WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing the struggles and pain many have to endure due to the unbearably freezing winter, for laborers, for a Gospel for Asia-supported Pastor, and the gifts of compassion and change through Gospel for Asia winter clothing distribution.

Pastor Philip couldn’t stop shivering. He tried to lead the prayer meeting he’d come to the village for, but his body trembled so violently that his stomach began to hurt, and he couldn’t speak.

The Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor rushed home after the meeting, lit a fire in the kitchen and warmed himself in front of it. It took some time for him to recover.

Miles away in another village, Madur’s palms and fingers were cracked and bloody after laboring in the frigid air. He couldn’t afford to miss work the next day, but he also couldn’t work gathering firewood with bleeding palms.

Gospel for Asia-supported Pastor Hindered by Pain

In the region where Madur and Philip live, the sun’s warmth doesn’t last. People face long winters when nighttime temperatures drop to bone-chilling depths. Quality winter clothing is too costly for most people to afford, and the only heating system found in their homes is a fire in the kitchen stove.

A few months before, Pastor Philip lived in an even colder region where he struggled to minister. It wasn’t that the people weren’t responsive. It was just unbearably freezing.

To help Pastor Philip and his family, a fellow Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor, Bhupendra, lent him a quilt. But the severe weather still took a toll on Pastor Philip’s body. He often got stomach ailments, and his joints hurt.

Because his health issues made it difficult to minister in this area, Pastor Philip asked the district supervisor if he could move, so they transferred him and his family to a location where the winters weren’t as cold.

“This place is much better than the village where I worked before,” Philip says.

Although he still faces some physical hardships, Philip is willing to embrace suffering to continue ministering to the people in this region.

A Vicious Cycle

Madur, like many other laborers in his town, struggled to provide for his family in the bitter cold. He earned daily wages by working in people’s fields and gathering firewood. He battled to provide food for his wife and three children; he definitely couldn’t afford to buy warm clothes.

But this kept him in a vicious cycle: With no warm clothing to keep the cold wind from severely chapping his cheeks, knuckles and feet, he couldn’t work for long. If Madur didn’t work eight hours a day, he wouldn’t receive a whole day’s wage—and he wouldn’t ever be able to buy warm clothing for himself or his family.

“It is very painful,” Madur says. “Because of the cracks in our knuckles [and] palms, we are not able to go to the forest and cut the firewood or . . . go to the field and work because it hurts very badly.”

Thankfully, a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor, who lives in Madur’s town, knew of the struggles Madur and other laborers faced because of the cold weather, and he was able to help.

Gifts of Compassion and Change

One day, Madur and Philip both arrived at a gathering on a plateau surrounded by glistening, snow-capped peaks.

Packets of jackets and blankets sat on top of and next to a table. The two men, along with several other pastors and townspeople, would be receiving gifts—precious gifts from a Creator who could bring warmth and joy to their hearts and bodies.

These men knew how their lives would change. The jacket Pastor Philip received would keep him warm during the day while traveling from village to village to minister Christ’s love. The large, thick blanket he received a few weeks later would help protect him and his family at night and give him the sleep he’d need for a day of ministry.

“This blanket will keep me warm, and I will be able to take sufficient rest,” he said. “The next morning, I will be able to go and tell people about Jesus with freshness.”

The jacket Madur received at the winter clothing distribution would insulate him for his challenging labor outside. With the extra warmth, he would be able to work more hours with less pain.

Filled with gratitude for the gift he received, Madur invited some of the pastors to come to his home. He wanted to know more about Jesus, who filled the pastors’ hearts with love for their neighbors.

As the sun glowed that day, brightening people’s faces as they received compassionate gifts of warmth, the Light of the World was shining, drawing people to the eternal warmth of His love.

Donate for winter clothing

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 Sahdev, lame from birth, lost hope for a meaningful life, & Gospel for Asia pastor offered a gospel tract, leading to hope through Gospel for Asia-supported Christmas Gift Distribution.

The 32-year-old pored over the pages of the Gospel tract. Many times, Sahdev would come to the last page and start over again, wanting to more fully understand its message. Being lame from birth, he had lost hope of having a meaningful life. But now, his life was about to change.

Someone Who Cared

When Sahdev was 6 years old, he began using a hand-driven tricycle to help him get around. But after more than two decades of wear and tear, the tricycle had nearly reached its end. Sahdev had no other form of transportation. His mother, a daily wage laborer and the only income earner since his father’s death, couldn’t afford a new one.

Sahdev had to crawl, using only his hands to pull himself across the ground, to reach the place where he took baths. Sahdev sunk into discouragement.

Then one day, Sahdev met Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Prakash, who offered him the tract that he would go on to read over and over again. As Sahdev’s interest in the things of God grew, Pastor Prakash continued visiting him, sharing with him more about the God who cared.

Opposition Throughout the Area

Sahdev’s interest in Christ was unusual. Throughout the several years Pastor Prakash has served in the village, he has found opposition in the hearts of many of the other people in the area. Once, in 2007, Pastor Prakash was walking back to his own village after sharing about Christ’s love when, suddenly, people he didn’t know attacked him and beat him mercilessly. They took his money and his phone, tore his Bible and warned him not to come back.

Pastor Prakash was hospitalized with injuries on his head and hands. When he was released, he stayed in the area, knowing this was the place God had called him to. His burden for the people only increased, and he continued to love and serve them.

After spending time with Sahdev, Pastor Prakash noticed the paralyzed man’s worn-out tricycle. Wanting to help and encourage Sahdev, the pastor asked his leaders for a hand-tricycle to give to Sahdev through a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Christmas gift distribution.

A Tricycle Gives ‘New Strength’ and Softens Hearts

Because of gifts from friends of Gospel for Asia (GFA), Pastor Prakash was able to give Sahdev a new hand tricycle! And Sahdev was overcome with happiness.

“When I was discouraged, Gospel for Asia (GFA) blessed me with this tricycle,” he said. “Now I am able to travel to the marketplace easily for purchasing vegetables and other things.”

Sahdev doesn’t have to crawl anywhere anymore; the tricycle takes him wherever he needs to go. Even more than the physical help the tricycle provides, it has brought a level of independence to Sahdev that he hasn’t known in a long time.

“I have a new courage and strength in life,” he says.

Through the Gospel tract, the conversations with the pastor and the gift of a tricycle, Sahdev has seen more of Jesus, and the Lord is working in his heart. Now Sahdev comes to church twice a month.

But the Lord had an even greater, more beautiful purpose for Sahdev’s story.

The people in Sahdev’s village noticed the kindness of the church when Pastor Prakash gave the paralyzed man a tricycle. After the gift, those villagers no longer opposed Pastor Prakash, and they’ve given him an open door to tell them how much God loves them.

Another life and another village can be transformed through your giving this Christmas. Give a Gospel tract, a hand tricycle, or any other gift from Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog, and you’ll change lives—for now and for eternity.

Give Through the Gift Catalog to make Gospel for Asia-supported Christmas Gift Distribution possible.

Think some of your friends or family members might appreciate you giving a gift to those in Asia instead of giving them a present? You can give gifts on their behalf and then personalize and print in-honor cards for them.