GFA World Provides Medicine and Love to a Remote Village

May 10, 2021 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, has been the model for numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to help the poor and deprived worldwide – Discussing GFA World pastor Pekelo, his encounter with a remote village full of sickness, fragility, the absence of mosquito nets to defend against mosquito-borne illnesses, and the free medical camp that brought hope and love.

Free Medical Camp supplied by Gospel for Asia: For Pastor Pekelo, it was worth shouldering the heavy box for three miles to give villagers much-needed medicine and loving care. — For Pastor Pekelo, it was worth shouldering the heavy box for three miles to give villagers much-needed medicine and loving care.

Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Pekelo had only been to the remote village once. The only way to reach it was a three-mile hike. Upon reaching his destination, however, Pastor Pekelo found himself in the midst of destitution. He quickly forgot about the long journey and turned his attention to the needs of the villagers. As he surveyed the situation, an idea began to form in Pastor Pekelo’s mind: He wanted to offer the entire village of nearly 50 families a free medical check-up.

An Undeniable Need

Pastor Pekelo knew bringing a free medical camp to the small, remote community would be a challenge, but he was armed with a determination to assist with the needs he witnessed firsthand.

With his own eyes, Pastor Pekelo saw the darkness of the village where electricity was a commodity still unavailable. With his own legs, Pastor Pekelo experienced the village’s difficulty of access. With his own nose, Pastor Pekelo inhaled the odor of sickness that plagued the village due to lack of medical care.

Pastor Pekelo quickly learned the residents often fell ill with mosquito-borne illnesses. They needed aid and protection. The compassionate pastor knew a free medical camp and mosquito net distribution would take strategic planning, but he was convinced such an event would benefit the people of this remote village.

Plan of Action – A Free Medical Camp

GFA World pastor's encounter with a village, the sickness, absence of mosquito nets to defend against illnesses, & the free medical camp that brought love. — Villagers wait in line to receive free medical check-ups and a mosquito net to help prevent mosquito-borne illnesses.

In conjunction with the Youth Fellowship pastor, Pastor Pekelo began coordinating with church leaders and fellow believers. They secured boxes of medicine and mosquito nets and enlisted the services of three doctors, including a surgeon. The team then hefted the heavy boxes of supplies on their shoulders and set out on the over-three-mile trek to the village.

As word spread about the free medical camp, people from the next village, about one-and-a-quarter miles away, journeyed to the village to stand in line for a check-up.

Doctors spent the day examining patients and prescribing medications. Pastor Pekelo and his team distributed mosquito nets. Over the course of the day, approximately 300 patients received free health assessments and medicine, and 150 families left with mosquito nets to help protect themselves against disease.

The villagers were grateful for the love and care shown through the attention of the doctors and Pastor Pekelo and his team.

Gospel for Asia (GFA World) Free Medical Camp — A young boy tries to not squirm as the doctor performs a routine health check-up.

“I have been in this village for 22 years and had not seen anyone come to this village with help for us and our children,” said 22-year-old Luane, who came from the neighboring village. “[The church], not knowing who we are and our situation, visited us by walking five kilometers all the way to our village. We are ever grateful to them for their help. Thank you.”

A 40-year-old woman, Alonna, expressed her deep gratitude: “Our village has no electricity, and our children frequently get fever due to mosquito bites. I thank God for the mosquito nets that we received today. It will protect our children. We thank [the church] and Pastor Pekelo for the love and concern towards us.”

Pastor Pekelo’s vision to help a remote village by hosting a free medical camp became more than a blessing of physical care for the villagers. They were also blessed to receive the love and care of neighbors acting as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Read the story of how Jamar, his family, and his community flourished after a Bridge of Hope center hosted a free medical camp in their village.

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

Source: Gospel for Asia Field Reports & Updates, GFA World Provides Medicine and Love to a Remote Village

Learn more about the GFA World Medical Ministry — helping thousands who are in need of medical care and attention, all while displaying the love of Christ.

Learn more how to save families from the sickening agony or death from malaria through the gift of Mosquito Nets that offer protection from the sting of an infected mosquito and help to give their owner a restful nights sleep.

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

Gospel for Asia Pastor Ministers in Village Where He’s Never Set Foot

March 22, 2021 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, whose heart to love and help the poor has inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to serve the deprived and downcast worldwide – Discussing the growing community of people who have been touched by God’s love and healing power through the prayers of a Gospel for Asia worker who ministers and cares for them.

Gospel for Asia pastor Kontar recognized he was spending an increasing number of minutes each day with a phone attached to his ear. But he wasn’t catching up with old friends, chatting about the latest news. God was using these phone calls to bring healing to people who had never heard about Jesus.

Discussing the growing community of people who have been touched by God’s love and healing power through the prayers of Gospel for Asia ministers. — Like the man pictured, Pastor Kontar spent many phone calls praying for healing for his new friends in Kessie’s village.

It all began with a woman named Kessie, who grew up in a community where Pastor Kontar taught a group of believers each week. Though Kessie’s family practiced a traditional religion, she’d heard stories of how Pastor Kontar’s prayers brought healing to the sick in her village.

After she married, Kessie moved to her husband’s neighboring town. One day, Kessie learned that her neighbor, Efia, was afflicted with an unknown illness. For two months, Efia suffered, her body growing weaker and weaker with each passing day. She and her husband wondered where they could turn for treatment as worry heightened into fear and their hope began to dim.

An Important Phone Call

In Kessie’s new community, there was no pastor or fellowship of believers, but she remembered Pastor Kontar from her childhood home.

She gave Efia Pastor Kontar’s phone number, encouraging the ailing woman to call and ask for his help. Based on stories from back home, Kessie knew Pastor Kontar had a compassionate heart and a special way of bringing healing to those for whom he prayed.

Efia’s husband, Ashon, called Pastor Kontar immediately, desperate to try anything that might restore his wife’s health. Pastor Kontar listened carefully as Ashon described his wife’s condition, responding with the Good News about Jesus and His power to heal. Pastor Kontar ended the call with a prayer for Efia’s healing.

Efia’s health began to improve until she was completely free from her illness, the strength of her body fully restored.

Gospel for Asia Pastor Ministers to Those in Need

Efia wasn’t the only neighbor to whom Kessie gave Pastor Kontar’s phone number.

Renny called Pastor Kontar seeking prayer for his body that was racked with severe pains. Pastor Kontar patiently listened to Renny’s story and prayed for his complete healing. Soon the aches in Renny’s body eased and harmony was restored in his joints.

Still another young man, Panyin, suffered from the influence of evil spirits, leading him to abuse his father. The man’s mother decided to call Pastor Kontar, who prayed for Panyin’s freedom. Once again, God answered Pastor Kontar’s prayer, and Panyin was freed from his torment.

Soon, Pastor Kontar was praying with many people in a village where he’d never set foot. Over time, they invited Pastor Kontar to visit.

At long last, Pastor Kontar put faces with the many names over which he’d prayed. There were Renny, Panyin, Efia and Ashon. He greeted them with warmth. Even though he hadn’t known their faces, God certainly did, answering the many prayers Pastor Kontar had offered on their behalf.

The village, once without a fellowship of believers, now has a growing community of people who have been touched by God’s love and healing power and will never be the same.

Read how God healed Misha’s body and soul.

*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 Field Reports & Updates, Pastor Ministers in Village Where He’s Never Set Foot

Learn more about the GFA World workers who carry a burning desire for people to know the love of God. Through their prayers, dedication and sacrificial love, thousands of men and women have found new life in Christ.

Learn more about the need for Disaster Relief Work, Gospel for Asia’s “Compassion Services” with relief teams who love the Lord who are focused to help victims of natural disasters find a firm foundation.

Click here to read more blogs and on National Missions on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

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

The Love of the Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope Staff

March 19, 2021 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to assist the poor and deprived worldwide – Discussing Rasika, her very poor health upon joining Bridge of Hope in 2004, but through the nourishing meals and attentive care of the staff, her health has greatly improved.

Something was wrong. Rasika couldn’t focus at school. She missed some of her classes, and she was too tired to study when she got home. Her parents watched their child deteriorate, not knowing what they could possibly do to help. Rasika’s condition only grew worse, leaving her weak and sickly, and hindering her ability to grow into a healthy member of society.

Child Helped by a Loving Staff

But things didn’t stay that way forever. Rasika enrolled in a local Gospel for Asia (GFA) Bridge of Hope center, and the staff were able to help her in her time of need. These men and women prayed for her specifically during their personal devotion times and gave her extra attention and help while she was at the center. Through Christ’s love, their encouragement and motivation had a tremendous effect on Rasika, as did the nutritious meals she received as part of the program.

What’s more, as the staff went to her home to speak with her parents, they helped her mom and dad understand some simple and practical changes they could make to help Rasika grow and develop properly.

As time passed, Rasika’s health improved, much to the delight of her parents. One day, they decided to go to the Bridge of Hope center with the specific purpose of thanking the staff for their involvement in their daughter’s life. This is what they shared:

“It is because of your great concern [that] today our daughter is in good condition. We cannot pay [you] back for all your contribution, but it is our desire that God would bless you and use you to help many more needy individuals in our society in the days to come.”

Encouraged by Stories of Gratitude

When parents come to thank the staff at Rasika’s Bridge of Hope center, as many do, it encourages the staff to keep pressing on to love, pray for and encourage the children they work with. We hope it is the same for you—that the stories you read in this and other posts encourage you to love the Lord more and help you see that your life is truly making a difference!

Source: Gospel for Asia Rejoice! Newsletter, The Love of Bridge of Hope Staff

Learn more about the Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope program and how you can make an incredible difference in the lives of children, bringing hope to their lives and their families, transforming communities.

Learn more by reading the Gospel for Asia Special Report on Child Labor: Not Gone, but Forgotten – Millions of Children Trapped between Extreme Poverty and the Profits of Others

Click here to read more blogs and on Bridge of Hope on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

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

How to Stop Beating Your Wife: Gospel for Asia Film Reveals the Changing Power of Jesus’ Love

March 15, 2021 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to assist the poor and deprived worldwide – Discussing Dulal, the domestic abuse he inflicts on his family, and the Gospel for Asia film that revealed the transforming power of Jesus’ love.

“Sir, we have been going through numerous problems at our home, and there are always fights between me and my wife,” 30-year-old Dulal told Pastor Kaditula.

“I always beat my wife, and I don’t know what happens to me,” he went on. “Though I want to stop myself, I cannot. If my father comes to make me calm at that time, I don’t listen to him. In my family, we have no peace at all.”

Discussing Dulal, the domestic abuse he inflicts on his family, and the Gospel for Asia film that revealed the transforming power of Jesus' love. — After watching a movie about the life of Jesus, audiences are invited to come forward for prayer. Like Dulal (not pictured), many find peace in Christ and new hope for their families as a result.

Step One: Go to the Gospel for Asia Film

Earlier that evening, a Gospel for Asia worker named Sadar arrived in Dulal’s village to help Gospel for Asia pastor Kaditula, who ministered to the people in the area. With the permission of the village head, Sadar and his team set up a screen and a projector and invited everyone they met—including Dulal—to come watch a movie about the life of Jesus.

Step Two: Stay After the Show

When the movie ended, Dulal didn’t want to go home. As he sat quietly with his wife, their children playing nearby, Pastor Kaditula and Sadar went over to talk to him.

“After watching the miracles of Jesus, I felt something different,” Dulal shared, after telling them of his troubles at home. “I am very interested to know more about Jesus. Can we believe in Jesus?”

“Yes, of course, anybody can believe in Jesus,” Pastor Kaditula told him. “He will give peace, and He is the way for eternal life.”

Step Three: Find Help

Then and there, Pastor Kaditula and Sadar prayed for Dulal and his family. They also visited him the following afternoon, where they found Dulal excitedly awaiting their arrival. The two men prayed again for Dulal, and before long God spoke to Dulal’s heart.

Today, Dulal and his family are praising Jesus with the local congregation.

Through the prayers and support of people like you, people like Dulal and his wife can now pray to Jesus together instead of argue. You are a vital step in the process of eternal reconciliation. Thank you for making a difference in people’s lives.

Source: Gospel for Asia Rejoice! Newsletter, How to Stop Beating Your Wife

Learn more about the GFA national missionaries who carry a burning desire for people to know the love of God. Through their prayers, dedication and sacrificial love, thousands of men and women have found new life in Christ.

Learn more about Film Ministry in Asia, as films on the life of Jesus have proven to be one of the best ways to let people in Asia know about the sacrificial love and deliverance of God.

Click here to read more blogs and on National Missionaries on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

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

Gospel for Asia Provides Sewing Machines, Tin Sheets and Smiles

February 25, 2021 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, whose heart to love and help the poor has inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to serve the deprived and downcast worldwide – Discussing providing sewing machines, tin sheets, smiles and the eternal hope of Jesus through Christmas gift distribution.

Contagious smiles and joyous hearts filled the open-air gathering. Bicycles, sewing machines, blankets and a host of other practical gifts were received with open hands. A message of eternal hope, found in the Word of God, hit the ears of all who attended. The love of Christ brought 540 families together, while impact and transformation awaited just around the corner.

Discussing Gospel for Asia providing sewing machines, tin sheets, smiles and the eternal hope of Jesus through Christmas gift distribution. — This man also received a sewing machine at the same Christmas gift distribution as Asin.

Asin received a sewing machine and is able to sew clothes again! “My sewing machine had not been working for a long time,” Asin says.

“Due to that, I was not able to stitch the clothes. But I thank God for Gospel for Asia (GFA World) for having concern toward me and giving me a sewing machine.”

Another life touched by this Christmas gift distribution was a man named Raksa. His family survived on his daily labor wages and lived in a mud house that often had a leaky roof during the rainy winter season. Through the distribution, Raksa received 10 tin sheets. Now he can keep his family warm and dry during the winter!

Because of faithful supporters and committed prayer warriors like you, precious people across the globe are receiving practical gifts and hope for tomorrow in Christ!

Source: Gospel for Asia Rejoice! Newsletter, Sewing Machines, Tin Sheets and Smiles

Learn more about how generosity can change lives. Through Gospel for Asia (GFA World) and its Christmas Gift Catalog, gifts like pigs, bicycles and sewing machines break the cycle of poverty and show Christ’s love to impoverished families in Asia. One gift can have a far-reaching impact, touching families and rippling out to transform entire communities.

Learn more by reading these Special Reports from Gospel for Asia:

Fighting Global Poverty with Ideas – Uprooting poverty requires education that transmits values
Poverty: Public Enemy #1 – Eliminating Extreme Poverty Worldwide is Possible, But Not Inevitable

Click here to read more blogs and on Christmas Gift Catalog on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

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

Gospel for Asia, Chick-fil-A, Brookshire’s Bring Christmas Relief to Hunger-Hit Texans

December 14, 2020 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX — Chick-fil-A and Brookshire’s are joining a leading aid agency to deliver Christmas relief to Texas families hit hard by the pandemic. As America experiences another spike in coronavirus cases, one in four children aren’t getting enough food and face a bleak Christmas, says Wills Point-based humanitarian agency Gospel for Asia (GFA World – founded by K.P. Yohannan, has been the model for numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada) according to Feeding Texas statistics.

Chick-fil-A, Brookshire’s, Gospel for Asia (GFA World) & Body of Life to give hundreds of hungry Texas families relief this Christmas — **SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER:** Chick-fil-A, Brookshire’s, Gospel for Asia (GFA World) and Body of Life (www.bodyoflife.org) are joining forces to give hundreds of hungry Texas families a helping hand this Christmas. The organizations will stage a Christmas grocery, sandwich and water giveaway Sat. Dec. 19 from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. — or until food boxes run out — at GFA World’s campus at 1116 St. Thomas Way, Wills Point.

Feeding Texas — the state’s network of food banks — says hunger in Texas has doubled during the pandemic.

Now Gospel for Asia (GFA World) — an organization that has been helping feed tens of thousands of starving people in Asia — is stepping up efforts to help make sure families on its own doorstep don’t go hungry this Christmas.

The agency — headquartered in Wills Point, 50 miles east of Dallas — will distribute hundreds of holiday food boxes Saturday, Dec. 19, to families struggling with job losses and reduced income.

And Chick-fil-A of Sulphur Springs will help spread the festive cheer, handing out hundreds of free sandwiches, along with Brookshire’s of Wills Point who will distribute water bottles.

Families ‘Loved By God’

“We know many families are struggling this Christmas, and we’re thrilled to join with Chick-fil-A and Brookshire’s to help them,” said Danny Yohannan, GFA World’s vice-president. “We want them to know they’re loved by us and by God.”

Also partnering with Texas nonprofit Body of Life (www.bodyoflife.org) and the USDA “Farmers to Families” program, Gospel for Asia (GFA World) and community volunteers will hand out hundreds of boxes of groceries at the organization’s campus at 1116 St. Thomas Way, Wills Point, on Sat. Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. or until supplies run out.

Over the past months, regular grocery giveaways hosted by Gospel for Asia (GFA World) and Body of Life have fed thousands of families from Van Zandt and neighboring counties in Texas.

Anyone interested can follow Gospel for Asia / GFA World online to stay in the loop about upcoming local food giveaways and the organization’s humanitarian work overseas.

Read another story on how the Lord is using Gospel for Asia to bring relief to those in need during COVID 19.

Those interested in supporting GFA World’s hunger relief efforts in Asia, should go to: http://www.gfa.org/press/covid-19.

Media interested in interviews with Gospel For Asia should contact Gregg Wooding at InChrist Communications @ 972-567-7660 or gwooding@inchristcommuications.com

About Gospel for Asia

Headquartered in Wills Point, Texas, Gospel for Asia (GFA World) is a leading faith-based mission agency, helping national workers bring vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear about the love of God. In GFA’s latest yearly report, this included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages and remote communities, over 4,800 clean water wells drilled, over 12,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 260,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry. For all the latest news, visit our Press Room at https://press.gfa.org/news.

Learn more by reading these Special Reports:

KP Yohannan has issued two statements about the COVID-19 situation found here and here.

GFA’s Statement About Coronavirus

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

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

Source: Gospel for Asia: Digital Media Room

Gospel for Asia Says Hunt for Coronavirus Cure Casts Light on Another ‘Deadly Scourge’

November 22, 2020 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, has been the model for numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada – Discussing GFA World’s report citing the lifesaving impact of malaria-fighting efforts across Asia as the world searches for a cure for COVID-19.

The hunt for a cure for COVID-19 draws attention to another “forgotten” health crisis that continues to claim more than 400,000 lives around the world every year — mosquito-borne malaria.

Hunt for COVID 19 cure highlights "forgotten" malaria health crisis that continues to claim more than 400,000 lives worldwide yearly. — **ANOTHER DEADLY SCOURGE:** Political leaders and doctors suggest readily available anti-malarial drugs may be beneficial in treating coronavirus patients as Gospel for Asia (GFA World) and other organizations highlight the much-overlooked “deadly scourge” of malaria.

As some political leaders and doctors suggest readily available anti-malarial drugs may be beneficial in treating coronavirus patients, Gospel for Asia (GFA World) and other organizations are highlighting the much-overlooked “deadly scourge” of malaria.

World Malaria Day — an annual awareness event — is April 25 each year, and malaria-fighting organizations like Gospel for Asia (GFA) are eager to see that the ongoing battle against the mosquito-spread menace doesn’t get ignored or forgotten because of COVID-19.

Almost half the world’s population is at risk from malaria — spread by infected mosquitoes — and children under five years are the most vulnerable, says a new Gospel for Asia (GFA World) report, titled Mosquito-Driven Scourge Touches Even Developed Nations.

Despite the effectiveness of anti-malarial drugs like chloroquine — recently touted as a treatment for coronavirus — malaria still kills more than 400,000 people worldwide every year, more than double the global coronavirus death toll to date.

Each year, there are more than 200 million reported cases of malaria, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. So far, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide stands at about 2.5 million and rising.

Mosquito Nets: Ten Dollar Lifesavers

Describing malaria as a “deadly scourge,” GFA World’s report is one of a series of in-depth special reports by the Texas-based mission agency examining critical global issues, promoting awareness, and challenging people to respond. A life-saving mosquito net costs as little as $10 — but that’s more than many of Asia’s poorest families, who earn less than $2 a day, can afford.

“For many years. . . teams across South Asia have been engaged in malaria prevention,” said Dr. Daniel, director of Believers Eastern Church’s medical ministry in Asia. “These committed local workers, often trekking miles on foot, distribute free mosquito nets — some 360,000 last year alone – to prevent malaria infection and provide clean water and community sanitation to help reduce mosquito breeding grounds.”

Although malaria has a lower mortality rate than coronavirus, the financial toll of malaria is huge. According to estimates, malaria costs the African economy $12 billion every year through healthcare and loss of productivity and investment.

With much of South Asia currently under COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, Gospel for Asia (GFA World) is supporting outreaches to those most severely impacted — including impoverished day laborers unable to earn money for food. Teams are providing free meals as well as mosquito nets.

“Even in lockdown amid COVID-19, we in the West have the opportunity to pray at home and support local workers in the field to save lives,” said India-born Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan, whose mission has served the poor in Asia for 40-plus years and has become one of the biggest mission organizations in the world.

About Gospel for Asia

Gospel for Asia (GFA) is a leading faith-based mission agency, bringing vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear the “good news” of Jesus Christ. In GFA’s latest yearly report, this included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages and remote communities, over 4,000 clean water wells drilled, over 11,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 200,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry. For all the latest news, visit our Press Room at https://press.gfa.org/news.

Learn more by reading these Special Reports:

KP Yohannan has issued two statements about the COVID-19 situation found here and here.

GFA’s Statement About Coronavirus

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

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

Source: Gospel for Asia: Digital Media Room

With Gospel for Asia Support a Flood’s Devastation Leads to a Village’s Celebration

November 7, 2020 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing the devastating flood in Sri Lanka, and the Gospel for Asia workers who provide ongoing support and relief to disaster victims.

Discussing the devastating flood in Sri Lanka, and the Gospel for Asia workers who provide ongoing support and relief to disaster victims. — Relief items packed and ready for distribution for flood victims.

In December, 24 families, all members of a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported church in Sri Lanka, watched in horror as their homes were flooded by nearly three feet of water. The flood waters raged for 10 days, leaving those affected unable to work and provide for their families. The situation looked uncertain and scary, but through the compassionate care of fellow believers, these villagers found hope, help and healing.

Help for a Community in Need through Gospel for Asia Workers’ Support

After learning of the devastation in Colombo, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Maran and Sister Janani visited the affected villagers, providing hot meals for many of the families. Seeing the extent of the community’s need, Pastor Maran requested additional assistance for the village.

On December 15, dry ration packets were distributed to the 24 families affected by the flooding. The rations were a blessing to the villagers and helped sustain them by providing food for one week.

After the flood in their village, affected families are grateful to receive much-needed relief items.

Paba, one of the villagers affected by the flood, shared how her family was impacted.

“My husband is a fisherman. Due to the heavy rains he could not go for fishing,” Paba said. “We suffered a lot during these few days and [had] no food for the family. We were also dehydrated with lack of clean drinking water. At this needed time, our church … helped by providing the dry ration pack, which was a real blessing for all of us.”

Sosa, a 53-year-old widow and mother of three children, said, “My husband died three months ago. … I was suffering financially after my husband’s death. The special gift, which was given through the church, was a great blessing to all of us. I thank God for His blessing to us and for the church for helping us in time of need.”

Pastor Maran delivers relief items to a flood victim.

Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers provide ongoing relief to disaster victims all across Asia. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline workers have provided food, masks and sanitization equipment to individuals in need.

————————————————————-

Read how a sack of rice brought reassurance to one woman in need.

*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.

Source: Gospel for Asia Feature Article, A Flood’s Devastation Leads to a Village’s Celebration

Learn more by reading these Special Reports from Gospel for Asia:

Fighting Global Poverty with Ideas — Uprooting poverty requires education that transmits values
Poverty: Public Enemy #1 — Eliminating Extreme Poverty Worldwide is Possible, But Not Inevitable

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

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

Gospel for Asia Pastor Helps Love-Hungry Athlete Find the Love He Was Looking For

August 8, 2020 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Safal, the loneliness and pain of growing up without guidance and love, and the Gospel for Asia (GFA) Pastor who shared the love of Jesus who can heal his pain and bring him peace.

Sweat rolled down Safal’s skin. He ran after the ball again, aiming for a goal. From the outside, Safal looked like an outstanding and accomplished young soccer player, but inside he felt alone and without peace.

The Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Jaitra understood where this young athlete was coming from. He once felt emptiness ravage his seeking heart. He once was searching, too. He once wasn’t satisfied with his life. But now he had something to share—something Safal would soon see and change the very course of his life forever.

Like the little boys in this picture, Safal played soccer from an early age.

Growing Up Without a Mom

Safal and his brothers grew up without their mother’s love and care. She left the family when her sons were just little boys and never returned. Her absence drove their father to the bottle in his attempts to cope with his life. His aim to drown out his sorrows resulted in him becoming a drunkard. As a consequence of his parents’ neglect, Safal grew up without guidance and love, and a cavernous void formed in his heart.

Just like these men are playing soccer on a team, Safal grew up excelling in the sport. Even though he was good at soccer and made it priority in his life, he never felt satisfied or completely fulfilled in it. He had deep void in his heart that never went away.

Using Soccer to Escape Pain

To fill the void in his life, Safal dedicated his energy and time to soccer. As a young boy, he was a natural and played the sport with distinction and great skill. He started off humble, but as he continued to excel, he became arrogant in his soccer pursuits. His love of the sport took priority in his life.

Many young boys respected and looked up to him, but the admiration they showed him did not heal Safal’s aching heart. Despite his popularity, he felt alone. He didn’t believe in God or the traditional rituals his family practiced. He had never been taught how to love, and though he succeeded in soccer, he was always discouraged and sad.

Faithful Friend Prays for Young Athlete

Among Safal’s best friends was a Christian young man who went to Pastor Jaitra’s church. His name was Balaraj, and he stood faithfully by Safal’s side. He shared the love of Christ with him often and prayed without fail for Safal, even when he rejected the message of hope he shared. Balaraj’s loving heart reflected Jesus, and he continued to pray constantly that Safal would truly understand God’s love.

One day, Balaraj noticed Safal looking especially depressed, so he asked his friend, “What happened to you?”

Safal didn’t reply right away, but later he said, “I am really sad and alone. I have no mother, and my father is a drunkard, so I have no peace in my heart.”

After hearing from Safal, Balaraj called his pastor to pray for him. Pastor Jaitra shared the hope and peace of Jesus with Safal and encouraged him from the Word of God. Pastor Jaitra knew as a young man what it felt like to have no peace, and he was able to share, deep from his heart, that there is hope for the seeking heart.

“Safal, don’t worry,” Pastor Jaitra reassured him. “Jesus loves you and cares for you. We are with you, and we, too, love you.”

Before leaving, Safal took some literature from Pastor Jaitra and said he would come to church if he had time.

Gospel for Asia founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan: National missionaries share the love of Christ — God knew how much Safal needed his faithful friend, Balaraj. Just like these two good friends are enjoying tea together, Balaraj stood by Safal’s side and prayed for him continually, even when he rejected the hope of Jesus.

Entering Church for the First Time

Much to the joy and amazement of Pastor Jaitra, Safal arrived with Balaraj for the very next church service.

Safal stepped inside the building—it was the first time he had ever entered a church. Having never experienced a Christian service, he felt a little uneasy as he watched the believers worship Jesus. When the singing was over, Pastor Jaitra introduced Safal to the congregation to welcome him.

Gospel for Asia founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan: The Gospel for Asia pastor Jaitra was there when Safal shared the longing in his heart for love. Safal found that Jesus can heal his pain and bring him peace. — The Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Jaitra (pictured) was there when Safal shared the longing in his heart for love. Safal found that Jesus can heal his pain and bring him peace.

Then the young athlete listened to the message Pastor Jaitra shared from God’s Word. He found himself deeply moved as the Lord began to work within him. At the end of the service, Safal told Pastor Jaitra, “Today’s message really touched my heart. I want to experience [Jesus’] abundant love in my daily life.”

With great joy, Pastor Jaitra prayed for Safal and encouraged him with Scipture. This was the beginning of their friendship. Through the mentoring of Pastor Jaitra, Safal has grown strong in the Lord, and his heart’s desire is to serve and love the Lord with his life.

Safal no longer focuses solely on sports, nor does he struggle with depression and feeling unloved. Instead, he wants to show Christ’s love to others by being an example to many who feel the emptiness in their hearts, as he once did. He knows God can fill hungry hearts with His everlasting love.

Messengers of Christ’s Hope

There are many people, like Safal, in the world today who feel lost and alone. Praise the Lord, Jesus has come to bring us hope and life in Him! Through faithful servants like Pastor Jaitra, Jesus is making Himself known to these precious people. You can be part of touching lives with the love of Christ by praying for and sponsoring a national missionary today.

Learn more about the national missionaries who carry a burning desire for people to know the love of God. Through their prayers, dedication and sacrificial love, thousands of men and women have found new life in Christ.

Source: Gospel for Asia Featured Article, Love-hungry Athlete Finds True Love

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

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

Gospel for Asia Calls for ‘Compassionate Prayer’ After Jade Mine Disaster

August 3, 2020 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX — Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing how GFA World pastor comforts bereaved families after horrific mudslide kills more than 160 at Myanmar jade mining site.

One of the world’s leading mission agencies has called for “compassionate prayer” after more than 160 people were killed by a horrific mudslide at a jade mine in northern Myanmar earlier this month.

Several Christians living in a nearby village work at the jade mine, but fortunately no one from the local church was reported missing or dead, Gospel for Asia (GFA World) said.

The pastor said several of his church members were late going to work and missed the landslide. Now he’s ministering to bereaved families, comforting them and praying for them, Gospel for Asia (GFA World) said.

According to news reports, a massive river of mud and rock triggered by heavy rains swept into the mining site, burying workers and people scavenging for precious stones. A state official described it as “like a tsunami.”

Graphic images showed rescue workers pulling bodies from the debris and laying them in rows under tarp.

‘Compassionate Prayer’

“Our heartfelt prayers are with the families of all the workers who died in this terrible disaster as well as the injured,” said Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan. “The people of Myanmar are among the most kind-hearted and loving on the planet. Right now, we can lift them up to our Lord Jesus in compassionate prayer.”

The disaster — which occurred on July 2 in the Hpakant area of Kachin state — was captured on video, showing the mudslide pouring into the mining site.

On a typical day, hundreds of people gather at the site to sift through rubble looking for precious jade stones. Myanmar — formerly known as Burma — is the world’s biggest source of jade.

Right now, heavy monsoon rains are lashing parts of northeast India — another area prone to disastrous flooding and potentially deadly landslides. Since May, catastrophic floods have killed more than 80 people in the region, and 2.5 million have been forced to flee their homes.

The deadly flooding comes as India faces a spike in COVID-19 cases. The South Asian nation — the second most populous country in the world — now has more than 1.1 million recorded COVID-19 cases, the third highest after the U.S. and Brazil.

Gospel for Asia (GFA World) provides emergency aid, clean water, education, vocational training, and spiritual support to millions of South Asia’s poorest and most vulnerable families.

Media interested in interviews with Gospel For Asia should contact Gregg Wooding at InChrist Communications @ 972-567-7660 or gwooding@inchristcommuications.com

About Gospel for Asia

Gospel for Asia (GFA World) is a leading faith-based mission agency, helping national workers bring vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear about the love of God. In GFA World’s latest yearly report, this included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,200 villages and remote communities, over 4,800 clean water wells drilled, over 12,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 260,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry. For all the latest news, visit our Press Room at https://press.gfa.org/news.

KP Yohannan has issued two statements about the COVID-19 situation found here and here.

GFA’s Statement About Coronavirus

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

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

Source: GFA Press Room, Jade Mine Disaster Moves Gospel for Asia to Call for ‘Compassionate Prayer’