WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Shahryar and his family, the limitations of illiteracy, the debt and poverty, and the answered prayers through Gospel for Asia gift distribution of a goat.
What benefits do goats possess? Many, as a matter of fact. Just one goat can provide milk to sell or drink, and its offspring can be sold for extra money. One goat is all it can take to lift a family out of poverty; one goat is all it took to bless Shahryar and his family.
A Struggling Family
Shahryar and his wife, Aaida, are both illiterate. As a result, the scope of jobs they could take was limited. After working day-to-day odd jobs, Shahryar found work at a gas station while Aaida worked as a daily laborer. The money they earned was still not enough to pay for their two children’s school fees and their daily needs. Shahryar and Aaida borrowed money many times but found themselves unable to pay it back. They sunk deeper and deeper into debt, not knowing how or if they could escape.
Some years earlier, Shahryar and Aaida came to know of Christ’s unfailing love for them. The couple regularly participated in services at a church led by a GFA pastor. The believers continuously prayed for Shahryar and Aaida, lifting up their situation. By the grace of God, those prayers were answered.
A Gospel for Asia Gift on Four Legs: a Goat
Through an organized gift distribution, the church blessed Shahryar and Aaida with a goat! By providing a steady stream of income through its milk and offspring, this goat would bring help in their time of need. Shahryar and Aaida took the goat home and began taking care of it.
*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.
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Kia, a widow, her poverty, struggle to provide for her children, and God’s love and care, through Gospel for Asia supplied piglets, supplying an education.
Kia, a widow with little money, once struggled to afford her children’s schooling.
Just a few months prior, Kia, a widow, was wondering how she was going to meet her children’s basic needs. It seemed like she was always late in paying her children’s schooling fees. She worked weaving traditional dresses, but whenever she got sick, she was unable to work at all.
As Kia watched the prices of everyday living increase, especially as her children got older, providing became a heavy load for her to bear. How would she continue to provide for her family?
Compassion Meets the Practical
Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Taru saw Kia’s needs, and with compassion and love, he wanted to help her and her children. He often encouraged them with God’s Word. Sometimes, out of his own resources, Taru would purchase food and offer financial aid here and there for the family. Above all, he committed to pray for Kia and her children.
Pastor Taru knew the needs of Kia and her children and helped them the best he could. Often he encouraged them through God’s Word.
When Pastor Taru found the opportunity to help through a Christmas gift distribution, he happily requested a pair of pigs for Kia.
Wanting to help Kia, Pastor Taru sought to provide her with a pair of pigs.
Tears of joy washed down Kia’s face when she found out she would be given the pigs to help her. She was overwhelmed knowing God loved her and cared for her even though, as a new believer, she had struggled to make time for reading His Word and praying. A new hope and joy filled her heart.
Kia took good care of her piglets. Before long the two pigs became nine, and when school season came around, Kia decided to sell seven piglets. The money she earned from that paid for her children’s education fees completely!
“I am so thankful to God for blessing me,” Kia said. “My children could continue their education, and the income that I got from selling the piglets has enabled me to run the family without much struggle. I am so excited, and I am very thankful to our leaders for their love and concern for poor people like me.”
Gifts That Show God’s Love
Seeing Kia and the rest of his congregation encouraged and growing in the Lord fills Pastor Taru with much joy. His prayers for this family have been answered.
“The Lord we worship is Jehovah Jireh, who knows all of our needs and has concern for us,” he said.
Christmas gifts, like a pair of pigs, can have a broader impact than just a means of livelihood. Like the ones Kia and her children received, these pigs offer hope for the future.
Something as simple as a pair of pigs can make a tremendous difference in the lives of individuals like Kia. This Christmas, offer hope for a better future and help spread the light of Christ to someone in need.
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 and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Mareechi and his family, their poverty, and Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog vegetable cart that gave hope and a brighter future.
As a young boy, Mareechi was excited about what his future could hold. But as the months went by, his family found themselves in poverty. Unable to meet their needs, Mareechi dropped out of school and stayed home in order to save his family some money.
When Mareechi aged into a teenager, he examined his family’s condition and decided to find some work to help provide for their needs. But wherever he applied, his progress was impeded by his lack of education. Everyone turned him down.
The only work he was equipped to do was manual labor, so Mareechi worked hard and helped support his family. Soon after, he got married and worked harder than ever to give his wife and children a good future.
As Business Struggles, Kids’ Future Is in Danger
A few years later, after collecting a small amount of savings, Mareechi traveled to a nearby village to buy vegetables that he would sell in his own village. But without something to carry them all in, Mareechi couldn’t sell, and he wouldn’t be able to provide.
Every day, Mareechi would hand over 50 rupees to rent a cart for the day. When he couldn’t afford to rent a cart, or when there was none left, he’d fill a basket with all his wares, carry it on his shoulders and make the four-mile trek back to his village. The hours slid by as he plodded across his village, trying to sell the vegetables before he had to return the cart. It never seemed to be enough time. These challenges made him unable to sufficiently provide for his family, and his children risked losing their education just like Mareechi had lost his years before.
Gifted With a Solution
It was during this time that staff of a local Gospel for Asia (GFA) Bridge of Hope center met Mareechi while they were out visiting students’ families and learned about his family’s struggle.
Realizing his need, the Bridge of Hope staff shared Mareechi’s situation with their leaders. Then, when the local church held a Christmas gift distribution program, 213 families received items to meet their needs and also heard about the Savior who had met their greatest need: hope for an eternal future. Mareechi was one of the beneficiaries and rode away on his own vegetable cart.
Now Mareechi is able to work free of restricting business hours, allowing him more time to sell his vegetables and keep all his earnings. His family no longer struggles financially, and he’s even able to send his children to school, where their futures look brighter.
Just as Mareechi was blessed through a gift, there are hundreds of more families whose lives could be transformed by a gift. Through Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog, you can share God’s love with 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 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 Ranjini, a widow afflicted with leprosy, impoverished and alone, and the Gospel for Asia-supported workers who show God’s love and care even for the shunned and rejected.
“What shall I do?” Ranjini wondered aloud. Ranjini powerlessly watched her hands and feet deteriorating before her eyes. As a widow and a person afflicted with leprosy, Ranjini needed help. But so many people in her society turned a blind eye to widows and leprosy patients, and she was both; who would trouble themselves about her?
Happy Life Gives Way to Grief
Ranjini (pictured) had no one to call on for help. She was lost in the masses, just another widow and leprosy patient in need of help, which few people in her society offered.
Ranjini had known happy days years earlier when family surrounded her, when she had money to buy sweets and flowers to give to her deities in worship, when her life felt normal. She had smiled at her daughter’s wedding, an event she had anticipated since her girl’s birth. Ranjini felt pleased with the new life her daughter held as a wife, even though it meant the new bride now lived with her in-laws in a distant place.
But despite the once happy life, tragedy crept in when she contracted leprosy and, later, when her husband died. With her daughter married and gone, Ranjini lived alone and impoverished.
For centuries, leprosy patients have suffered extreme ostracism in addition to the devastating physical effects of their disease. Annually, around 200,000 people, young and old, discover they’ve contracted leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) , and many are subsequently abandoned by their families and by society.
For many, the diagnosis steals their identity. Instead of being seen as valuable human beings in need of help and support, they are seen as a threat to public health, as cursed. Even today, abandonment of people with leprosy is socially acceptable in many cultures, and in some nations, it is even allowable through legislation.
Annually, around 200,000 people, young and old, discover they’ve contracted leprosy
Ranjini spent her days humbly asking for alms from passersby, hoping to receive enough to get by each day. At the same time, leprosy slowly crept throughout her body and caused irreparable damage to her hands and feet. How much longer could she survive on her own? Ranjini couldn’t ask her daughter to leave her in-laws and husband to care for her, but she knew no one else to turn to—until she talked with a neighbor friend and voiced her desperate question once more.
Learning Someone Cares
Ranjini bemoaned her situation to her neighbor, Joti, one day.
“I have no one to look after me. I cannot call my daughter to live here with me,” Ranjini said. “My wound is also growing every day. What shall I do?”
The answer she received changed the course of Ranjini’s life.
Joti loved Jesus and worshiped Him at a church led by Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Daha. She knew Pastor Daha had a special place in his heart for people suffering with leprosy—a rare attitude in a society where leprosy patients are commonly shunned. Joti told Ranjini that if she would go see Pastor Daha, he would gladly attend to her wounds, and what’s more, he would do it free of charge.
Ranjini’s world changed that day. Someone cared about her needs as a leprosy sufferer and had dedicated his life to helping her and other patients! Ranjini had to meet him.
Pastor Daha cleaned Ranjini’s wounds and demonstrated kindness and respect toward her. The words of hope he shared gave her a new outlook on the future, and Ranjini came frequently to worship and learn more about Christ.
Kindness Points to Loving Savior
Soon, Ranjini accompanied Joti to the church and met Pastor Daha. He welcomed her with genuine love. He applied medicine to her wounds and wrapped protective bandages around them, all while treating her as someone he—and God—valued. Pastor Daha shared things that amazed Ranjini. He told her God had sent him there to care for her, and that God loved her and wanted to be part of her life.
After living as an outcast for so long, this amazing news and demonstration of kindness came as a welcome surprise. Touched by her reception at the church, Ranjini began attending worship services the following Sunday and learning more about Jesus.
Over the following weeks, Ranjini “tasted and saw” that the Lord is good and that He blesses those who trust in Him. As she learned more about Christ, Ranjini understood the true depth of her need for Him, not just as a provider of aid in her time of need but also as her Savior and Redeemer. Three months after her first visit to Pastor Daha’s church, Ranjini opened her heart to Jesus.
Ranjini doesn’t live alone anymore—Jesus is at home in her heart—and she doesn’t need to worry about her future. She knows her Maker sees her and knows her needs, and she knows His children do too.
Make the Neglected a Personal Priority
Thankfully, men and women across the globe—like Pastor Daha—are championing the cause of people with leprosy. Many Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers focus on serving neglected leprosy patients by helping them in simple yet significant ways. They cook meals, clean homes, help with personal hygiene, comfort lonely hearts and treat wounds, all in the name of Christ. By showing patients the respect and care they deserve, these workers are bringing Christ’s love to thousands.
Even amidst a very difficult life, leprosy patients like this woman are able to smile when they glimpse the love of their Maker. Today, you can help Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers demonstrate God’s deep love and care for more people afflicted with leprosy.
*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 and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing the life of Muskan, a widow, and her daughter Titiksha, the hardships of widowhood and poverty, and the genuine acceptance and love from God discovered through Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries.
One day, Titiksha overheard her uncle scolding her mother, Muskan. Titiksha was the cause of his complaints.
Inside the house, Titiksha could hear her uncle harshly scolding her mother.
Titiksha and her mother, Muskan, were used to feeling rejected and despised by Muskan’s older brother, Ganaraj, and his family, but this time, he was lashing out at Muskan because of Titiksha, who had decided to walk with Jesus.
“You are neglecting your responsibility to look after your daughter,” he told Muskan. “You have given her so much freedom that she is now prepared to bring shame to the family. We cannot let this happen as long as we live here. So it will be good if you correct your daughter, or else you both—mother and child—have to find another place to live.”
Widow and Daughter Suffer Rejection from Family
Titiksha’s father had passed away when she was only 4 years old, so she and her mother moved to live with her uncle. But Ganaraj didn’t want the burden of taking care of them, so the accommodation he gave Muskan and Titiksha was merely a small hut on his property. Because Muskan struggled to provide for herself and her daughter, she couldn’t afford to give Titiksha a complete education. After Titiksha learned to read and write, she had to drop out of school. Muskan and Titiksha’s desperate situation earned them scorn from their family, so that Titiksha’s own cousins didn’t want to play with her.
Muskan, a widow, and her daughter struggled to earn their living. They suffered scorn and rejection from their own family.
Titiksha had faced this rejection for years, and now her uncle threatened to rob what little stability she and her mother did have. Despite the heavy blow of words condemning and accusing her, Titiksha wouldn’t change her mind about her faith in Jesus.
New Faith Leads Daughter Away from Home
After meeting two Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported women missionaries, Titiksha had learned about the God who loved her so much that He sent His Son to die on a cross for her. The women had encouraged Titiksha to ask the Lord for help when she faced difficulties, and as she did, she saw how God responded to her prayers. Titiksha decided to walk with Jesus, and she continued, even when her mother and her uncle criticized her for it.
“Have you not noticed how the people look at us and treat us, that you took such a great step?” Muskan scolded. “Do you have any idea how the people will treat us if they come to know that you have become a Christian? They will chase us out from this village, and even my brothers will disown us. Then where will we go? What would have caused you to do that?”
Despite these words, Titiksha kept going to prayer meetings and encouraged her mother to believe in God’s Word.
Ganaraj, however, continued to lash out at Muskan for her daughter’s faith, so Titiksha made a difficult choice: She decided to move away to the city and find work so her mother wouldn’t face constant harassment because of her.
When Titiksha’s uncle continued harassing Muskan for Titiksha’s new faith, Titiksha made the difficult decision to leave home for her mother’s sake.
Titiksha had one request before she left: She asked her mother to meet the missionaries who had impacted her own life through sharing the knowledge of Christ, the Savior.
But Muskan didn’t go to meet the missionaries. Each time Titiksha called, Muskan gave an excuse for why she hadn’t gone. Then, one day, as Muskan was cleaning her home, she came across a New Testament that Titiksha had left behind. She became curious to know what kind of God her daughter loved so much that she would even leave home.
Gospel for Asia-supported Missionaries Introduce Mother to the God Who Changed Her Daughter’s Life
Muskan went to the nearby village where her daughter had told her the missionaries were. But she couldn’t find the women missionaries. Instead, she met Wyconda and Pathik, two Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported men missionaries. These men told her the missionaries Titiksha knew had moved from the village, and they had been assigned to take their place.
Wyconda and Pathik were just about to have a prayer meeting, so they invited Muskan to join them.
At the prayer meeting, Muskan listened as Wyconda and Pathik explained the truth of God’s Word. And when the believers sang a song about the family of God and being near to heaven, Muskan’s heart was moved and her eyes filled with tears. She talked more with Wyconda and Pathik about what the Bible says and told them she longed for a happy life and a peaceful mind. Wyconda and Pathik said joy could be found in knowing Christ and allowing Him to live inside one’s heart.
As she herself learned who Jesus is, Muskan became convinced that her daughter’s peace had come from knowing Him. With a new faith that Jesus is the Savior, Muskan decided that very day to walk with Him.
After meeting Wyconda and Pathik, two Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported missionaries, Muskan learned about the God her daughter loved so much, and she decided to walk with Jesus.
The joy of the Lord filled Muskan’s soul, and after one week, she told Wyconda and Pathik she had never experienced such peace before. She began worshiping with the local congregation regularly.
Meanwhile, the good news of her mother’s change of heart brought much joy to Titiksha. She thanked the Lord for answering her prayers. But when Ganaraj found out, he was anything but happy.
Despite Opposition, Mother Grows in New Faith
Ashamed of Muskan, Ganaraj told her not to embarrass their family by following a different religion. This opposition made Muskan uncomfortable staying with his family, but she stood firm in her new faith, and God used her younger brother, Bandhu, to provide a safer environment for her to live in.
“I cannot bear to know that my own sister has no place to stay,” Bandhu told Ganaraj. “She will stay with me. I do not care what God she worships. Let her worship the God whom she trusts in.”
Muskan moved to a house on her younger brother’s land, and she is continuing to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and worship Him with the local congregation. She even tells other women about Him, testifying how He provided for her needs and answered her prayers.
Despite opposition from her older brother, Muskan has continued growing in Christ and worshiping Him with the local congregation. Now she even tells other women what He’s done in her life.
When this widow and her daughter desperately needed to experience genuine acceptance and love, God used four different missionaries to teach them about His Son. National missionaries, like the women missionaries who shared with Titiksha and the men missionaries, Wyconda and Pathik, have the training and passion to reach hurting people with the knowledge of Jesus, who created them and who loves them so much He gave His life 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 the impact a local Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor brings to the people around them, where every conversation and time spent, even giving a motorcycle ride can mean a life changed for Christ.
After a conversation on a motorcycle with local Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Pastor Danvir, Niket and Abia (pictured) found new life in Christ.
Niket gazed wearily up the road, hoping he wouldn’t have to wait much longer for an auto rickshaw to come along. It had been a long day, and he just wanted to get home. A few minutes later, he heard a motorcycle approaching. When the bike came closer, Niket saw the driver wore a bag slung across his shoulders and recognized him as the local Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor, Danvir.
Deciding to take a chance, Niket stepped out and motioned for the man to stop. Because they were both headed in the same direction, he asked Pastor Danvir if he could have a ride back to their village. Niket didn’t fully expect to be helped, but to his surprise, Pastor Danvir happily agreed.
Niket mounted the motorcycle, touched by the pastor’s kindness. But when he reached his destination and climbed off, he was thankful for something even more unexpected: the gift of eternal life.
Words on the Road
Pastor Danvir was a busy man. Caring for the believers in his congregation and serving the neighboring communities meant he frequently journeyed from place to place. His motorcycle enabled him to do that much faster than if he had to walk, ride a bike or wait on public transportation. It helped him in his ministry, and on this day, it was the main reason why he had a chance to speak with Niket.
After agreeing to give Niket a ride, Pastor Danvir naturally struck up a conversation to get to know the man sitting behind him. As they talked, Pastor Danvir shared some encouraging words about Christ. God moved powerfully in Niket’s heart, and when the motorcycle stopped at their destination, Niket asked Jesus to lead his life and live in his heart!
Niket invited Pastor Danvir to visit his home, and when the pastor came later that week, Niket’s wife, Abia, listened intently. She, too, felt God working within her, and she joined her husband in placing her faith in Christ.
Niket and Abia began worshiping God with Pastor Danvir’s congregation and developed a strong prayer life—and it all started with the simple generosity of a man with a motorcycle.
*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 the stigma of having leprosy, the suffering, humiliation, and the love of Christ shown through those like a Gospel for Asia (GFA) supported pastor, and Sisters of Compassion (specialized women missionaries).
Balwant looked at the well near his house. He wondered if he could do it, if he could jump in and end his life. Would it be quick? Would it be painless? He had already experienced more pain than he wanted to endure. Death would be a welcome end to this marred life of illness and rejection he was now living. He didn’t know what else he could do.
The Stigma of Having Leprosy
Balwant was an educated man who worked as a tutor, helping the children in his village with their studies. He had a wife, three daughters and son. When he was in his 30s, he noticed white patches on his leg. They itched and then became numb. It turned out to be leprosy, a chronic skin disease that can cause serious nerve damage and leave a person disfigured if left untreated.
Even though the disease is curable with a multidrug treatment, the stigma that comes along with it is not.
When the people in Balwant’s village found out he had leprosy, they started avoiding him. Balwant was one of tens of thousands of people in South Asia suffering from leprosy and the humiliation and ostracism that comes along with it. For centuries, leprosy patients have been barred from accessing common wells or participating in festivals, because people believe their presence increases the risk of contagion. They’re often rejected, even by family members who fear they, too, will “catch” the disease or have to endure social rejection because of them.
Balwant was one of tens of thousands of people in South Asia suffering from leprosy and the humiliation and ostracism that comes along with it.
There are some people who even think leprosy is a punishment from the gods for past sins, so they avoid those affected because they do not want to incur the wrath of the gods.
Balwant and his family ended up moving from the village.
Hospital Visit Leaves Man with Amputated Leg
By the time Balwant went to a mission hospital for treatment, the disease had progressed so severely that he was transferred to another hospital for better medical care. Because the leprosy had been eating away at the nerves in his right leg, doctors amputated Balwant’s leg at the knee.
Balwant was now weak, unable to work and unable to afford the medical treatments necessary to help cure him of the high blood pressure and diabetes he had developed as well.
Twenty-eight years of suffering from leprosy left Balwant weary of life. He didn’t want to be a burden to his family. He didn’t want to live, so he plotted to end his own life.
Man Longs for Death to End His Suffering
Twenty-eight years of suffering from leprosy, and now high blood pressure and diabetes, had taken more than just a physical toll on Balwant; they left him weary of life. He didn’t want to suffer anymore.
Balwant thought death would take away his shame, that death would relieve his family members of the burden of caring for him, that death would resolve all his problems. He wanted to hang himself, but the disease had riddled away his muscles, leaving him without strength in his hands or leg to carry out his self-imposed death sentence.
There was a well nearby his house, though. He’d see it and wonder if he could end his suffering simply by jumping in. Days passed, and he mentally prepared himself to end his own life.
Man Realizes Value of Human Life
In the midst of this misery, Balwant met Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Daha and three Sisters of Compassion, specialized women missionaries.
Every Saturday, Pastor Daha would visit with the people in Balwant’s community to offer encouragement and to pray for their needs. He had heard of Balwant’s condition, so he and the three Sisters of Compassion, Ujvala, Leena and Puji, decided to visit him.
After listening to Pastor Daha share about Jesus Christ and His compassion, Balwant felt a stirring in his heart. He opened up to the pastor and missionaries and told them of his agony and his plans to end his life.
As Balwant spent time learning more about Jesus through the love and care of Pastor Daha and the three Sisters of Compassion, he stopped plotting his own death and began to live again.
Pastor Daha and the sisters prayed for the suffering man and encouraged him from God’s Word. For many days, they prayed for him, and Balwant’s health began to improve. He also felt a peace that surpasses understanding grow in his heart and mind, and he began to realize how valuable his life was.
Christ’s Love Shown Through Servants Touches Man
Pastor Daha, Ujvala, Leena and Puji visited Balwant and his wife regularly. They helped them fetch water and chop vegetables. They even trimmed Balwant’s nails for him—a small task that many leprosy patients can’t do for themselves—showing him the tender love of Christ.
As Balwant spent time learning more about Jesus through the love and care of Pastor Daha and the Sisters of Compassion, he stopped plotting his own death and began to live again.
Pastor Daha and the women missionaries visited Balwant and his wife regularly. They helped them with daily tasks and even trimmed Balwant’s nails for him, showing him the tender love of Christ.
“I was emotionally weak and thought to end my life,” Balwant said, “but I found Jesus in the right time. I thank God that He loves me.”
A few months after Balwant discovered the love of His Savior, he became ill with jaundice. He passed away Dec. 29, 2015, and now gets to spend eternity with the One who loves him—redeemed and fully restored. Truly, he did find Jesus at just the right time.
Every year, there are nearly 230,000 new cases of people diagnosed with leprosy. About 60 percent of those cases concern people living in India alone. While leprosy is a curable disease, many men, women and even children find themselves abandoned and scorned because of it. Like Balwant, they live with shame and hopelessness as their constant companions. But God is using His servants to give these precious people hope and new life in Him—and you can help.
*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 Dhansukh, poverty threatening his family, his children’s education, health, & the life-sustaining gifts through the Gospel for Asia Christmas Gift Catalog.
His produce business was crumbling, and sadness and anxiety filled his heart. Hardly anyone was buying the vegetables Dhansukh offered. With so few customers, much of his produce rotted in his stall. Then Vismay showed up.
Slow Business Threatens Children’s Education, Health
Because of his difficulty walking, Dhansukh made a living by selling vegetables.
Daily life was a struggle for Dhansukh and his family. Because Dhansukh had difficulty walking, he couldn’t work as a daily wage laborer, which is a common job for many people in Asia. Instead, Dhansukh provided for his family by selling vegetables.
But after some time, Dhansukh’s business began running into the ground. Fewer people made purchases, and the vegetables that remained started to rot. Dhansukh tried all he could to save money and make up for the lack. He took his children out of the private school they were attending and sent them to a public school instead. He asked his brothers and his sister for hand-me-downs for his children.
But even as he cut down on expenses left and right, eventually the vegetable-seller could no longer afford to buy fresh vegetables to feed his family. The meals they would eat in one day became fewer and fewer. When they did eat food, it sometimes consisted only of rice with salt. Dhansukh didn’t know what to do.
In the middle of the family’s crisis, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Vismay came to buy vegetables one day. Dhansukh decided to see if the Christians’ God could help.
When Dhansukh’s business started slowing down, his family sank into a financial crisis. Not knowing what else to do, Dhansukh told one of his customers, Pastor Vismay, about his troubles and asked for prayer.
Gift Proclaims God’s Love, Provision
Pastor Vismay and Dhansukh had developed a friendly acquaintance already, as the pastor would buy vegetables from Dhansukh’s shop. They had talked before, and Pastor Vismay had spoken of Jesus, but this time Dhansukh opened up to Pastor Vismay on a new level. He told Pastor Vismay about his business troubles and asked him to pray for him. As Pastor Vismay prayed fervently for Dhansukh, Dhansukh joined in agreement, believing Jesus could change his circumstances.
Pastor Vismay kept Dhansukh’s prayer request in mind, and God eventually provided an opportunity for him to help Dhansukh’s family practically through a Christmas gift distribution.
Throughout the year, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers in Asia get to distribute life-sustaining gifts, from sewing machines to mosquito nets to livestock, provided for by brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. During the gift distribution in his community, Pastor Vismay was able to give Dhansukh two female goats, much to Dhansukh’s delight.
When Dhansukh received two female goats through a Christmas gift distribution, God filled his heart with faith that Jesus loved him. Dhansukh cared for the goats, and soon they gave birth to three kids.
These gifts impacted Dhansukh in a special way: As he witnessed firsthand the Lord’s power to answer prayers, he realized God loved him and Jesus’ followers cared about him.
Dhansukh took the pair of goats home and diligently cared for them, and as his faith strengthened through the loving provision of Christ, he saw the Lord continue to bless him through the two goats: After several months, the goats gave birth, providing Dhansukh with three more goats! Full of gratitude, Dhansukh gave one goat to the church as an offering to the Lord.
Through the Gospel for Asia Christmas Gift Catalog: Gifts That Keep Giving
The Lord’s provision and Dhansukh’s strengthened faith didn’t shelter Dhansukh’s family from tragedy, however. One day, as Dhansukh took his goats to a field, dogs attacked them, and three of the goats died. But by the Lord’s grace, the gift of a goat keeps on giving. Dhansukh’s one remaining goat is now pregnant, so Dhansukh and his family have hope of future provision through her and the kids she will give birth to. What’s more important, Dhansukh’s family is continuing to learn about the eternal hope in Christ as they worship Him among the believers at a local church.
Even though three of Dhansukh’s goats were killed by dogs, he and his family have hope of future provision because his remaining goat is pregnant! By God’s grace, gifts like goats can keep on giving.
Through the Gospel for Asia Christmas Gift Catalog, you can give more gifts that keep on giving—not only through financial provision but also through the joy of experiencing Christ’s boundless love.
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.
What benefits do goats possess? Many, as a matter of fact. Just one goat can provide milk to sell or drink, and its offspring can be sold for extra money. One goat is all it can take to lift a family out of poverty; one goat is all it took to bless Shahryar and his family.
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