WILLS POINT, TX – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed the nation of India under a 21-day Janata (all people) curfew to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic among the country’s 1.3 billion residents. He announced the nationwide lockdown on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
Although the number of reported cases and deaths due to the Coronavirus remain relatively low in India, the population density is a matter of significant concern. The higher the population density, the easier it may be for the virus to spread. India is home to an average of more than 450 people per square kilometer. The major metropolitan areas of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai each have more than 20,000 people per square kilometer.
Social distancing and isolating in place have already proven to be effective in staving the spread of the virus. A Janata curfew, ordering everyone to stay home, appears to be the best means the Prime Minister has at this time to protect his people.
Nonetheless, a complete cessation of activity could undermine a nation’s economy, even if it has been the fastest growing in the world.
So, what should churches do during a lockdown? Should they shut their doors, or should they continue to meet?
“The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, called on the nation to show ‘resolve’ and ‘restraint’ as we together face the menace of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In light of the speech, I would like to reiterate the fact that we stand together with the Prime Minister and the citizens of the country and are determined to do all we can to keep ourselves and our country safe. Heeding to the call of the ‘Janata curfew’ on Sunday the 22nd, I have instructed … that all our Sunday services … stand canceled all across the country. We must also avoid house visiting and prayer meetings unless it is an absolute emergency.”
What makes Yohannan’s message so significant is that is an example for all Christians, regardless of where we live. Yohannan’s commitment to Scripture is without question. Read Romans 13:1–2.
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Complying with a government shutdown, whether in India or in the United States, is not a matter of politics or personal preferences. It is a matter of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ and His written Word. Failing to comply with a government order is not courageous. It is disobedience. Following the Prime Minister’s directive is the biblical thing to do. The right thing to do.
Pray for the examples of the all the believers in India and around the world to demonstrate obedience. Obedience is another hallmark of our faith. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” May we all be found doing so. The world is watching.
KP Yohannan has issued two statements about the Coronavirus situation found here and here.
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Nandin, the opposition he faced, and the hearts softened by God through the completion of the gift of a Jesus Well.
As Pastor Nandin tried to make sure the drilling of a Jesus Well went smoothly, angry villagers surrounded him.
In the area where Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Nandin ministers, people depended on water from rivers, canals and ponds. During the rainy season, the filthy water from these water sources often infected people with serious illnesses such as typhoid, dysentery and malaria. In other parts of this region, people have even died from these diseases because there are no nearby hospitals for treatment.
Wanting to improve people’s lives, Pastor Nandin requested a Jesus Well in a village where he was serving. The request was quickly approved, and within a few weeks, Pastor Nandin’s regional leader, Pastor Hammad, came to the village to inaugurate the drilling of the Jesus Well.
But instead of being welcomed with open arms, Pastor Nandin’s attempt to help the villagers turned suddenly awry. Soon, he found himself confronted by a crowd of angry villagers.
Community Lacks Interest in Good News
Even though the villagers direly needed this gift—something necessary to their health and wellbeing—they rejected Pastor Nandin’s attempt to help give them clean water.
They had rejected every gift he had tried to offer them—especially the most precious gift found in Jesus’ hope, peace and eternal life. When Pastor Nandin or other believers would offer literature sharing the Good News of Jesus, most people wouldn’t take it.
People in the area where Pastor Nandin serves suffered from serious illnesses, such as typhoid and malaria, because they got their water from ponds. At the same time, they weren’t interested in the message of hope Pastor Nandin could share.
Opposition Nearly Halts Drilling of Well
Despite the people’s lack of interest in hearing about Christ’s love, Nandin’s heart still ached with genuine concern for them and their health.
Soon after workers began drilling the Jesus Well that Pastor Nandin had requested, trouble boiled over. It began with one person tossing away the workers’ buckets. Then another person damaged the casing pipes. When Pastor Nandin asked them to stop, he and the believers suddenly found themselves confronted by a mob of 20 people.
In the span of about three hours, angry villagers hit Pastor Nandin and two believers, and when other people, including Pastor Hammad and a community leader, tried to calm the situation, members of the mob struck them too.
The next day, Pastor Nandin, Pastor Hammad and the local believers joined together to ask the Lord for His protection. They continued praying daily, and after 15 days, they saw God answer by showing them favor, from the village chief.
After workers began drilling the Jesus Well, a group of hostile villagers tried to stop the well and assaulted Pastor Nandin and a few other people trying to keep the peace. The believers prayed for 15 days, and the Lord showed them favor, allowing them to finish drilling the Jesus Well.
“I will help you to complete the remaining work of this Jesus Well,” he told the believers, “and if someone will oppose you in this work, I will put him in jail without delay.”
Within a few days, the workers were able to finish drilling the Jesus Well with no more hindrances.
Once-Hostile Villagers Enjoy Clean Water, Learn About Christ
Now, as the villagers draw pure water from the well for their families’ needs, many are recovering from waterborne illnesses! Even those who opposed the Jesus Well and harassed Pastor Nandin and the believers in order to stop it from being drilled are now using the well.
As people see the good that’s come from the Jesus Well they had tried to oppose, they are now more curious about what Pastor Nandin has to say. Fourteen people from a neighboring village have also decided to start attending Pastor Nandin’s church for Sunday worship services, prayer meetings and other activities.
Christ’s love and hope have even transformed the life of Shami, the brother of one of the men who tried to stop the Jesus Well.
For three years, Shami had struggled to get a good night’s sleep. He and his wife asked Pastor Hammad to pray for him, and the pastor began visiting Shami and his wife regularly to pray and encourage them with words from Scripture.
In His mercy, God healed Shami, enabling him to sleep well at night. Shami and his wife entrusted their lives to Christ. Now they and their teenage daughter are attending Sunday services.
Now the people in Pastor Nandin’s village—even those who once opposed the Jesus Well—are daily drawing clean water from the Jesus Well. Many are recovering from waterborne illnesses, and they are becoming more interested in the Lord.
Through the compassion of a pastor and the provision of a Jesus Well, God is showing people in this community how much He loves them. Now they are grateful for the gift and the message they once scorned.
*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.
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Kalapi, the sickness and poverty, and the healing and provision through the ministry of national missionaries and the distribution of a Gospel for Asia (GFA) gift of compassion.
A mysterious illness caused Kalapi’s body to shake uncontrollably. For two years, she had difficulties walking, eating and drinking. Eventually, she struggled even to speak. Her family sought aid but found none—until they heard about a local Christian congregation. Kalapi went to the church, which is led by Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Boro Rai, and received prayer. It was there that she finally found deliverance, thanks to Jesus.
When Pastor Boro visited Kalapi and Mudit, he noticed the bareness of their home and the thin, weak appearance of their children.
Pastor Boro began visiting Kalapi and her husband, Mudit, to tell them more about the God who healed her and to encourage them with promises from Scripture. During his visits, Pastor Boro noticed the bareness of their home, which contained only a few household items. But even more haunting was the thin, weak appearance of Kalapi’s children. Kalapi and Mudit could afford to feed them flatbread made of cornmeal, but that was about it. The lack of nutrition left the children vulnerable to frequent illnesses, and Kalapi and Mudit didn’t have the money to buy medicine for them.
Pastor Boro couldn’t ignore the images he had seen of the near-empty home and the frail bodies of the children. Wanting to help, he spoke with his leaders and told them about the family’s need.
Family Receives Life-Changing Gift
Pastor Boro and his leaders decided to help meet the family’s basic needs by giving Kalapi and Mudit a gift. Pastor Boro told Kalapi the good news that the church was going to help her family, and he invited her to a Christmas gift distribution.
Kalapi arrived on the appointed day. At the event, 20 pairs of goats, 24 cows, 25 water buffalo and several other useful items waited for Kalapi and other struggling families. Each gift, from a pair of tin sheets to a water buffalo, represented a helping hand from the Lord, who wanted these families to thrive.
That day, Kalapi went home with a cow and a calf. With joy in her eyes, she thanked those who had made it possible for her to receive the gift.
Pastor Boro told his leaders about his concerns for Kalapi’s family. Then, during a Christmas gift distribution, Kalapi received a cow and a calf!
Cow Strengthens Children’s Bodies, Fills Woman’s Heart with Faith
Now, because God put it on the church’s heart to give Kalapi a cow and calf, her family is enjoying a stability they desperately needed. The cow provides Kalapi’s children with milk, a source of protein that has helped their bodies grow stronger. In addition, Kalapi and Mudit have been able to use the cow’s dung to fertilize their crops, and when the calf grows up, they plan to use it to plow their fields.
These Christmas gifts not only helped the family’s financial condition, but they also showed Kalapi how much God and His children care for her family. Seeing God’s compassion on her family, Kalapi’s faith grew. She prays to Jesus to meet her family’s needs, trusting in Him to provide.
God has used the gift of a cow to sustain Kalapi’s family. Kalapi’s children have grown stronger and healthier by drinking the cow’s milk.
“I thank God who has not only set me free from my sickness, but also blessed us with a cow that provides milk,” Kalapi said. “Now my children are able to eat chapatti [flatbread] with milk. I praise God . . . for helping such families as mine.”
You Can Bless More Families
By providing gifts from Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog, you can help bring stability and hope to families like Kalapi’s as you give them a source of income and sustenance. More importantly, you will be part of a tangible illustration of God’s great love for them.
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.
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Pranaya, a Gospel for Asia-supported worker at the Bridge of Hope center who, when her sister gave birth to an abnormal baby girl thrown to a dumpster by her brother-in-law, saved and found the baby giving her a chance at life.
The man looked at the baby in his arms. Something wasn’t right. The newborn . . . she was too skinny. And her face . . . it just wasn’t pretty. The doctor said the baby was abnormal.
Shame fell over the new father. He couldn’t have a child that was abnormal. He didn’t want a child that was abnormal. Neither did his wife. Disgusted, the man threw the 2-day-old baby into the dumpster, and he and his wife left. They shed no tears, and they didn’t look back.
The baby lay wailing helplessly in the pile of garbage.
Then, two arms reached into the dumpster.
A Heart Full of Love for Children
Long before that day, a woman named Pranaya walked into a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Bridge of Hope center. She began working as a tutor to help the children with their academics.
Each day, before the children arrived, Pranaya joined the other staff in praying for the day. At the center, the young woman found out about Jesus. Her interest piqued, she sought out the local church and began reading the Bible.
Through the preaching at the church and her personal study of the Word, Pranaya began a relationship with Christ. He showed her that children are a gift, and as she continued to read Scripture, she learned more about the God who sacrificed everything for those who needed Him.
Given a Second Chance
While Pranaya was teaching at the center, her sister’s belly swelled with new life. This was going to be her first child, and anticipations for the little one were high. The time arrived for the baby to be born, but Pranaya’s sister and brother-in-law returned from the hospital with no child. What happened? When Pranaya discovered her relatives had tossed their newborn daughter into the dumpster, she went and found her.
She took the baby girl to her home and named her Jansi. Though Pranaya continued working as a tutor at the Bridge of Hope center, she and her parents, who worked as daily laborers, cared for Jansi and nursed her to health. To the child, Pranaya was “mother.”
Pranaya was there when Jansi started crawling and then toddling. Every day Pranaya showed the girl how much she was loved. When Pranaya got married, she stopped working, and she and her husband included the child into their new family. Even when they had a baby of their own, Jansi stayed.
“It is a great blessing for me to adopt my sister’s daughter into my family,” she said.
Blooming at Bridge of Hope
When Jansi became school-aged, Pranaya brought her to the Bridge of Hope center she had served at, and the staff enrolled her.
At the center, the shy girl began playing with other children. Schoolwork was difficult for Jansi, but the staff helped her, and she improved.
Jansi’s biological parents knew Pranaya had adopted the child they had forsaken. They didn’t live far. As they watched Jansi grow, their attitude toward her changed, and they wanted her back.
Pranaya saw how Jansi’s parents received the little girl she loved so dearly. When Pranaya and her husband needed to move away, they knew Jansi would be safe with her parents.
Who Saved Jansi?
Jansi now lives with her mother, father and two younger siblings. She continues to attend the Bridge of Hope center, where the staff teach her and help her—all because they know Jesus loves her. She plays games with the other students, and she is doing very well in her studies.
Her mother attends the monthly parents’ meetings at the Bridge of Hope center, and a couple of the staff members sometimes visit the family.
Pranaya gave Jansi another chance at life, but the arms that truly drew Jansi out of death are the same arms that were spread out on a cross for her and offer to carry her all her life.
*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.
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Shway and the isolation and persecution she experienced, even a house on fire, and God’s divine appointment through Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor, Kyaw.
“Lord, help me!” 60-year-old Shway cried as she ran from her burning house.
The people in her village didn’t like Christians and threatened any who became one. “If you do not forsake Jesus, we will send you out of the village,” they warned her. But Shway was not shaken, so a group of drunken men set fire to her house.
The flames licked the walls and thirstily consumed the roof. Days later, Shway stood in the middle of her roofless home surrounded by charred bamboo walls.
“I never thought this would happen to me,” she said.
Familiar Territory
Shway’s situation wasn’t new for her Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor, Kyaw. Since moving to the village four years earlier, Kyaw’s house had been set on fire three times and vandalized with rocks on multiple occasions.
Despite overwhelming opposition, the Lord is using him and his wife, Cho, to bring many into His Kingdom. There are 82 believers who regularly attend their Sunday services, and Shway is one of them.
A Divine Appointment with a Gospel for Asia-supported Pastor
Shway first met Pastor Kyaw in the midst of a moment of despair. She had been collecting firewood in the forest when the weight of her loneliness became too much to bear. She sat under a tree and cried. She thought about her husband, whose intoxicated body was found drifting in a river, and her two children, who died in a bus accident.
She was alone, left to care for herself, until Pastor Kyaw and his wife found her. They listened to the older woman pour out her sorrow and then offered her the reassuring love of the Savior.
“This is my first time hearing this kind of encouragement and sweet words,” Shway had told the pastor.
Pastor Kyaw began visiting her and comforted her with God’s Word, which helped Shway see she was not alone. She started attending prayer meetings and church services, and the Lord touched her heart. She began to trade her sorrow, anxiety and loneliness for joy as she put her trust in Him.
“Jesus always loves me in the time of my sorrow and difficulties … By praising God, I have joy even though I do not have anything,” Shway said.
Shway’s church family has been a great encouragement to her. They even replaced her roof after the fire and continue to visit her to pray and share Scripture with her.
The opposition has diminished, but even if it hadn’t, Shway now knows the joy of the Lord, and nothing can take it away from her.
*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are GFA stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.
Last updated on: June 20, 2022 at 9:31 pm By Karen Mains
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan issues an extensive Special Report on the deadly diseases brought by the mosquito and the storied impact of faith-based organizations on world health, fighting for the Kingdom to “come on earth as it is in heaven.”
Bangladesh—Samaritan’s Purse treats Rohingya refugees affected by the diphtheria outbreak. Photo credit Samaritan’s Purse
This is Part 3 of a Three-Part Series on FBO Initiatives to Combat Malaria and Other World Health Concerns.
Go here to read Part 1 and Part 2.
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No Mosquitoes in the Room Now: A Quick Look at the Impact of Faith on Modern Medical Approaches
One of the most succinct summaries of the role of faith-based activity in relationship to ongoing health needs worldwide is a paper by Matthew Bersagel Braley, “The Christian Medical Commission and the World Health Organization.” In it, the author outlines the collaborative work done between the CMC and the WHO in the 1960s and 1970s. They both, concurrently and intentionally aided by the proximity of their headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, sought to address many of the deficiencies that were (and still are) growing apace modern Western medicine with its rapidly increasing dependence upon expensive diagnostic and curative technologies.
Braley’s abstract explains, after referencing the existence of two previous international consultations organized by the World Council of Churches out of which grew the Christian Medical Commission: “What followed was a theologically informed [italics added] shift from hospital-based tertiary care in cities, many in post-colonial settings, to primary care delivery in rural as well as urban communities.”
They saw the mandate of the church as being that of working to restore (as much as is possible) the world to God’s original design.
The early consultations, Tübingen I (in Germany) and Tübingen II, had developed a theology of health that eventually culminated in a mutual understanding. Looking as they were through the lens of health and defining health as the kind of flourishing that God intended for His human creation, they saw the mandate of the church as being that of working to restore (as much as is possible) the world to that original design. Wholeness then is a kind of health—an “at oneness” with God, with fellow humans, with our communities and with our environment. As believers work toward this goal, despite the fact it will never be ultimately achieved until Christ returns, they consequently become healers or health-bringers with an emphasis on flourishing.
Health was also redefined as the ideal that God desired for the people of the earth, one that will probably not be achieved completely, but will have periodic breakouts in time. Health was seen not simply as the “absence of disease” as defined traditionally by the medical establishment, but the presence of ecological health, harmony within the community, at oneness within the individual and in his or her relationships. It was a presence of peace and a lack of warfare; it was an insistence and concern that the neglected, the poor and the oppressed should even be given preferential treatment because of the systemic unfairness, lack of parity and often true evil exercised by the powerful over the powerless.
David and Karen Mains, 1983 at Mount Hermon Conference Center, CA
Personal Reflections
These theological comprehensions and conclusions have personal meaning to me, because I’ve seen firsthand the importance of working together to help others achieve this all-encompassing health. In 1967 we planted a church on the near west side of Chicago, across the expressway from what is now the Illinois Medical District. At that time, we knew it was one of the largest medical centers in the world; now it consists of 560 acres of medical research facilities, labs and a biotechnology business incubator, four major hospitals, two medical universities and more than 450 health care-related facilities. Needless to say, our small but rapidly growing congregation consisted of many medical grad students, nurses and doctors, and social workers.
There must have been something in the international waters, because totally unaware of the groundbreaking conversations going on among the professionals concerned with health impacts on the other side of the world, David Mains, my husband and the founding pastor of our church, discovered Christ’s major preaching theme was the Kingdom of God. Salvation, or being saved, was entry level to an understanding of that preeminent theme. If the predominance of this message was correct, then it totally shifted our thinking from an individualistic interpretation of faith lived out among private lives to a corporate identity framed through the mutual understanding of Scripture’s teaching of this breakthrough concept. Our salvation was worked out in dialogue around Scriptures and in community with other spiritual pilgrims.
“How important it is when members of faith-based consultations … across the world put aside their differences and … design outcomes that have the possibility to alter … whole nations for the good.
There were places in the world, I discovered as I traveled in the role of journalist, where the people used the word “I” but really meant “we.” I began to understand the Epistles often addressed readers with the word “you.” This was not an individual personal pronoun; in most cases, it was a plural pronoun requiring group action, as in “you, the people of God.” David preached a sermon series titled The Christian, the Church and Society including Christ’s two-part summary message, “Unless you are converted and become like little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” The dialogue of those Christians, listening to David’s sermon in that place and that time in history, when a whole revolutionary resistance movement was rising in our culture—against the war in Vietnam and against injustice, racism, sexism and government corruption—forced upon us a theological conversation that just didn’t happen in other places.
In addition, David, in his 30s, became the head of the Greater Chicago Ministerial Association, and we learned to dialogue across the whole body of faith-based confessions. So, we understand how important it is when members of faith-based consultations here at home or far away across the world put aside their differences and in respect and with deep listening capabilities design outcomes that have the possibility to alter cultures and societies and whole nations for the good.
A part of Samaritan’s Purse relief efforts, these men and women helped fight the Ebola pandemic that swept across West Africa in the spring of 2014. Photo credit Samaritan’s Purse
Conclusion: Our Part in World-Changing, World Health
Matthew Braley’s chapter, taken from the book Religion as a Social Determinant of Public Health, is filled with theological terminology such as epistemology and eschatology, but for the average layperson, what is most important is the Christian Medical Commission’s (CMC) understanding that God’s desire for humankind was that humans flourish in environments most optimal to health as defined not by the absence of disease but by a growing wholeness, and that the thrust of Christ’s ministry and preaching demonstrated the ways to achieve this, aptly summarized in His explanation that we are to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. The CMC’s struggle to understand redemption as a growing wholeness eventually resulted in the “game-changing” 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata, the conference out of which the Millennium Development Goals proceeded.
All eight of those goals, delineated earlier in this article, are undergirded by and initiated from a theological understanding of the health emphasis, the redemptive purpose, the salvific meaning demonstrated by Christ and often emulated (though not often enough) by His followers. The MDGs are basically communal in the fact that they bring healing in the large sense of being at peace—or at home—with one’s self; with one’s family, friends and community; and with one’s place in the world. And they cannot be accomplished in a village or a nation or globally without the commensurate communal action of as many entities as possible, giving whatever they can to eradicate whatever suffering can be done away with through these human initiatives.
The participants at Tübingen I and II, the emergent Christian Medical Commission, and thousands of others of us who have, as the Jewish phrase states, worked at “repairing the world” for most of our lives would insist this is God’s work, in God’s way and with God’s help. Fortunately, as Bishop Tutu of South Africa said when he addressed the 2008 61st-annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the World Health Organization’s governing body, “It is a godly coincidence … together WHO and WCC share a common mission to the world, protecting and restoring body, mind, and spirit.”
As Sharon Bieber responded: “Surely the relief and development organizations that are out there in the world can come to the same conclusion on this one thing—everybody is needed in order to fight diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis; every agency has strengths that will add to the synergy of the whole.”
So when we see groups like Gospel for Asia (GFA) working to hand out hundreds of thousands of mosquito nets to fight malarial infection, when we know tens of thousands of wells have been dug to provide clean water, and when we understand that the effectiveness of the message of Christ can often be measured by how many latrines have been built in a village or a city, we understand that this is what is necessary to help the participants in our world discover true, full health.
This family received a mosquito net at a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Christmas gift distribution. Now they have protection from mosquitoes while they sleep.
Who knows what consultations among desperate folk with common passions are forming even now that will salvage our world at some future critical juncture?
Perhaps you would like to be part of that network of people determined to spread goodness (God-ness) throughout the world. First, begin by educating yourself. Read the book Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, which includes a compendium of organizations seeking volunteers. The authors do not hide how impressed they are with conservative faith-based organizations doing work in the world. Another book to read is To Repair the World by Paul Farmer, a medical doctor many consider to be a modern-day hero.
“This is a bold read by a humble visionary. For those who care about humanity, this is a handbook for the heart,” reads a blurb on the back cover written by Byron Pitts, the chief national correspondent for CBS Evening News.
Then circle one of the volunteer efforts that seems to be calling your name. Become an activist. No need to travel overseas (although that is highly recommended). There is plenty of work to do at home, wherever home may be for you. Just don’t only think about doing something: Do it! (I’m going to look up volunteering for disaster-relief training with The Salvation Army—or the American Red Cross—and I’m 76 years of age!)
At the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus says to the young lawyer, “Go and do likewise.” No, there’s no danger pay for the faith-based health worker. I don’t know of any who have become wealthy. Most of them belong to the league of the nameless. For these, fame is not a motivator either; it generally gets in the way of doing the job.
But mercy? Compassion? Daring to go where others dare not go? Becoming more and more like Jesus? Yep, these are where most of those I know find deep satisfaction. A remarkable man once said, “Go and do likewise.” And they do.
Is that a mosquito I hear buzzing above my ear?
It only takes one mosquito bite to raise a welt.
It only takes one mosquito to kill a child.
It will take a multitude of innovators (believers or nonbelievers) to fight for the Kingdom to “come on earth as it is in heaven.”
It Takes Only One Mosquito — to lead to remarkable truths about faith-based organizations and world health:Part 1 | Part 2
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.
Last updated on: July 5, 2022 at 1:35 pm By Danny Yohannan
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Bishop Danny Yohannan talks about the power of to love others through the supernatural ability of Jesus loving through us.
What have you found is the most effective way to share Christ with other people?
Let me tell you a story. The other day, it was raining outside, so my family and I decided to go to In-N-Out for dinner. On rainy days they always give the kids who are there for free hot chocolate.
I’m always interested to see what Bible verses they put on their food containers—they have verses on the fry holder, the burger wrapper, the milkshake cup, everything.
Bishop Danny Yohannan talks about the power of loving others through the supernatural ability of Jesus loving through us.
So, I looked to see what verse was on the hot chocolate cup, and it was John 13:34–35. That verse says,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
This is amazing! Even at a burger restaurant we are being reminded to love one another. This verse is one of the most important passages in Scripture for a lot of reasons. Jesus is telling us the whole world will know we are His followers if we simply love one another. This is the greatest witness we could give to other people—and, I believe, the most effective way to share Christ.
In one way, it’s far greater than literature and apologetics and programs, because it’s life begetting life. Now, don’t take that to the extreme and think that there’s no need to do anything else; that’s not true either. But we can’t really be an effective witness in our marriages, in our families, in our work or in anything else unless we are doing it with this heart and mindset.
Can you clarify for us exactly what it might look like to “love one another” in the way Jesus was talking about?
I think a lot of times we read this passage and 1 Corinthians 13 and others, and we think, okay, that’s the good Christian thing to do, so we’ll just kind of try to be a little nicer and maybe do a random act of kindness here and there. That’s good, but that’s not the full picture of what Jesus is talking about here.
You can be nice, have good manners and everything else without knowing the Lord at all. I know some very nice nonbelievers, and some of them are better-behaved than other Christians I know.
But what Jesus is talking about here, which we maybe don’t fully realize, is that it’s the same thing He prayed in John 17: that His disciples would be united in oneness as He and the Father are one. The love within the Holy Trinity is an example of perfect love and submission.
Think about the Incarnation for a second. God became man. A lot of us have grown up believing that the main reason Christ came was just to be the sacrifice on the cross, so the Father could kill the perfect lamb in order to appease His wrath brought about by our sin. But that perspective is a bit off.
The true reason for Christ’s coming was because of His perfect love. It was completely in love that the Father sent His son; in love that Jesus went to the cross; and in love that He took on death and healed us of our disease, which had separated us from our relationship with the Father.
When Adam and Eve sinned, God could easily have re-created mankind. But He didn’t do that. Instead, out of complete love for us, the Father sent His Son to make a way for our healing and restoration with Him.
This is the kind of self-sacrificial love Jesus was talking about when He said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” It’s a deeper love that He is calling us to walk in.
It sounds impossible for any of us to reach that standard—am I right?
What Jesus is calling us to do is impossible in our own human strength, because what Jesus is saying is for us to love one another with His supernatural ability so that others will see something different than what is in the world.
Christian love is not about being a “better version” of the world’s type of love—being a more-behaved person or a better husband, wife or friend—though we are called to do those things. It is something that is so different from the world that it will capture people’s hearts and eyes when they encounter it.
We know from history that Christians would often gather in the catacombs or in houses, and they would live out what Saint James said in his epistle: “Confess your sins to one another” (James 5:16). They would get together in groups and start confessing their sins aloud. Can you imagine what that must have been like and how much love and trust that would take?
If you give away sensitive information about yourself—like the sins you’ve committed—they can take that information and use it against you. But the love among these Christians was so strong that they could trust one another that much and confess their sins openly to the whole group. That’s incredible and shows that it’s not impossible.
This kind of deep love for one another only happens through an internal change, something on the inside that takes place by the power of the Spirit as we submit to His will.
It is not automatic, but as we are purposeful in seeking the Lord, we learn more of what it means, and we grow into it.
What are some practical steps we can take to move toward that kind of supernatural love?
There are many practical things we can do. In fact, most of the epistles were written as corrective information for the Church about how they lived their lives together in love for one other. If you look at the epistles, you’ll see it is not mainly theology, though that is there, but it is basically the Apostles correcting what was happening in the life of the community of the Church.
How often the Apostles told us, “Fight for unity,”[1] “Love one another,”[2] “Get the two people to talk together,”[3] “Stop fighting.”[4] These are all instructions for us to follow so that we can grow in what it means to love one another.
But like I said before, we won’t get anywhere if we do it in our own strength.
My encouragement is to turn to the Lord for His help. Ask Him. He is faithful to answer. You can even pray something simple, like, “Lord, I want to know You more. Help me to love people like You do.”
We must recognize that this is something we can trust the Lord to do in our lives. It’s not about looking back and feeling bad about areas where we have failed and just hoping that we will change going forward. There is a time and place for us to reflect on wrong things in our lives and seek to change them, but when it comes to loving like Christ, we have to trust the Lord will do His work in us as we seek Him with all our hearts.
God will give us the grace for that. As we grow in this, our very lives will proclaim the love of God to the world, whether we are at work or at the grocery store or the gas station or anywhere else. I pray God will encourage your hearts as you seek to truly love one another.
In this way, the world will know that we belong to Him.
[1] See 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:3, Philippians 1:27
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Dayita and her family, their struggle with poverty, and the lasting impact Gospel for Asia’s gift of a blanket brings.
Dayita (second from left) and her children and grandchild pose for a picture with Pastor Ansh (far right). The pastor’s gift of a blanket made a lasting impact for Dayita’s entire family.
After the death of her husband, Dayita and her children faced many challenges, especially when it came to finances. Without the presence or provision of her husband, Dayita carried grief and sorrow as her constant companions. When Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Ansh met Dayita, the expression she wore moved him to compassion.
Pastor Ansh and his wife often traveled through their village and the surrounding areas, talking with neighbors and learning more about their lives. When they came to Dayita’s home, they learned that the widow’s elder daughter was married and lived in the same village and her youngest, a son, was studying in the 10th grade. Her two remaining children worked in the paddy fields to provide for the family.
An Unexpected Gift of a Blanket
As Pastor Ansh and his wife spent time learning about the family and their challenges, they offered Dayita encouragement, sharing Scriptures from God’s Word and praying with her. Dayita was comforted by Psalm 46:1–3 as well as the truths in Isaiah 41:10:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Before leaving, Pastor Ansh gave Dayita a blanket—a valuable gift for a family struggling to make ends meet. She received the gift; but based on her outward response, the pastor’s generosity didn’t seem to have much of an impact.
However, Dayita was actually deeply moved by the compassion and generosity of Pastor Ansh and his wife. She became interested in the God they served and was moved seeing the pastor’s compassion. Days grew into months and months into years, and Dayita’s secret desire to learn more about God continued to grow.
A Courageous Step
Finally, Dayita decided to visit the fellowship where Pastor Ansh led a community of believers. There, Dayita learned more about God and His Son, Jesus. She and her family began to regularly attend the gatherings. Now, they all enjoy personal relationships with Jesus.
“At a time of difficulties, none of our relatives came to meet us,” Dayita describes.
“Pastor Ansh came to visit our home and prayed for us. Seeing the situation of our family, he provided us with a blanket. I really felt that God had sent His angel to visit our family, and it impacted my life deeply.”
*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.
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the life of a widow, and many like her, robbed by illiteracy, and the gift and blessing the door of literacy unlocks even to learn about the Great Physician who heals and gives new life.
Jeni studied the curling lines and shapes on her grandson’s homework paper. With a sigh, she handed it back, knowing a great treasure lay within those squiggles and loops, but she lacked the key to unlock it.
Robbed by Illiteracy
This woman, like Jeni, also never learned to read. She hungered for God’s Word but could only stare at the pages of her Bible, unable to read them.
Years earlier, poverty had hindered Jeni from attending school, leaving her illiterate in a world filled with written information. While many children took education for granted, Jeni longed for the opportunity to attend school.
Jeni’s lack of education impacted her childhood and adult life in a multitude of ways. Illiteracy deprived her of the joy of reading stories—both to herself and, later, to her five children. Unable to read newspapers, the current events of her nation had to reach her by word of mouth. Street signs were useless when finding her way around a new area. No reminder notes or shopping lists could be written. What’s more, Jeni could have looked straight at the written name of Jesus and never have known it.
As years passed, Jeni’s children married, and she became a grandmother. Even then, her illiteracy troubled her.
“Sometimes my grandson and granddaughter asked me to help with their school homework, but I did not know what to do.” — Jeni
Jeni felt ashamed of her inability to read or to sign her own name, and she had no idea the gift of literacy—and eternal hope—was just around the corner at a local church.
Answered Prayer Points Widow to Jesus
In addition to her problems caused by illiteracy, Jeni suffered from pain in her shoulders. Even after several doctor visits and treatments, she found no remedy for the pain—until she met a believer from a local church. Jeni accepted the believer’s invitation to attend a worship service and soon sat amidst a congregation of believers led by Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Ajay.
Just as Jeni received prayer, both believers and unbelievers can receive prayer at local churches in Asia.
When Jeni shared about her painful shoulders, Pastor Ajay and the believers joined together to lift her up in prayer to the Great Physician. Faithful and mighty, God touched Jeni and set her free from the pain she was enduring. Jeni grew to love the Lord with all her heart and began faithfully worshiping Him alongside her new family in Christ, rejoicing in God’s demonstration of mercy and compassion.
Church Provides Literacy Classes
Now a fledgling believer in Christ, Jeni was again hindered by illiteracy. She had no way to read her Savior’s words or read the stories of God’s faithfulness toward His children in the Bible.
“Don’t lose heart,” one of the sisters encouraged her. “Believe in God and do your best.”
Passing on the gift of literacy, the Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported women missionaries gently guided Jeni (right) as they taught her to read and write.
“I am so thankful to God and our women missionaries for their help,” Jeni shared. “Though I had the desire [to learn], I never went to school.”
Jeni persevered in her lessons and diligently learned from the women missionaries. They guided her hand as she learned her letters, and soon the strange loops and lines she had seen on her grandson’s paper began to hold meaning.
Community Blessed Through Literacy
Other women in Jeni’s community observed her progress in her studies, and Jeni encouraged them to join the classes as well. Soon, a few more ladies joined the classes to decipher the same letters that had baffled Jeni for so many years.
No longer held back by illiteracy, Jeni (pictured) now reads her Bible for herself and can grow in her knowledge of God’s Word.
Within six months, Jeni could both read and write. Jeni’s children happily watched their mother’s progress and celebrated her ability to do simple things that had troubled her before.
“I am very happy that my mother is able to read and write now by the help of women missionaries,” Jeni’s daughter shared. “These days, she is able to negotiate with the shopkeepers and writes her signature.”
Jeni’s excitement over her new skill soars, and she thanks God for ending the struggle that troubled her for decades.
“Today,” Jeni declares, “I am proud to say I am not illiterate.”
Share the Gift of Literacy
Jeni’s new skills enable her to perform daily life activities that were impossible before attending the literacy classes, and she is now equipped to learn more about the Great Physician who healed her and gave her new life.
*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.
Although the number of reported cases and deaths due to the Coronavirus remain relatively low in India, the population density is a matter of significant concern. The higher the population density, the easier it may be for the virus to spread. India is home to an average of more than 450 people per square kilometer. The major metropolitan areas of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai each have more than 20,000 people per square kilometer.
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