2022-09-22T22:00:05+00:00

Last updated on: September 22, 2022 at 10:00 pm   By

Aravind walked around barefoot in ragged, worn-out clothes. He carried his books in a plastic bag. The skinny 7 year old lived in a humble mud house with his parents. Aravind’s “normal” was generational abject poverty. His family was so poor they could not even afford to buy rice, so their diet was not only meager but also severely lacking in the nutritional value a young boy needs to sustain normal growth.

Discussing the Curse of Generational Poverty - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

As is common among the poor, life for Aravind and his family was always complicated. His father, Hukka, was unable to find enough work locally to generate an income adequate to meet the most basic of his family’s needs. Because Hukka loved his family, he had to journey to a neighboring state to find employment. His long-distance commute meant he would be away from home for a month or more at a time, returning with wages he hoped would help his wife and son make it through his next absence. Yet, even what he was able to earn was not enough.

“There are countless young boys and girls in Asia who suffer under the crushing burden of generational abject poverty.”
Making matters worse, Aravind had begun to lose the ability to see after sunset. He was suffering from night-blindness. For Hukka and his family, this was just another obstacle in their lives and a foreshadowing of how the curse of generational poverty would be visited upon his son.

Then, something changed.

Because of the generosity of people halfway around the globe, Aravind was able to join a nearby Bridge of Hope center. The Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported center provided him with a new school uniform, shoes, books, winter clothes and personal hygiene products—some of which he had never even see before.

He actually cried the first time he washed his hair with shampoo—and it wasn’t because the shampoo had gotten into his eyes. It was because he was experiencing the love of Jesus Christ.

That was just the beginning of the changes Aravind began to experience. The daily meals at the Bridge of Hope center helped this young man to gain weight and develop physical strength. With some medical attention from the Bridge of Hope staff and a diet rich in Vitamin-A, his eyesight began to improve.

Oh. One more thing. Aravind no longer carries his books in a flimsy, plastic bag. He joyfully carries them in his own Bridge of Hope backpack.

Aravind can now see clearly in the daytime and the evening. He can also see a future filled with hope because of Jesus’ love.

There are countless young boys and girls in Asia who suffer under the crushing burden of generational abject poverty. Please pray for GFA-supported Bridge of Hope centers, which are helping to demonstrate the love of Christ and to point the children to a new life.

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2023-03-02T10:45:10+00:00

Last updated on: March 2, 2023 at 10:45 am   By

Anyone? Anyone? Just the guy who grew up on the farm? That’s not altogether surprising, especially as the American society has become less agrarian and more urbanized. Because the vast majority of us have never owned a goat, we are likely to have a less-than-accurate understanding of a goat’s potential value to its owners, which could make one wonder why so many faith-based agencies (FBO) suggest goats among the many offerings of their Christmas catalogs.

Raise Your Hand if You’ve Ever Owned a Goat - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

Here are a few reasons why Gospel for Asia (GFA) and other FBOs offer the opportunity to give goats to families in the impoverished, remote villages throughout Asia.

5 Reasons Why Goats Can Be a Blessing for a Family in Asia

1. Goats produce a generous amount of healthy milk.

The average nanny goat produces about 90 quarts of fresh milk per month. That’s much more than the average family will drink, so goat’s milk can become a good source of income to help families prosper.

Goat’s milk is much easier for humans to digest than cow’s milk. Studies have proven that people who drink goat’s milk benefit from its unique composition. Babies respond especially well to goat’s milk.

2. Goats are prolific breeders.

The gestation period for goats is six months. A nanny will typically birth one kid in her first year, but usually twins most years after that. It can be a relatively short period of time before the gift of two goats becomes a herd of goats. (Heard of goats? Of course, you have. That’s what we’re talking about.)

Do the math.

More goats = more milk = more revenue because the recipient family’s usage doesn’t increase.

At some point, the goat recipients (now goatherders) may wish to expand their enterprise by selling goats to other families who may then prosper as well.

3. Goats don’t graze. They browse.

Contrary to popular belief, goats don’t eat tin cans and rubbish. They will, however, eat food scraps. But, to our point: Goats do eat a certain amount of grass, depending upon their personal preferences. In animal husbandry terms, goats are browsers.

Browsing is a type of herbivory in which an herbivore (or, more narrowly defined, a folivore) feeds on leaves, soft shoots, or fruits of high-growing, generally woody, plants such as shrubs. This is contrasted with grazing, usually associated with animals feeding on grass or other low vegetation. Alternatively, grazers are animals eating mainly grass, and browsers are animals eating mainly non-grasses.

Goats are such great browsers, they are a virtual weed-eater. They are not messy. They are the cleanup crew.

4. Goats are great pack animals.

Goats can typically carry up to 30 percent of their own body weight, and they don’t mind doing so especially if trained to do so. Since they are relatively easy to teach and adapt well to a harness and leash, a goat will gladly make your load lighter.

5. Goats make great companions.

They are not smelly or stubborn. A well-trained goat can be just as loyal, sweet and fun as a dog. They are very friendly, social animals, and caring for them is relatively easy.

There you have it. By now, you are probably thinking about buying a goat or two. If you are, may we suggest that you buy them for someone for whom they will become the proverbial light at the end of the long tunnel of poverty? Click here today to access Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog to learn how you can give a pair of goats to a family in Asia.

Oops. We forgot that there is at least one more reason to buy goats: They’re cute.

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2022-11-30T18:17:29+00:00

Last updated on: November 30, 2022 at 6:17 pm   By

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” —1 John 3:2–3 Do you ever wonder how Christ would be received if He were born today? He came to Earth as humbly as the poorest child in any modern-day developing country. He didn’t live in luxury. His mother and earthly father struggled to even find a safe place for His birth. He didn’t have a pint-sized orthopedic mattress in a custom-made crib. He certainly wasn’t on a waiting list for an exclusive nursery school.

The world didn’t recognize the infant Jesus or care to help. And yet His very existence changed everything.

Beating the Odds Stacked Against Them - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

Each child is an individual who deserves compassion, love and hope. Not just for who they might grow up to be or what they might become but because of who they are now—a precious child of God. Every day, the most innocent among us live in a harsh, unkind environment where surviving until tomorrow is at the forefront. The future is so far away. It could be filled with struggles and pain. It’s not entirely unlike the world our Savior was born into, that he shared the love of God with, and that he ultimately gave His own life to save.

How much easier is it for us, as Christians striving every day to be more Christlike, to merely give compassion and love? What better time is there than now to give the hope of a full belly, clean water and a chance for life-changing education with a child who needs it?

Bridge of Hope Helps Break Down Barriers to Success

” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” — Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

What mother doesn’t look into the eyes of her child and wish for a happy, healthy future? Mary, the mother of Jesus, surely adored her newborn son. She wanted the best for him. Children bring hope, even when the odds are against them. The world often has other plans, but through sharing God’s love, we can intercede and help.

With each new child born in each new generation, a family and community imagines what they might achieve. In the Western world, those possibilities are virtually limitless. In America, even incredibly poor children have access to state-funded education, books and transportation to school.

In developing countries, however, many children are born at an extreme disadvantage. Their potential is tethered to obstacles that are difficult to imagine, many of them beyond a parent’s control. But they are not beyond hope.

Bridge of Hope was created to help break those tethers and offer underprivileged children a chance to succeed when the odds are stacked high against them.

Why Do Asia's Children Need Help? - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

Why Do Asia’s Children Need Help?

In many parts of Asia, school is available to children, and they’re required to attend. That sounds like a good start, right? On the surface, sure. It’s a nice framework. But the challenges of severe poverty fill in the blank spaces with problems such as hunger, poor (or nonexistent) sanitation, a lack of books and school clothes, childhood disease and limited access to clean water.

In the poorest families, children may be expected to work and earn wages. That cuts into study time and can often lead to quitting school early. Parents may not have the education or the time to help their children learn. When a child stops attending school, their lifetime potential changes dramatically.

For girls, more challenges arise. Their education may be considered less important than the education of boys. Girls will one day marry into another family. As harsh as it sounds, the family sacrifice that it takes to feed, clothe and send girls to school doesn’t pay off for the family who raises them. That’s especially true where the custom of dowries still exists.

Poverty marches through every continent and every country in the world. But conditions in the poorest parts of rural Asia are different. Education is vital, not just for the life of each child, but also for the growth of a developing country. With help, these children have a better chance to learn with fewer of the distractions that poverty inflicts, and they can help create a better future for their family and the next generations.

What Exactly is Bridge of Hope? - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

What Exactly is Bridge of Hope?

GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program exists in community-based centers where children can go for help with some of their toughest problems. The program, established in needy areas throughout Asia, addresses real problems with real solutions.

The difference is amazing.

Children who enroll in Bridge of Hope get help to succeed in school, but they also get so much more. Dedicated staff provides these needy children with nutritious meals, which may be a child’s only meal of the day. They provide books, school uniforms, a quiet and safe place to study, basic medical care and tutoring.

Students can participate in sports programs, practice good study habits and learn about civic duties and community responsibility.

They also receive training on good hygiene and gifts of the basic toiletries they need. The first toothbrush they ever own may be given to them by a caring and compassionate Bridge of Hope worker.

The well-rounded Bridge of Hope approach helps children not just excel in their education, but also helps them grow and develop into strong, healthy, productive citizens. With each new generation, communities gain more and more of the hope they so desperately need.

Tens of thousands of children have been enrolled with the Bridge of Hope program. But the need is still great.

Bridge of Hope Also Supports Parents

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

“We can’t know who any of these precious, poverty-stricken children in Asia will grow up to be. But what we do know is that God loves them as equally as he loves every other child.”
Children are the primary focus of Bridge of Hope, but the story doesn’t end there. Program workers are active in the community, sharing the gift of God’s love and supporting and teaching parents and guardians. In doing so, they broaden hope for the future to encompass whole communities.

Through home visits, parents learn about positive and uplifting childcare practices and good health and hygiene.

Because the success of parents supports the success of the child and the community, Bridge of Hope is also active in helping families achieve a better standard of living.

Workers can connect parents and guardians with vocational training for a better income through self-employment. To support that initiative further, they distribute meaningful gifts, such as sewing machines, small livestock, tools, carts for street vending and other necessities to help generate much-needed income.

Bridge of Hope supports boys, girls and families living in the poorest parts of Asia. And an important piece of the puzzle is you.

We can’t know who any of these precious, poverty-stricken children in Asia will grow up to be. But what we do know is that God loves them as equally as he loves every other child. Especially at this time of year, when we have just celebrated the greatest gift ever given to the world, hope is transformative.

Your gift can sponsor a child and give them a chance to succeed when most of the world has forgotten.

Image Source: Gospel for Asia, Photo of the Day

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2018-12-24T07:57:10+00:00

Last updated on: December 24, 2018 at 7:57 am   By

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.

A Public, Tragic Secret - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

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.

Inheritance is a Right for Some, a Myth for Others - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

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 - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

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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2019-11-21T15:16:57+00:00

Last updated on: November 21, 2019 at 3:16 pm   By

It’s that time of year again when Gospel for Asia (GFA) and many other faith-based organizations (FBO) publish their Christmas gift catalogs. Two of the seemingly ubiquitous gifts available are chickens and goats.I know what you are thinking. “Chickens and goats? How can chickens and goats really have any impact?” Altruistically speaking, we tend to see more value in things like Bibles, blankets, sewing machines, pull carts or rickshaws. I know this because I had thought that way for years. I was wrong.

My mistake was that I was perceiving the value of chickens and goats from a Western worldview. A chicken has little value to me, and my neighbors would not appreciate me owning a goat (nor would the Home Owners Association by-laws permit it).

The Amazing and Empowering Impact of Chickens and Goats - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

Consider, however, the value of chickens or goats for a family living in generational poverty in Asia. When you have absolutely nothing, a couple of chickens or goats is a big deal. They are gifts that can be life-altering.

GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog says:

“The gift of chickens supplements a family’s income and often helps a family get on its feet financially. Families can eat or sell the nutritious eggs, or they can hatch chicks to increase their flock and later have more eggs and chicks to sell. These birds of a feather multiply quickly, taste just like chicken and are really ‘cheep!'”

Another FBO says:

“With a pair of chickens and a goat, you’ll provide a steady supply of eggs, milk, and protein to feed children and help families . . . Chickens are equally easy to raise and will naturally multiply to impact generations of children.”

If this sounds like marketing propaganda, think again. The Population Council is an international, not-for-profit NGO that was established in 1952 by John D. Rockefeller III with funds primarily from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. The Council conducts programs to the most vulnerable people in more than 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. It conducts detailed research to ensure the effectiveness of their programs.

“Because our objective is to transform one community at a time… We help them to realize that there is hope for every man, woman and child in that community.”
Would you believe that the Population Council conducted a study that demonstrated the impact of chickens and goats? They did.

In addition to addressing the overarching issue of poverty, the project focused specifically on developing sustainable approaches to help delay childhood marriage.

That raises another question. How can giving chickens and goats help reduce childhood marriages?

The plan was to offer chickens or goats to families as the significant, empowering element of the program. It had already been apparent that education alone was inadequate to change the cultural mindset or the dilemma faced by families with insufficient resources that, therefore, would sell their daughters into a forced marriage.

The empowerment to effectively reduce childhood marriage was the gifting of chickens and goats.

The empowerment to effectively reduce childhood marriage was the gifting of chickens and goats - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

In Ethiopia, families were offered two chickens each year if they agreed to keep their daughters in school and unmarried. The animals were offered in conjunction with a program of informing the communities about the dangers of child marriage. They also offered assistance with educational supplies and an understanding of good animal husbandry.

Because the chickens and goats provided a source of income, the results indicated that girls between the ages of 12 and 17 were far less likely (by two-thirds) to be offered in marriage during the time of the project. Similar results were achieved in Tanzania.

Gospel for Asia does not require a similar commitment from the families to whom you donate chickens and goats. GFA-supported workers give these gifts to demonstrate the love of Jesus to “the least of these” and provide those families with a source of income.

“Chickens and goats may not change your life, but they can make a radical transformation for the poor in Asia.”

Because our objective is to transform one community at a time, our ministry through our partners in Asia takes a holistic approach within each community. We help them to realize that there is hope for every man, woman and child in that community. Our field partners live in or regularly visit those communities to create an environment of hope, love, education and enablement for the entire community to prosper and grow.

To them, we are the hands and feet of the living God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The gifts of chickens or goats are just one of the ways you can enable us to be His representatives in the villages that are most in need.

Chickens and goats may not change your life, but they can make a radical transformation for the poor in Asia. When you give, and when you realize the impact of chicken and goats, you may discover that the Lord is transforming your heart and mind as well.

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2019-11-21T15:27:32+00:00

Last updated on: November 21, 2019 at 3:27 pm   By

We have pretty much bought into the saying that, “It’s not the gift that counts; it’s the thought behind it.” But what if that is not true. Doesn’t the gift really count?

When we place more value on the intent than on the gift, it’s not long before the gift we give fills no real need of the recipient. Walk into any big box store during the Christmas holiday season, and notice how people are filling their carts with expensive but perhaps meaningless things to be able to say that it is the thought that counts.

There is one Bible passage that speaks the truth about the gift being important based on the need.

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” —James 2:15–16 (ESV)

This verses alone should be enough to change the way we think of giving. Not to mention that the Lord has offered to each of us the gift we need the most: His Son, Jesus Christ. What is more, the Bible tells us that every gift that God gives us is good and perfect.

GFA Asks How Should We Then Give?

We have, in fact, already answered that question. We should give as the Bible teaches, and in the pattern of God’s gracious giving.

Which brings us to goats.

That may seem like the ultimate non sequitur, but it is not. Our responsibility in giving gifts is to understand what is needed, then to do what we can to help meet that need. Goats are one of the best gifts to give to families stuck in abject poverty in South Asia, Africa and elsewhere. If that seems odd, it is only because we do not understand the impact goats can make for a family.

When we give goats and teach families how to care for them, those goats open a door to comparative prosperity that is beyond those families’ wildest dreams.

"Here Comes the Freedom!" Gospel for Asia Shares the Impact of a Gift of Goats - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

GFA Explains How It Works?

Goats provide a source of nutrition. Goats milk is high in protein and calcium and is more easily digestible by the human body than milk from cows. A healthy goat will give up to 16 cups of milk per day. Did you know that 65 percent of the world drinks goat milk?

Goats are an asset that can be used to generate income. Goat milk, cheese and yogurt can be sold to generate income.

If a family chooses to breed their goats, they can transform the original gift into a growing enterprise in their community.

One past recipient of a pair of goats from GFA-supported workers started a farm that today has 75 goats. By using the gift of goats wisely, that man and his family are no longer slaves to abject poverty.

Another man rejoiced when he accepted his gift and exclaimed, “When I received the goats, I told myself, ‘Here comes the freedom.'”

Some families may sell a portion of their herd to acquire other animals such as cattle and water buffalo. Or they may use the proceeds to open a small business in their village. The goats that they sell empower other families in their community with the same sustainable gift.

The gift of goats is a way to share the gift of Jesus Christ and His love for us.

GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog features the gift of a pair of goats for only $140.

GFA Asks What Will You Do?

That is, of course, up to you. We encourage you to consider the very practical and needed gift of goats for at least one family in Asia. Imagine empowering a family in Asia to come out of poverty with a gift of goats. What a blessing we can be.

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2022-09-22T22:08:00+00:00

Last updated on: September 22, 2022 at 10:08 pm   By

Wills Point, Texas – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report Part 3 – Discussing the impact of quality education on the eradication of extreme poverty and illiteracy.

More than 250 million women in Asia are illiterate - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
More than 250 million women in Asia are illiterate. The women pictured learned how to read for the first time through Gospel for Asia supported literacy programs.

Gospel for Asia Introduces Quality Education to Families in Poverty

Remember hardworking Dayita and her roaming children? Their story also serves as an example of the powerful gift of education.

One day, some staff members from a local Gospel for Asia-supported Bridge of Hope center met Dayita and her family. Upon hearing of her struggle and seeing the condition of the family, the staff members offered Dayita’s 7-year-old daughter, Kasni, the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to go to school.

That day changed the course of Dayita and Kasni’s family: The cycle of poverty and illiteracy began to break.

Dayita’s 7-year-old daughter Kasni is now enrolled in a Bridge of Hope center - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
Dayita’s 7-year-old daughter Kasni is now enrolled in a GFA-supported Bridge of Hope center and is learning skills that will enable her to leave the cycle of poverty behind.

At the Bridge of Hope center, Kasni began learning skills that will empower her to escape poverty, subjects such as arithmetic, science, language skill and history. She also had opportunities to learn about art, dance, respect and self-discipline. She thrived in her new environment, and her joy spread to her family.

Dayita had never dreamed she would be able to send her daughter to school, yet now her little Kasni was developing and growing into a bright young student. Kasni’s future would hold more hope than her own had held at age 7, and hopefully Kasni would be spared from many of the trials Dayita had experienced from her illiteracy.

The Bridge of Hope center impacted the family in additional ways, too. Kasni received a nutritious meal every school day, which helped ease the financial burden of the family. She and the other Bridge of Hope students participated in health awareness programs and medical checkups, and all their books and school supplies were provided by the center. In addition, special programs were held regularly to help cultivate students’ social skills and character.

Kasni continued to care for her younger siblings for a portion of the day, and with her new skills of respect and responsibility, she was better equipped in her role as an elder sister.

Many of the things Kasni learned through the center benefited her mother as well. Special programs for the parents helped Dayita grow in knowledge, too.

Kasni is just one among 75,000 children enrolled in GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program. Through Bridge of Hope, these children and their families are finding a new way of life—a life that leads to hope and a door out of poverty.

Teachers at GFA-supported Bridge of Hope centers teach with love and care - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
Teachers at GFA-supported Bridge of Hope centers teach with love and care, which helps the children enjoy class and excel in their studies.

Efforts to Reduce Poverty Through Quality Education

Overwhelming evidence of education’s effectiveness in reducing poverty has prompted massive efforts around the world to make quality education available to everyone—especially to the poor.

Efforts to Reduce Poverty Through Quality Education - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
An instructor plays with kindergarten children at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Haiti. (Photo credit UNICEF)

These efforts range from large-scale endeavors like those of UNICEF and Global Partnership for Education, to family-run schools and volunteer-led tutoring. Although the groups are different in size, they have one significant component in common: people who are doing what they can to help the needy children in their sphere.

Gospel for Asia (GFA) is just one of those players, yet God is using this one organization to impact thousands of lives. GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program began in 2004 and was designed to help transform the lives of children who live in poverty.

“These children have learned to dream, and their education equips them to pursue those dreams, contribute to society and raise their children-to-come with the same life-changing values they have embraced.”
Recognizing the broad reach poverty has on families and children, Bridge of Hope takes a holistic approach to education, investing in the minds, emotions and bodies of the students. Food, clothing, encouragement, medical care and times of childhood fun all work together to build into the students’ lives and prepare them to be valuable citizens in their countries.

Stories abound of the transformations taking place in these little children—children who are growing up to be well-equipped adults who know they have value and potential. Children who were painfully shy or woefully behind in their studies when they started at Bridge of Hope later dream of becoming doctors, engineers or teachers.

Others aspire to design clothing or to help poverty-stricken families climb out of poverty. Some will grow up to hold positions of great influence in their society, others will help their family farms prosper in improved ways, and still others will invest into the lives of their children the way Bridge of Hope teachers invested in their own lives. These children have learned to dream, and their education equips them to pursue those dreams, contribute to society and raise their children-to-come with the same life-changing values they have embraced.

Just one life changed in a village can multiply to impact hundreds of other lives - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
Aayush joined Bridge of Hope at 10 years old. Now a capable young man equipped with a quality education, he is pursuing his goal of becoming a teacher.

As far as which comes first, poverty or lack of education, the answer isn’t clear. But the solution is clear. And when you address one issue, you also address the other. The “magnetic draw” between poverty and education doesn’t only have to pull people down; it can also give the leg up needed to escape both perpetuating cycles.

Despite the magnitude of the task and the global scale at which quality education is needed, we’re talking about individual human lives, each one precious and full of potential. While the statistics of need can be overwhelming, we must stop and celebrate the lives that are being touched and the futures that are being transformed. Just one life changed in a village can multiply to impact hundreds of other lives.

It is good to ask ourselves what our part is in these global efforts. Not everyone is meant to be the leader of a large-scale movement to bring education to the world. Some people need to be teachers; others need to be financial backers for those who are on the frontlines; and others can be advocates for quality education in their own spheres of influence.

What is your part?

Solutions to Poverty Line Problems of the Poor & Impoverished: Part 1 | Part 2

This Special Report article originally appeared on gfa.org

To read more on the need of quality education worldwide on Patheos, go here.

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

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2022-08-20T18:31:49+00:00

Last updated on: August 20, 2022 at 6:31 pm   By

Wills Point, Texas – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the need for heroes in the life of every child, to turn their story of tragedy into a story of redemption, through GFA-supported Bridge of Hope centers.

Do you remember the first time you heard little orphan Annie belt out, “The Sun will Come Out Tomorrow?” Or watched Aladdin dodge the street-food vendor he stole from in the Disney’s “Aladdin”? How about Oliver Twist demurely asking for more porridge? Our suspense, anticipation and excitement mushroomed as their stories raced along.

These tales capture our imagination and hearts because the protagonists are young, vulnerable kids who face unknown dangers on the streets. They are too young to take care of themselves and too naive to know who’s a friend.

Every Child Needs a Hero - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

Oliver Twist ends up being used in a ring of child thieves, while Aladdin needs the magic of a Genie to pull him out of the gutters. And Annie? It takes a wealthy, albeit curmudgeonly, benefactor to rescue her from the wicked Miss Hannigan.

Our culture is rife with stories, fables and legends about children in desperate situations. In the stories we grow up hearing, the characters’ lives seem romantic—like Annie cheerily singing, “It’s a hard knock life for me” with a smile on her face. And they always end happily.

These adventures come, in some small way, from the realities of our world. We know there are kids who live in similar situations—but more often than not with very different endings.

When Fairy Tales Get Crushed by Real Life Realities - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

When Fairy Tales Get Crushed by Real Life Realities

As we take off the romantic, rose-colored glasses to look at the plight of real children—not storybook characters—what do we see?

We see orphaned children in impoverished countries with only disinterested relatives to care for them.

We see children whose parents would do more for them if they could, but they are trapped in generational systems of exploitation and oppression.

If we are brave and keep looking, we see children who live on the streets, running from those who would entrap them in slavery.

Who will help these children?

Who are the heroes in their stories?

Sachiv and Rukma (read their whole story here)[1] are two such vulnerable children. Brother and sister lost both parents to HIV and were left in the care of a poor uncle and grandmother. GFA-supported Bridge of Hope became a lifeline, not only for the two orphaned children, but to their grandmother and uncle as well.

Each New Child Has An Age-Old Tale - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
After Sachiv enrolled in Bridge of Hope, a heavy weight was lifted from his uncle and grandmother who were struggling financially to care for the family. When his sister turned 6, Rukma also enrolled. Sachiv and Rukma had a steady education and received many helpful school supplies and a daily nutritious meal.

Each New Child Has An Age-Old Tale

Amar’s[2] children are not orphans, but they have no hope of escaping the crippling poverty they were born into, just like their father. Being too poor to even guarantee food on the table, Amar only dreams of providing his children an education. He does not have the power to free his son and daughter from the life sentence of a daily wage laborer.

“It is my hope that my children can break out of this cycle,” says the frustrated father. “But only through education is that possible.”

“It is my hope that my children can break out of this cycle,” says the frustrated father. “But only through education is that possible.”
There is a major gap between the future options available to these precious kids and what their potential is. Bridge of Hope closes that gap—providing futures previously unattainable.

Kids like Ishayu,[3] previously destined to become a poor fisherman just like his father, are growing up to become doctors. He enrolled in Bridge of Hope only a year after the program launched in 2004. Through hard work and support, the impoverished fisherman’s son became the top student in his class.

Bridge of Hope offers the education, daily meal and support so desperately needed for many young children in Asia. Each Bridge of Hope child is opening the door to dreams coming true and futures filled with possibilities.

More Than One Hero is Needed to Rescue a Vulnerable Child - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
GFA’s Bridge of Hope sponsors are real life heroes in the lives of children, like the girl pictured here.

More Than One Hero is Needed to Rescue a Vulnerable Child

Though Sachiv and Rukma were left orphans, they were never left alone. Ishayu’s childhood dream of becoming a doctor could not be realized with the limited resources of his poor family. Despite the harsh circumstances of their lives, Bridge of Hope cultivated their learning and gave them a chance at a full life. Amar’s children now have the same hope for their future.

“Be a hero in the life of a child. You might not be a genie, offering three wishes. But you just might be the hero to support the Bridge of Hope program, partnering with workers on the field, and bringing triumph in the life of a child.”
The Lord sent many helpers, or heroes, to Sachiv, Rukma and Ishayu in their helpless state— Sachiv and Rukma’s mother, Tanaya, secured their future through Bridge of Hope before she passed away. The Bridge of Hope staff poured out love and gave the gift of education and a new future to the children in their charge. And, not to be overlooked, a Bridge of Hope sponsor provided the funds, prayers and letters of encouragement so kids like Sachiv, Rukma and Ishayu could know they are loved and valued by many of God’s helpers.

It takes more than one hero to rescue a vulnerable child. It takes a group of people committed to love and action—each person playing a role in turning a story of tragedy into a story of redemption.

Be a hero in the life of a child. You might not be a genie, offering three wishes. You might not be a wealthy benefactor who can adopt “Little Orphan Annies” off the street.

But you just might be the hero to support the Bridge of Hope program, partnering with workers on the field, and bringing triumph in the life of a child.

=====

To watch some videos about Bridge of Hope, go here.

[1] Gospel for Asia, Featured Story: A Promise to Keep

[2] Gospel for Asia, Unsponsored Children’s Fund

[3] GFA World Magazine, Ministry Focus: An Unusual Catch for a Fisherman’s Son

Pray for our Bridge of Hope centers, for God’s continued transformative work through each staff member in the life of every child.

Ask the Lord how you can help to support this “heroic” work.

To learn more about Bridge of Hope, go here.

To read more posts on Patheos on Bridge of Hope, go here.

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

Go here to know more about Gospel for Asia: Flickr | GFA | GFA.org | Facebook | Youtube

2022-09-23T00:48:14+00:00

Last updated on: September 23, 2022 at 12:48 am   By

Wills Point, Texas – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report Part 2 – Discussing the impact of educational development on the eradication of extreme poverty.

Education’s Holistic Impact on Family Life, Income

God’s creation of the human mind is a marvelous thing. It has the capacity to imagine, dream, create, cherish, remember, deduce, learn and use logic.

When given opportunities through education to learn, cultivate skills and dream, we are capable of accomplishing extraordinary things. To name a few, these include sending human beings into space, discovering medical breakthroughs, crafting new written languages and rebuilding crumbled economies.

This woman works alongside her husband to make bricks, bringing her infant with her - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
This woman works alongside her husband to make bricks, bringing her infant with her. Both men and women work hard in rural villages to try to make ends meet.

We’ve glimpsed snapshots of what happens when mankind lacks the necessary opportunities to cultivate the amazing mind God has granted him.

Underdeveloped minds and absent opportunities steal much of the influence people could make if they only had a chance.

What does it look like when people with little or no opportunity to receive an education are at last given that chance?

An article posted by Schools & Health states,

“Education is fundamental to sustainable development, it is a powerful driver of development and one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health; it enables people to be more productive, to earn a better living and enjoy a better quality of life, while also contributing to a country’s overall economic growth.”[1]

The impact of education on children, families and entire communities affected by poverty is vast and multi-faceted. Let’s consider just a few of the most prominent outcomes of education.

Education’s Impact on Income

Poverty Line Problems of the Impoverished - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
Girls study in a UNICEF-supported ‘tent school’ in Afghanistan. Many of their families have been displaced by conflict. (Photo credit UNICEF)

The strong connection between education and income is easy to identify. For every year of primary education received as a child, a worker’s earnings experience a 10 percent increase.[2]

Knowledge of a skill empowers breadwinners to find jobs with better pay and better hours. A literate person in Pakistan earns 23 percent more than an illiterate worker. And in the female workforce, a woman with high literacy skills can earn 95 percent more than an illiterate woman or one who has low literacy skills.[3]

In rural Indonesia, those who finish lower secondary education are twice as likely to escape poverty. In addition, their chances of descending into poverty are reduced by a quarter.[4]

In one study done by an EFA Global Monitoring Report team, findings revealed,

“If all students in low income countries left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty, which would be equivalent to a 12% cut in world poverty.”[5]

Increased education doesn’t only open new job opportunities for breadwinners; it also enables workers to succeed in their inherited family businesses. Farmers who receive an education are more likely to implement the use of fertilizers and be better equipped to understand the needs of their crops and soil.

Equipped with mathematical skills, a parent can wisely make choices on purchases, contracts and family budgets. And in any business, an increased understanding of finances and mathematics helps guard business owners against being taken advantage of.

If a mother can read, her child is 50 percent more likely to live past the age of 5.

Education’s Impact on Health

By learning how to wash his hands - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
By learning how to wash his hands, this young student in GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program helps his family to be more healthy.

The increase in pay a literate person receives also increases their chance for a healthier life. The extra income buys food for children who might otherwise suffer from malnutrition; it gives the family the option of visiting a doctor for medical treatment—and even better, it enables them to undergo preventative medical care such as regular checkups or vaccinations.

A healthy breadwinner misses fewer days of work than a sickly one, and medical bills demand less from the family budget. But education’s impact on a family’s health extends beyond their improved financial situation.

Education also empowers parents to make wise, healthy choices for their families.

If a mother can read, her child is 50 percent more likely to live past the age of 5.[6] The mother is able to read warning labels and follow those simple instructions intended to protect her family from diseases or accidents.

“Education also empowers parents to make wise, healthy choices for their families.”
In places where education is absent, superstitions abound. Misconceptions on proper health practices endanger grown adults and children alike—especially children in the womb. In the case of one mother in Asia, her lack of education tragically resulted in her child perishing before birth.[7] Sadly, her story is repeated in villages across the globe. Simple health care classes for women who never received education can mean the difference between lost pregnancies and healthy, full-term babies.

One of the most common hygiene practices—hand washing—is virtually unknown in some parts of the world. According to UNICEF,

“Rates of handwashing around the world are low. Observed rates of handwashing with soap at critical moments—i.e., before handling food and after using the toilet—range from zero percent to 34 percent.”

As a result, easily avoided illnesses are claiming millions of lives. Every year, diarrhea claims the lives of more than 1.5 million children under the age of 5; proper handwashing practices can reduce diarrhea by more than 40 percent.[8]

A person’s health impacts their education as well: A study among primary schools in China with active hand-washing promotions and distributions of soap identified that students missed 54 percent fewer days of school compared to students whose schools had no such program.[9]

No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.Nelson Mandela

Education Development and It’s Impact on Society

There is power in education. “No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated,” said Nelson Mandela.[10]

“Education inspires dreams and equips citizens to pursue their goals.”
Education inspires dreams and equips citizens to pursue their goals. The resulting entrepreneurial efforts help boost economies and create jobs, which aids in global efforts to eliminate poverty.

Literacy is also key to being informed about what is taking place around the world. It builds global awareness into a person’s heart and enables them to engage with others in ways that are impossible without literacy.

The UN states that “quality early education provides children with basic cognitive and language skills and fosters emotional development.”[11] Alternatively, an estimated US$129 billion is lost each year due to the 250 million children globally who are not learning basic skills (and thus have less potential).[12] The importance of quality education on society is revealed by its inclusion in the UN’s global Sustainable Development Goals.[13]

Ashima once faced punishment at school and scolding at home - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
Ashima once faced punishment at school and scolding at home because her family could not afford the school supplies she needed. After she enrolled in Bridge of Hope, which provided for all of her school needs, plus many other gifts to support Ashima’s development, she shares, “My future ambition is that I want to become a medical doctor. Especially I want to serve the poor from our society.”

Beyond influencing the economy of a society, education also touches the fibers of morals and lifestyles in a region.

According to Professor W. Steven Barnett, author of Preschool Education and Its Lasting Effects: Research and Policy Implications, a child’s academic success can be impacted by early childhood education, which can also reduce incidences of crime and delinquency.[14]

“Beyond influencing the economy of a society, education also touches the fibers of morals and lifestyles in a region.”
The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child confirms that a person’s childhood heavily influences their mental, physical and emotional development, with children raised in secure, loving environments thriving more than children who have experienced trauma even one time.[15]

Do you remember the joy you felt as a child when you did something well in school? The sense of accomplishment and the praise from a teacher or parent give courage and confidence to approach other challenges in life. In the same way, the shame felt when encountering failure can hinder children in life. If a child grows up with a constant sense of failure and insufficiency, that can result in low self-esteem and lack of confidence.

Training children at an early age to pursue their goals and giving them the tools they need to succeed prepare them to thrive in the future challenges they will face as adults.

Solutions to Poverty Line Problems of the Poor & Impoverished: Part 1 | Part 3

This Special Report article originally appeared on gfa.org

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

Go here to know more about Gospel for Asia: Youtube | Twitter | GFA Reports | My GFA | Instagram

2019-10-26T21:14:51+00:00

Last updated on: October 26, 2019 at 9:14 pm   By

literWills Point, Texas – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report Part 1 – Discussing the impact of education on the eradication of extreme poverty and illiteracy.When considering the issues of poverty and lack of education, an old saying comes to mind: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”

Poverty and low education are each self-perpetuating: Those born into poverty (or illiterate households) often live the remainder of their lives in that same condition and have nothing more to offer their children.[1] What’s more, it is as if poverty and low education have a magnetic attraction, relentlessly pulling those who are caught in one cycle deep into the other too.

Why is that?

Solutions to Poverty Line Problems of the Poor & Impoverished Part 1 - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia

Kristina Birdsong, a writer for Scientific Learning, sums up the relationship between poverty and education by saying,

“Today more than ever, education remains the key to escaping poverty, while poverty remains the biggest obstacle to education.”[2]

Let’s look at one example:

Dayita was forced to become the sole provider for her four children - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
With her husband out of the picture, illiterate Dayita was forced to become the sole provider for her four children.

Dayita is a mother in Asia living with four children. Poverty and illiteracy permeated her village and her life. Dayita’s husband had consumed so much alcohol that he became too sick to work or even get out of bed, which meant Dayita had no choice but to be the family’s sole breadwinner.

But she was illiterate.

What job opportunities did she have? Manual labor. She and many other illiterate women in her area collected firewood from nearby forests and sold it to provide for their families. It was physically taxing work that kept her from being with her children and still paid very little. But it was all she could do.

Education remains the key to escaping poverty, while poverty remains the biggest obstacle to education.

Dayita’s illiteracy and poverty set the trajectory of her children’s lives, too. The fight to obtain morsels of bread for their hungry tummies consumed all her strength; sending her children to school was not even something to dream about. And Dayita couldn’t teach her children anything of the alphabet or of mathematics, knowing none herself. Instead of going to school, her four kids roamed around the village, “cared for” by the eldest child, 7-year-old Kasni.

The cycles of poverty and illiteracy were continuing in Dayita’s family, and there was nothing she could do to arrest them.

These women are working on road construction project in Asia - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
These women are working on road construction project in Asia. Around the world, women are more likely to be paid less than men and to face unemployment.

Poverty and It’s Pervasive Stranglehold

Dayita was not alone in her plight.

An estimated 767 million people lived below the poverty line of $1.90 per day in 2013, according to the UN.[3] In 2014, some 263 million children and youth were not attending school, and more than 70 percent of the out-of-school children who should have been in primary or secondary education lived in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia.[4] In the United States, a report revealed that in 2014, “approximately 15 million children under the age of 18 were in families living in poverty.”[5]

Living hand to mouth
KILLS DREAMS.

Many impoverished families know education is the long-term solution to their financial troubles, but it is out of reach. A family’s financial position influences more than you might think upon initial consideration.

The father who works from sunup to sundown seven days a week will have little time to mentor his children. The same could be said of the mother who labors in the fields all day.

During their most formative and vulnerable years, millions of children are left alone during the day to wander in their villages. Many will adopt poor social habits and learn nothing of respect or self-discipline. School is out of the picture for them; all the family’s energy must be focused on providing food and shelter.

A young boy in Pakistan. One in three Pakistanis lives below the poverty line - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
A young boy in Pakistan. One in three Pakistanis lives below the poverty line. Photo Credit Muhammad Muzamil / Unsplash

Often, a family’s financial plight is so desperate that even young children must contribute to the family income. For the roughly 150 million child laborers in the world,[6] there is no school, no delving into their nation’s history, and no adventuring to museums to learn about science and art.

No money means no food, which means malnutrition and increased health problems. No money means no doctor visits, and in the case of a medical emergency, no money may mean indenturing a child to work off the incurred debt after receiving critical treatment.

“Living hand to mouth kills dreams. For many, ambition becomes unrealistic amid the ever-present fight against starvation.”
Living hand to mouth kills dreams. For many, ambition becomes unrealistic amid the ever-present fight against starvation. How many of us have asked a young child what they want to be when they grow up? In many poverty-stricken areas, however, a child might respond to that question with a look of confusion. The only future they can see is following their parents in becoming a farmer, a daily laborer or, if they’re lucky, maybe a skilled tradesman.

For the majority of children raised in poverty-stricken communities, the fruit of their harsh childhood is more of the same. When they become parents, they will raise their children as they themselves were raised—unless they can manage to find a way out, into a new way of life.

Both men and women work hard in rural villages to try to make ends meet - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia
This woman works alongside her husband to make bricks, bringing her infant with her. Both men and women work hard in rural villages to try to make ends meet.

Solutions to Poverty Line Problems of the Poor & Impoverished: Part 2 | Part 3

This Special Report article originally appeared on gfa.org

To read more on the ongoing worldwide problem of Poverty on Patheos, go here.

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

Go here to know more about Gospel for Asia: Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | GFA Reports | My GFA

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