Literacy: A Great Miracle Cure for the Human Spirit (Illiteracy Post 1 by Gospel for Asia)

October 3, 2019 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) issues an extensive Special Report on illiteracy, the dominant disabler to flourishing for millions around the world, and the miraculous potential of literacy that is able to change the lives of men, women and children for generations.

Resolving the Limitations Illiteracy Places on the Human Spirit

Few of us who have read all our lives understand the nearly miraculous potential of being able to read and write when illiteracy has been the dominant disabler to flourishing. Illiteracy is more dominant than poverty, more dominant than a chronic physical disability, and more dominant than even an oppressive social system.

We readers have long lost the joy of discovering that the squiggly marks on a page of paper can be interpreted or that the same kinds of marks can be learned and replicated with chalk, ink, pen or pencil. We don’t understand because we read and write and often take for granted the treacherous limitations illiteracy places on the human spirit as well as on human potential.

Perhaps one story from Gospel for Asia (GFA) will help us again remember the wonder of our own unrecognized reading and writing capacities. This is about Mandeepa.

This is Mandeepa. Her widowed mother was too poor to send her to school when she was younger, so she grew up illiterate. After she learned of God’s love as a teenager, she deeply desired to read God’s Word, but she couldn’t read or write.

Due to the early death of her father, Mandeepa and her five other siblings were raised by a struggling mother. None of these six children were able to attend school, and at the age of 13, Mandeepa started to work as a household maid to support her single parent. Eventually, as is frequently the case, a marriage was arranged for Mandeepa, which quickly produced a son and a daughter.

At the age of 16, Mandeepa started attending a local church where the young woman received a Bible of her own—but having never learned to read and write, she, of course, only saw strange markings on the page. Her heart was filled with a longing to read the words and to learn more about the Heavenly Father the book taught about, but this was impossible, and the young woman was disconsolate.

Mandeepa’s husband was also illiterate. Their daughter was fortunate to attend school, but her growing ability to read only pointed out the lack in her mother’s education. How Mandeepa wished she could help her daughter with her schoolwork. This parental lack only increased the woman’s desire to read and write like her children.

Then the Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Women’s Fellowship at her church-initiated literacy learning classes.

Mandeepa was now 32 years old, and after a year of study, she could finally read the Bible she had received 16 long years before. One of the first things she did when this “great miracle cure” began to have effect on her, banishing the shame and frustration of ignorance caused by lack of education, was to memorize John 14:15: “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”

Gospel for Asia points out that there are more than 250 million women in Asia today who are illiterate. It’s impossible for them to help their children with schoolwork. In addition, the instructions on medicine bottles, road signs, notices from the government and legal papers are all indecipherable— and this in a society that is increasingly dependent upon the written word. Those who desire to read God’s Word can’t do so. Technology can’t be accessed unless a user is highly literate. One must be able to spell, to read commands, to type letters that form words if the digital world is to be accessed.

Illiteracy is more dominant than poverty,
more dominant than a chronic physical disability,
and more dominant than even an oppressive social system.

Illiteracy is a kind of intellectual limbo, and no matter how naturally intelligent a person might be, the very descriptor “illiterate” indicates inferior mental capability.

Worldwide, entire villages with increasing levels of literacy are making social and economic gains when even just a small percentage of the villagers learn to read and write. Much data (a preponderance of which is examined under the general category of education) gives good cause to make the assumption that learning to read and write is one of the “great miracle cures.”

UNESCO does a thorough job of establishing the difficulty of conducting evidence- based data gathering as to the specific impact of literacy on individuals and communities, but it makes a broad generalization by stating in one article, “The ‘multiplier effect’ of literacy empowers people, enables them to participate fully in society and contributes to improve livelihoods. Literacy is also a driver for sustainable development in that it enables greater participation in the labour market; improved child and family health and nutrition; reduces poverty and expands life opportunities.”

Asia: Manju is teaching several women how to read and write in a literacy class hosted in the women’s house in 2011. Illiteracy is often cured by an army of tutors like this. Opportunities to volunteer and serve to erase illiteracy, and spread the miracle of reading and writing, are numerous.

Why Is Literacy a Great Miracle Cure?

Hopefully, this article will inspire the reader about participating in some way in the joy of giving the gifts of reading and writing to other humans. The outcomes of such literacy initiatives are far beyond the investment of a few hours on the part of a tutor or of a volunteer week or some summer months overseas dedicated to literacy training and teaching. It is well worth considering teaching others how to read and write, or attending discussion groups at the local library where ESL (English as Second Language) learners are expanding their conversational skills, or volunteering with any of a multitude of organizations that welcome short-term teachers who are able to travel overseas. The opportunities for working literacy miracles are many and far-reaching.

Volunteering with NGOs (non-governmental organizations) overseas is, indeed, not only beneficial to individual learners who with literacy skills can obtain higher-paying jobs above menial labor and have the means to educate their own children, but also to whole villages and countries where the literacy aggregate continues to grow, or what has been referred to above as “the multiplier effect.”

250 million

women in Asia today are illiterate

All statistical evidence shows that one individual who is given reading and writing skills greatly improves his/her chances of success. Increasing literacy of individuals also greatly enhances the society in which those people live. A study conducted in Charleston, North Carolina, determined that “illiteracy is a multifaceted social equity and justice problem that results in less job opportunities and low income, often poverty.”

The reporting continues to explain that employers are often careful not to allow low-skilled workers to work more than 30 hours at minimum wage, because hours accrued above this level must provide workers with benefits and paid time off. This limit means poverty or near-poverty for a certain demographic of workers, which then sets in motion the need for community government to provide welfare assistance. The Trident Literary Association of Charleston, South Carolina, notes that food and medical assistance are often necessary when someone lives below the poverty line, especially if children are present:

“Letting our people live in poverty can cost the Charleston community over $15,000 for ONE adult for only ONE year. This does not count the cost of any children each adult may have. When over 86,000 adults in the tri-county area don’t have a high school diploma or a GED, the community could incur costs of up to $1.3 BILLION in public assistance to help those people survive.”

If this is true in a mostly literate community, how does illiteracy impact countries with large demographics of people who can neither read or write? The consensus across the data is that illiteracy interferes with the flourishing of citizens within a community.

The Literacy Foundation, located in Quebec, lists:

Specific negative incomes of illiteracy on both individuals and society. For individuals, the impacts include:

“A limited ability to obtain and understand essential information;
“An unemployment rate two to four times higher among those with little schooling compared to those with bachelor’s degrees;
“Lower income;
“Lower-quality jobs;
“Precarious financial position;
“Little value given to education and reading within the family, often leading to intergenerational transmission of illiteracy;
“Low self-esteem, which can lead to isolation;
“More workplace accidents, longer recovery times and more misuse of medications due to not understanding health care resources and procedures.”

And for a community whose citizens have a high illiteracy rate, societal impacts include:

“Since literacy is essential for individuals and states to be competitive in the new global knowledge economy, many positions remain vacant for lack of adequately trained personnel;
“The higher the proportion of adults with low literacy proficiency, the slower the overall long-term GDP growth rate is;
“Difficulty understanding societal issues lowers the level of community involvement and civic participation.”

Defining Literacy

Like many topics, the meaning of literacy has nuances: Someone might say they are illiterate about opera, meaning they are uninformed, uninterested or unexposed to this art form. The same implications could be attributed to a person who is “illiterate” about immigration. At its most elemental level, however, to be illiterate means that a person cannot read or write or can only decipher words in a minimal way. Literacy Advance says the definition is even more complex:

“Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen, and use numeracy and technology, at a level that enables people to express and understand ideas and opinions, to make decisions and solve problems, to achieve their goals, and to participate fully in their community and in wider society.”

Illiteracy is most prevalent in developing countries. South Asian, Arab and Sub- Saharan African countries are regions with the highest illiteracy rates at about 40 to 50 percent. East Asia and Latin America have illiteracy rates in the 10–15 percent region, while developed countries have illiteracy rates of a few percent.

Within ethnically homogenous regions, literacy rates can vary widely from country or region to region. This often coincides with the region’s wealth or urbanization, though many factors play a role.

Odisha, India: Thirty-five ladies gather for a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported women’s literacy class three days a week. The class takes place Monday through Wednesday. Once they achieve their goal in teaching these ladies how to read and write, the Sisters of Compassion will begin another Adult Literacy Class elsewhere in the neighborhood.

Literacy — One of the Great Miracle Cures: Part 2 | Part 3

This Special Report article originally appeared on GFA.org.

Learn more about the Women’s Literacy Program, and how you can help over 250 million women in Asia who are illiterate.

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

Mother’s Lifelong Dreams of an Education Become Reality

September 18, 2019 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the poverty that hinders millions of women to have an education, and the missionaries who reach these women through literacy classes to be able to tackle life’s hurdles.

“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.”

Habiba poses for a picture as a student of the Sisters of Compassion literacy class.

While Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Sisters of Compassion don’t teach villagers how to fish, they do teach them something quite necessary to thrive in life: how to read and write.

For one mother, this old proverb stands true as the sisters’ lessons are satisfying her lifelong dream to learn to read and write.

Unfulfilled Dreams of an Education, Literacy

Habiba, 40, lives in a slum village with her husband, 10-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. Growing up, Habiba had the desire to attend school and learn to read and write, but she never had the opportunity because of her family’s poverty. Still, it was a dream she clung to even after getting married.

When Habiba’s children were born, she desperately wanted them to receive an education. Unfortunately, her husband was also uneducated and, therefore, unable to teach the children, and school fees were too expensive for them to afford. Habiba grieved that her children would grow up illiterate like she did, but it seemed her dreams for their education were equally out of reach.

Hope Born

One day, Sister Tamanna and a few other Sisters of Compassion supported by Gospel for Asia (GFA) visited Habiba’s home and shared the Good News of Jesus’ love. They also explained to Habiba and her family they were starting a literacy class for the women and children of the village.

Not surprisingly, Habiba rejoiced to learn about the class and that the lessons would be offered for free. It renewed hope that her dreams of an education for herself and for her children could finally become a reality.

“I want to become an educated lady,” Habiba excitedly explained to Sister Tamanna, “and my desire will surely come true through this class.”

Starting School

Habiba practices writing with Tamanna during literacy class.

When the literacy class began in her village, Habiba and her children were among its students. One year after Habiba started her lessons, her hard work paid off. She learned to write and speak her local language’s alphabet and numbers. She was also able to write her name and the names of her husband and children.

Meanwhile, Habiba’s children found success in their literacy classes as well.

In addition to learning their A-B-Cs, some of their lessons include learning God’s Word and how to pray.

Though Habiba may not have realized it yet, this literacy class was just one demonstration of God’s love for her and her family. Through the Sisters of Compassion and their literacy ministry, God is the One making Habiba’s dreams come true.

Habiba isn’t the only mother for whom literacy is an important dream. Read Parmila’s story, and learn how attending Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported literacy classes became an answer to her prayers.

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

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, Mother’s Lifelong Dreams of an Education Become Reality

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

Learn more about the Women’s Literacy Program. There are over 250 million women in Asia who are illiterate. Even if they want to read, there is no way to learn . . . until now. With your help, women in Asia can learn to read and will be equipped to tackle life’s hurdles.

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

Remaining Steadfast in God’s Passion at Gospel for Asia

September 6, 2019 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Diane shares her thoughts and heart about how she and her husband, Kevin, were called by God to the ministry of behind-the-scenes missionaries. Read how they have kept their vision and passion alive throughout 15 years of service at Gospel for Asia (GFA).

It was around the time of the terrorists’ attack on the World Trade Centers, in 2001, that my husband, Kevin, had already been praying about re-joining the military, thinking that would solve the restless feeling he had. But then we saw a page in Gospel for Asia’s quarterly magazine, advertising the need for staff. When we saw the need at the ministry, Kevin realized the Lord was directing him to help others in a different way.

It was that simple.

Facing the ‘Impossible’

Diane and Kevin (pictured) have served the Lord for 15 years as behind-the-scenes missionaries at Gospel for Asia. They have maintained their passion through keeping their personal and corporate relationship with God a daily priority.

Deep down, Kevin and I thought it would be impossible for us to work at a ministry with our four young children, ages ranging from 2 to 9 years old. But despite this, both of us were in agreement to step out in faith and see what the Lord would do. With the Lord’s guidance, through prayer, we applied for staff and were accepted in 2003.

We were nervous and excited as we set out for Texas as a family. God used our experience, being stationed in the Philippines with the military for three years, to give us a heart for the world. We had never thought we would be able to share God’s love in Asia by serving in Texas.

Serving Together as a Family

Since we had a family, Kevin and I thought it was very important to lead our kids by example—to be doers of the Word and not just hearers. If we care about others, our children need to see us taking action in our lives to demonstrate that.

The environment at the Gospel for Asia (GFA) office was very open for the whole family to help where they could. Our children were home-schooled, so this allowed them time to come to the office and help with various projects; sometimes that meant working alongside mom or dad.

I only took on jobs that allowed the kids to work with me, since my primary job was at home. Kevin, on the other hand, worked full-time in the office.

An Impactful Pillar

At Gospel for Asia (GFA), we are always reminded to keep prayer a priority above the tasks of our jobs. Prayer is a pillar of the ministry. Gospel for Asia (GFA) was started by prayer and is sustained by prayer.

We were thankful that our children were also included in the Tuesday night and Friday night prayer meetings. Through the years, even more prayer times have been added to keep staff focused and encouraged. It is such a privilege to be surrounded by prayer.

Even though there are a lot of blessings that come with the ministry life, doing full-time ministry is hard work sometimes. We’ve been able to make it through challenges by always remembering to keep focused. The primary way we do this is by spending time with God through personal prayer and reading His Word. Seeking Him to keep our hearts in the right place to receive His direction is a priority in our lives.

We also remind ourselves that what we do here in Texas affects pastors, national missionaries, Sisters of Compassion and various other brothers and sisters and their ministries in Asia. We reflect on how David, in the Old Testament, declared that those who stay behind to work are just as much part of the work as those who are out being the hands and feet of Jesus (1 Samuel 30:22-24).

Why We Do What We Do

In our hearts, Kevin and I know our sacrifice is to stay behind so we can support others who live where the needs are so great. We have learned that part of the ministry work we do here is encouraging others to think beyond their own lives. There are so many who suffer, and we need others to catch this vision in order to help spread the workload.

We press on, remembering what the purpose of the Church is—we are Christ’s hands and feet to the world. The passion for others that the Lord gave to us keeps us going. He has allowed us to do this. Our time on the earth is short, and others will need to continue in God’s work, as long as time allows.

Find a behind-the-scenes missionary to support

Source: Gospel for Asia Special Report, Remaining Steadfast in God’s Passion

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

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

Gospel for Asia Helps Fearful Wife Face Husband’s Folly

August 21, 2019 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing Samali and her family as they suffered through abandonment, fear, sickness and discrimination, and the Sisters of Compassion whom God used to turn their sorrow into gladness.

Samali felt Ceyone’s forehead. It was hot with fever. For Samali, life couldn’t be much worse. She had already been abandoned by her husband who had left her for a life of crime, she was badly treated by her in-laws, and anxiety for her children’s future filled her heart. Now her eldest son, no older than 5 years old, had a critically high fever that wasn’t going away.

Samali quickly dialed a number on her phone. On the other end, women dressed in white saris with a gray band answered. They dropped everything they were doing to rush to Samali’s home. The Sisters of Compassion prayed earnestly for Ceyone once they saw the helpless little one seriously ill.

By God’s power and grace, Samali’s son was healed completely! It was a miracle. That night Samali’s anxious heart experienced a miracle, too, as she believed in Jesus—the God who healed her son.

Quit School and Married Young

Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing Samali and her family as they suffered through abandonment, fear, sickness and discrimination, and the Sisters of Compassion whom God used to turn their sorrow into gladness. — Samali, pictured here with her youngest son, experienced the love and power of Christ through answered prayer.

Samali grew up very poor. Her family was unable to support her all the way through her schooling, so she quit school after the fifth grade and later got married young. Samali moved into the home of her husband’s family. Life was contented and happy—until her husband, Kairav, began to drink.

Kairav’s drinking problem grew into a critical addiction. He started drinking in the morning. Eventually, after his two children were born, Kairav stopped going to work, and he began to steal his wife’s jewelry to buy alcohol. But Kairav didn’t just take his wife’s possessions; he also began to steal from his family members, his neighbors and shops around his village to feed his addiction.

Soon Kairav became a sought-after thief. His neighbors would sometimes catch Kairav and beat him, but nothing changed Kairav’s heart. He went from village to village so he wouldn’t get caught by the authorities. Innocent Samali bore the brunt of her husband’s poor decisions as her angry neighbors threatened her while they searched her home to find Kairav.

To make matters more painful, Samali’s in-laws started to mistreat her. Hurt and with no support from her runaway husband, Samali left her in-laws and returned to her parents’ home to find refuge. But Samali’s troubles traveled with her in her heart. Anxiety, fear and abandonment seemed to have victory over her life and emotions.

Sisters of Compassion Minister to Samali

In the village where Samali’s parents lived, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Sisters of Compassion served the men and women around them. One day Samali made her way to a friend’s house. There, she found the Sisters of Compassion having a prayer meeting with her friend. Samali silently joined them. She sat and listened to God’s Word for the first time in her life.

After the prayers, the Sisters of Compassion chatted with Samali and taught her sad story. The sisters gave her their phone number and told her she could call them whenever she needed prayer.

Throughout the following weeks, the sisters began to visit Samali from time to time to check on her and to bring some joy and comfort into her life. When they received the anxious phone call from Samali the night of her son’s high fever, they willingly came to pray for him. Healing took place that night—not only in Ceyone’s body, but also in Samali’s heart. One found new health; the other found new life in God’s love.

New Hope, New Life

As Samali’s faith in Jesus grew, she began to attend church with the Sisters of Compassion. She started to see how the Lord answered her prayers and the prayers of the women missionaries. The Lord provided a job for her, which enabled her to send Ceyone to school. She also began to pray for Kairav’s life to be turned around.

By God’s redemptive power, Samali received word from her in-laws that her husband had returned home after being gone for an entire year. When she and her children went to visit Kairav, Samali could see a change in his life. He wasn’t drinking so heavily or stealing as much as he had been. It was another answer to prayer.

‘God Removed My Sorrows’

Samali’s life now has true hope for the future, and though she still faces difficulties, she is no longer alone or anxious about the future. She knows Jesus is with her. As the Sisters of Compassion bear Samali’s burdens and join her in prayer for her husband and the well-being of her children, Samali knows the Lord will answer.

“I am so very thankful to God and the Sisters of Compassion team for introducing Jesus to me,” she says.

“I was going through a tough time in life, but God removed my sorrows. I have overcome the sad situation.”

Please pray for Samali and her children. Pray also for her husband, Kairav, to come to know the hope and peace she has found in Christ.

Find out how a lonely widow named Dazi found companionship through Sisters of Compassion.

Source: Gospel for Asia Special Report, From Unsuccessful Sacrifices to Meaningful Praises

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

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

Bedridden Man Walks Again

August 11, 2019 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the impact of women missionaries in the lives of many sufferings, and the hope that and healing that only Jesus can provide.

God sent Prama and her Gospel for Asia (GFA) Women’s Fellowship team to Sampat’s village at a moment of despair for Sampat’s family—his life was about to be extinguished.

Sampat, a model son, was everything his parents hoped he would be. At 23 years old, he worked hard as a shopkeeper to help his father support the family.

Sampat (not pictured) lost any hope for healing after 5 years of suffering from an illness his family could not afford to treat.

Sampat’s job kept food on the table and clothes on his siblings’ backs. His family depended on him. His father alone could not meet the family’s needs in such a rustic setting.

Descent to Death’s Door

One day, the family’s stability was threatened when severe knee pain debilitated Sampat and didn’t go away.

After seeing a doctor, Sampat’s condition did not change. In fact, it got worse. Slowly, over five years, Sampat suffered more and more, gradually becoming crippled. He sought medical help repeatedly with no results. He performed many sacrifices, hoping for divine help.

Eventually Sampat became bedridden. No longer a primary provider, Sampat became a burden for his family. His parents could not pay for the major medical treatment their son needed. Sampat could no longer eat and wasted away to a critical condition.

Hope Grows in Sampat’s Heart

But God had a hope and a future for Sampat. It was in these desperate days that Prama and her Women’s Fellowship team visited Sampat’s village. Praying for the sick and offering encouragement from God’s Word to the downtrodden, the team of godly women left hope and life in their wake.

National workers often find themselves praying for infirmities. Moments of crisis are often the first time someone considers turning to Jesus. Through those desperate prayers, God brings healing to many as a demonstration of His power and love.

During this trip, Prama met Sampat. She listened with a heavy heart to the young man’s story. When she learned that he had been sick for five years, she knew the only hope for his healing was the power of Jesus. Prama comforted Sampat from the Scriptures, sharing with him about the hope in Jesus for physical and spiritual healing.

Before departing, Prama and her team prayed for God’s healing touch on Sampat.

A week later, Sampat knew Jesus was working in his body. He was getting better. He continued to pray to Jesus and put his hope solely in the Lord. However, instead of seeing the healing at work before their eyes, Sampat’s family was disturbed and strongly objected to his decision to follow Jesus.

“I believe Jesus will heal my sickness, He is the only healer,” Sampat shared with his family.

The firmness of his decision kept his family quiet. They wanted Sampat to be healed, but they did not believe Jesus could do it.

Healing: Raised to New Life

Prama visited Sampat again to encourage him and join her prayers with his. That night, great relief flooded through Sampat, and he slept peacefully for the first time since his ailment started years earlier. Three days later, Sampat was completely healed!

This touch of God solidified Sampat’s budding faith.

“I truly acknowledge that there is an Almighty God who can heal every sickness and give life to the dying,” says Sampat. “I am one of those who was able to receive His grace and mercy and have a new life.”

Many people in Asia have experienced God’s power and love firsthand through healing. Often, these healings are keys that open hearts to the message of forgiveness. There are many stories of transformed lives, including Talika, a little girl who encountered the Almighty God at VBS and became a living testimony of His grace. Read her story here.

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, Twelve-year-old Pastor’s Son Shares Christ with Neighbor Boy

Learn more about the National Missionaries and their passion to help the people in their nations understand Christ’s love through various ways.

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

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

Healthy Bodies Lead to Healthy Spirits

June 7, 2019 By GFA Staff Writer

Rita traveled more than seven miles to attend the medical camp, which she heard about through Pastor Ganesh’s flyers. She had suffered numbness in her hands and legs for more than a month, forcing her to abandon her work in the fields. Even household chores such as cleaning and cooking became impossible. Desperate to see a doctor, Rita made a difficult journey.

On the morning of the medical camp, a brightly colored tent covered the courtyard of Pastor Ganesh’s church. A throng of people gathered under it. Sisters of Compassion patiently checked in fathers, mothers and small children wanting to see the doctors. Pastor Ganesh went from group to group helping volunteers and ministering to the sick.

That day, Dr. Aarpit Nipun and his colleague saw more than 200 patients and gave out free medication to those in need. When it was Rita’s turn to see the doctor, she told him the history of her symptoms. Dr. Nipun asked many questions and prescribed medications for her pain. He counseled her to seek treatment in the hospital if her condition worsens.

Giving careful, thorough examinations, Dr. Nipun (pictured) prescribes medication donated by a hospital. Dr. Nipun was impacted by the poverty and sickness he saw at the remote medical camp and offered to come free of charge to future GFA-supported medical camps in the area. — Giving careful, thorough examinations, Dr. Nipun (pictured) prescribes medication donated by a hospital. Dr. Nipun was impacted by the poverty and sickness he saw at the remote medical camp and offered to come free of charge to future Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported medical camps in the area.

Because of the medication prescribed to Rita at the medical camp, the pain in her limbs subsided. Rita was soon able to gather water and complete household chores that she had previously been unable to do.

“I feel very different,” Rita says.

“After taking the medicine, I don’t feel that much pain in my body. … We need this kind of medical camp organized in many [rural] villages where people do not have access to hospitals or health care centers. This is such a great help for the villagers.”

Unlike Rita, many other women waiting to see Dr. Nipun was too shy to share their symptoms.

“In rural villages, treating a female patient is very challenging for us because [there is still a] misconception that we should not allow any stranger, especially a male, to examine our bodies,” says Dr. Nipun.

“There were a few patients who had gynecological disorders and abdominal pain … and when I asked them, ‘What is your problem?’ they don’t openly tell us. … It is very difficult to find out their problems.”

Rita is grateful for the free medication she received at the medical camp. Because of the medicine, her pain subsided, and she is able to accomplish daily tasks that had been impossible before.

Because of these cultural obstacles to women seeking medical attention, Sisters of Compassion were available to listen to women’s more sensitive symptoms and complaints. They would then relay this information to the doctor on behalf of the patient. This helped many women get their health needs met while retaining their dignity.

At the end of the day, the doctors had seen more than 200 patients—patients whose basic health needs are often neglected. Medical professionals distributed medication, including vitamins for pregnant women and children. Dr. Nipun, touched by the poverty and sickness of the patients, volunteered to serve again.

“It’s my wish that in the future, wherever you happen to conduct a medical camp, and if I am around, I will be more [than] willing to be available and give free service,” Dr. Nipun said. “Thank you very much.”

Pastor Ganesh rejoiced that so many received the medical care they desperately needed. Grateful that God provided for the medical camp, he prayed God would touch many people’s hearts with His love. Pastor Ganesh also prayed people would experience the gift of eternal healing by the Great Physician, of which the free medical camp was a perfect picture.

Source: Gospel for Asia Features, Doctors at the Doorstep

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

Learn more about the Sisters of Compassion – the specially trained women missionaries with a deep burden for showing Christ’s love by physically serving the needy, underprivileged and poor.

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

People with Leprosy Are Not Cursed, Nor Unclean, They Are Loved

March 29, 2019 By GFA Staff Writer

“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” — Matthew 8:2–3 Leprosy. In many parts of the world, the very word brings with it a sense of fear. In the West however, leprosy cases are few and far between. Medicine has evolved to the point where if the disease is caught early enough, it can be cured. In ancient times, however, those afflicted with leprosy had but one hope: for the disease to die out on its own.

People with Leprosy Are Not Cursed, Nor Unclean, They Are Loved - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — Tapan lives in a leprosy colony with his wife and daughter-in-law.

The afflicted were cast out of their homes, often never to be seen again. When Jesus walked the earth, performing miracles and healing the sick, a man riddled with leprosy disregarded the law and ventured out from his self-exile. He put all his trust in Jesus, fully believing He could heal him. What an enormous amount of faith to have!

I have read many reports and stories of men and women in Asia stricken with leprosy. So many are cast out, reviled and left to die; though they suffer, they endure. Many have never heard of Jesus, yet through Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers, they find hope, value and healing in the name of God.

Tapan and Manita’s Story

One story I am reminded of is that of a man and wife who, despite their ailment, found the Lord. Tapan and his wife, Manita, have leprosy. Both husband and wife, fearing prejudice, fled to a colony where others afflicted with leprosy live. There, they, along with other families, lived in seclusion and despair.

But hope arrived in the form of four Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Sisters of Compassion. These young women made it their calling to serve among the afflicted, like Tapan and Manita. They began ministering to the beleaguered and ailing families. Tending to open wounds, administering medical treatment and teaching the patients how to avoid injury, the sisters spread love and comfort throughout the colony.

Eventually, the sisters came upon Tapan and his family. In addition to the leprosy affecting his body, Tapan also suffered from heart problems. After much fasting and prayer from the sisters, Tapan’s heart was completely healed! Afterwards, the couple opened their hearts to God’s love.

Thousands More Need God’s Love

Tapan and Manita’s story is but one among thousands of others. Many more suffer, with no hope or comfort. However, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers, like these Sisters of Compassion, toil endlessly to ensure many more are brought the love of God.

Leprosy patients are not “unclean;” they are not “cursed.” Though they may have leprosy, they are loved all the same.

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, When Love Intersects Shame and Pain

Image Source: Gospel for Asia, Photo of the Day

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Leprosy: Misunderstandings & Stigma Keep it Alive (Gospel for Asia #2)

March 13, 2019 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report – Discussing the misunderstandings and social stigma that are kept alive toward leprosy patients, despite the disease being a curable worldwide problem.

Leprosy: Misunderstandings & Stigma Keep it Alive (Gospel for Asia #2) - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — Sakshi, who ministered to leprosy patients, once had leprosy herself before Jesus healed her.

Misunderstanding Leprosy: ‘I Deserve This Disease’

Sakshi was rejected by her family when, as a teenager, she found out she had leprosy. Read her story »

“Don’t open my bandage!” the leprosy patient cried out. For years the patient believed it was because of their sin that the destructive disease controlled their body. Now, they thought they must suffer and settle with bearing it alone.

But after the leprosy patient’s exclamation, Sakshi, a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported missionary, revealed her own hands and feet to the patient, deformity clearly marking what leprosy’s nerve killing illness left behind.

“No, no, this is not some sin,” Sakshi said. “I myself have gone through this.”

This conversation, shared by Gospel for Asia (GFA) in 2017, gives a glimpse into the despair and belief of personal guilt many leprosy patients carry.

Sakshi understood only too well the shame and grief of those she served. Leprosy was detected in her body when she was only a teenager. Dreams of living life as a normal young woman shattered with that diagnosis. Her disease barred her from visiting her neighbors or from making friends, and it even estranged her younger siblings.

“[My brother and sister] used to love me so much, but when I got this sickness, they hated me, and they don’t want to come to me for anything,” Sakshi recalls of her early days as a leprosy patient.

Acceptance and kind words from her community were replaced with rejection and accusations. People said it was her fault she contracted leprosy, and over time, that lie took hold of her heart. Guilt and hopelessness consumed her, and she began wondering why she should endure life.

In her hopelessness, Sakshi tied a noose to hang herself.

Although Sakshi’s story does not end here, many leprosy patients’ stories end on a tragic note of despair. Whether they choose to end their lives or plod through the rest of their days alone and abandoned, the moment they discover leprosy in their body is the moment society defines them by their disease—not by their value as human beings.

Gospel for Asia calls Leprosy Patients ‘Friends’

In 2007, Gospel for Asia-supported workers began ministering among leprosy patients with an aim to change that definition.

“We thought we would name the ministry differently,” says Pastor Tarik, who helped start the leprosy ministry,

“Where they won’t have to remember their sickness or feel the stigma of it. So, while praying and discussing, we thought, ‘Let us call them “friends” because they have been created in the image of God, like us. It is only the sickness that keeps them different, but let us not make that a barrier. Let us accept them as friends.’”

And so, Reaching Friends Ministry began. What started in 2007 as a handful of men and women pursuing opportunities to care for outcasts of society has since expanded to minster to patients in 44 leprosy colonies. Each colony is home to as many as 5,000 patients. Through this ministry, thousands of hurting hearts have found a glimmer of love and hope to cling to.

Let us call them “friends” because they have been created in the image of God, like us.

Sakshi’s testimony proves the impact of even one kind word in the midst of isolation. Although Sakshi planned to end her life, today her story continues. On that pivotal day, her father saved her from suicide and spoke words of life into her weary soul. He told Sakshi she was a precious child and urged her to strengthen her heart through the pain and hardship.

After the conversation with her father, Sakshi gave up trying to end her own life, but she still felt alone and worried.

Sakshi's feet still bear the marks of leprosy, though she is now cured. — Sakshi’s feet still bear the marks of leprosy,
though she is now cured.

After the conversation with her father, Sakshi gave up trying to end her own life, but she still felt alone and worried. Leprosy still disfigured her limbs and even threatened to remove one of her legs to amputation.

But then she met some Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported missionaries who prayed for her and shared with her about the Great Healer. She joined them in faith and asked Jesus to heal her body. God moved on her behalf; she was miraculously healed of leprosy!

Like Sakshi, many leprosy patients are discovering that physical healing—through both prayer and medical treatment—is possible. Now, it is time for communities around the globe to be healed of the negative mindset toward those with leprosy.

Changing the Mindset Toward Leprosy

Over the passing of time, leprosy has drawn increased attention around the globe. The last Sunday in January has been observed as World Leprosy Day for more than 60 years. But while most countries have been freed from the grip of leprosy as a result of leprosy elimination programs, other areas are still high in battle against the disease.

Brazil, India and Indonesia account for more than 80 percent of new cases detected globally, and areas of Africa also detect leprosy in high numbers. The transmission of leprosy is slowly decreasing, but more must be done, especially regarding the elimination of stigma.

These efforts have strong obstacles to overcome. The UN notes,

“Historically held fears and assumptions about leprosy continue to promote the pervasive exclusion of persons affected by leprosy from mainstream efforts to include them in society and development.”

The transmission of leprosy is slowly decreasing, but more must be done, especially regarding the elimination of stigma.

In 2016, The World Health Organization launched their new Global Leprosy Strategy. Included among the increased effort to detect and care for new patients is a high emphasis on the removal of stigma and discrimination toward those with leprosy.

Gospel for Asia wholeheartedly desires to see the plight of leprosy patients improve, and its work in Asia is helping make strides in both the emotional and physical healing of those affected by leprosy.

Sisters of Compassion are specially trained to minister to the hurting, rejected and downtrodden of society - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — Sisters of Compassion are specially trained to minister to the hurting, rejected and downtrodden of society—ministering to both their physical and spiritual needs in the name of Christ.

While you’ve been reading this article, national workers, including around 500 specially trained women called Sisters of Compassion, are helping care for leprosy patients throughout the Indian Subcontinent as part of Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported leprosy ministry.

Sakshi herself became one of those faithful workers. After she experienced God’s healing, she dedicated her life to serving Him and enrolled in a training course. Her passion for ministry among leprosy patients soon placed her alongside other Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers serving in a leprosy colony. Through Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Reaching Friends Ministry, she became part of bringing hope to others still trapped in the desperation she felt when she held the rope in her hand.

“Nobody is there to comfort [the leprosy patients] and to give any kind of encouragement,” Sakshi explained.

“Nobody wants to love them, hug them or to come near to them to dress them. … They have so many inner pains in their heart, because they also are human beings. They also need love, care and encouragement from other people.”

Sakshi shared about her love for the leprosy patients she serves - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — “I will become their daughter, I will become their grandchildren, and I will help them and encourage them and I will love them.” —Sakshi shared about her love for the leprosy patients she serves

She and other servants of God serve these precious patients in practical ways, such as by cleaning wounds, doing housework, cooking meals and helping with personal hygiene. Through every sweep of a broom and touch of their loving, helpful hands, these workers convey how much God values His creation—even those abandoned by their own families.

“By seeing [the leprosy patients], I am thinking that I will fill the gap,” Sakshi said.

“I will give that love, which they are not getting from their grandchildren and daughters… I will become their daughter, I will become their grandchildren, and I will help them and encourage them, and I will love them.”

Through love like Sakshi’s, many leprosy patients are finding new hope and lasting joy that helps carry them through their troubles.

KP Yohannan, founder and director of Gospel for Asia, wrote about his experience of witnessing leprosy ministry take place.

Sisters of Compassion to clean the wounds of leprosy patients - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — Gospel for Asia founder KP Yohannan worked alongside Sisters of Compassion to clean the wounds of leprosy patients during a recent trip in November 2017.

“I recently got to visit one of the many leprosy colonies where Sisters of Compassion are working,” he writes.

“As I joined these Sisters of Compassion in giving out medicine and bandaging wounds, I was once again amazed by how these precious sisters embrace those afflicted by leprosy, serving them so faithfully in the name of Jesus. These leprosy patients, some without fingers or nose or ears, have faced so much rejection in their lives. But now they are finding hope, knowing that someone cares about them.”

These workers, like Sakshi, are diligently bestowing love, medical care, assistance and dignity to those suffering with Hansen’s Disease. Some specialize in making customized shoes for leprosy patients, carefully measuring each individual’s feet to accommodate the sores or disfigurement the person has experienced. Other workers make warm meals for those who cannot cook—or even eat—by themselves; clean homes; wash and comb the tangled hair for those who can no longer perform even these most basic functions for themselves.

GFA-supported workers minister in whatever way is needed - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — GFA-supported workers minister in whatever way is needed—here, a Sister of Compassion cleans a leprosy patient’s wounds, and a man makes custom shoes for leprosy patients.

Workers serving at a GFA-supported leprosy hospital offer tender care for patients afflicted with Hansen’s Disease. Beyond addressing the physical needs of medication, procedures and bandages, this hospital gives its patients emotional support, acceptance, respect and genuine concern for their holistic well-being.

Hospital staff members routinely visit neighboring leprosy colonies to examine patients and determine who should go to the hospital for medication or treatment. They also host events to increase awareness of basic health and hygiene practices, as well as speak words of truth and life to those who feel overcome by their sorrowful plight.

Leprosy: Misunderstandings and Stigma Keep it Alive: Part 1 | Part 3

This Special Report article originally appeared on gfa.org

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A Public, Tragic Secret

December 23, 2018 By GFA Staff Writer

It’s fairly well known that in many parts of the world, women are second-class citizens. “Second class” might be a bit generous, considering the shocking treatment so many women face. When a woman has the unfortunate experience of becoming widowed, her standing may plummet further without anyone to help or even care. And she may live that way for the rest of her days.

This is reality for widows in some developing countries. It’s inescapable unless someone steps in to speak out on their behalf, offer assistance and help them find their way back into life again.

God loves and cherishes every person equally. No one has an extra share of that love, especially not because of their sex, social standing or where they happened to be born. As for us, Mark 12:31 says clearly that we are commanded by God to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and there is no greater commandment.

If only the most vulnerable of women, those who have lost their husbands, could experience the same in their family and community.

Inheritance is a Right for Some, a Myth for Others

“Remember, God commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.”

When a woman’s husband dies, life permanently changes. She is without her partner. If she is older or has no children, she is alone. Fortunately, inheritance laws in many countries protect her to a certain extent. Depending on where she lives and whether or not her husband left a valid will, she may inherit all or a legislated portion of her deceased husband’s estate.

Every state in America has established some type of spousal-inheritance protection for both men and women. Those protections vary, and they’re quite complicated. But the meaning is clear: Just because a husband or wife didn’t leave a will or get around to writing their spouse into a will doesn’t mean the spouse will inherit nothing. In parts of Asia and certain developing countries, that is not the case.

In Nigeria, there is no pretense of support or inheritance after a woman’s husband dies. She is, according to The Africa Report, essentially the property of her husband. As property, she has no right to inherit anything upon his death.

How should these forgotten women survive? Tragically, many of them have no one to turn to for help.

Where There’s No Will, There’s No Way

One of the prevailing threads that run through the fabric of widow inheritance is the existence, or not, of a will. Legislation may plainly state how and how much a widow may inherit from her deceased spouse. With an existing will, she still has little chance of inheriting.

It doesn’t matter how clearly a will was written or who affirmed it. Tradition, not law, tends to govern who receives property. And tradition holds that male heirs take all, especially the eldest male heir.

It doesn’t help that many countries have laws that further restrict equality, inheritance and property ownership rights for women. A 2016 report by The World Bank explains that 155 of the 173 economies studied impose restrictions on women that don’t exist for men.

Without a valid will or testamentary document in place, a widow may be fully without hope. It doesn’t appear to matter what a court has held in the past or what legislation demands. If she’s lucky, her family will take her in (after first taking away her property). But even then, her life may become one of servitude. That’s true, regardless of whether she is a young woman or if she’s elderly and in poor health. Too often, elderly women face the most abuse at the hands of their adult children or extended family.

Life is already difficult when a spouse dies. Imagine, if you can, having life transformed in such a way that rights cease to exist, and the most basic necessities of life must come from a person kind enough to care.

Now imagine being blamed for all of it.

In Some Cultures, Women are Accused of Their Husband’s Death

What might happen in the United States if, on a man’s deathbed, his doctor turned and told his widow that she was to blame? There would be outrage, for certain. The doctor would probably face at least some sort of disciplinary action. Even so, this scenario isn’t as far-fetched at it seems.

Right now, husbands around the world are working in fields, in factories and in any number of jobs. Wives may have their own jobs, or they may be devoted solely to keeping the home and raising the children. Before the day is finished, one of these men may suffer a tragic accident or suddenly fall ill. Maybe he will never come home again. Or maybe he will return, only to die at home later. In parts of Asia, this scenario usually has one ending:

His wife is viewed as the cause of his death, no matter how or why it happened.

It’s difficult to believe, but it’s true. Certain religious traditions, cultures and social norms have long held that any time a man dies, his wife is to blame. More specifically, her sins are the real cause.

Where women in the Western world may turn to family and friends for love and support, women in other parts of the world may be shunned. They can face harsh treatment. They may be stripped of rights and property for no other reason than a supposed curse or vengeance for their sins.

Some women of any age are forced to beg in the streets just to have something to eat. But even the small charities of passing strangers can’t be counted on; not even if she has small children who are also hungry. If a woman is shunned, people may pass her by in fear, outrage or a combination of both.

GFA Ministers to These Disenfranchised Women

“In the presence of God, they learn they are His precious children, no less worthy of kindness than any other person.”

Left to survive in a world that only shows hatred, fear and distrust at every turn, it’s no wonder that many widows feel hopeless. But remember, God commanded us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. That’s one of many reasons why Gospel for Asia (GFA) offers ongoing support for the precious few who are willing to help. Sisters of Compassion are some of those few.

These special women are trained in ministering to and helping the disenfranchised. They aren’t afraid to pour out love to widows who’ve been hurt, neglected and wronged. It’s part of God’s work, and they do it with compassion. Being women themselves, it’s easier for them to minister to those who need them most.

Women’s Fellowship groups also receive support from GFA. Their work includes a range of programs, such as organizing special events for women and the distribution of gifts of mosquito netting, sewing machines, small livestock and much more.

In the care of Godly women, widows find training that can help them earn income. That’s important for a woman living on her own, and even more so for a younger widow with children to provide for. They also find fellowship and support for when the burdens of life as a family and community outcast are too much to bear.

In the presence of God, they learn they are His precious children, no less worthy of kindness than any other person.

Image Source: Gospel for Asia, Photo of the Day

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Gospel for Asia: Widows Worldwide Face Tragedy, Discrimination (Part 3)

October 25, 2018 By GFA Staff Writer

Wills Point, Texas – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report – Discussing widow’s plight worldwide as they face tragedy, discrimination, as well as the efforts and opportunities extended to them to give them hope.

Hope to Overcome the Challenges of Widowhood

International Women's Day (March 8) falls on the same day as GFA founder Dr. KP Yohannan's birthday - Gospel for Asia — International Women’s Day (March 8) falls on the same day as GFA founder Dr. KP Yohannan’s birthday, so it’s no wonder that he’s passionate about uplifting the lives of women around the world.

“For millions of widows in Asia, life is incredibly difficult,” says Dr. KP Yohannan, founder and director of GFA. “Many are forced into begging or prostitution to survive. There are 46 million widows on the streets and in slums. There are stories of thousands of widows committing suicide because they have no hope.”

Another widow whose story was featured in “Veil of Tears” faced rejection from her husband’s family after he died. Her nephews refused to give her food, forcing her to beg from passing strangers. Once, when she got sick and suffered from diarrhea for two days, no one would even approach her. Members of a GFA-supported Women’s Fellowship took her to the hospital for treatment, provided her food and found her a home. Most of all, they became a family.

Grassroots Aid

Such caring action demonstrates one way to address widows’ situation: at the grassroots level. This is what GFA does through initiatives such as sewing classes, providing sewing machines and training in skills like candle-making and basket-weaving. Much of this outreach is conducted by Sisters of Compassion (women who are specially trained to care for marginalized groups), leaders of Women’s Fellowship groups and pastors’ wives. As women, they are more readily received into women’s homes in the segregated society.

GFA-supported pastors and workers often help organize events to assist and encourage widows, too. For example, on or soon after last year’s International Widows Day, GFA-supported workers in many different regions distributed numerous sewing machines, goats, piglets, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets and other goods to help improve widows’ lives. They also offered encouragement and reminded them, “In the sight of God our Father, pure and blameless religion is helping the orphans and widows in their need” (see James 1:27).

That stirred reactions like one from Madhuri, a 35-year-old who is the only bread-earner for her children:

“I go house to house in search of work. The piglet I received from you, I will rear nicely and hope it will [provide] a great income for my family. I am very thankful to you.”

Damini, a widow with five children, said:

“I am very happy to get a piglet from the church. I never expected this type of help from the church, but I am lucky to receive the piglet.”

“In the sight of God our Father, pure and blameless religion is helping the orphans and widows in their need.” —James 1:27

In another area, a GFA-supported Women’s Fellowship gave sewing machines to 30 women.

“After my husband died, I was alone doing work in the tea garden and supporting my children,” said Upada, one of the recipients. “I am finding it so difficult to manage our family, but today I am so happy that the church has given me this gift. I believe that this sewing machine will greatly help our family.”

Another widow, Kanan, said, “After my husband’s death, there was no one to help me. I have three children and they are very small. The eldest child is going to school. I was finding life so difficult, but God took care of us and met our needs. … Through this sewing machine, I will try my best to earn money and support my children’s schooling and our family.”

When a church in another district gave 50 widows each a goat, it brought waves of gratitude. Lajita, a widow who received a goat, told of her husband dying four years earlier because of asthma:

“I have three children who are going to school. I worked as a daily laborer in others’ fields. Now, I will rear this goat at home, and she will produce milk. I hope my family’s condition will become better through this goat.”

Income-producing gifts like those found in GFA's Christmas Gift Catalog - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — Income-producing gifts like those found in GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog are game changers for widows in need.

Baijanti added, “My husband passed away some eight years ago. I stay with my children. We have no income-generating source, and this goat is going to be a great help for my living.”

An event in Nepal for International Women’s Day in 2017 prompted similar reactions. Thirteen churches organized a women’s conference, during which they provided pressure cookers to 60 widows.

A guest speaker, who had been a widow since age 15, distributed the gifts and encouraged participants:

“Being a widow, it is hard to be alone and at home in the society. Today, many widows are abused by the family and the society. Therefore, I came forward to raise my voice and help them.”

Widow’s Challenges in America

Even in the United States, widows don’t get a pass on life’s challenges. After Artis Henderson’s husband, Miles, died in November 2006 when his Apache helicopter crashed in Iraq, she spent the first year overwhelmed by grief. Without experiencing this kind of sudden tragedy, it’s hard for someone to know how difficult it is to cope when “everything in the world shifts,” she told CNN.

Artis Henderson and her late husband, Miles - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — Artis Henderson and her late husband, Miles
(Photo credit Artis Henderson via CNN.com)

“I always remember so clearly, this woman—another widow who was a little further, maybe six months ahead of me in the process—saying to me, ‘You will be disappointed to find out what happens after the first year,'” Henderson said. “And I remember saying, ‘Well, what happens?’ And she said, ‘There’s another year.'”

Other widows report similar grief. At age 59, Ginny McKinney was out shopping with her husband, Dan, for a travel trailer for early retirement when he suddenly dropped dead from a heart attack at age 62.

“I took off for three months, driving a circle around Colorado,” McKinney told the New York Times. “I went to places in the wilderness and on the top of mountains, where I could stand outside and scream at the sky, and scream at God for taking my man. And scream at him for leaving me.”

If the grief isn’t enough, what elderly widows may discover later can also inflict pain. In early 2018, an audit report from the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) inspector general’s office found the agency had underpaid nearly $132 million to more than 9,200 widows and widowers age 70 or older.

The issue stemmed from a budget bill in 2015, when Congress curtailed a strategy where one spouse could suspend a monthly benefit to allow the other spouse’s benefits to increase as long as the second delayed drawing theirs. However, it still allows a widow to claim survivor benefits and delay applying for her own. The SSA failed to inform widows and widowers to consider this option. The inspector general identified 13,555 people who were entitled to claim such benefits; a random sample showed that 82 percent could have drawn a higher monthly benefit if they claimed survivor benefits and held off drawing their own retirement.

“I went to places in the wilderness and on the top of mountains, where I could stand outside and scream at the sky, and scream at God for taking my man. And scream at him for leaving me.”

However, the situation for widows in other parts of the world remains even more dire. For example, in a 2015 story, the India Times reported the majority of Indian widows are deprived of their inheritance rights, especially if they are childless or have only daughters. This happens despite a 1969 law that made women eligible to inherit equally with men.

Among other problems, widows in Asia may face:

Prohibition of remarriage
Being forced to follow certain mourning rites
Becoming victims of violence, much of it stemming from common accusations that they caused their husband’s death
Economic hardships

Sharing Hope

Given this situation, Yohannan also believes the ultimate answer will be found from more women, regardless of where they live, learning who they are in Christ and what God thinks about them as individuals. Widows like Gulika have found hope when they learned that God treasures them.

However, Yohannan emphasizes the importance for Christ followers to provide practical assistance for widows and their children.

“God judged Israel because they did not care for the poor and suffering,” Yohannan says. “The Body of Christ is responsible to care for them. We must do everything we can to alleviate suffering and do whatever it takes to help people who are forsaken in their own communities.”

Obeying God’s command to take care of widows, GFA supports workers dedicated to ministering to widows all across Asia.

In 2017, GFA helped provided free health care training to 289,033 women, taught 50,624 illiterate women how to read and write, provided vocational training to 10,965 women desperately in need of a job, and gave out 8,763 sewing machines to vocational graduates, many of whom are widows struggling to survive. So, while widows worldwide face tragedy and discrimination, some are finding hope and a future through help from organizations like Gospel for Asia.

To conclude on a positive note, here is a letter written by Dr. KP Yohannan to friends and donors of GFA about one widow’s journey from despair to joy:

When Kaavya’s husband died as a result of his alcohol addiction, she had to work hard as a daily wage laborer to feed her six children and look after her household. No one helped her because she lived in a society where people believed it is the wife’s fault if her husband dies before she does—regardless of the circumstances. In essence, she and her children were abandoned.

Kaavya and her children lived in a small, old hut, and life was a constant struggle for survival…

Read the rest of the letter from KP Yohannan

Widows Worldwide Face Tragedy, Discrimination: Part 1 | Part 2

This article originally appeared on gfa.org

To read more on Patheos on widow’s plight worldwide, go here.