a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor, ministry entirely changed the day God provided him with a bicycle through GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog. Dhumal pastors a church and serves as a ministry supervisor for his area. Before receiving this gift, Pastor Dhumal depended on public transportation and was often late to ministry programs. When he needed to visit congregations under his oversight, waiting for a bus or jeep often delayed him. When church members and village people asked Dhumal for emergency help, like praying for the sick, he had to borrow others’ bicycles to carry out his duties.

Someone Bought Him a Gift

Pastor Dhumal desired to be more effective in ministry, so he prayed fervently that God would provide a way. When he received the Christmas gift of a bicycle, he was delighted, and he has made sure to use the bike to further Christ’s kingdom. Now Dhumal can travel to many villages he couldn’t reach before. Everywhere he goes, he shares Jesus’ love and distributes literature about the Good News of Christ.

In Pastor Dhumal’s region, there are often strikes that shut down public transportation. The strikes used to hinder his ministry, but now they don’t affect him. No one stops a bicycle.

Able to travel greater distances, Pastor Dhumal has established three more fellowships in the areas surrounding his church. The closest one is more than 12 miles away! The bike has also made it much easier for him to visit churches that he oversees as area supervisor. On Sundays, Dhumal can now attend worship services at three churches aside from his own. He can also encourage the pastors and organize ministry activities much more efficiently. All of this was made possible by God’s grace and the gift of a bike.

See how you can be a part of stories like these through a Christmas gift.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Once, Twice, Three Times a Groom

Bimal was unable to father children. As a result, his first wife divorced him. He remarried, but after three years and still no children, his second wife divorced him too. He married a third woman, continuing to hope against all hope that he might have children. However, even after traveling over a thousand miles for treatment, there was no answer.

Discouraged, Bimal didn’t know what to do—but one day, he heard a special radio program. He had stumbled upon one of Gospel for Asia’s broadcasts while skimming through the stations on his radio. As GFA-supported Pastor Anirvan shared about God’s blessings, he even prayed for people unable to have children!

Bimal began to listen to the program regularly. Then it dawned on him: He had heard of Pastor Anirvan before, and he only lived about 15 miles from Bimal’s home. Bimal decided to pay the pastor a visit.

He Got More than He Thought Possible

Pastor Anirvan welcomed Bimal. After he told the young man of the Good News about Jesus and prayed for him, Bimal decided to welcome Jesus into his life.

Bimal’s family also got to hear about God when Arivan visited Bimal’s house and prayed for the whole family. And they witnessed God accomplish what no one else could: He completely healed Bimal from his migraines!

But God was not yet finished with His blessings on this family. On Christmas day, 2010, Bimal and his wife welcomed a little baby girl into the world. And not long afterward, Bimal’s parents also came to know the love of Jesus.

Learn more about how God is using radio in South Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Every October on World Food Day, Gospel for Asia’s Women’s Fellowship teams, Bible college students and staff members prepare hundreds of fresh food packets to distribute in the slums. As the packets are given to the poor and needy, these missionaries have opportunities to share the love of God with those they are serving. Last year, three missionary sisters prepared around 300 food packets to distribute.

In the slums of Asia, there are hundreds who are dying every day without Christ. Gospel for Asia believes that through the simple act of giving a meal, God will work in each person’s heart, and they will come to know the love of Jesus Christ.

Read more about how Gospel for Asia workers minister in the slums.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Radhika had done everything right: She faithfully worshiped her god, followed local customs and even continued to care for her family after she got married. But all her good works weren’t enough to keep her from the shame of leprosy.

When the disease infected Radhika’s leg, her husband of one year quickly abandoned her, leaving his 19-year-old wife to care for her parents alone.

Her older brothers took her to a doctor and Radhika faithfully applied the herbal remedy prescribed, but the treatment did nothing to stop the leprosy. And no matter how many times she prayed for relief, her god remained silent.

One day, though, Radhika’s brother met a pastor named Gandhik, who gave him a Gospel tract and told him how Jesus had once healed not just one, but ten people with leprosy at the same time.

Hearing this, Radhika’s brother introduced her to Pastor Gandhik, who encouraged the family to have faith in Christ. He also invited them to come to a Sunday morning church service.

Radhika began attending the services regularly, and as she learned about Jesus’ power and love, she began asking Him to heal her the way He healed people in the Bible.

Radhika diligently prayed and fasted for her healing. Soon the leprosy was completely gone!

Grateful to the Lord who healed her when nothing else could, Radhika decided to follow Jesus with all her heart. Her healed leg is a constant reminder that when her own goodness couldn’t save her, God’s grace was more than enough.

See how other leprosy patients are learning of Jesus’ love.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Taun Cortado 972-300-3120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARROLLTON, Texas — With persecution of Christians increasing by 400 percent in India alone and similarly throughout the “10/40 Window” over the past 10 years, Christians everywhere are called to pray with urgency for these brothers and sisters in Christ.

The “10/40 Window,” a geographic designation that encompasses the least-reached with the Gospel, will be a unified focus for believers everywhere on Nov. 4 for the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

“Americans who have not experienced persecution do not fully understand what it means to have their lives threatened, homes destroyed, rights violated and loved ones imprisoned, all because of embracing faith in Jesus Christ,” said K. P. Yohannan, Gospel for Asia (GFA) founder and president. “In the 14 countries we serve, persecution of this sort has become a normal way of life, especially for those directly involved in mission work.”

In a single state of one 10/40 country, thousands of Christian homes have been destroyed or damaged by anti-Christians. In another, three Christian brothers are currently in prison under accusations of forced conversions, an offence punishable by law. Six women are raising their children alone, their husbands killed because of their belief in Christ. In one nation of 17 million people, an estimated 2,000 or fewer Christians must operate underground for fear of their lives.

“The increase of this kind of persecution should not be surprising where the Gospel is going forth in unfriendly world areas,” said Yohannan. “Jesus sent His disciples out as sheep among wolves (Matt. 10). Historically and biblically, persecution is an anticipated part of serving God.”

In turn, the biblical response of the church to persecution is immediate and urgent prayer. Believers in remote parts of the world who feel alone in their struggle are divinely strengthened and encouraged by the prayers of others to remain faithful in the face of extreme persecution, Yohannan said.

GFA is encouraging Christians to make International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church more than a “nod” to persecution.  Those who are physically able are urged to fast as well as pray. Rather than waiting for Sunday’s one-day emphasis, those who can take a day off work could be alone or together as a family in a full day of prayer.

Rather than simply making an announcement or spending a few moments in prayer, churches are urged to devote the entire worship time to prayer for the persecuted church individually, collectively and in small groups.

To facilitate this prayer effort, GFA has prepared “International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church,” a free downloadable video for churches to view together on Nov. 4.

The video is available at www.gfa.org/persecution

“Suffering is forced upon our brothers and sisters. To those of us not experiencing the normality of persecution, Jesus is asking that we participate willingly in their suffering and chains,” said Yohannan. “Through our prayers, we can be agents of God’s divine healing, hope and help.”

Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

To schedule an interview with K. P. Yohannan, contact Taun Cortado at 972-300-3379 or tauncortado@gfa.org

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Gospel for Asia-supported Bible college students pray fervently about where God wants them to share the Gospel, and Sachh was no different. When he graduated, he knew. God had given him a vision of the exact village he was meant to reach.

Sachh had a passion for working among the poor and uneducated, and the people of this village were both. When he got there, however, he struggled to help them understand the love of Jesus.

He opened a tutoring center for their children and he offered Gospel literature, but most of the people were deeply committed to their traditional religions and had no desire for this God he kept talking about. It seemed as if Sachh had hit a wall—until he met Lavenia.

An Incurable Pain

After yet another failed witchdoctor came and went, it didn’t seem like she would ever find healing. But when a man named Sachh offered to pray for her healing, Lavenia decided to take him up on his offer.Another ritual, another treatment—no matter what Lavenia tried, she was still tormented by severe stomach pain. As much as she’d spent on expert care, she still was unable to keep down food for longer than five minutes.

The instant Sachh prayed, Lavenia knew she had made the right choice. The pain left her entirely!

She eagerly listened as Sachh told her about the God who had healed her, and before long, she and her family were gathering each week to learn more.

From One Came Many

And the new fellowship’s numbers kept growing. Pastor Sachh was overjoyed. As the Good News spread, he began three more fellowships in the area.

These new believers are eager to take the Word even farther, so with their help, Pastor Sachh now takes a boat to a nearby area to share the love of Christ with the people there—and these people sail back to attend church services.

As the church continues to expand, Pastor Sachh knows that the time he spent praying for God’s direction and all those months he ministered without results was worthwhile. He knows he is exactly where God wants him to be.

Learn how God is using national missionaries across Asia to bring hope to the hopeless.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

But their lives were about to be turned upside down by something completely mundane: water.

Like millions in South Asia, Sadhana and Edhas struggled to find clean water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. When they heard that a local pastor could get them a water filter for free, they were eager to find out more.

Clean Water Turns to Friendship

Pastor Aabheer was excited to see the couple at his door and listened intently as they explained their problems. He took the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them and decided to do what he could to help.

After sending word to his leaders, Pastor Aabheer received a brand new BioSand water filter to give to Sadhana and Edhas. Now they could have purified water whenever they wanted it.

The grateful couple was happy to continue building a relationship with Pastor Aabheer. As they became closer friends, Sadhana and Edhas began to visit the pastor’s house frequently, listening as he shared the Good News with them each time.

What they learned about Jesus was unlike anything they’d heard before, and over time, they decided they wanted to embrace Him the same way Pastor Aabheer had.

Together, the couple began to follow Jesus. Now they are growing in their faith, and instead of drowning their cares with alcohol and drugs, their drink of choice is Jesus, the Living Water.

See how BioSand water filters are brought to villages and change lives for eternity.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

On September 24, a Gospel for Asia field correspondent reported that two weeks of nonstop rain has caused flooding in 14 of the state’s 27 districts, affecting 870 villages and claiming 11 lives.

Bible college students were called home by their parents and wives to help save livestock from being washed away. In one group of six villages, about 70 believing families lost their homes, and victims across Assam are fleeing to schools, hospitals and relatives’ homes for shelter.

Meanwhile, pastors are facing difficulties in providing physical and spiritual aid. More than 76 churches are flooded, and in one district, a national highway bridge was washed away, severely restricting travel. While prices rise for vegetables and other commodities produced outside the district, local pastors are hard-pressed even to reach their congregations.

Please pray for:

• The rain to stop immediately and for flood waters to recede so families and churches can rebuild.
• Pastors to be able to reach their congregations safely and effectively.
• Safety for all villagers in the affected areas.

Help the victims of the flooding in Assam.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

They Tried Everything to Cure Him

For six months Kaasni and her husband, Ankal, had sought a cure. They took Jashith to several doctors, but no one could diagnose the little boy’s symptoms.

Being very religious, Ankal and Kaasni visited many temples and paid for rituals to be performed. They hoped something would heal their son, but nothing worked.

When people in their village got sick, they usually went to see a local sorcerer for healing. The man took advantage of the people’s illiteracy for money. He told Jashith’s parents that he could heal their son. Staying in their home, the sorcerer offered up many prayers to his gods, but many days passed and Jashith didn’t recover.

Their Last Hope

As Jashith slipped into the last stages of the disease, God reminded his parents of something they had yet to try. One of their neighbors, Sajni, a Gospel for Asia-supported woman missionary, had often shared the message of God’s love in their village. Ankal and Kaasni had never been interested, but they were reminded now of something she had told them: “Everything is in the Lord’s hands. If we pray in His name, then He will surely hear our prayers, because the Lord is very kind to us all.”

Could this God heal their son?

Would She Come Pray?

They ran to Sajni’s home, “Yes, we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Please come to our home and pray for our son. He is breathing his last.”

Sajni hesitated. The sorcerer was still performing his rituals in their home. But with a little boy’s life on the line, she decided to go. Along with a few other believers, she entered Jashith’s room. Neighbors filled the room, all of them skeptical that this approach would work.

The believers began to pray and cry out to the Lord for the sake of the boy. They asked the Lord to heal the child so the whole family and village would know the Lord and His power. Every person in the room was watching attentively, but they didn’t believe any healing would happen.

Their skepticism was soon challenged when, after 30 minutes of prayer, the Lord did a miracle in the boy’s life. Jashith woke up, healed! Ankal and Kaasni were overjoyed. They knew that only Jesus Christ saved their son.

Now their family comes to church and is growing in the Lord. They are very thankful for the prayers of the believers—and to the one true God, who is Healer.

See how God is transforming the lives of families through prayer.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

On a recent Saturday, a small group of Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries and staff decided to reach out to as many people in their region as they could.

Dividing into two groups, the teams took a number of tracts and set out.

Resistance and an Angry Dog

Throughout the day, the teams encountered many types of reactions to their outreach. Some people refused to take the tracts, saying they already had their own gods.

One of the staff members was sharing with people when, suddenly, a black dog ran at him and bit the back of his leg. But after this frightening incident, he realized that his leg wasn’t injured at all. A few women standing nearby were amazed that God had saved his leg. This opened an opportunity for him to share with them.

Encouragement to Keep Serving

Although some people refused the tracts, about 1,000 people did accept them. Some were unable to read the tracts, so the team members took time to read and explain the Gospel message to them.

A few people even invited some team members to visit them again and teach their children.

Seeing the Lord working that day, a Bible college student on the team said, “Everywhere, the presence of God is there, and His hands are on everyone who serves Him.”

GFA’s literature ministry touches thousands of lives every year.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

This terrified the rest of the family. Harish sought the help of doctors, but none of them could tell what was hurting his son.

Fear filled young Abhay. As the family realized the attacks were caused by demons, relatives suggested Harish take Abhay to a temple, hoping that the religious rituals would end Abhay’s torment.

Death Seemed the Only Hope

After coming home from the temple and still experiencing the same attacks, his family lost hope—they believed the evil spirits wouldn’t leave Abhay until he died.

Harish’s hopeless outlook didn’t improve when a relative told him there was a God who could help. Harish didn’t want to listen: He had a strong dislike of Christians.

But the next day, Harish’s wife met Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Natwar. She reacted differently than her husband, telling the pastor about their son’s troubles and deciding to bring Abhay to church for prayer.

Miracle at Church

The Sunday Abhay and his mother went to church was a turning point. The demon started attacking Abhay during the service, but several people restrained him so he could stay and hear the message of hope.

The message did sink in. A few days later, when Abhay was suffering another attack, his parents called the pastor for prayer. This time, the demon left Abhay forever.

And it wasn’t just Abhay who was transformed.

“Once I used to hate Christians,” said Harish, “but now I have become a Christian because I have sought and experienced God and He has done great miracles beyond my imagination. I want to give the entire honor to my God who healed my son.”

In awe and gratitude, Abhay’s parents invited Pastor Natwar to hold a prayer meeting in their home.

Opposition Didn’t Stop Them

Abhay’s family suffered opposition for their decision to follow Christ. For six months, the village excommunicated them, not even allowing them to use the local well. But slowly, their neighbors began accepting them again and soon returned the family’s rights to them.

The family stood firm in spite of everything, truly believing in the God who healed their son.

“Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night due to nightmares and was unable to go back to sleep,” Abhay said. “I remember when I was possessed by evil spirits my heart was filled with pain and hurt. But now I want to give all the glory and honor to the Almighty God who delivered me out of all those pains.”

Today, Abhay goes to school without any fear of the demon that once plagued him.

Read more about national missionaries like Natwar.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

One Bridge of Hope center, in partnership with a humanitarian organization, took on the task of fighting one common ailment: blindness.

Diet of the Blind

In impoverished villages of South Asia, green leafy vegetables and other sources of Vitamin A are almost completely absent in children’s diets. This isn’t because these boys and girls don’t want to eat their vegetables—it’s because they can’t. The food that poor families can afford is very limited and often doesn’t include vegetables.

Tragically, severe cases of Vitamin A deficiency can lead to weakened immune systems, blindness or even death.

Replacing Essential Vegetables

Knowing that children younger than five are particularly vulnerable to this deficiency, the Bridge of Hope staff designed a seminar to teach about the importance of vitamins. They handed out pamphlets, invited a nurse to speak to the children and their parents about preventing blindness and then distributed vitamins to each child.

Similar blindness-prevention programs have occurred at other centers in South Asia over the last two years, providing vitamins to more than 5,000 children.

Read about all the benefits children receive in GFA’s Bridge of Hope program.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

As soon as Aakash came to know the Lord, he deeply desired for his people to find that same hope. The people in his village were downtrodden laborers who lived in a rural area without many modern comforts. He knew they needed what he had found.

Aakash and his family faithfully introduced their neighbors to the love of Jesus. It took years, however, before anyone showed interest.

The First Breakthrough

Then Aakash met a man named Moulik. Aakash shared the message of hope, and it pierced Moulik’s heart. Moulik desired to follow the Lord, and even invited Aakash to start a prayer fellowship in his home.

From there, curious people started visiting, and attendance grew. Many perceived an attitude of superiority and rejection from society and were awed by the love and care from this church family. Some villagers said they never thought a Savior would come such great distances and love them so much. God answered prayers and did miracles, and soon the fellowship outgrew Moulik’s home.

Prayers for a Church

The group moved the service to a bamboo hut, but the location wasn’t ideal. It had to be repaired each year to withstand the weather conditions, and during the rainy season, people weren’t protected. The believers began praying that the Lord would provide them with their own church building.

In 2012, they saw the answer to their prayer. When the day finally came to dedicate their new building, the congregation was full of joy over the Lord’s provision.

“We see that we are important, and the Lord takes care of His children. We are loved by Jesus, and He has not forgotten us!” said one believer.

Why are church buildings so important to congregations in Asia?

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Hamsi loved what she found at church, and she began attending regularly. One day, as Pastor Kota shared from God’s Word, she realized her need for Christ’s forgiveness and chose to embrace His love.

Angry Husband Grows Violent

Overjoyed by her new faith, she even invited the pastor to hold a weekly prayer gathering in her home.

But when her husband, Sushil, came home that night after the prayer meeting, he was enraged. He grabbed a stick and started to beat Hamsi.

Broken Light Leads to Change of Heart

While Sushil was beating his wife, he accidentally hit the fluorescent light in their home. The light shattered, with pieces falling on his back—and burning his skin. The chemicals soon caused boils to form on his back.

Seeing what happened, Sushil realized he had been wrong. His heart softened, and he made a decision to visit the church with his wife that very Sunday. There, he asked forgiveness for his deeds and chose to follow the Lord.

GFA’s Daily Photo gives you a glimpse into the lives of people in Asia like Sushil and Hamsi.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

To cope with the continuing violence, various groups have enforced bandhs, or strikes, throughout the region. These strikes can be considered curfews that often last entire days.

A strike on August 27-28 meant people could not open their shops or even drive on the roads. In these situations, it is dangerous for people to leave their homes. Another strike is planned for September 6.

The disruptions affect hundreds of Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries who cannot safely conduct their ministry during a strike. People also suffer when they cannot work or go into town to provide for their families’ needs.

Read the original report about the violence in Assam.

Read about the flooding that took place earlier this year.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Kaamil, a prominent man in the village, was wealthy, religious and influential. Enraged by his brother’s decision, he started a group dedicated to opposing all nearby Christians.

The group started torturing Christians, including Wamika. They prevented believers from using the village well or buying from village shops.

After six years of this, Wamika still stood firm in his faith. Kaamil was as angry as ever, but nothing he did could sway his brother.

Then, suddenly, a strange illness began to plague Kaamil. He went to the doctor and learned that he had developed diabetes. He grew thin and sickly, eventually unable to leave his bed.

Kaamil turned to sorcerers and all those whom his religion said could heal him, but nothing worked. When he finally went to a hospital, it was too late: He realized he was going to die.

But then, the brother he despised came to visit him on his death bed.

Wamika had come to offer hope. As he shared about the Lord’s power to heal, Kaamil’s heart softened. Kaamil’s wife immediately chose to put her faith in God and began praying fervently for her husband’s recovery.

Over the next few weeks, Kaamil started seeing improvements. Soon he knew the Lord had healed him, and he, too, chose to put his trust in Him.

The dramatic change in Kaamil’s life stunned the village. Their prominent anti-Christian leader had completely turned around. Some villagers opposed his decision, but others chose to embrace the Lord.

Kaamil had found the Truth at last. Because of his changed heart, the persecution died down in the area. Today, the Christians in this community praise the Lord that they can again use the village wells and shops, seeing the miracles He does so abundantly.

See how you can pray for missionaries ministering to people like Kaamil and Wamika.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Dear GFA Radio,

Greetings in the name of our Lord. I pray that this ministry may grow in the days to come in spreading the love of God through the radio.

My entire family has been listening to the GFA Radio program in our language for one year. Through this radio message, we came to the saving knowledge of Christ. These messages you broadcast are really heart-touching and bring transformation in the lives of listeners.

I had many bad habits and was addicted to several substances. But when I received Him, I left all that behind. This is my testimony, and this all happened because of His love and grace.

Regards,

Bodo Tudu

Bodo recently contacted our office and said there are 15 people in his village who have been continually listening to the GFA Radio program for more than a year. They have all chosen to follow the Lord and are eager for someone to come and teach them more about the Good News.

No missionary had ever been to this village, some 250 miles away from GFA’s closest office. But through the open door from GFA Radio, one of our missionaries arrived to disciple the new believers.

Read more about GFA Radio.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Harish deeply desired to know God, so he persistently adhered to these traditions, but they only left him feeling empty. He couldn’t find any peace.

Then, one day, Harish answered a knock at his door and met Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Alhad Bapaiah. The two men had only been talking a short time before the missionary realized Harish needed fellowship with true believers. Pastor Alhad invited Harish to his church so he could get a glimpse of the God he had been missing his entire life.

Finding the God He Sought

The service was different than what Harish was accustomed to in his old church. But his uneasiness faded away as the worship songs continued, and eventually Harish began joining the believers in worshiping his Creator.

Before long, peace flooded Harish’s heart, and he knew he had found the one true God.

Read more about GFA’s national missionaries.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

One film showing took a dramatic turn. A dozen drunken men who had joined the audience suddenly began to beat Nabhas and the other film team members. They grabbed the equipment and tossed the pieces to the ground.

Then the drunken men threatened to burn all the gear if the film team ever tried to show the film in their village again.

But then, something surprised the rowdy gang. Instead of reacting in fear, Nabhas and his companions calmly picked up the pieces of equipment and then gathered together to pray. Seeing this, the gang stopped harassing them and silently melted away.

Since the opposition had disappeared, the film team members thanked the Lord and picked the film show up where it had been cut off. In spite of the violent interruption to the film, 65 people from three villages stayed to watch. All their perseverance was worth it when two people chose to embrace the love of Christ.

See why watching a film about Jesus can be a life-changing experience.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The guests included parents, village leaders and Bridge of Hope staff—each one eager to see the children learn and succeed. The children performed cultural songs and programs for their special audience.

One of the parents explained how much Bridge of Hope means for his family.

“This is a privilege for our children to have such opportunities to get enrolled in the Bridge of Hope center, which is giving free tuition and meets all the basic needs of our children,” he said.

“It is only because of Bridge of Hope that we are sending our child to school—otherwise, we had planned to stop our child’s education due to financial struggles.”

The Bridge of Hope staff members rejoiced that they had the opportunity to make such a difference for these children, serving as a channel of God’s love that will impact little lives for years to come.

What is GFA’s Bridge of Hope program?

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Mila had chosen to follow the Lord after one of her school friends shared a New Testament with her. Mila eagerly soaked up all she could at Gospel for Asia-supported Pastor Chhiring’s church, and she developed friendships with other believers there.

But Mila’s father, Dharmesh, started wondering where she was going on the weekends. When he found out, he became very angry. He confronted Mila, saying their family was committed to the local religion and she must conform to the rituals. When this didn’t deter her, Dharmesh beat his daughter and tore her Bible, threatening to go to the church and injure someone else.

Then Mila grew afraid. Her father’s threats intimidated her, so the next Sunday, she stayed home.

A Mysterious Ailment

Dharmesh held fast to his anti-Christian stance. One day, he noticed some small red patches on his hands and feet that started itching. The patches didn’t heal, even after he visited a doctor, and the itching started to really bother him.

Dharmesh turned to the traditional healers of his village, making offerings in hopes of healing. But nothing changed. Mila offered to pray for her father, but Dharmesh refused. Instead, he and his wife traveled to the city to seek hospital treatment.

When the hospital’s doctors failed to help, Dharmesh, miserable and desperate, at last agreed to let his daughter pray for him.

Mila excitedly invited Pastor Chhiring to join them. Full of remorse, Dharmesh apologized to the pastor for his opposition. They prayed together, believing the pastor’s words that nothing is impossible with Christ.

That day changed Dharmesh forever. As his heart began softening to understand and embrace Christ’s love for him, his skin disease began fading away.

Rejoicing in the faithfulness of God, Dharmesh and his entire family chose to join Mila at Pastor Chhiring’s church. In time, he experienced complete healing and has become an example for other believers as he participates faithfully in church activities.

Read more stories like Dharmesh and Mila’s.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Viraj was so dedicated to his cause that it seemed certain he would never sway. His story turned out much differently, however, when he chose a path no one could have expected.

Free Education Blinds Young Viraj

As a child, Viraj very much wanted to attend school, but his parents couldn’t afford it. So when the opportunity for a free education from a religious institution came along, Viraj jumped at the chance. There he was taught anti-Christian rhetoric, eventually persuading him that the only way to save his nation was to rid it of believers in Jesus.

The more Viraj persecuted Christians, the more powerful he became. Aside from being notorious within Christian circles as a fierce persecutor, he worked as a prominent religious figure, generating a good income and receiving much honor. But suddenly something happened that was out of his control.

Sickness Opens His Eyes

When Viraj’s wife became ill with a life-threatening heart problem, he took her to the best doctors he could find. But the treatments only helped a little. All Viraj’s money and power weren’t doing much to bring his wife back to health. She became bedridden for three long years, and Viraj grew desperate—so desperate that he sought out a Christian pastor to ask for prayer.

That day was an answer to many believers’ prayers. God was changing Viraj’s heart and directing him to a new path. When the pastor prayed with him, Viraj’s wife began to recover and everything changed. This man, who once hated anything to do with Jesus Christ, finally understood that He offered love and hope.

Viraj’s transformation prompted his entire family to seek the truth about Christ. Soon, each one made their own choice to trust in His love. Although his decision had consequences, including being forced to move because of intimidation from his former extremist partners, Viraj held on to the Lord. The man who spent his life opposing Christians had now joined them, even desiring to share his hope with others.

Join GFA’s prayer team to pray for people like Viraj and for the needs of others on the mission field.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

But that changed with one special day—and 30 BioSand water filters.

Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Omanad had discovered Aadi’s village, tucked away far from the reach of roads. The people received little help from outside, scratching out their living through day labor jobs. Omanad also learned about the people’s dire need for pure water.

With help from other missionaries, Omanad brought the 30 filters to the village. He and Aadi met with the school children’s families to distribute the gifts and demonstrate how to use them. Aadi explained to the audience how important the clean water was for their health, strongly encouraging the families to make good use of the filters. At last, his students had a healthy source of drinking water, given to them with the love of the Lord.

Find out the huge difference simple BioSand water filters make for families in Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Read the amazing update here.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

On July 23, at 7 p.m., a group of five armed terrorists kidnapped Pastor Ponnachan George from our Bible school campus in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India. They have taken him away to their forest hideout, and we are unaware of his location. This group is threatening to kill Pastor Ponnachan unless we give them a large sum of money.

Read the entire story here.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

“We don’t have anything to eat or drink,” she told Al Jazeera News. “I need medicine desperately, but there aren’t any clinics here since everything was washed away.”

Annual Monsoon Brings Unpredictable Devastation

Although it comes every year, this monsoon season caught many by surprise. Areas normally left unscathed were destroyed when the enormous Brahmaputra River overflowed with rainwater and broke through the dikes that had strained to hold it in.

In just over a day, more than 80 villages in the Indian state of Assam were underwater. Villagers scrambled to rooftops or ran for higher ground, bringing whatever possessions they could carry. Those who weren’t swept away watched their homes, jobs and way of life vanish.

Four weeks and 126 deaths later, as the rain continues, more than 2 million people now wonder if they will ever return home and how they will rebuild their lives. And north of India, Nepal’s citizens are asking the same questions.

“Murky water entered our house suddenly in the night,” a man named Dilli told the Republica newspaper. “We survived by climbing to the rooftop. Three oxen, sheep and stored paddy [rice] and wheat were all swept away.”

No one in Dilli’s district has seen a monsoon season like this in 50 years. Three thousand houses are flooded, but the number of homeless families keeps growing.

Across Nepal and Assam, the schools that remain have opened their doors as relief camps, but there isn’t enough food for large families, and many are held back by washed-out roads and lack of boats.

Amidst the despair, though, a familiar sight is bringing hope.

Destitute People See Help on the Horizon

After the initial flooding, Gospel for Asia-supported Pastor Vamsi went to survey the devastation in Assam. At the sight of demolished concrete houses, animal carcasses floating on the water and relief camps full of homeless survivors, he returned to his office and called an emergency meeting.

Stretching their funds as far as possible, Vamsi and his church bought daily essentials and distributed them among the camps. Other pastors in the area took boats to families stranded in their homes and supplied food, blankets, medicine and soap to cut down on infection.

Filling empty stomachs, providing warmth and listening as victims share their plight is an expected part of monsoon season for pastors in Asia like Vamsi. Last year, they responded to floods in Pakistan and Sri Lanka by giving away care packages and even drilling Jesus wells so fewer people would have to drink contaminated water.

After floods, tsunamis and cyclones, Compassion Services teams quickly get to work and don’t stop until they’ve helped rebuild homes, reestablished livelihoods and made it clear that their care comes from Jesus.

“Many people are coming and help us and leaving, but we’ve never seen people like you,” said a tsunami survivor. “You care about us and encourage us. We see some kind of love in your lives.”

Through the Compassion Services teams’ efforts, thousands of expectant moms like Jisha and farmers like Dilli experience the incredible love of Christ, but millions still cry out for relief.

Learn more about GFA’s flood relief.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Raji and his family were devoted to their region’s traditional religion, so when Raji became ill, they took him to religious centers and performed rituals for his healing. They spent large amounts of money but found no results. They lost all hope as Raji’s condition remained the same.

“While I was in the sick bed I used to think, ‘My life has no meaning; now I am going to finish it,’” Raji recalls. “I pleaded with gods and goddesses to save me, but nothing happened.”

A Visitor Knows the Cure

Hope showed its face when a cousin came to visit Raji. The cousin was a believer, and he invited Raji to go to church with him. Although travel was difficult for Raji, he agreed to go.

Slowly, the Lord softened Raji’s heart, and the young man responded by choosing to follow Jesus. As he grew in his faith, the Lord began a healing process in his body.

“The Lord Jesus did miracles,” Raji remembers. “I was able to walk slowly with a bent body. My life is filled with happiness and joy and the Lord Jesus gave me a ray of hope by making me able to walk and sit.”

Raji still had severe physical limitations, but the improvement showed that God could do anything in his life. Raji wasn’t content to enjoy these changes for himself—he desired to serve in ministry so that others could also experience the joy of knowing the Lord.

He Couldn’t Be Stopped

But then, Raji faced even more challenges when he decided to go to Bible college. His family was upset with him, his friends mocked him and even Christian workers discouraged him, saying it would be too much for him to handle with his condition. But Raji was determined, knowing that God was calling him.

Raji worked hard and successfully completed his theological training. Because he couldn’t travel around by himself, a partner joined him as he started his ministry. He went to hospitals, bus stands, marketplaces and railway stations to seek out needy and hurting people who needed his message of hope.

And God blessed his perseverance. Today Raji serves as pastor of a church with more than 200 believers. The Lord is working through his weakness and is doing great things.

Raji feels joy in all his efforts and wants to continue testifying for the Lord who has saved him. His desire is to motivate those who are able to do even more than him.

“Without God in my life, I would not have been able to cope with these things in the way that I have now,” Raji says.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Deva’s father had passed away when he was young, and his mother had to provide for the family. Deva had managed to finish his education and earn a degree, but then he became ill. For three long years, tuberculosis plagued him.

Deva’s family didn’t have much money for his treatment. They did what they could, but Deva knew it wasn’t working. He was distressed at his failing health—until a friend of his told him that there was a pastor who would pray for him.

Prayers for Healing

Pastor Ram agreed to pray for Deva, knowing first-hand that God had the power to heal. Ram’s own mother had become very ill and was healed when a missionary prayed for her, and she was the one who eventually showed Ram the way to Jesus.

So Ram prayed for Deva, and he started to feel better. It seemed that prayer was actually making a difference! In the days that followed, Deva went back to his doctor for a check-up. Miraculously, the tests showed that his health was completely normal.

Deva and his entire family were amazed at God’s mercy and the love He showed them through the healing. They each chose to embrace the message of hope that Pastor Ram had shared with them.

Read more about national missionaries like Pastor Ram.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Gospel for Asia leaders are able to visit him occasionally, and they report that he is healthy and doing well. Pastor Ugyen continues to be an example of Christ for his fellow inmates.

Please pray for continued good health and strong faith for Pastor Ugyen, as well as for his wife and daughter. Pray that many prisoners will embrace the hope of Christ.

Read a previous update on Pastor Ugyen.

Pastor Ugyen’s timeline:

• May 21, 2010 – Ugyen is arrested by Bhutan police for showing the Jesus film. Film equipment confiscated.
• June 4, 2010 – The police summon the village chief and people who saw the film to give detailed information. Police give Ugyen’s case to Divisional Magistrate, who forwards the case to the District Magistrate for further investigation.
• June 9, 2010 – Case forwarded to the district court. Ugyen awaits his first hearing.
• June 14, 2010 – Police try to investigate Ugyen’s house but can’t enter because the door is locked.
• June 15, 2010 – Police go to villages where film was shown to reinvestigate.
• July 5, 2010 – GFA leaders meet with officials to appeal for Ugyen’s release on bail. The petition is refused because of the gravity of the case.
• July 22, 2010 – First phase of hearing scheduled for July 23 postponed until July 26.
• Aug. 4, 2010 – Ugyen asked to write a statement. The statement is invalid, and he is asked to write another one.
• Aug 6, 2010 – Ugyen has written nine statements thus far. He is questioned as to why he shared the Good News. Next court date set for Aug. 9.
• Aug. 9, 2010 – Ugyen’s court date rescheduled for Aug. 17.
• Aug. 17, 2010 – Pastor Ugyen taken to court and his statements are read before the court officials. Asked to appear before the court again on Aug. 18 to screen the Jesus film.
• Aug. 19, 2010 – Pastor Ugyen asked to appear on Aug. 20 instead.
• Aug. 23, 2010 – The district court forwards all of Pastor Ugyen’s statements and a report from the police and district court to the High Court in Thimphu for verification. Screening of Jesus film never takes place.
• Sept. 8, 2010 – District court takes over case again. Court officials suggest Ugyen write an apology to the judge of the district court.
• Oct. 7, 2010 – High Court sentences Ugyen to three years in prison.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

For years, Kulik had been afflicted by a mental illness that caused him to steal things and plague his neighbors with trouble. They mostly left him alone, believing that time and space would heal him, but when he continued to harm and frighten people, they sent him to a mental facility.

For a while, it seemed to be just what Kulik needed. He improved over time, fulfilling his responsibilities and earning the approval of everyone at the hospital.

When Kulik came home, his parents thought he must be ready to take on some bigger responsibilities, like marriage. After they arranged his marriage to the girl next door, though, Kulik started returning to his old ways.

New Responsibilities Coincide with Relapse

Kulik would get angry at his wife, Neela, and then disappear. Neela and the other villagers would spend months searching for him, even putting notices in the newspaper. Kulik, however, only returned when he felt like it.

As these extended absences continued, his 80-year-old mother took full responsibility for Neela and their two sons. When he became physically abusive, though, Neela drew a line, and Kulik’s world began to change.

In a culture where a married woman normally doesn’t return home—even to escape abuse—Neela’s family made an exception. She moved out and Kulik was left to deal with his own problems.

A local pastor, Sachetan, knew that only if Kulik trusted Jesus would he find healing for his illness and for his marriage, but Kulik was closed off to others’ advice.

For four years, he pushed away those closest to him, and when his youngest son died, Kulik’s parents didn’t even go to the funeral. After that, they cut him off entirely, leaving Kulik utterly alone—except for Pastor Sachetan.

Hunger for Hope Drives Man to Jesus

With nothing left to lose, Kulik went back to Pastor Sachetan and asked to hear the message he had ignored so long ago. The pastor happily obliged. Kulik was hungry for even more, and decided to attend church the next Sunday.

Soon, he decided to follow Jesus, and as the other believers prayed, Kulik was completely healed from his mental illness.

Seeing the change in her husband, Neela returned with their remaining son and chose to follow Jesus, too.

Although no one thought they could be reunited, Neela and Kulik, with Christ as their example, forgave each other for everything. Filled with eternal hope, they now live together in peace.

God is changing lives through the ministry of national missionaries. Read more about them!

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In this area of Assam, 50,000 people suffered loss after the Brahmaputra River surged past its embankments. Most of the Christians there, including missionaries, lost their livestock, and some lost their homes. The believers were forced to evacuate to find higher ground to save their lives.

During the distribution of relief materials, GFA provided these survivors with food packets including rice, dal, vegetables and salt to cook their basic traditional meals. The recipients were so grateful for this provision, and several shared their experiences.

Running from the Waters

“The flood washed away my house,” said Ratnakar, who has a wife and nine children. “Somehow, we escaped from the flood and took shelter in another village which was not affected.

“We are going through hard times, and today God has blessed us with the things we need for survival. I am very much thankful to God and also to the leaders for having concern for us.”

Pastor Darpan was serving the Lord in a village that is now underwater.

“Our house was hit by a strong current and collapsed in minutes, but God saved our lives—praise to His name!” the pastor said.

Another Christian named Lochan describes his family’s narrow escape from the floodwaters.

“We never expected the flood to reach us because in previous years it did not take place in our village. Then early in the morning we heard the sound of water coming speedily towards us.

“We were confused what to do. I called out my wife and six children and we ran for our lives, leaving behind everything. The flood took our house away, while we watched from a far distance. We had nothing to eat, and today I feel very blessed for getting the things to eat for my whole family.”

Thankful for Safety and Food

Other families described swimming away from their homes as the waters rose, realizing their homes would not survive the flood even though they were constructed on tall poles to withstand the usual monsoon rains. They watched as their cows and goats washed away.

The believers praise God for saving their lives, and they each expressed gratitude for the gift of food to help them make it through this challenging time.

The Compassion Services teams are planning another aid distribution, hoping to provide food for an additional 450 families in need.

Please pray for safety for the relief teams as they travel wherever they’re able to bring aid. Pray for the river embankment to be restored and floodwaters to recede so people can go home soon and rebuild.

 Donate to flood relief to help more families like these.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Udaya used to attend church with her husband, Talin, and their three children. She had even decided to follow Christ. But when Talin fell sick and died, Udaya gave up on everything but basic survival. And as she internalized her neighbors’ discouragement, she lost confidence to do even that.

In Bondage to Fear

She began to fear everyone and everything, and her children helplessly watched her mental stability fail. Taking her neighbors’ advice, Udaya even resorted to witchcraft as a solution for her problems, but the rituals only multiplied her fears.

Every day her condition got worse—until her pastor heard what was happening.

Pastor Chahel was sad to hear of Udaya’s problems, and disappointed that she had turned to witchcraft rather than to Jesus. He went to Udaya’s home and reminded her and her children that Jesus loved and remained faithful to them in all circumstances.

Pastor’s Prayers Bring Freedom

Udaya and her family regretted their lack of faith and reconfirmed that they would follow Jesus, even in the hardest times. Pastor Chahel prayed for them. And he continued praying and fasting for Udaya after he left, until all the fear had fled.

Now Udaya knows that no matter what the neighbors say, her God will take care of her. Though her husband is gone, she will never be alone.

Read more about how Gospel for Asia is caring for widows.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Hundreds have already perished in the devastation, and according to Assam Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka, 900,000 people have been displaced.

Floodwaters have now hit 58 Gospel for Asia-supported churches and six Bridge of Hope centers, potentially leaving more than 1,000 believers without a church and 716 children without education.

Thousands of helpless people have been forced to evacuate their homes and are stranded without food or drinking water. Floods have covered roads and destroyed lines of communication.

After three days of flash floods, one of our pastors in the area called in to say that he and the believers in his church are tired, wet and weak. Many of the people of Assam are suffering from fevers, colds and coughs due to the onset of the monsoon season.

“There is much to be done,” says GFA President K.P. Yohannan, “both now and in the months to come.” Gospel for Asia Compassion Services teams have already begun emergency relief work, but they are hindered by high waters and washed-out roads. The teams hope to start long-term relief efforts as soon as possible.

“Please pray with us for our missionaries who are ministering during these difficult days,” Yohannan continues. “Thank you for caring for the suffering and helpless.”

Read about Gospel for Asia’s relief efforts through their Compassion Services outreaches.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In less than two days, 80 villages were underwater. Residents were evacuated but lost their food and belongings. So far, no deaths have been reported.

Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries work in several of these flooded villages. They report that at least 12 church buildings are underwater. And a GFA Bridge of Hope center, where 112 children attended, is completely submerged.

“Now only the roof of the building is visible,” reports GFA’s field correspondent.

And the water is still rising. Missionary leaders have attempted to visit the region to completely assess the damage, but were hindered by the high water.

“Communication is totally cut off,” the correspondent adds.

The Christians in these villages all suffered loss and are currently without food.

“Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Assam,” asks Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan, “that the Lord will comfort those who lost everything, that He will protect the lives of everyone in the flood plain, and that those displaced will receive adequate food and drinking water in the aftermath of this flood.

“Pray also for those who do not yet know of the love of God for them, that in the midst of this tragedy they will experience His care in a very personal way.”

Donate to GFA’s Flood Relief Work

Gospel for Asia - Reports

The Bible story of the prodigal son started playing into the men’s jail cells. It captured Sukir’s attention—the story sounded like his.

Sukir grew up without moral guidance, and from his childhood was involved with a bad crowd. He and his companions had robbed people, looted buses and even killed people.

As he listened to the Gospel for Asia radio broadcast, Sukir realized there was hope for him. He was filled with sorrow at the wrongs he had done, and amazed that Jesus wanted to clean him and renew his life. Right there in jail, Sukir asked Jesus to be his Lord.

Sukir remains in prison, waiting to finish his sentence and emerge from jail as a new creature in Christ.

GFA Radio reaches into remote corners of South Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Paritosh serves the Lord as a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary in South Asia. Eager to touch as many lives as he could, Paritosh decided to meet the lepers who lived near his village. He found 60 families affected by the disease and began reaching out to them one at a time.

When he met Kalem, he was filled with compassion and started talking to the man—but he got no response. Paritosh found that Kalem not only suffered from leprosy, but he was also mute. The 37-year-old man had never spoken a word in his life.

Paritosh started praying regularly for Kalem. After about a month, miraculously, the leprosy patient began communicating slowly. The Lord was mercifully healing him.

As Kalem’s relationship with Christ grew, so did his ability to speak. Kalem saw that Jesus was someone who cared for those considered the very least. This love was then tangibly demonstrated to Kalem when he received the gift of a weight scale from Pastor Paritosh. This gift enables him to earn his own money in the marketplace as people pay to weigh themselves or their purchases.

Today, Kalem rejoices with new hope thanks to the love of Christ and the compassion of His servants.

Learn more about Gospel for Asia’s Leprosy Ministry

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Sura hardly ate after constantly seeing demons dancing in her food.

Sura screamed and threw her plate to the ground. Her father, Kirian, had to clean it up once again. He knew Sura wasn’t just unappreciative of the food he provided. She was terrified.

For some time, a demon had been attacking Sura. Whenever she received a meal, she would see a frightening picture of someone dancing in her food. The bizarre attacks prevented her from getting any nourishment, and she grew weak and thin.

Sura’s father didn’t know where to get help—but he was hardly in a position to do much himself. Kirian was an alcoholic and the only parent caring for his children since his wife had passed away.

While he was home one afternoon, however, an answer came right to his door. Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Raj had learned of Sura’s condition and came to visit the family. He offered Kirian a little pamphlet that spoke of Christ’s love, which Kirian accepted. But he still didn’t feel comfortable talking to the missionary.

Raj’s effort wasn’t dampened by Kirian’s response, however. He started talking with the father about everyday topics, and soon the two were having a great time. Disarmed by Raj’s friendliness, Kirian invited him inside.

The two men continued talking, and Raj had a chance to tell Kirian about the hope found in Jesus. With tears, Kirian asked Raj to pray for his daughter.

When Raj began praying, Sura fell to the ground screaming. As Raj continued to pray, the Lord did a miracle that day. The demon fled from Sura at the mighty name of Jesus Christ!

Raj asked Kirian to bring his daughter a plate of rice to see what would happen. The pastor prayed over the food, and Sura hungrily ate the entire meal with no disturbances.

Kirian was amazed at the Lord’s power. He asked Raj to pray for his alcohol addiction, and with a heart of faith, he too found deliverance.

Seeing the love and power of God, Kirian and his family chose to embrace new life in Christ. Their hearts are full of gratitude for His mercy.

Demonic affliction is common in South Asia. Read a story about a man who was once demon possessed and then became a Bible college student.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Madhurima had to carry a bamboo basket filled with fresh vegetables on her head before receiving a pulling cart.

Madhurima Banerjee knocked on yet another door. She stood with a bamboo basket filled with fresh, green vegetables balanced on her head, waiting for someone to open the door and buy the goods she carried.

This was how she earned her living. Every day, she went door-to-door selling vegetables, and every day the load became heavier and heavier for her to bear.

Putting the vegetables on a cart would relieve her burden, but she certainly could not afford to buy a cart to transport the vegetables; and renting one would take too much of her meager daily profits. So she continued to walk, carrying the heavy burden on her head.

Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Victor Malik knew Madhurima’s strenuous work was causing great pain and damage to her body, and he wanted to help.

He also knew that gifts from the Gospel for Asia Christmas Catalog would soon be distributed in his village, so he requested a pulling cart for Madhurima.

This cart not only freed Madhurima from carrying a bamboo basket of vegetables on her head—it literally changed her life. With the ability to carry a bigger load and move from place to place much faster, her business boomed.

Two years after receiving the cart, Madhurima had earned enough money to buy four more carts and expand her business! And in gratitude to God for his provision, she is also faithful to give her local church a tithe from her income.

Without GFA friends giving her the gift of this simple cart, Madhurima would still be walking door to door with that heavy basket of vegetables on her head. Now, her burden is light, and she can joyfully sell vegetables while witnessing to God’s provision in her life.

You can give another person like Madhurima the chance to unload their burden and experience God’s love.

(First published: Oct. 20, 2010)

Gospel for Asia - Reports

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Gospel for Asia - Reports

Before enrolling in a Bridge of Hope center, Uday was a mischievous little kid.

Little Uday watched his father waste away his own life with drugs, alcohol and gambling. The family’s money went to fund his father’s addictions—until he walked out, leaving Uday’s mother struggling to take care of the family.

She worked every day from morning ‘til night, hoping to earn enough to give Uday and his little brother a good education.

The boys studied at a government school and learned how to read and write, but Uday was a mischievous little kid. Sometimes he would skip school, and other times he’d neglect to do his homework. Seeing these bad habits develop, Uday’s mother enrolled him in a Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope center.

Once he started attending the center, Uday began faithfully going to his classes at school. His character began to change as he learned Scripture and listened to Bible stories.

After enrolling in a Bridge of Hope center, Uday is growing more and more into the image of Christ.

“Now he gained God’s wisdom and knowledge, became very good in his studies and is one of the best students in Bridge of Hope,” said a GFA field correspondent. “The center is very proud to see the changes in his life.”

Uday’s mother was also overjoyed to see her son’s transformation.

“She praises God and all the Bridge of Hope staff,” the correspondent said. “She said many broken and scattered families are getting tremendous support and finding solutions to their problems and tensions through the center.”

With Bridge of Hope’s help, little Uday no longer gets into trouble but leads a life drawing closer to the heart of his Maker.

Meet Major, a young boy whose life was also changed through Bridge of Hope.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Some hygienic items Bridge of Hope students receive—including shampoo.

Tears of thankfulness welled up in little Ayaan’s eyes as he held his new gift in his hand. It was a bottle of shampoo, something Ayaan had never used before. The Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope staff at his center had given him a little bottle to keep up his hygiene.

Ayaan used to go to school with matted hair, worn-out clothes and no shoes on his feet. His skinny, fragile body reinforced the evidence of his poverty.

His parents owned and farmed a piece of land, planting vegetables. But because of water shortages, they weren’t able to maintain it properly. Ayaan and his family desperately struggled financially.

His father couldn’t find a good-paying job anywhere nearby, so he traveled south to the next state for months at a time to earn a living. Still they suffered greatly. There were times when Ayaan and his family would go without food, and the malnutrition took its toll on Ayaan: His eyesight weakened, especially at night.

When the staff at the local GFA Bridge of Hope center heard about Ayaan’s situation, they enrolled him in the center. They treated his eye problem and fed him healthy food for his nourishment. He was also given a school uniform, shoes, books, winter clothes, hygiene materials and many other provisions necessary for his studies and a better life.

Ayaan’s family was grateful to the Lord for the help they received from Bridge of Hope staff in taking care of their child. Since attending Bridge of Hope, Ayaan’s life has taken a 180-degree turn for the better. He participates in all the Bridge of Hope activities. He respects and honors his teachers, elders and parents. He prays daily for his family and is so thankful to God for all He has done in his life through Bridge of Hope.

“There is a future hope one can see in his face,” the correspondent said.

See what else Bridge of Hope students receive.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Neela practices her newly learned writing skills during the Women’s Fellowship literacy class.

A Gospel for Asia Women’s Fellowship organized a literacy class to teach and encourage women how to read and write. Twenty-nine women from five local churches attended the class.

One woman named Neela, 40, said she lived in shame among her neighbors because she was illiterate.

“In my life, I have never been to school and never had the chance to hold a pencil,” she said. “I used to feel shame because I did not know how to read or write. But through this literacy class, I got the privilege to learn how to read and write. From today onward, I will not be ashamed [in front] of others for not knowing how to read or write. I will not be lazy but give my best and learn how to read and write. After I learn, I will read the Bible and memorize Scripture verses.”

The women missionaries took great care to help each person who came. Their love and support were a huge encouragement to those attending, especially Charumati, 35, whose husband is a local pastor.

“My husband asked me to learn how to write, but I used to feel shame and ignored his words,” she said. “But through the literacy class today and the sharing from our Women’s Fellowship leaders, I am encouraged and know the importance of writing and reading.”

Because of the class, Nami, 32, feels she is one step closer to helping her children with their studies.

“Sometimes I want to teach my children and help them do their homework when they are confused,” she said. “But I am illiterate, and I do not know how to help them. Thinking about this, I feel very sad. But through the literacy class today, I am very happy. I will try my best to learn to read and write so I can read the Bible and tell others about it and even help my children in their studies.”

Through the efforts of GFA-supported women missionaries, these literacy classes are restoring dignity to women all over South Asia.

Over 250 million women in Asia are illiterate. Watch a video about one of these women who finally learned how to read.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Manav Banjeree speaks on behalf of the prisoners.

Inmates of a South Asian prison received a never-ending supply of clean water when Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries gave them BioSand water filters in celebration of World Water Day, which took place March 22.

Manav Banjeree, an inmate serving a life sentence, spoke on behalf of the 172 others living behind bars.

“I have been here in the jail for eight years, and I know how difficult it is to live without clean water for drinking,” Manav said. “I am so thankful to the leaders who care for the prisoners and gave filters for our daily use.”

The GFA missionaries distributed five water filters and explained the importance of using pure, clean water for healthy living. Manav expressed the desire to attain three more filters so each of the eight wards of the prison could benefit from having safe water to use.

The GFA team leader assured him and the others they would provide more filters so all will have access to clean water.

“Indeed, the prisoners, the superintendent, the jailors and others who work in the jail were very happy that we provided water filters for the prisoners,” said a GFA field correspondent.

They hope and pray these filters will help bring the inmates closer to the One who provides streams of Living Water that never run dry.

Watch a short three-minute video about the sweet water of BioSand water filters.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Despite the odds against her, Kanya now thrives in her GFA Bridge of Hope center.

Kanya was only 2 years old when she and her mother went to live with her uncle and his family. Her parents had divorced after a tumultuous marriage filled with disunity, misunderstandings and fights.

Kanya’s father then ran off with another woman while her mother, Bhabesh, struggled to take care of her little girl. Even though Bhabesh had the shelter of her brother’s home, she still worked hard to provide for Kanya. She tried to make sure her daughter would have a good education, one that would give Kanya a future that was better than what she had known. But three years later, Kanya’s mother passed away, leaving her uncle, Ramith, to become the primary caretaker of little Kanya.

Ramith already had a wife and children of his own to provide for; having another mouth to feed wasn’t easy on the finances, but he loved his little niece as if she was his own.

When Kanya got sick with malaria, Ramith distressed over how to get her the medical attention she needed. He couldn’t take her to a hospital because there wasn’t enough money, so he brought her to a local herbal doctor.

Kanya drank the medicine prepared with different leaves and herbs and began to gradually feel better. But she remained fatigued and weak…until Bridge of Hope staff prayed for her.

When the staff at the local GFA Bridge of Hope center found out about Kanya’s condition, they went to visit the family and offer encouragement in Christ. After they prayed, Kanya received complete healing from the lingering weakness she was experiencing. Her uncle was so grateful for their prayers. He shared his niece’s sad story with the Bridge of Hope staff and asked if they could enroll her in their center so she could get an education, like her mother had hoped. So they did.

When Kanya started attending, the staff noticed how she struggled in both her studies and her interactions with the other children. She mostly kept to herself, but the Lord continually worked in Kanya’s life through the help and encouragement of the Bridge of Hope staff and teachers.

“Now, by the grace of God,” said a GFA field correspondent, “Kanya has improved and transformed in every aspect of her personal life. She is doing well and is developing unique skills physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.”

Ramith continues to watch his niece grow, appreciative of the role Bridge of Hope has in helping provide for her needs.

“Although Kanya had faced struggles and seemed confined to a desperate life and dead end,” the field correspondent said, “God had other plans for her life.”

Watch a video about eight sisters who changed their family’s legacy through Bridge of Hope.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Sanjula tells everyone about how Jesus healed her.

“Jesus healed me! Jesus healed me!” Sanjula cried out when she saw Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Rupak Das again.

Ten days before, Rupak had met 69-year-old Sanjula during a time of outreach. He learned the elderly lady was a widow of 10 years. Her three sons had married and moved away, leaving her impoverished and alone. Sanjula had also suffered with knee pain for eight long years but wasn’t able to get medical treatment because of her poor financial state.

As Rupak listened to Sanjula share her story, he felt deep compassion for her and began sharing the love of Jesus. He told her about the miracles Jesus did in the lives of those who were forsaken and told her He was able to take away her knee pain, too.

“If what you just said is true,” Sanjula said, “then I believe He will surely heal me.”

Rupak knelt down and prayed for Sanjula. He later went back to his home where he and his family continued to pray for her during their family devotions.

The next time Rupak saw Sanjula, she praised the Lord, exclaiming how He had healed her.

“I was touched by Jesus that particular night,” she said. “From the very next day onward until now, I have not felt any pain.”

When Sanjula’s fellow villagers learned she no longer experienced any knee pain, they were perplexed. They wondered how this miracle could have happened, but Sanjula does not shy away from telling them the source of her healing. She continually shares her testimony with everyone she meets. And through her, the Lord has opened doors for Rupak to share the love of Christ that would have otherwise been shut.

Read a special report about why  physical healings are part of a much larger movement of God in South Asia today.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Pastor Satyasheel met Radhak while out sharing the love of Christ.

Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Satyasheel Girish patiently listened to Radhak tell him why he didn’t believe in any gods. Pastor Satyasheel, a few of his fellow missionaries and some Bible college students were passing out pieces of Christian literature, visiting homes and praying for the sick when they met the 45-year-old man.

“When we think of religion and other activities, we feel insecure,” Radhak explained to the pastor. “If we don’t have the proper worship, then the gods and goddesses will get angry, and we will be under a curse.”

And Radhak had no desire to be in the hands of revengeful gods. Instead, he thought he found the perfect way to escape their fury, and he shared that with Satyasheel.

“In order to live a free and secure life, we should not put ourselves under any fear of this kind of religion,” Radhak declared. “I don’t believe in any religion because I am not able to fulfill the rituals that are required, and I don’t want to be under the fear of any god and live a suffocated life.”

Throughout Radhak’s discourse, the Holy Spirit spoke to Satyasheel, bringing to mind Scripture that speaks of the freedom given through Christ Jesus.

“The Lord Jesus has set us free from the bondage of curses and sins by believing in Him,” Pastor Satyasheel began explaining. “In the Bible it says, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ That means the Lord frees us from the yoke of Satan, from spiritual task-masters and from fear. He fills the soul with hope and the spirit of the Son who serves the Father out of love.”

Then Satyasheel read Romans 6:22, which says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” From there, he read 1 Peter 2:16 that says, “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”

Radhak had never heard such things, and it astonished him. He asked Pastor Satyasheel to give him a book that talked more about this freedom in God, so Satyasheel handed him a New Testament.

“Pray for my life,” Radhak asked before the missionaries left to share the love of Christ with others. “Pray I would be changed and that my life will become a source of blessing for my family members.”

Satyasheel and the others prayed for Radhak and then headed out to tell others of the powerful love of Christ that sets people free.

When they follow up with Radhak, they hope to find him living in true freedom that only Jesus can provide.

Find out more about these national missionaries like Pastor Satyasheel.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Shriya draws water from the Jesus Well in her village.

Water scarcity currently affects four out of every 10 people in the world, and it’s expected to escalate in the coming years. With this tremendous need for clean water, Gospel for Asia is drilling Jesus Wells in areas with no source of fresh water.

Shriya is one of those who was helped through the installation of a Jesus Well.

The people in the village where 60-year-old Shriya lives struggled because of the water scarcity in the area. While the rich in the community had private wells drilled near their homes, the poor and needy had to walk long distances to collect water from brooks or small rivers tucked away in the jungle. But Shriya couldn’t go. She found it difficult to haul buckets of water from far off streams to her house, and being a childless widow, she had no one to help her.

When Gospel for Asia drilled a Jesus Well near her home, Shriya rejoiced knowing all her water needs would be taken care of.

“When the church constructed a Jesus Well near my house, I was so happy and was comforted,” she said. “I thank Gospel for Asia for providing us this Jesus Well free of cost. It seems like this well was installed just for me.”

Lanal and his family, who now attend a local Gospel for Asia-supported church because of a drink of clean water from a Jesus Well.

Jesus Wells Open to All

No one is barred access to clean water from a Jesus Well. Whether high or low caste, rich or poor, the well is open to the entire community—and even passersby, like Lanal, who discovered a Jesus Well during a thirsty walk home.

Lanal had just finished a hard day of work selling his handmade bamboo baskets in the market when he became extremely thirsty. Fortunately for him, he stumbled upon a Jesus Well on his way home and went to get a drink.

Satisfying More Than Just a Physical Thirst

As he drank the clear, refreshing water, his eyes spotted a plaque near the well, and he began to read John 4:14: “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

These words penetrated deep into Lanal’s heart, and he quietly began to wonder what they meant. He saw the plaque had the name of a Gospel for Asia-supported church written on it, so he went in search of the church to ask the local pastor about the verse. After Lanal met GFA-supported pastor Mahir and learned more about the Giver of Living Water, a thirst for the Lord began to develop. Today, Lanal and his family eagerly attend church and are growing in Christ—and it all began with a refreshing drink from a Jesus Well.

Learn how Jesus Wells offer communities clean water, along with Living Water for those who desire it.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Ronak came to the Lord after learning the meaning of a terrifying dream.

Ronak never showed any interest when Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Manajith Chettra would share the Good News of Christ with him. The way he saw it, he already had his deity, and he didn’t need another. And besides, he was too busy selling and drinking wine, a habit that left his family without peace, to make time for worshiping a “foreign” God.

Led by compassion, Manajith continued to reflect Christ’s love to Ronak even though days, weeks and months went by without Ronak ever responding—that is, until the Lord gave Ronak a terrifying dream that opened his eyes to his desperate condition.

A Place Full of Burning Fire

The day after Ronak had the dream, he went in search of Pastor Manajith. He had an important matter to discuss that needed an immediate explanation.

“I had a dream that I can’t understand,” Ronak told Manajith. “It is troubling my mind so much.”

“Which dream are you talking about, and what kind of dream is it?” the pastor asked.

“In my dream, I saw many people running fast toward a place that looked terrible,” Ronak began explaining. His voice shook with a tremor of gloom and anxiety. “The place I saw was full of burning fire. And I was running toward that place along with the crowd. But Pastor Manajith, I didn’t know why I was going toward that place.”

Ronak looked at the pastor with a puzzled expression, but he wasn’t finished sharing his dream.

“Suddenly,” Ronak said, eyes widening, “you came behind me and caught my hands tightly and restrained me from going there. You told me, ‘Don’t go there; that is a dangerous place.’

“What does this dream mean, pastor? Please tell me if there is any meaning to it. I am restless because of it.”

The pastor knew immediately why God had given this dream to Ronak and exclaimed, “This is a wonderful dream!”

He opened his Bible and once again shared the message of Christ’s love to Ronak—a message Ronak had previously refused to listen to. He told him there was a real place called heaven, where the righteous will be with God forever. And there is also a real place called hell where every person who rejects Christ will be sent and tormented forever.

“The place of fire you saw dimly was hell,” Manajith said, interpreting the dream for Ronak. “The man that restrained you from going there wasn’t me, but it was Jesus Christ. He loves you, Ronak, and wants to save you.”

His Heart’s Tug-of-War

Ronak listened to all the pastor had told him, letting the words finally sink in. He felt a tug-of-war going on in his heart. Committing himself to Jesus meant embracing a new way of life that he knew nothing about.

But this God loved him. And now, more than ever, Ronak felt this love and knew he would never experience love like that from any other god.

“I will give my heart to Jesus,” Ronak finally said. “Please pray for me.”

And Manajith did. That was the day Ronak became a new man in Christ.

Today, his entire family serves the living God, and there is much peace in their home. Ronak gave up drinking and smoking and has become a mentor to those suffering with the same addictions he once had.

 Watch a video about three missionaries willing to die for Christ.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Theeran went to Nandin’s meeting with the intent to cause trouble, but instead he found the love of Christ.

As a magician, Theeran cast spells to manipulate the evil spirits he worshiped. He could make people sick or offer them the façade of healing with the help of demons. The people in his village relied on him as their spiritual leader to offer sacrifices and perform religious rituals to their gods and goddesses on their behalf. And when Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Nandin came to his village, Theeran used his influence to persuade a group of youngsters to create trouble for the servant of Christ.

Nandin came for a five-day visit to Theeran’s village. The first night he arrived, he invited some people to join him in his rented room to talk about Jesus. But Theeran had a plan to disrupt their meeting. He gathered a few young boys and headed over to the missionary’s room. On their way there, however, the boys started to argue amongst themselves, so much so that they never made it to Nandin’s place; they went home that night instead.

But Theeran didn’t give up. Anything or anyone that would get in the way of his power had to be stopped. The following night, Theeran came back with the boys in tow. They stepped through Nandin’s door ready to fight and perform spells, but the words of God’s love stopped them cold in their tracks. As Nandin talked about Christ, the message of Truth began to penetrate into Theeran’s heart and mind so deeply that he continued to listen.

By the end of the night, Theeran felt the Holy Spirit’s stirring more strongly than he ever felt any evil spirit’s power. He sat in Nandin’s room with tears in his eyes as he chose to embrace Christ as his Savior and asked God for forgiveness.

When the villagers found out their beloved spiritual leader gave up his position in order to serve the Christian God, they stormed over to Theeran’s house in rage and started throwing stones. They threatened to kill Theeran for turning his back on them. They even challenged him to come out to fight, but despite the hostility, Theeran stood firm in his service to his Lord.

Today, he actively participates in all the church activities and shares about the radical change Christ made in his life.

Find out more about the effectiveness of national missionaries.

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Nadia’s tears turned to joy after God healed her son of malaria.

Nadia sat outside her home crying bitterly. Her youngest son had malaria, and there was nothing she could do to help him. She helplessly looked on as her little boy kept getting worse and worse. The tears she shed that night wouldn’t stop.

A Women’s Fellowship member of the local Gospel for Asia-supported church heard the desperate sobs of the hurting mother and went over to comfort her. After hearing Nadia’s story, she told her, “We have elders in our church and some women who pray for these types of sicknesses, and often, the Lord heals them through prayer. If you go now and tell them about this malaria, they will come immediately and pray for your son.”

As soon as Nadia heard these words, she rushed over to the church where she met GFA-supported woman missionary Ajeeta Singh. She asked the missionary to come to her house to pray for her ailing son. Without hesitating, Ajeeta, along with two other women missionaries, the local GFA-supported pastor and two other believers, hurried over to Nadia’s house to pray.

The pastor assured the family God was able to heal their child. They applied some oil and prayed. Instantly, Nadia’s son was healed.

Nadia and her husband stood stunned, watching as the chills, fever and muscle pain their son experienced from malaria suddenly stopped. That marked the beginning of their walk with Christ. Soon after this miracle, Nadia and her family publicly testified of their faith in Jesus. Today, they cast all their worries on Christ and live as new creations in Him.

Learn more about joining our prayer team to lift up the needs of people like Nadia.

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Than testifies of God’s goodness in his life.

Than Kyi grew up an animist. The 21-year-old college student had never heard the Gospel. He didn’t know God became flesh and dwelled among men. He didn’t know this man, named Jesus, came to save him, that He laid down His life so that he, Than, could live.

But during one of his holiday breaks, that all changed.

While back in his village visiting his family, Than met Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Lwin Naing, who was staying in his village for a few days to share God’s love. It took Lwin one full day’s journey on foot to reach Than’s village, and he planned to make the most of his time by having a three-day worship service.

Than avoided participating in Lwin’s worship service the first night, thinking it was only for Christians. But after Lwin invited him to join them for their second day, Than sat among the believers, listening to the Good News for the first time in his life.

All these years, Than had worshiped creation, but that night, he was finally introduced to the Creator—and the message of God’s sacrificial love pierced Than’s heart.

With the Holy Spirit at work, Than confessed his sins and decided he would commit his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. This newfound love engulfed Than. He became an active member in the local church, participating in all the worship services and other activities. Today, he continues to grow in the Lord as he finishes up his final year at college. He frequently visits his family and shares the Good News with them. He and Pastor Lwin have faith that Than’s parents will embrace Christ’s love soon.

See how you can pray for national missionaries as they minister to the needs of people across South Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Satish stands after eight months of paralysis.

Satish Sona laid in bed, unable to move. He could see men and women going about their daily tasks with ease, while his paralysis left him devoid of life. He slept often to escape the reality of his circumstances, and when he wasn’t sleeping, one question kept entering his thoughts: How am I going to take care of my wife and child?

His parents and siblings left him and his family when Satish became too much of an emotional and financial burden to them. They had tried to find ways to heal him. They took him to doctors and temples. They gave him medicine and went on pilgrimages to offer their gods and goddesses fruit, hens, goats, coconuts and their money for their son’s healing, but the paralysis lingered for eight long months.

When his parents abandoned him, any hope Satish had of being able to walk left with them. As Satish despaired and worried over his wife and child, the Lord brought a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor into his life.

Feeling God’s Power

Gunalan Kumar knocked on Satish’s door while sharing God’s love in his village. He learned of Satish’s condition and told him and his wife about the Great Physician, who heals without any need for material offerings.

Satish and his wife listened as hope began to well in their hearts. They eagerly joined in Gunalan’s prayer for Satish, believing Jesus could heal him.

As Gunalan prayed, Satish began to feel strange sensations coursing through his arms and legs.

“A kind of power came upon me like fire, and I started sweating,” Satish recalls. “I did not know what was happening with me. At the end of the prayer, I was shocked to find out there was feeling in my hands and legs. It was a surprising and incredible thing for me to believe.

“All of a sudden I felt like I was healed, and I started walking. But after walking two or three steps, I fell again and was in the same condition. However, I had faith that the Lord Jesus would heal me completely.”

And that He did. One month later, Satish was up and walking as if he had never been paralyzed. Now, he is able to take care of his wife and child without any worries. Both he and his wife committed their hearts to Christ after experiencing this miraculous healing.

Committed No Matter the Opposition

Their relatives discouraged them from attending church and becoming Christians, but Satish says he will not deny the One who brought him healing and filled his life with hope.

“He gave him hope from the hopeless condition and raised him up from the sleeping bed,” said a GFA field correspondent. “Satish gives all honor and glory to Jesus for what He has done for him.”

Gospel for Asia - Reports

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Taun Cortado 972-300-3120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARROLLTON, Texas, April 23, 2012—In celebration of World Water Day, which took place March 22, Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries went to a local prison in South Asia and gave the inmates a never-ending supply of clean water: BioSand water filters.

Manav Banjeree, an inmate serving a life sentence, spoke on behalf of the 172 others living out their sentences behind bars.

“I have been here in the jail for eight years, and I know how difficult it is to live without clean water for drinking,” Manav said. “I am so thankful to the leaders who care for the prisoners and gave filters for our daily use.”

The GFA-supported missionaries distributed five water filters and explained the importance of using pure, clean water for healthy living. Manav expressed the desire to attain three more filters so each of the eight wards of the prison could benefit from having safe water to use.

The GFA team leader assured him and the others they would provide more filters so all will have access to clean water.

“Indeed, the prisoners, the superintendent, the jailors and others who work in the jail were very happy that we provided water filters for the prisoners,” said a GFA field correspondent.

They hope and pray these filters will help bring the inmates closer to the One who provides streams of Living Water that never run dry.

Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Religion is very much a part of Bhutanese life. It rules and governs how they live. Almost every village has a small monastery.

The Bhutan High Court sentenced Gospel for Asia-supported missionary *Ugyen Tashi to three years in prison for “attempting to promote civil unrest” for showing a film about Jesus.

On May 21st, carrying a generator and a projector, Ugyen walked for two days into interior villages of Bhutan with a single purpose—to give people a chance to learn about Jesus.

But when one of the village chiefs learned of the movie’s content, he informed the chief of his district, who then called the police to arrest Ugyen.

Investigations and Questionings

The days following the arrest were a whirlwind of investigations, questionings, postponements, police statements and waiting.

While police investigated his case, Pastor Ugyen was kept in a small, dark, mosquito-filled room along with three other inmates.

On June 14, the police attempted to search Pastor Ugyen’s house, but they were unable to enter because the house was locked.

In need of more information, the police sent a team to the villages where Ugyen showed the Jesus film to reinvestigate and conclude whether people were converted through the screening.

The police summoned the village chiefs and others present at the showing and asked them a series of questions concerning what happened the night of Ugyen’s arrest. Both Christians and non-Christians presented statements for Ugyen’s case.

The Court Process

On July 22, two months after Ugyen’s arrest, he was taken to court for the first phase of his hearing—after multiple postponements and cancellations.

GFA leaders had initially met with local officials to appeal for Ugyen’s release on bail, but the officials refused their petition because they considered Ugyen’s case very serious and a possible violation of Bhutan’s constitution, which states that “No person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means of coercion or inducement.”

Ugyen was asked to write a statement for the court, but his first statement was considered insufficient. Nine times Ugyen rewrote his statement, paying $2.50 each time.

On August 17, the court presented all of Ugyen’s statements in the presence of the officials and asked Ugyen to screen the controversial film on the life of Jesus before the court the following day. Although it was reported that the court officials wanted to watch all the films Ugyen had shown before a final verdict was pronounced, the film was never shown.

Buthan’s constitution states that “Buddhism is the spiritual heritage of Bhutan, which promotes the principles and values of peace, non-violence, compassion and tolerance,” yet Christians have often been persecuted for their faith even though their constitutional right grants them freedom of religion as long as they weren’t compelled by coercion to convert to Christianity.

Please pray for Pastor Ugyen while he is in prison. Pray for his health, and that he will be able to effectively minister while he’s behind bars. Pray also for the other believers living in Bhutan. Pray for their protection, strength to endure persecution, and discernment on how to share the Good News with those around them.

Pastor Ugyen’s timeline:

• May 21, 2010 – Ugyen is arrested by Bhutan police for showing the Jesus film. Film equipment confiscated.
• June 4, 2010 – The police summon the village chief and people who saw the film to give detailed information. Police give Ugyen’s case to Divisional Magistrate, who forwards the case to the District Magistrate for further investigation.
• June 9, 2010 – Case forwarded to the district court. Ugyen awaits his first hearing.
• June 14, 2010 – Police try to investigate Ugyen’s house but can’t enter because the door is locked.
• June 15, 2010 – Police go to villages where film was shown to reinvestigate.
• July 5, 2010 – GFA leaders meet with officials to appeal for Ugyen’s release on bail. The petition is refused because of the gravity of the case.
• July 22, 2010 – First phase of hearing scheduled for July 23 postponed until July 26.
• Aug. 4, 2010 – Ugyen asked to write a statement. The statement is invalid, and he is asked to write another one.
• Aug 6, 2010 – Ugyen has written nine statements thus far. He is questioned as to why he shared the Good News. Next court date set for Aug. 9.
• Aug. 9, 2010 – Ugyen’s court date rescheduled for Aug. 17.
• Aug. 17, 2010 – Pastor Ugyen taken to court and his statements are read before the court officials. Asked to appear before the court again on Aug. 18 to screen the Jesus film.
• Aug. 19, 2010 – Pastor Ugyen asked to appear on Aug. 20 instead.
• Aug. 23, 2010 – The district court forwards all of Pastor Ugyen’s statements and a report from the police and district court to the High Court in Thimphu for verification. Screening of Jesus film never takes place.
• Sept. 8, 2010 – District court takes over case again. Court officials suggest Ugyen write an apology to the judge of the district court.
• Oct. 7, 2010 – High Court sentences Ugyen to three years in prison.

*Name has been changed for security purposes.

(First published: Dec. 9, 2010)

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Rupashi

Rahu maneuvered his school bus filled with children through the streets of his town. He made his way down dirt roads, swerving every now and then to miss potholes, animals and items lying on the street. Even with Rahu’s expert handling, something pierced one of the bus’s tires and deflated it quickly.

Rahu stopped the school bus and went to fetch the spare tire that was bolted to the roof of the bus. He called to his helper to toss up a screwdriver so he’d be able to unfasten the tire. But when Rahu attempted to catch the thrown tool, he unknowingly grabbed hold of the 11,000 volt electric wire that was just above him instead, killing him on the spot.

That was the last day of Rahu’s life—and the beginning of his daughter Rupashi’s days of depression.

A Daughter’s Grief

Rahu’s death left a deep void in 12-year-old Rupashi’s life. She had loved her father and spent many days in tears because she missed him. All the happiness and hope she had once felt died the day her father passed away.

She lost the desire to keep living. She stopped going to school and the Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope center she attended. She languished without her father there to appreciate and encourage her.

“This situation was slowly leading her toward a silent death,” explained a GFA field correspondent.

No More Tears

The Bridge of Hope staff began to visit Rupashi and her family. They prayed with and counselled them, taking every opportunity to fill them back up with the hope of Christ.

Eventually, Rupashi returned to school and the Bridge of Hope center. The teachers at the center nurtured and encouraged her. The fog of depression began to lift, and Rupashi discovered a love for life again. She began to excel in her studies. Today, she sings and dances and loves to help others and make sure they are just as happy as she is.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Twenty-four Burmese singers share Christ through songs and their testimonies.

Believers in Myanmar (Burma) found a special way to celebrate Christmas last year. They organized a Gospel music festival in a paddy field near a Gospel for Asia-supported Bible college.

On December 11, 2011, more than 3,000 people gathered to hear 24 Burmese singers sing Christmas songs. The singers, many of whom were once addicted to opium and alcohol before they gave their lives to Christ, also shared their testimonies. They explained to the crowd how their lives totally changed after receiving the love of Jesus in their hearts.

The GFA country leader in Myanmar also had the opportunity to share about Christmas with the mixed audience of believers and nonbelievers.

“Christmas means Jesus Christ came to the world for all people to save us from our sins,” he said. “Christmas is not only for Christians, but it’s for all people.”

Through hearing his message, many came to know Jesus is the living God for every tribe and people.

The Bible college students also passed out 5,000 Gospel tracts during the event.

“We surely hope that many people will come to understand the love of Christ by reading the Gospel tracts in the days to come,” said a GFA correspondent. “We really thank God for enabling us to conduct the music festival to explain what the meaning of Christmas is to thousands of nonbelievers.”

Gospel for Asia - Reports

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Taun Cortado 972-300-3120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARROLLTON, Texas, April 13, 2012—Anti-Christians in South Asia have restricted more than 200 believers who attend Pastor Sayam Chandran’s church from attending Sunday worship service. Right now, only 70-90 believers fit in the limited space where the services take place. The Gospel for Asia-supported pastor purchased a piece of land to build a bigger church, but anti-Christians are not permitting any construction to take place.

The 200 plus believers who aren’t able to make it to the services receive house visits from Sayam throughout the week to be encouraged and discipled in their faith.

Despite the current opposition, Pastor Sayam has earned the respected title of a religious teacher in 10 neighboring villages because of the many miracles that have happened through his prayers and dedicated ministry.

Gospel for Asia president, K.P. Yohannan, values every prayer lifted up on behalf of Pastor Sayam, the believers in this area and the many others facing similar circumstances.

“We’re so grateful for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are praying for pastors like Sayam,” Yohannan said. “It is through these faithful prayers that God’s work is established.”

Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

A Women’s Fellowship team celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities by giving to those in need.

Disgraced. Disregarded. And sometimes considered cursed by the gods—this is the life of South Asia’s disabled people.

According to statistics from The World Bank, India alone has between 40 to 80 million people living with disabilities, and at least one in 12 households has a member with a disability.

When the International Day of Persons with Disabilities rolled around on December 3, 2011, a Gospel for Asia-supported Women’s Fellowship team saw it as a perfect opportunity to share God’s love with some of South Asia’s most forgotten and marginalized people.

Gifts Show God’s Love to the Disabled

With the guidance and support of their state leader, the women organized an event to recognize six disabled men and women in their community. Five received blankets, and one of the men received a pair of crutches to replace his pair that had worn out.

A GFA field correspondent said the men and women were extremely delighted and thankful for the gifts they received.

“We never thought someone would come and care for us,” one of the recipients said.

Recipients Grateful to Women’s Fellowship

With the social stigma cast aside, these men and women experienced a tangible expression of God’s unconditional love through the sisters from GFA’s Women Fellowship.

Women’s Fellowship teams are often considered the backbone of the church and take different initiatives to strengthen the ministry in their area. Every GFA-supported church has a Women’s Fellowship, where the women of the church can grow in the Lord and live out their faith by taking part in special outreach activities that bring the hope and love of Christ to those in desperate circumstances—just like they did for these men and women.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Poojan with his family.

Poojan Manasi had many ideas for developing the village he lived in. As the village chief, he was in charge of solving all the problems in his area, so he set out to tackle each issue starting with the village’s lack of clean water.

Poojan sought and received government permission to dig wells in his village, but after installing three water pumps, he realized it would not be sufficient for the entire village. There were still two remaining areas where people had no source of clean water—and the villagers started complaining.

Finding the Solution

Poojan searched for other possible solutions to this problem, but he kept running into dead ends. He was losing hope of meeting the villagers’ expectations and needs when he heard about Jesus Wells through Gospel for Asia’s Compassion Services ministry. He immediately met with the local GFA-supported pastor, Peter Goyary, to talk with him about the possibility of getting a well for his villagers.

Pastor Peter presented the need to his leaders. After surveying the village, they decided to install two Jesus Wells in Poojan’s village.

“The villagers were very happy to have the Jesus Wells,” explained a GFA field correspondent. “The village head was overjoyed because the Jesus Wells solved a big problem that he was unable to solve.”

Meeting More Than Just a Physical Need

Touched by the church’s response to his need, Poojan developed a friendship with the pastor. He gave Peter freedom to conduct any program he wanted in the village and even in the neighboring villages, where he has influence.

Poojan was even interested in learning more about the God Peter served. He would listen intently whenever Peter shared the Good News with him and told him of God’s great love.

Today, Poojan and his family have committed their lives to Christ.

“They are living peaceful lives in the grace of the Lord Jesus,” the GFA correspondent said.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

GFA Radio impacts millions of listeners each year.

This letter is from a listener of Gospel for Asia Radio. It’s only one out of a million pieces of correspondence GFA Radio receives each year that shows how God is working through this invisible—but powerful—missionary.

Greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus!

I am Amir. I’m 30 years old and come from a nominal Christian family.

I was suffering from a throat infection that made my mouth bleed and also from hemorrhoids. In June, my problem became worse, and I was unable to sit, stand or walk. I became so weak. I went to many hospitals and used to take medicine but failed to get any results.

I used to listen to the Telegu radio program every day early in the morning. I wrote letters to the radio correspondents to share my problems. They replied with comforting and encouraging words, saying they are praying for me.

As an answer to their prayers, God started to do mighty works in my life miraculously. Within one week, the blood that would come from my mouth stopped, and I started to do my domestic work without anyone’s help. I praise God for the GFA Radio program.

Please continuously pray for my complete healing and the salvation of my family members.

Thanking you,
Amir

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Tamasi and her son, Emmanuel

It didn’t seem fair to Tamasi. She loved her baby daughter and thought she’d get to see her take her first steps, graduate high school, get married and have children of her own. She wanted to spend years and years seeing her little one grow up. Instead, she and her husband were only given five short months to shower love and hugs on their baby girl before being torn apart by a physical illness.

Tamasi had a lot of questions for the God she served.

Why did you take my daughter away from me? she often thought.

She began to blame God, and anger welled up within her. The unanswered questions coupled with the deep anguish were too difficult to bear. Finally, she stopped going to church and turned her back on her Savior.

Tamasi’s suffering only increased when her husband quit his job because of some difficult problems that were going on. All these troubles weighed on the couple, so they moved to a different state to escape.

An Unwanted Visitor’s Persistence

Miriam

In their new community, believers befriended Tamasi and told Gospel for Asia-supported woman missionary Miriam of Tamasi’s struggles. Miriam went to visit Tamasi to encourage her, but when Tamasi found out Miriam was a missionary, she tried to avoid her.

Miriam, however, did not give up her quest to share God’s love with this suffering mother. Whenever she had the opportunity, she’d tell Tamasi the Biblical stories of Sarah and Hannah and how God had blessed them with children after years of barrenness and suffering.

Miriam’s continual pursuit softened Tamasi’s heart, but she still had questions.

“Pray for my family,” Tamasi begged. “We don’t know why we are in such suffering.”

Mourning Turns to Joy

After prayers and continual visits, the Lord answered their pleas for mercy, and Tamasi and her husband were blessed with a baby boy. They named their son Emmanuel, who now serves as a continual reminder of God’s presence in their lives.

Experiencing God’s grace and faithfulness, even in the midst of her suffering, restored Tamasi’s relationship with her Creator. The Lord even used this painful time in Tamasi’s life and His answer to their prayers to touch the hearts of two other ladies, who have now committed their lives to Him.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Ahsan’s parents abandoned him, but now he has the love of his Heavenly Father.

Ahsan’s parents abandoned him. His abusive, alcoholic father ran off with another woman, leaving Ahsan’s mother, Sanita, to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives.

Sanita was left alone to provide for and raise Ahsan and his older siblings. She started to work as a laborer in a paddy field, but Sanita often fell sick and couldn’t work. With hardly any money coming in, Ahsan and his family went hungry for many days at a time.

The pressure to feed and educate her children weighed on Sanita’s shoulders until she collapsed from its heaviness. The physical abuse she had received from her husband was easier to bear than seeing hunger in her children’s eyes. She decided Ahsan and his sisters would be better off living with their grandparents, so she left.

Abandoned by His Parents

Ahsan was only 9 years old when his mother sent him to live with his grandparents. But because of their old age, Ahsan’s grandparents had difficulty providing for their grandchildren. The hope of a better life faded with the realization that things were just like they were before, the only difference being that Ahsan’s parents weren’t around.

Ahsan lived with bitter discouragement. He lost his parents. He was still hungry. He had no one to share his thoughts and struggles with. So the young boy decided to commit suicide to end his suffering.

Ahsan didn’t know, however, that throughout his hardships, God was working behind the scenes to deliver him.

Finding New Hope

It was during this time that Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope staff members learned about Ahsan’s pitiful situation. They went to visit him, and the boy poured out his heartbreaking tale of abandonment. The staff encouraged Ahsan and put a plan into action to get him enrolled in their Bridge of Hope center.

While attending the center, Ahsan committed his life to the Lord. Today, he rejoices in his Savior who saved him from a pit of despair. Although he still longs to be reunited with his parents, Ahsan is discovering the true love of his Heavenly Father.

“God has been leading his life, and he learned how to live,” said a GFA field correspondent. “He praises God for Bridge of Hope, which made his life more meaningful.”

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Chahna

My name is Chahna. I am 35 years old, and I am a widow.

I have a small family. My older son is 20 years old, and my daughter is 19. She recently married.

Ten years ago, my husband died. Soon after his death, it was difficult for me to run my family smoothly. But I did not lose my courage. Rather, I stood alone and tried my very best to nourish my children.

As the years passed by, I became weak in my health and was not able to do labor work. I was suffering with numbness in my right hand. I went to a doctor, and they gave me some ordinary capsules, which did not help cure my sickness.

One afternoon while returning from the hospital, I met Rutesh, and he introduced himself as a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor. It was good to hear that he was a pastor. I thought he could solve my problem, so I invited him to my home for prayer.

I told him that for the last three years I had been suffering with a numbness problem in my right hand. I told him that most of the time I was unable to lift my hands and carry things. If I carried something in my hands, it would fall because I did not have the strength.

That day, Pastor Rutesh prayed for me and gave me a New Testament. While he prayed for me, I felt immense joy and experienced the healing touch of Jesus Christ. From that day onward, Pastor Rutesh visited my house and shared the Word of God with me. In this way, God helped me to grow.

Meanwhile, I was in search of an easy job for the survival of my family. By the grace of God and through our pastor’s help, I got a special gift in 2011: a sewing machine. I thank God for hearing my prayers. With this sewing machine, I started earning money and was able to sustain my life as well as my family.

I am very thankful to GFA and the Christmas gift distribution program because it has played a vital role in the community to help the poor and downtrodden living in poverty.

Sincerely,

Chahna

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Sana stands beside her daughter, Amrita, after being healed of a disease that kept her bedridden.

Pastor Gopal Raj saw Sana sitting on her verandah. When she started to walk toward the Gospel for Asia-supported pastor, Gopal stood shocked.

Could this be the same bedridden woman he visited just three weeks ago? The same woman who refused to let him pray for her healing?

When Sana approached the pastor, she told him that even though she refused his offer to pray for her, she still heard him pray in a low voice. From that day forward, she gained the energy to stand.

Sana Worries for Her Daughter

Before that, 35-year-old Sana had been confined to her bed. In 2009, a disease that made Sana lose her appetite began to ravage her body to the point that she was wasting away. Left a widow years before, Sana only had her 17-year-old daughter, Amrita, to take care of her.

Amrita worshiped gods and goddesses in different temples to gain healing for her mother, but still Sana’s health did not improve. Thinking she would die with this condition, Sana worried for her only daughter. Her brother-in-law and his family, whom she and Amrita stayed with, would not take care of her daughter if she passed away. She knew that after the death of her husband, her brother-in-law only took them in out of obligation and nothing more.

Healing Finally Comes

When Pastor Gopal came to visit Sana, she refused his help, not knowing the powerful God he served. But that day marked the beginning of change for Sana.

Twenty-one days later, Sana had the chance to tell Gopal the power of his whispered prayer.

As they stood outside her home, Sana asked the pastor to continue praying for her complete healing. The disease still made her frail.

A few days of continuous prayer set Sana free of the disease that had taken over her health. Now, she and her daughter, Amrita, serve the Lord.

A New Family

Becoming Christians wasn’t an easy thing for Sana and Amrita to do. They knew it would cost them their friends, and the rest of their community would turn on them—and when that happened, Sana and Amrita had the support of fellow believers to fall back on.

After Sana and Amrita were kicked out of their brother-in-law’s house because of their new faith, the believers of the GFA-supported church they attend saw their great need for a home. So they banded together to donate a piece of land for Sana and Amrita to build a house on.

They live in a small hut and continue to rejoice in the Lord for their new “family” and His great love.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

This is Ranita and her brand-new sewing machine provided by GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog.

There just wasn’t enough money for Ranita and Paul to keep studying when their parents and four other sisters were starving—so they dropped out of school.

Ranita and Paul started farming to add to the little income their parents were earning, but it still wasn’t enough for their family of eight. Because of this, their relationship with God suffered as well. Their faith turned cold as they struggled in dire poverty without sufficient food.

A Gospel for Asia-supported missionary took notice and set out to change their life. Pastor Isaiah Dutta spoke with Ranita and her family, reaffirming God’s love and promises to provide for their every need. This encouragement reignited the passion they once had for Jesus, and Ranita and her family recommitted their lives to serve Christ.

The Beginning of Change

Their years of struggle came to an end in 2010 when Ranita received a sewing machine through Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog.

“She thanked God as well as the ministry of GFA for providing a sewing machine to take away their poverty,” said a GFA field correspondent.

After receiving that life-changing gift, Ranita set up a tailoring center in her home’s portico. When her neighbors saw her stitching talent, they started sending her their clothes to mend.

“Earlier, the villagers were going to the city to stitch their clothes, and they found it very pricey,” explained the correspondent. “But when they saw a tailoring center inside their own village, they all gave their clothing to Ranita. She began to prosper extensively.”

Her brother, Paul, also began sewing. He mends men’s clothing, which Ranita wasn’t able to do. Through their earnings, they could provide for their family and help their older sister go to college to continue her studies.

More Than Just a Gift

But receiving a sewing machine did more than just improve their physical living circumstance. It was proof of God’s love and care in their lives, and Ranita’s faith and walk with Christ—along with her family’s—has been enriched.

Now she, the rest of her family and 10 others gather in her home to pray, worship and learn God’s Word through Pastor Isaiah’s shepherding.

A GFA field correspondent said Ranita and her family are grateful for the compassion they were shown, through which they are thriving—in more ways than just one.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Karun stands in what remains of his house.

Out of fear and hopelessness, Karun and his family fled their home in Mizoram, India, after a group of Mizo people burned down their house. Being part of the Reang people group, Karun was often a target for abuse.

For years, the Mizos and the Reangs have been at odds with each other, each firing accusations of murder, rape and abuse on both sides. The animosity is rooted in territorial rights over the land of Mizoram.

Many Reangs, including Karun and his family, sought refuge in the neighboring state of Tripura, but it was difficult for some to leave.

“My great grandfathers were born and brought up in Mizoram,” Karun shared. “There they all grew up and died away. I was one of their offspring who had also become a permanent inhabitant of the state of Mizoram many years ago.”

But with the hostility seeming to escalate, Karun no longer felt safe in the place where he and the generations before him were born and raised. So in 1997, he and his family made their way to Tripura.

Karun thought he was safe from disaster, but it only followed him.

“I Lost Everything…”

A farmer by profession, Karun often went into the jungles to gather bamboo and collect vegetables to sell. This was his way of survival, and that’s what he was doing when a fire broke out in his village.

The Reang people practice Jhum cultivation, which is a “slash-and-burn” method of agriculture. The people cut down forested areas so they can dry the leaves of the plants and trees. Then they burn the deforested areas and fertilize it in preparation for planting. In the midst of one burning process, the wind blew the flames onto the nearby houses, killing 40 people and turning 3,000 homes into ash—including Karun’s.

When Karun returned from the jungle, he saw his house and all his earnings demolished.

“Why did this happen to me?” Karun cried out. “I have no one to depend on to make my house. I have lost everything that I had. It’s better to die than to live on this earth.”

The government of Tripura has rebuilt 1,500 houses and given tin sheets for roofing and money to help rebuild. But 11 months later, Karun’s house has yet to be rebuilt. He’s taken shelter in a small temporary hut made of bamboo and straw. And although he still doesn’t have much food to eat or clothes to wear, Karun no longer lives with a feeling of despair.

Taking Refuge in the Lord

Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Chahel has taken him under his wing and shown him where true hope lies—in Jesus Christ. Karun and 50 other believers worship the Lord, even in the midst of their difficulties.

There are many others like Karun who are rebuilding their lives after a natural disaster. Sometimes, it can take years for the physical and emotional wounds to heal.

Please pray for Karun and the many others like him who have faced calamities that have shaken their world. Pray they grow in the Lord and continue to find peace in Christ.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Pastor Sudhir, shown here with his wife and their three children, has given himself to the Lord’s work in his village.

Sudhir Ahluwalia’s family loved the Lord, but he didn’t. Growing up in a small village of South Asia, Sudhir didn’t have any interest in knowing God. He spent his teenage years chasing after things of this world and becoming wrapped up in a life of sin.

But in 1997, a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor befriended Sudhir and began sharing the Word of God with him. The teenager joined the pastor and his fellowship for a three-day prayer and fasting meeting. There, the Lord showed him his need for salvation, and, at the age of 17, Sudhir gave his life to Christ. He decided he would not return to his old lifestyle, but instead would pursue godliness.

Moved with Compassion

When Sudhir turned to Christ, he was moved with the Lord’s compassion for the lost. He accompanied his pastor in reaching out to the many in his area who had never heard of the Savior. Sudhir recounts that, despite opposition, “The grace of the Lord followed us wherever we went.”

Sudhir had only been following the Lord a month when he made a commitment to reach the most unreached and enrolled in a GFA-supported Bible college. After graduation, Sudhir ministered for four years in a village where 15 people decided to follow the Lord.

The village Sudhir works in now is deeply rooted in a traditional religion, which makes sharing the Good News difficult—and dangerous. Pastor Sudhir has faced much opposition from anti-Christian fundamentalists in the area. Through his ministry, however, the Lord has brought salvation to 17 people, including a man named Ganesh.

A Downtrodden Family

Ganesh Dhindsa and his family were, like the rest of the villagers, completely devoted to their gods. They faithfully carried out all the practices of their religion, pleading with their deities to give them peace and blessings. Ganesh’s family, however, never received the peace they desperately longed for.

The Dhindsa family had gone through many trying circumstances. When Ganesh was young, someone murdered his father. Ganesh, his widowed mother and all his siblings went through several painful experiences as they picked up the shattered pieces of their lives. Without their father there to provide, Ganesh’s family fell deeper into poverty. And when a severe stomach illness began to afflict Ganesh, he couldn’t afford to treat it. On top of all this, one of Ganesh’s sisters suffered from a handicap.

Despite all Ganesh’s efforts to appease his gods, they never brought his family peace.

Proclaiming the Prince of Peace

Then, one day, Ganesh met Pastor Sudhir and told him about his hardships. Pastor Sudhir was moved, and, with a great burden for the family, he prayed for them. Then, Sudhir told them about the God who can bring peace. They were deeply touched, and, that very day, the whole family chose to follow Jesus! Now they join Pastor Sudhir and the rest of the church in worshiping the Prince of Peace.

Please pray for Pastor Sudhir, that the Lord would continue to produce much fruit through his ministry.

Also ask the Lord to draw Ganesh and his family closer to Him, to provide for their finances and to comfort and lead Ganesh’s handicapped sister.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Taun Cortado 972-300-3120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARROLLTON, Texas, March 18, 2012—Roughly 884 million people in the world today still do not have access to clean water for their simplest needs. In fact, it is estimated that less than one percent of the earth’s water is even suitable for drinking. This lack of clean drinking water results in 3.4 million deaths every year or more than 9,000 deaths every day—most of them children.

As World Water Day approaches on March 22, Gospel for Asia is helping combat the global water crisis in South Asia by distributing BioSand water filters and digging Jesus Wells in areas lacking clean water.

The all-natural, man-made BioSand water filters use concrete and sand to remove impurities from even the most contaminated water and provides families with water that is 98 percent pure.

Jesus Wells are a very cost-effective way to provide a fresh water source for entire villages, allowing even the poorest and most marginalized people—like the Dalits (“Untouchables”)—in the community to draw clean water. According to the United Nations Development Programme, these people are often the most affected by water-related health problems because they are “systematically excluded from [water] access by their poverty, by their limited legal rights or by public policies that limit access to the infrastructures that provide water for life and for livelihoods.”

Daniel Punnose, vice president of Gospel for Asia, can attest to that fact.

“I have seen Dalits walking for miles to get water,” he said. “Because of their low status, they are not allowed to draw water from the same source as everyone else. Gospel for Asia is demonstrating Christ’s love tangibly by providing clean water to communities and people who desperately need it.”

Gospel for Asia realizes clean water is essential to saving millions of lives. With tools like BioSand water filters and Jesus Wells, GFA is now providing countless people a chance to survive. For more information, visit www.gfa.org/cleanwater.

Editors: Gospel for Asia Vice President Daniel Punnose is available for interviews. Please call 972-300-3120.

Gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization based in Carrollton, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

One Bridge of Hope center, in partnership with a humanitarian organization, took on the task of fighting one of the common ailments: blindness.

A cure they can’t afford.

In their region, green leafy vegetables and other sources of Vitamin A are almost completely absent in children’s diets. This isn’t because the children don’t want to eat their vegetables—it’s because they can’t. The food that poor families can afford is very limited and often doesn’t include vegetables.

This is tragic because cases of severe Vitamin A deficiencies can lead to weakened immune systems, blindness or even death.

Knowing that children younger than five are particularly vulnerable to this deficiency, the Bridge of Hope staff designed a seminar to teach about the importance of vitamins. They handed out pamphlets, spoke to the children and their parents and then distributed vitamins to each child.

The program started at this Bridge of Hope center has spread to other centers in South Asia over the last two years, providing vitamins to more than 5,000 children.

Donate to GFA’s Compassion Ministries.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Pastor Mihir and his believers pray for healings, and the Lord answers.

Mihir Gavde, a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary, is witnessing God’s miraculous hand at work as Christ brings healing to many people in his community.

The Shock of a Lifetime

When a young boy in Mihir’s village accidently touched a live electrical wire, everyone thought he would die. Burns covered one side of his small body. But a believer from Mihir’s church, Rajat, knew Jesus could heal. He immediately prayed for the boy, and the Lord resuscitated him.

Excruciating Problem

Rajat had experienced a miracle in his own family, which led him to give his heart to Christ. For five long years, his nephew had difficulties whenever he had bowel movements. The pain was so unbearable, he would scream and yell. The boy’s mother, Rajat’s sister, took him to the hospital, but doctors couldn’t pinpoint the problem. Slowly, the boy’s stomach began to swell, and the pain worsened. He began to get weaker, refusing to eat in fear of the pain that would follow.

Rajat wasn’t sure how to help his nephew, but he had heard about a pastor whose God worked miracles. He went to Pastor Mihir and told him of the boy’s problems. Mihir rushed to find the boy and prayed for him.

“Wonder of wonders!” exclaimed a GFA field correspondent. “The child who was sick for five long years was healed at that instant!”

Because of this healing, Rajat and his entire family chose to follow Christ as their Savior.

Last Chance for Survival

The Lord answered another of Mihir’s prayers by healing a woman battling tuberculosis.

Sonya was in the last stages of the illness when Mihir heard about her situation. Her husband, Viraj, reluctantly attended one of the fellowship meetings at Mihir’s church after being invited by a believer. He asked the pastor to pray for his ailing wife, so Mihir did.

“God, in His abundant mercy, healed Viraj’s wife instantly when our pastor prayed,” shared a GFA field correspondent.

Through each of these healings, God chose to reveal His glory and bring people to salvation. Please pray for these individuals and families to grow strong in their new faith. Pray also for Pastor Mihir, that the Lord will expand his work in that area.

Sponsor a National Missionary today.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Some of the young believers performed a Christmas skit for a crowd of people. There was a great response to the message they shared.

Gospel for Asia–supported missionaries and pastors all over Asia plan how they can share the story of Jesus’ love with their neighbors in creative ways.

Jeremiah is one of these missionaries. He has already led special Christmas services in 17 villages. The Lord has worked mightily in many lives through his messages.

Most of these villages are populated by high-caste and traditionally resistant groups of people. Along with the Christmas services, Jeremiah held meetings to carefully and thoroughly compare their traditional religion with Christianity. Because he was familiar with their beliefs, he could respectfully and effectively share with the villagers about the hope they could have by knowing Jesus.

In one village, 60 people chose to receive Jesus as a result of Jeremiah’s message. In another village, 185 people attended his program and out of that group, 70 chose to follow Christ. In a third area, 40 people out of 75 attending found new life in the Savior.

Jeremiah is grateful to the Lord for His work in the lives of these men and women. He also requests prayer that the others who heard the Good News will also come to know Jesus.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Compassion Services helps provide medical care for many people who have never seen a doctor.

In a Sri Lanka village where no one had ever visited a doctor, Gospel for Asia Compassion Services teams provided medical checkups for more than 100 people.

“This was a historical day for the villagers,” wrote GFA’s correspondent, “since it was the first time they had an opportunity to attend a medical clinic—free of charge.”

Working with the local government, which helped sponsor the event, GFA-supported missionaries and Women’s Fellowship teams arranged for a group of doctors to work the mobile clinic.

On the day of the medical camp, 102 people came for their free medical care. The examinations included HIV/AIDs tests, gynecology services for women and eye exams for the elderly. Along with the checkups, the doctors shared hygienic advice to help the villagers prevent sickness and disease.

All of this was done in the name of Jesus, demonstrating to the villagers that they are loved by their Creator.

“This medical camp made a difference and added value to their lives,” wrote the correspondent.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

GFA-supported missionary Matthew Kishard was attacked by anti-Christian extremists while he was praying for a sick boy.

Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Matthew Kishard was attacked by a mob of about 50 students October 3. Kishard, who serves as pastor of a village church in a tribal area, was in a nearby village distributing Gospel tracts when a family asked him to come to their home and pray for a sick child.

Just as Pastor Kishard and his team began uttering their prayer, a mob of young men and women showed up and began shouting at the missionary.

“Why are you trying to convert people to Christianity?” the group’s leader demanded.

“We are not converting them. Rather, we are praying for their sick boy,” Pastor Kishard explained.

The answer did not pacify the crowd. Suddenly, one young man pulled off his shoe and began beating Pastor Kishard. As this young man knocked the missionary to the ground and continued pummeling him, his fellow extremists lunged after the rest of Pastor Kishard’s team, grabbing their Bibles and tracts. The extremists were on their way to start a fire with the literature when a few elderly people stepped in and stopped them. These elderly people also pulled the young man away from Pastor Kishard, stopping the prolonged assault.

Pastor Kishard has a lot of bruises and cuts from the attack, but he is not seriously injured. He does need prayer for healing.

He is asking everyone to pray for the people who opposed him and beat him up.

“Pray that our loving God will touch them and change their lives—that they might know the truth,” he asks.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

A storm brews over this Bridge of Hope center (above), but a figurative storm rages over the Bridge of Hope center threatened by anti-Christian forces.

Because of the workings of anti-Christian extremists, the landlord who owns the building where a Bridge of Hope center operates has been charged with breaking the law for renting out his building to the center.

This opposition to the Bridge of Hope center and to Vinay Sen, the landlord, started when a village official accused the center of trying to force the Bridge of Hope children’s parents to convert to Christianity under the pretense of social work.

The Bridge of Hope parents openly refuted these allegations.

Police visited the Bridge of Hope center and also spoke with Vinay Sen to take information about the center. Concerned, the Bridge of Hope staff compiled a petition for the district magistrate. In this document, the parents of the Bridge of Hope students stated their desire to keep the program going because of its positive effect on their families.

In spite of the petition, Vinay received mail on November 5 that charged him with breaking the law and summoned him to court. When he informed the Bridge of Hope office, some Gospel for Asia-supported leaders in the state intervened.

Five leaders personally visited Vinay and reviewed the subpoena. They noticed that, strangely, the document had no signatures from court officials. On November 8, they asked Vinay to go with them to the district magistrate’s office, where they explained the situation.

The situation remains unresolved. It follows several false accusations made in the past against this Bridge of Hope center. Gospel for Asia-supported staff in the area request prayer for the following:

• God to melt the hearts of those opposing the center.
• The village official to support the center and its work for underprivileged children

(First published on: November 16, 2010. Read update.)

Gospel for Asia - Reports

Like the woman in this photo, Jayana has a ministry of praying for the sick.

As the pain shot through Samaj Jakkamsetti’s body, restricting him to bed rest, his future looked bleak.

The young man had moved away from his family in search of work and found a construction job. Although he was making a decent salary, he surrounded himself with a corrupting group of friends and squandered most of his income on alcohol and tobacco.

Then, while carrying a heavy load at work one day, Samaj tore one of his muscles. The pain was excruciating. In the weeks following the injury, he visited many doctors and took medication to ease the pain, but it did not subside. In fact, his pain increased, causing him to lose his appetite and making him weaker. In the midst of his discouragement, Samaj had no idea what the coming days would bring.

After weeks of bed rest, Samaj learned about a woman in his village named Jayana, who has a ministry of praying for the sick. Samaj sought her out, and, after he explained his problems to her, she prayed for him. The Lord answered quickly and took away all Samaj’s pain—and even released him from his addictions—that very day!

Seeing the power of the one true God, Samaj placed his life in the hands of the Lord and became hungry to know Jesus more and more each day. Two weeks later, he was fully involved in the church of Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Alhad Bapaiah, who is Jayana’s son-in-law, and, because the Lord healed his muscle, he was working again.

Please ask the Lord to continue to draw Samaj toward Himself and to use him to show his family and those in his village the love of Christ.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In this Edition:

• How A Rickshaw Changed Everything
• A Bright Future

• Gospel For Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In this Edition:

• Two Friendships Lasting For Eternity
• Called To Healing And Hope

• Gospel For Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In this Edition:

• Women Reaching Women
• Sunshine On The Radio

• Gospel for Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

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• A Light has Dawned
• How One Broadcast Helped Save a Marriage

• Gospel for Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes with K.P.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In this Edition:

• Simple Faith, Steady Growth
• Water Filters Soften Hard Soil

• Gospel For Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In this Edition:

• Their Weakness, His Strength
• One Missionary’s Life Of Prayer

• Gospel For Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

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In this Edition:

• Little School In The Country
• A Bright Future For Bhutan

• Gospel For Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

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In this Edition:

• Children In Crisis
• Free, After Nine Years In Prison

• Gospel for Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In this Edition:

• Life Comes To Tienbeh Village
• A Bridge of Hope for Asia’s Children

• Gospel for Asia + You
• Fellowships of Freedom
• Where No One Else Cares
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes with K.P.

Gospel for Asia - Reports

In this Edition:

• Out Of The Darkness
• When Others Must Reap

• Gospel For Asia + You
• In Focus
• Short Reports
• Profile
• Five Minutes With K.P.

Gospel for Asia - Reports