5 More Ministry Commitments of Gospel for Asia

Last updated on: July 5, 2022 at 1:33 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Gospel for Asia’s ministry commitments during the past 40 years and how they have remained the same but have taken on new forms over the decades.

On July 3 of this past year, Gospel for Asia (GFA) celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding on July 3, 1979. Throughout these years, the Lord has continually allowed us the privilege of seeing lives in Asia change for the better. He has proven Himself faithful in every way, and we rejoice in what He has done in and through this ministry.

We are thankful for our many faithful supporters, through whom the Lord has worked to touch the lives of countless millions in Asia. And we are grateful for the men and women serving on the field, giving of their time, energy, emotion and every part of their lives in order that more may experience the love of God.

Our vision for ministry during these 40 years has remained the same, but the working out of that vision has taken on new forms over the decades. Here are just a few of the ways Gospel for Asia (GFA) focuses on helping the people of Asia.

Transformation. The foundation of Gospel for Asia’s ministry is, and always has been, doing whatever possible to help transform families and communities with God’s love, especially among those who have little or no opportunity to hear of His grace. Tens of thousands have joyfully understood Christ’s offer of new life and have chosen to follow Jesus over the past 40 years.
Compassion. Every personal connection with the people of Asia springs from the same compassion that Jesus demonstrates for all the people of this world. Gospel for Asia (GFA) workers are devoted to not only telling others about Jesus but also to personifying His love in action. This is how we become the hands and feet of Jesus. Compassion takes on many forms, from treating the heartbreak and physical wounds of leprosy patients to giving women sources of income to prevent prostitution to providing aid to families suffering in the wake of natural disasters. GFA-supported Sisters of Compassion are committed to serving the Lord by doing some of the lowliest tasks associated with tending to the downcast.

Sanitation. Inadequate sanitation continues to be a common problem in emerging countries. Even in countries where economic growth is being driven to new heights, millions suffer from unsanitary waste removal. Hundreds of thousands of people in remote villages across Asia continue to practice open defecation, creating breeding grounds for vector-borne diseases. Gospel for Asia (GFA) is transforming the lives of families and entire villages through improved sanitation. In 2016 and 2018 combined, GFA installed more than 17,500 sanitary toilet facilities in needy communities.

Health & Healing. Health and hygiene are among the many concerns and issues today. Disease affects millions and kills just as many. Some of the hardest-hit communities are in South Asia, where poverty and destitution leave families vulnerable to many illnesses. Unable to afford medical care or proper food, many people are afflicted by preventable diseases that are ravaging their lives. GFA-supported health initiatives seek to minister to these people and bring them health and hope amidst their troubles. GFA-supported workers organize medical camps to curb disease rates and care for those already sick. Whether it be in remote villages or crowded cities, the sick and the hurt bring hope and comfort. When many are otherwise unable to afford treatment or lack access to medical care, these camps provide them with the care they need—free of charge. Gospel for Asia (GFA) conducted more than 1,100 medical camps in 2018. That is more than an average of three per day.

Practical Empowerment. It takes more than encouragement to empower people who have either no marketable skills or means to generate income. GFA-supported workers provide literacy training for tens of thousands of women each year. Through Gospel for Asia’s Women’s Literacy Program, the written world is opening up to thousands of women for the very first time. The foundational text for the classes is Scripture, so participants gain Biblical knowledge even before they’ve completed the course. Knowing how to read is one step. Having a marketable skill is another. GFA-supported workers organize vocational training that makes it possible to learn a new trade and succeed. For instance, through a six-month tailoring course, women learn how to sew blouses, trousers, undergarments, and many other practical items they can sell to provide a healthy income for their families. Nonetheless, those women could not generate income without the proper tools. GFA-supported workers provided nearly 9,000 sewing machines in 2019 to women trained in their use.

These ministries remain just a part of all that Gospel for Asia (GFA) is committed to doing to share God’s love with the people of South Asia. Whenever we see a need, we ask the Lord, “What can we do?”

Please pray with us that we will be able to continue sharing hope, practical help and God’s love throughout South Asia.

Source: Gospel for Asia, Pray for Specific Areas of Ministry

Click here to read the original Five Ministry Commitments of Gospel for Asia, as GFA Celebrates 40 Years of Service

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10 Important Values Behind 40 Years of Gospel for Asia’s Ministry

Last updated on: July 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing how Gospel for Asia is the fruit of the Lord grown abundantly through Christian men and women who have committed themselves to a life of 10 core values.

I believe that the small group of Christians who gathered together regularly in the late 1970s to pray about establishing a unique (at that time) ministry to Asia completely trusted that the Lord could and would establish and empower them. I do not believe they could have, in their wildest dreams, expected what God would do with them—and through them and others—over the next 40 years.

From the very beginning, Gospel for Asia’s mission has been “to be devout followers of Christ and to live lives fully pleasing to Him.”

It is reasonable to assume that a mission-oriented group would describe its vision by the work it intends to do. Gospel for Asia (GFA) clearly is committed to transforming communities in Asia with Christ’s love. However, the 10 core values of Gospel for Asia (GFA) never mention Asia. Rather, every core value is about staying on course with the calling of God upon every individual person involved in the work.

5 Core Values for Our Inner Life

Knowing the Lord Jesus more fully and intimately.
Loving the Lord our God with all our heart and mind and strength requires a special intimacy that can be experienced only through an intimate relationship. If this is the basis for a successful Christian life, it must also be the foundation for a successful Christian ministry.
Being a people of integrity and excellence.
Integrity is keeping our promises and commitments regardless of the cost. Excellence is not perfection, but it is exceeding expectations, which we are able to do only by living according to the next core value.
Living in submission to God’s Word.
Those who love the Lord deny themselves and their own desires, preferring to live under the clear revelation given to us in the Bible. His Word is our authority. We demonstrate submission by yielding ourselves to become the clay in Potter’s hands, letting Him not only fashion us to His liking but also using us as He deigns.
Being a people of faith.
Every moment of every day, we must believe that He is who He says He is and trust Him to do all He has promised to do. No matter what. The inevitable result of a lack of trust is that we trust in ourselves, a self-deception that eventually leads to fear and failure.
Being a people committed to prayer and worship.
We have direct access to God through His Son. That access is immediately available. Our Lord does not slumber or sleep. Committing ourselves to prayer and worship positions us to know the Lord Jesus more fully and intimately, which is core value No. 1.

5 Core Values for the Outflow of our Lives to Others

Having a servant lifestyle.
The Lord has called us to serve Him. Our lives must demonstrate the same servant attitude toward others, believers or otherwise. This is the only way we can become the hands and feet of Jesus.
Being a people of grace and love.
This world is not a friend to grace. Nor will it teach us how to be a people of grace. Hatred, strife and contention are everywhere. Being a people of grace and love may be the easiest way for the world to see Jesus in us.
Serving sacrificially.
Serving sacrificially is so much more than “giving.” Giving measures out what we can afford, whether in time or money. Serving sacrificially is giving ourselves to the service of the Lord and His prize creation regardless of what it may cost us.
Being a person with a passion for others.
People who have never heard of God’s love are dying every day. Only we who know Jesus can introduce them to Him before it is too late.
Being a people who work together with the Body of Christ.
God has called us to this work together to get the work done. Each believer has a role to play. When we willingly yield ourselves to the Lord and lean not on our own understanding, He will make our path straight. The Lord has designed each of us to be the right tool for a specific job. We must work together, serving sacrificially, exhibiting grace and love so that together we can accomplish the work to which He has called us.

The Lord must be the center, the focus, the director and the power for all we do. Gospel for Asia (GFA) celebrated its 40th anniversary, having blossomed from a living room of a few faithful prayer warriors to one of the largest indigenous ministries in the world.

Gospel for Asia (GFA) is not the work of one man. Neither is it the work of a few or the work of many. It is the fruit of the Lord grown abundantly through Christian men and women who have committed themselves to a life of 10 core values that enable the Lord to empower them to do greater things than anyone could have imagined.

Source: Gospel for Asia, Frequently Asked Questions

Image Source: Gospel for Asia, Photo of the Day

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Gospel for Asia Women’s Ministry Brings Hope for the Hurting

Last updated on: July 22, 2022 at 2:28 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing Sister Mary, one of a special number of women missionaries who open their hearts and homes for the sick and destitute, introducing them to the God who hears and answers prayers.

Sister Mary grew up in a small, remote village in Asia. She never went to school and has remained illiterate for 42 years. Despite her limitations, Sister Mary has seen God do impossible things. This is her story.

In the year 2007, Sister Mary traveled with her husband, a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor, and other national workers to meet many suffering people in need. One woman was pregnant and sick. She was close to delivering her baby, and both were in danger.

Seeing the power of God displayed through prayers, Sister Mary decided prayer would be the bedrock of her ministry.

Faithful Prayers: The Fount from Which Healing Flows

Back in her own village, Sister Mary did not want to stop praying for people, and with it, the privilege of seeing God move in their lives. So, she started a prayer group. They gathered weekly to pray for the sick and needy. News of their group spread, and many people made their way to it to receive hope and healing through the prayers of Sister Mary and her companions.

“There were many people from far villages who were affected by fatal sicknesses like cancer,” Sister Mary recalls.

“Many came for prayer, and many got healed … There were some who were blind, some were paralyzed, and the Lord healed them. … We read the Bible to them and prayed for them, and the Lord healed them.”

For many, it was the first time they realized there was a God who cares for them personally and answers prayer.

Those who sought Sister Mary’s prayer group were not the only ones ministered to. Sister Mary noticed a change in her as well. Love for the sick and destitute grew in her heart. She wanted to be with them and serve them. She wanted to share with them the God of power and love.

Eventually, so many people came to the prayer group that they met in Sister Mary’s house that she knew they needed a separate facility. Often, people would drop off their family member or friend to be cared for until healed. Some stayed weeks or months. Sister Mary did what she always does—she prayed.

“Those who came for prayer needed rooms,” she says. “We lacked sufficient facilities. … I started to pray and fast for 20 days, and the Lord answered my prayers.”

The new building was christened “Bethsaida Prayer Center,” inspired by Jesus’ healing of a man who had been sick for 28 years by the pool of Bethsaida. Bethsaida Prayer Center would eventually grow to see 3,000 to 4,000 people pass through each year.

Trusting God in Life and Death

Sister Mary stood in awe as God healed thousands of people in the Bethsaida Prayer Center through her simple prayers and those of her team. But not everyone rejoiced at the reports of miraculous healings.

One day, a man suffering from throat cancer, Kalpa, came to the prayer center. After a month, the Lord healed Kalpa. He and his whole family embraced the God of healing who came through for them in their moment of need. When the family returned to their village, news of their newfound belief stirred up trouble. When another family from the village wanted to join Kalpa in worshiping Jesus, the other villagers became enraged with Sister Mary and the prayer center staff.

“I told the villagers that the Lord did the healing [of Kalpa], and I told the family that the Lord loves them and offers eternal life,” Sister Mary shares.

“Hearing that made the village head furious, and he took a machete and tried to hack me. But the Lord protected my life miraculously. … I did not even realize [the machete] had touched my neck.”

A few months later, the very man who viciously attacked Sister Mary came to her for prayer when he was suffering from cancer. In His mercy, the Lord healed the man, which opened his heart to believe in the Lord Jesus.

Another time, Sister Mary was injected with a lethal poison by a violent man who opposed her ministry.

“I survived because my God is a living God, and He rescued me,” Sister Mary says.

“Yes, there are threats to my life in ministry, but I believe that God is always with me and protects my life … That incident did not douse my passion and desire to serve the Lord, rather it deepened my commitment to serve the Lord all the more.”

A Life Devoted to God

Prayer is the fuel for Sister Mary’s faith in the Lord. Her time with Him energizes her life, bringing the power to love and serving everyone she interacts with. Her trust in the Lord is the natural fruit of seeing Him perform so many miracles and answer so many prayers.

“I am so happy and glad that the Lord not only hears our prayers, but He also answers,” she says. “I know that the Lord is able to do what man is not able to do. … I always want to be surrounded by His presence.”

God, in His mercy, has seen fit to use the weak, despised and rejected—women like Sister Mary—to proclaim His glory around the world. Many women all throughout Asia serve as instruments of the Living God to bring the hope of Jesus into broken and suffering lives. Women have a unique opportunity to enter the secluded and often vulnerable lives of other women. The ministry and prayers of these mighty women are flooding communities in Asia with hope and joy in the name of Jesus.

Learn more about the Sisters of Compassion, Gospel for Asia’s specialized women missionaries, who have hearts that ache for hurting women and those deemed as poor and needy.

*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are Gospel for Asia stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, ‘The Lord is with Me When I Pray’

Click here, to read more blogs on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

What Does Ministry Mean to You?

Last updated on: September 23, 2022 at 2:50 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the definitions that encompass missions & ministry, the sacrifice and service, from those who are behind-the-scenes to the national missionaries who are in the field.

Let me ask you a quick question. When you hear the word “ministry,” what words come to mind? I posed this question to several Gospel for Asia (GFA) staff members and wrote their answers down.

“God” and “Jesus” were, obviously, chiefly among the answers, followed by “sacrifice” and “service.”

But why “sacrifice”? Why “service”?

Ministry; Defined

Do those words come to your mind when you hear the word, “ministry”? Or do other images come to mind? Do your thoughts wander to lands far off, of sprawling jungles or shifting sands? Do you think of the stories and testimonies of missionaries long gone?

Ministry can happen anywhere, whether it takes place through a local outreach program run by a church or through an international missions organization. According to Merriam-Webster, to “minister” is “to function as a minister of religion, or to give aid or service.” Gospel for Asia (GFA) as a missions organization fits both categories. Through the generous donations of our supporters, we are providing national workers in Asia with the tools and resources they need to minister to the hurting and needy.

As Christians, we are called to serve wherever the Lord sends us. But what does it truly mean to serve? For staff members of Gospel for Asia (GFA), one aspect of serving the Lord means we are working behind-the-scenes, aiding the work in Asia from behind desks in our own country.

Jesus says in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

To give one’s life as ransom for many—what does that even mean? For many, like our brothers and sisters on the missions field, it is literally laying down their lives so others may hear of Jesus. That is sacrifice. Paul in writing to the Romans says,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

But what else might ministry include?

1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

The gifts of God, whether it be things like love, prayer or encouragement, should be given freely in service to those around us, whether they are Christian or not. Showering God’s great love on others is a vital aspect of ministry, for as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13, we can accomplish great things in God’s name, but if we have not love we “are as clanging cymbals.”

What Does Ministry Mean to You?

Having grown up in Gospel for Asia (GFA), I can say with little doubt that I know what ministry requires. Firstly, a great deal of personal sacrifice, and secondly, a servant’s heart. They go hand-in-hand—rarely do you see one without the other, at least in my experience.

Ministry can occur wherever and whenever. Whether in your church, your community or in missions helping workers bring the love of God to the furthest corners of the world. So, take a minute to think: What does ministry mean to you?

Learn more about National Missionaries – the men and women the Lord God is raising up living in Asia to be His ambassadors.

Learn more about how for nearly 40 years, behind-the-scenes missionaries, the Missions Support Team have functioned as a crucial link between the mission field and the Western Church.

Click here, to read more blogs on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

Five Ministry Commitments of Gospel for Asia

Last updated on: October 21, 2022 at 7:06 pm By GFA Staff Writer

Gospel for Asia Celebrates 40 Years of Service WILLS POINT, TX – When anyone starts an enterprise of any kind, it is unlikely that they can see 40 years into the future and all that those four decades will bring. When the Lord uses a man or woman to begin a ministry, the future is beyond imagination.

On July 3, Gospel for Asia (GFA) gets to look back on the unimaginable things God has done since GFA’s inception 40 years ago. We now take a look at five of the ministries through which the Lord is blessing the millions of people in South Asia who had never heard of Jesus Christ and His love for us.

Training and Equipping National Missionaries:
This has been GFA’s vision from the beginning. To their own people, in their own culture, speaking their own language was the vision upon which the ministry of Gospel for Asia (GFA) was based. Today, thousands are ministering as the hands and feet of Jesus to millions who still need to hear.
Raising Up Women Missionaries:
In cultures where unwritten social rules often separate men from women, GFA-supported women missionaries can minister to Asia’s ladies more effectively than their male counterparts. These women missionaries are filled to overflowing with love for their Lord and eagerly pour out that love to other ladies around them.
Clean Water Initiatives:
Gospel for Asia (GFA) is one of the leading faith-based NGOs in terms of providing clean water to communities in need. Jesus Wells and BioSand water filters offer a healthy alternative to the potentially pathogen-riddled surface water that is, in many places, the only available source. Access to clean drinking water has restored health to individuals, families, and entire villages.
Slum Ministries:
Almost no one wants to go to the squalid slums. Most people who live there don’t want to be there, but they have nowhere else to go. The rest of the population avoids the slums and the people who live in them. But GFA-supported workers go courageously to these regions of abject poverty to minister to people’s physical needs and to show them the riches of Jesus’ love and the gift of everlasting life He offers.
Education for Children:
Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Bridge of Hope centers prepare school-age children for fruitful lives beyond the boundaries of poverty. Training, health checkups, and nutritious meals are provided free of charge in a loving, affirming environment that awakens the children to their potential. Many are going on to excel in college or careers neither they nor their parents had realized would be possible.

How are these ministries changing their lives so effectively? Faithful Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers have committed themselves to these— and many other—areas of ministry, and the Lord has blessed their commitment to serving Him.

These are but a few of the ministries launched by Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers. We will highlight more in the weeks to come during this 40^th anniversary year. Please pray for these areas of ministry, and look out for more articles about GFA’s ministries in the days ahead.

Source: Gospel for Asia, Pray for Specific Areas of Ministry

Learn more about Gospel for Asia’s 40th anniversary year, we can’t wait to reflect on all God has done in and through GFA. We also excitedly look forward to the future, believing the years ahead will be a time to move forward into a new era of passionately sharing the love of Christ.

Click here, to read more blogs on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

Simple Medicines, Practical Kindness: Medical Ministry of Gospel for Asia

Last updated on: October 29, 2022 at 5:25 am By GFA Staff Writer

If you had a stomachache or a headache, what would you do? Probably take some pain relievers or go see your doctor. But what if you didn’t have those available? What if you didn’t have medicine and couldn’t afford to go to the doctor, and the nearest health care center was located miles away? This is a struggle thousands of people in Asia face every day. Gospel for Asia’s medical ministry is trying to do something about this! That’s why Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers organize free medical camps throughout Asia. These medical camps bring skilled doctors, medical staff, medicine and health education to places where people rarely have the opportunity to visit a doctor.

In October, a Gospel for Asia (GFA) behind-the-scenes missionary named Tony had the opportunity to visit one of these medical camps. Below, Tony shares firsthand what he experienced.

Tony (pictured third from the left) had the opportunity to visit a medical camp in October 2018.

“It was a warm Wednesday morning, and we were on our way to visit a free medical camp organized by a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported worker. I have never been to a free medical camp before and didn’t give it too much thought, other than I was looking forward to the experience. But I was in for a surprise.

“After an hour drive, we arrived in a very remote area. Everything for the clinic was set up right next to the local church building. Right away, I noticed there were more than 200 people lined up waiting for the clinic to start, and everyone from infants to the elderly waited patiently. As the word about this medical camp spread, more people gathered. I was surprised that people were waiting and still coming before it even started.

“Many of the villagers did not have the resources to see a doctor. Even if they did, the nearest medical center was more than 60 miles away, and they would have had to travel on foot to get there. This makes it very difficult for parents who want to help their children or for aging parents to get treatment when they get sick.

Everyone from infants to the elderly gathered for the medical camp.

“Before the camp started, the team thanked everyone for coming and opened the day with prayer. Four doctors had graciously volunteered their time.

“While there, a realization hit me: Anytime I need something simple, like Tylenol or even an antibiotic, I can just go to the store or see a doctor and get whatever I need to feel better. I wondered if this was the first time many of these people had the opportunity to get their blood pressure checked, get their medical questions answered or get the appropriate medicines they needed.

“I wondered if this was the first time many of these people had the opportunity to get their blood pressure checked, get their medical questions answered or get the appropriate medicines they needed.” —Tony

“Several lines were formed—each person would see the doctor and then go to another line to get a prescription, if needed. Rather than sending these patients to a pharmacy, the camp had organized the ability to give them the prescribed medicines they needed, and this helped patients to avoid additional travel.

“Several hours later, as we were wrapping up our time at the camp, there were still many people to be seen, and the doctors continued their work. My gratitude for this area of ministry grew—I knew it was very important for the villagers because it was the first medical camp ever done in their village.

GFA’s medical ministry is helping thousands of people in Asia who need medical care—and it’s all motivated by demonstrating the love of Christ. While thousands have received help, thousands more are still in need of medical care and support. — Patients were able to get the medication they needed right there at the medical camp

“There was excitement and anticipation in the camp for everyone involved, and it was a joy for me to experience. This was a humbling time for me, and it showed me conveniences in my life that I take for granted. I learned that simple medicines and treatment I can easily obtain are not the same for everyone in the world.

“It is true that showing kindness in this way is a practical way to show God’s love. Having this free medical camp was such a blessing to everyone who was able to be a part of it.”

Gospel for Asia’s medical ministry is helping thousands of people in Asia who need medical care—and it’s all motivated by demonstrating the love of Christ. While thousands have received help, thousands more are still in need of medical care and support.

Source: Gospel for Asia Features, Simple Medicines, Practical Kindness

Learn more about the need for Medical Ministry. GFA-supported medical ministry is helping thousands who are in need of medical care and attention, all while displaying the love of Christ.

Click here, to read more blogs on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

What Is a Christian to Do About Criticism?

Last updated on: December 19, 2022 at 9:30 am By GFA Staff Writer

“Everything we do either propels God’s mission forward or hinders the embodiment of His kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.” — Jeff Christopherson, Vice President of Send Network

Christopherson is right on point. All too often, we fail to see that everything we do impacts the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Since we are the only representatives of that kingdom, every believer must come to the point where we learn to confront ourselves with every word we speak and every action we take—before we say or do them.

The failure of some of us to weigh our actions is a shortcut to behaving like the ungodly whose lives are characterized by contentions and dissensions (see Galatians 5:19–21). In short, there is no room in a Christian’s life for creating strife, friction and discord—especially between and among professing believers.

Recognizing the Danger of a Critical Spirit

Contention usually begins with a critical spirit and exhibits itself as criticism. Whilst conceding that criticism can be constructive or destructive, for the most part, constructive criticism is usually shared privately in the spirit of Galatians 6:1–2 and Matthew 18:15.

It is public criticism that is most destructive. It is also infectious, leveling accusations and condemnations and drawing bystanders into one of Satan’s most subtle schemes in his quest to overthrow the kingdom of heaven.

Jude warns us in his epistle that “certain men have crept in [among believers] unnoticed.” They are of several different kinds: those who have gone the way of Cain, those who have gone the way of Balaam, and those who have gone the way of Korah.

Korah was a critic of Moses. Korah is the poster boy for critics. It is interesting that his story unfolds in Numbers chapter 16, but is so important for us today that Jude wrote a stern warning for the church to beware of being critical.

Criticism assumes that the purveyor knows better than the target of the criticism. That was Korah’s problem. He thought he know how to run the “Wilderness Operation” better than Moses. He really got upset when Moses did not divide a gift of wagons equally among the clans who carried the tabernacle. Korah was of the Kohathites; his clan didn’t get any wagons (see Numbers 7:9).

Read Numbers 4 where the Lord gave Moses specific instructions to follow.

Korah thought Moses was wrong. He complained to his family, to his neighbors and friends, and stirred them to the point of rebellion. As Dr. K.P. Yohannan points out in his booklet “The Beauty of Christ through Brokenness,” “God Himself ripped open the earth and swallowed him up.” In fact, it swallowed up Korah and all who joined in with his critique of Moses, including their wives and children (see Numbers 16:32).

Recognizing Criticism for What It Is

Pastor Ronald Franklin describes all criticism as falling into one of three categories. And he warns us to expect to be criticized. That’s right. We are not going to make it through life without being criticized. So we need to understand the kinds of criticism we may face and understand how to respond in a Christ-like manner that advances the kingdom of heaven.

• Accurate Criticism.

This is valid criticism that may or may not be 100 percent correct. When we know that criticism is substantially correct we should consider it as an opportunity to make needed corrections (see Proverbs 15:31–32.)

• Inaccurate Criticism.

This is criticism that is “essentially incorrect,” but may include a kernel of truth. This type of criticism may allow us an opportunity to teach what the critic does not have correct (see Acts 11:2–4.)

• Malicious Criticism.

This is criticism that is motivated by some personal agenda on the part of the critic. When we’re faced with this type of criticism, it presents an opportunity to minister grace, which advances the kingdom of heaven as Christ intends for us to do (see Matthew 5:44–45.) It is particularly interesting that this is when grace is true ministry on behalf of advancing the kingdom of Heaven.

Social media has opened up a whole new world for criticism—and the world loves it. Even some news media has drifted away from objective reporting to various formats for criticism.

For that reason, Christians must exercise a discerning spirit to not only recognize unwarranted criticism but also to understand the kind of critical spirit from whence those critical comments originate. A discerning spirit can recognize a critical spirit.

Recognizing a Critical Spirit

“…true and loving. It comes from a humble, caring heart that wishes the best for the other person. It is not bitter condescending, insulting, or cold-hearted.

“There is a significant difference between helping someone improve and having a critical spirit. A critical spirit is never pleased. A critical spirit expects and finds disappointment wherever it looks. It is the opposite of 1 Corinthians 13: a critical spirit arrogantly judges, is easily provoked, accounts for every wrong, and never carries any hope of being pleased. Such an attitude damages the critiqued as well as the critic.

“Biblical criticism is helpful, loving, and based on truth. Correction is to be gentle. It comes from love, not from a sour personality. Galatians 5:22–23 says the Spirit wants to produce in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If criticism cannot be expressed in keeping with the fruit of the Spirit, it’s better left unsaid.”

The right place to stop criticism is at the source. If we are not walking in the Spirit, we will follow the flesh. As we have already seen, the flesh is the headquarters for critical spirits.

Ed Stetzer identifies three types of critical spirits:

• The Constant Critic.

You know who they are. They are always complaining about something, always pointing out things that are “not right.”

• The Low-character Critic.

Stetzer says, “I am stunned to see just how much some ‘Christian’ bloggers, in particular, will lie, play guilt by association, and display a complete lack of character—all while calling out someone for something similar. The blogosphere may be their sandbox, but they can be found just about anywhere on the playground.

• The Opportunistic Critic.

These are people who are always looking for a new issue to expose or debate. Stetzer’s advice? See them for who they are.

None of us is or ever will be exempt from criticism. Not a single individual or institution will go uncriticized by someone at some time. Gospel for Asia (GFA) is nearing its 40th year of ministry. Although we have been and continue to be blessed abundantly, we have also experienced criticism. Some of it has been dispensed with love and kindness. Some other, not so much. Our commitment is to honor the Lord in all we do with a sincere desire to please Him.

Let us consider our need for brokenness so we do not become critical spirits nor respond inappropriately to them. Let us remember we are accountable to the righteous scrutiny of a holy God. Let us live our lives in that light and help others to do so as well.

May God help us to not have a critical spirit. May He grant us the wisdom to recognize the different types of critics and criticism for who and what they are. Even more so, may He direct our paths is such a way that we respond in a way that advances the kingdom of heaven.

Sources:

The Paired Life, Bible Principles for Dealing with Criticism
Got Questions, What does the Bible say about Criticism?
Christianity Today, How a Christian Should Critique Criticism
The Christian Post, What Is The Christian Way To Respond To Criticism
Christianity Today, The Myth of Missionary Neutrality

Image Source:

Alpha Stock Images [CC BY-SA 3.0]

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Every Christian’s Most Essential Gifts

Last updated on: November 5, 2018 at 6:58 am By GFA Staff Writer

Wills Point, Texas – GFA (Gospel for Asia) – Discussing the most essential gifts the Lord God has given Christians everywhere for use in His service.

“We could read every book ever written on prayer, but that won’t make us people of prayer. We learn to pray by doing it.” —Dr. KP Yohannan, “Learning to Pray”

The Bible is very clear in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 that the Lord has given all believers gifts to use in His service. The gifts He gives us are chosen by Him to equip us for sharing the His love with people who need to know of His love and sacrifice and for building up the body of believers.

What an honor and privilege to know that the Lord God has given you and I individually selected gifts for use in His service!

Without a doubt, however, He has given each of us at least three gifts that are more important and far greater than all those listed in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians. These gifts are given to every believer. They are essential to our relationship with the Lord and to our effective service.

Because these are essential gifts, the extent to which we embrace them often determines the extent to which the Lord is able to use us to bring glory to Him.

For that reason, they are the most essential gifts to be embraced by Christians everywhere, including those serving as indigenous missionaries like those supported by Gospel for Asia.

Christian’s Essential Gifts #1 — Prayer

Several years ago, GFA World, GFA’s ministry magazine, published a series of articles about the remarkable things that have been happening through the ministry of Pastor Kantilal.

I could not help but be captivated by the obvious key to the Lord’s effective use of this humble pastor. It is repeated over and over again.

He and a fellow Bible college student knew only one thing to do . . . pray.

Through his prayers, the Lord healed her.

Kantilal had recently started seeking the Lord earnestly through prayer.

After spending 10 days in prayer . . . the Lord used [them] to heal, deliver and redeem person after person.

He leads the young men . . . in going out, praying for people, and ministering to them. When they return . . . they pray for the people they met.

The work God is doing through Kantilal and the men he’s leading is unexplainable. The men are men of prayer.

Kantilal explained that the miraculous numbers of people who have come to know the Lord through Jesus Christ is not possible, humanly speaking. “I know it’s all because of prayers,” he said.

Prayer is the reason so many wonderful things happen through the ministry of national missionaries like Kantilal. It is not Kantilal. It is because the Lord is listening to the conversations He has with Kantilal.

Christian’s Essential Gifts #2 — Presence

Prayer works because of God’s presence in us. The Holy Spirit dwells in every believer to seal us for the day of redemption, to comfort and encourage us, and to direct our paths.

Moses understood the need to have the presence of the Lord with Him because the task was too great for a man. When God appeared to him in the burning bush, Moses said, “Who am I that I should go?” The Lord responded, “I will certainly be with you” (see Exodus 3:11–12).

Moses had a similar conversation on the other side of the Red Sea recorded in Exodus 33. As Moses faced another difficult task, the Lord told him “My presence will go with you.” Moses replied that he was not willing to go anywhere without the Lord’s presence.

Anything that is possible, even the impossible, is possible for Christians because of the Lord’s presence—if we submit ourselves to Christ and walk where His Spirit leads us.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples that all power had been given to Him in the earth and in heaven and that He would be with us. Mighty things happen when we let the Lord work through us.

The Apostle Paul assured the Galatians that Christ lives in those of us who are crucified with Christ (see Galatians 2:20).

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (see Hebrews 13:5).

Christian’s Essential Gifts #3— Power

The power of God and the working of His good pleasure is seen in us when we clearly recognize that it is “not I, but Christ” and live accordingly.

Those national missionaries who embrace the Lord’s presence and who pray without ceasing for the Lord’s direction and plead for God to make Himself known to the people around them are able to share stories of “the incredible work God is doing through them [that] cannot be accounted for by any human reasoning.” Kantilal expressed it this way:

“When I see the people coming to the Lord like this . . . when I see people being healed and delivered, all glory goes to God. It is not I who did it, and it is not that I deserve to be used by God, but it is all for God’s glory and for God’s name.”

Now we must ask ourselves why we do not experience the same power in our own lives.

We have the same calling as our GFA-supported national missionaries: to share God’s love with the people around us. We have the same presence of God in us. We have the same opportunity to talk to the Lord God at length about the souls of others and all the other issues of life.

The question is, “Do we?” The follow-up question is, “If we do not, why don’t we?”

Let us not be numbered among those professing believers in the world who evidence little or no power in their lives simply because we do not embrace the presence of the Lord and the precious gift of being able to speak directly to the Living God who answers our prayers.

Would you make today one of renewed commitment to pray and to walk in His presence? If you would, we would love to hear from you so that we might pray with you and encourage you to live the incomparable life the Lord has prepared for you.

We encourage you to download a free PDF copy of K.P. Yohannan’s book, Learning to Pray.

Dear friend, as I share with you these guidelines on prayer, I know that they will do nothing for you or the kingdom of God unless you start to enter warfare and begin praying.

You will see victories won that you never even dreamed were possible.

May the Lord bring you to a place in your life where your prayers will help change the course of a lost world.

— Dr. KP Yohannan

Read more posts on Patheos on the essential gifts of Prayer, Presence, and Power.

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Go here to know more about Gospel for Asia: Flickr | GFA | GFA.org | Facebook | YouTube

Sources:

GFA World, Kantilal: Man of Prayer
Goodreads, K.P. Yohannan quotes

Gospel for Asia’s Children’s Ministry Is a Bridge of Hope to Kids in Asia

Last updated on: November 5, 2019 at 9:45 am By GFA Staff Writer

Bridge of Hope - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — Children attending any GFA Bridge of Hope program learn to read and write, gain positive study habits, are provided with a healthy meal, receive medical care as needed, are shown God’s loving-kindness, and develop the HOPE that their education will one day help them shake off the weight of poverty.

One of our Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastors said something both sad and ironic several years ago: “Nobody cares about the children of this village.”

While, in his eyes, his statement seemed to be true, the irony is that it was not entirely so. The mere fact that he said it indicated that he cared. In fact, he admitted, “I have a great burden for this village.” The reason he cared is that he knew that Jesus cares.

The village of which he spoke is home to 2,000 impoverished families whose daily need is survival. Their entire life is consumed with laboring to feed themselves and their families. Their fight for survival means their children are forced to work in laborious and tedious tasks to generate adequate resources.

Many of these families live in one-room huts, often made with only sticks and plastic. They have no nearby sources of clean water. They lack proper sanitation facilities. What food they are able to acquire does not always provide adequate nutrition. And there doesn’t seem to be a way out.

A recent report from the McKinsey Global Institute found that there is a substantial difference in poverty levels beyond what we comprehend. There is a poverty level at which people can “achieve a decent standard of living,” but these villagers and their children live below that level in the realm of “bare subsistence” where hope and a way out appear non-existent.

Food, clothing and medical care are honorable and necessary charitable acts that demonstrate the love of Christ. They are gifts and services that sustain life. However, they do not, in and of themselves, create a bridge to a better life.

Food can make a destitute person less hungry, but they are still impoverished. Clothing can help provide a sense of dignity, but it does not change a person’s circumstances. Medical care can prevent disease, but it cannot break the bondage of abject poverty.

Creating a Bridge of Hope

This village is an example of how Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Bridge of Hope (BOH) centers make a difference.

Bridge of Hope centers provide an educational experience for school-age children in which they learn the practical skills that can be the bridge to a better life. Each school day, students practice reading, writing and math in an environment of Christian love where staff members guide them to the hope for a better tomorrow by teaching them life skills that will become their bridge out of the generational curse into which they were born.

Education is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. Each evening when a child goes home from a Bridge of Hope center, they return to the same existential scenario. But each evening they go with a little more hope for the future.

The centers offer each child with daily, nutritious meals to give them the energy they need to learn and grow. Regular medical checkups are also part of the program. BOH centers even provide the students’ school supplies.

Gospel for Asia (GFA) has helped touched the lives of more than 75,000 children through Bridge of Hope centers. What these children have learned and are learning gives them a bridge they can cross to pass over “the hurdles of tragedy and poverty and press on to a future bright with promises.”

The program helps the children with their education so they can one day get a good job and afford sufficient food, decent clothing, medical supplies and other necessities of life for themselves and for their families. Beyond this, Bridge of Hope provides the children with opportunities to pursue and excel in their God-given skills and interests.

Bridge of Hope staff members become the hands and feet of Christ to the students and their families, serving them with genuine love, compassion and respect. Staff members maintain relationships with the parents and children and offer them counsel, encouragement and, ultimately, give them hope.

What does a child receive at the Bridge of Hope centers?

Education. This includes tuition, books and uniforms. But even more significant is that they will get tutoring in reading and writing, which means a future of hope is guaranteed.

Nutrition. During the school day, each child receives a healthy, balanced meal.

Medical care. The Bridge of Hope leaders who care for children also monitor their health and provide care as needed. Extra attention is given in areas where malaria or tuberculosis is prevalent. In addition to periodic checkups and medical treatment, children also learn basic habits of good hygiene, such as washing hands, trimming fingernails and bathing regularly.

Development of social skills and self-confidence. From the earliest ages in kindergarten, children are given opportunities to play games and practice basic rules of courtesy.

Hope Becomes Real on the Other Side of the Bridge

While the short-term focus is on helping the children now, the long-term perspective is to enable them to become all they possibly can be as a useful servant to their community, and to one day be a blessing to many others throughout Asia.

Bridge of Hope centers are not limited to remote villages. Many are located in the slum areas of major Asian cities, where roaming through and living on top of trash heaps is a way of life and their only hope for tomorrow.

Paul encouraged Timothy to share what he had taught him with others who would then be able to show many more (2 Timothy 2:2). Following that model, the character development and social impact at work in Bridge of Hope centers is being passed on to many others throughout the community.

Bridge of Hope is not just a name for a project. It is a ministry that actually produces a product. That product is the potential for a hopeful future for children who are trapped by circumstances they did not create, in a situation they cannot escape and who would, otherwise, have no hope.

Parents and grandparents recognize the changes in their children and grandchildren, causing them not only rejoice in their hope for the future but also to realize the love of Christ in their own lives.

Even local leaders praise the work of Bridge of Hope centers for their impact on the community at large. One leader said, “I am really happy to see a social network coming up to this level of taking care of the future of children.”

The father of one of the children at the same center said, “This only can be possible through Christians. The love of Christians is great. My children are going to become well-prepared for their future. I am overwhelmed with their concern for us.”

To learn more about Bridge of Hope read “What Bridge of Hope Gives Children.”

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Your Hunger for God CAN Be Satisfied | Set Apart Retreat

Last updated on: May 16, 2025 at 4:29 pm By GFA Staff Writer

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WILLS POINT, TX – GFA World founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities to assist the poor and deprived worldwide, shares a retrospective piece on the recently concluded GFA World Set Apart Retreat 2022, a satisfying week for hungry souls.

How many times have you longed to spend time with God — real, quality time — but then life happens?

Exams, work, chores — even our phones — so easily come between us and the intimate, one-to-one relationship that God yearns to have daily with me and with you.

Have you ever wondered if you’d ever find that place of quiet rest where you could truly meet with God, feed on His Word, and hear His still, gentle voice?

Many did find that place in the heart of Texas!

My Perspective on the Set Apart Retreat

A group of young people — passionate about meeting with God — made their way to a small town 50 miles from Dallas to spend a week at GFA World’s campus for Set Apart Retreat 2022. This retreat was a satisfying week for hungry souls.

Twice a day, we experienced a focused time of worship and quietness called “Kyrie Eleison” (translated Lord, have mercy). These were times of meditation in song and silent reflection; a purposeful positioning of ourselves in the Lord’s Presence with the ability to rest in the flicker of candlelight.

The Holy Spirit was my companion in the silence as I reflected on the words we’d sung or the Scriptures we’d read. I started to look forward with great anticipation to this intentional stop in my day and quiet refocusing on the Lord.

Throughout the week, I soaked up the godly wisdom of three of the Lord’s humble and faithful servants: Francis Chan, George Verwer, and K.P. Yohannan. It was amazing to see how these mission-driven leaders were generational mentors to one another — George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilization (OM), mentored KP Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia (GFA World), who in turn was a mentor to Bible teacher Francis Chan. What a legacy!

Set Apart Retreat: Tapping the Depths

These three generations of godly teachers tapped the depths of the Holy Scriptures, challenging me to love God completely and walk into the life for which He’s called me. Their absolute love for the Lord, and anticipation and hunger for more of Him, was contagious.

As we all gathered together for meals, it was amazing to sit and talk with everyone, hear why they’d come to Set Apart, and share what we’d been learning. I loved seeing the fire in people’s eyes as we talked.

Coming out of Set Apart, I was excited to know that as everyone headed back to their homes and communities, they were taking that fire for the Lord with them.

Their hunger, like mine, was satiated.

But an even deeper hunger has been awakened for others to know this deep love of God.

As Joshua told the people before the miracle of the Jordan River crossing: “Sanctify (set apart) yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5, KJV).

Notable News about Gospel for Asia: FoxNews, ChristianPost, NYPost, MissionsBox

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Trusting God in Life and Death

A Life Devoted to God

Ministry; Defined

What Does Ministry Mean to You?

Recognizing the Danger of a Critical Spirit

Recognizing Criticism for What It Is

Recognizing a Critical Spirit

Christian’s Essential Gifts #1 — Prayer

Christian’s Essential Gifts #2 — Presence

Christian’s Essential Gifts #3— Power

Creating a Bridge of Hope

What does a child receive at the Bridge of Hope centers?

Hope Becomes Real on the Other Side of the Bridge

My Perspective on the Set Apart Retreat

Set Apart Retreat: Tapping the Depths

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