Gospel for Asia Women’s Ministry Brings Hope for the Hurting

Last updated on: July 22, 2022 at 2:28 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing Sister Mary, one of a special number of women missionaries who open their hearts and homes for the sick and destitute, introducing them to the God who hears and answers prayers.

Sister Mary grew up in a small, remote village in Asia. She never went to school and has remained illiterate for 42 years. Despite her limitations, Sister Mary has seen God do impossible things. This is her story.

In the year 2007, Sister Mary traveled with her husband, a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor, and other national workers to meet many suffering people in need. One woman was pregnant and sick. She was close to delivering her baby, and both were in danger.

Seeing the power of God displayed through prayers, Sister Mary decided prayer would be the bedrock of her ministry.

Faithful Prayers: The Fount from Which Healing Flows

Back in her own village, Sister Mary did not want to stop praying for people, and with it, the privilege of seeing God move in their lives. So, she started a prayer group. They gathered weekly to pray for the sick and needy. News of their group spread, and many people made their way to it to receive hope and healing through the prayers of Sister Mary and her companions.

“There were many people from far villages who were affected by fatal sicknesses like cancer,” Sister Mary recalls.

“Many came for prayer, and many got healed … There were some who were blind, some were paralyzed, and the Lord healed them. … We read the Bible to them and prayed for them, and the Lord healed them.”

For many, it was the first time they realized there was a God who cares for them personally and answers prayer.

Those who sought Sister Mary’s prayer group were not the only ones ministered to. Sister Mary noticed a change in her as well. Love for the sick and destitute grew in her heart. She wanted to be with them and serve them. She wanted to share with them the God of power and love.

Eventually, so many people came to the prayer group that they met in Sister Mary’s house that she knew they needed a separate facility. Often, people would drop off their family member or friend to be cared for until healed. Some stayed weeks or months. Sister Mary did what she always does—she prayed.

“Those who came for prayer needed rooms,” she says. “We lacked sufficient facilities. … I started to pray and fast for 20 days, and the Lord answered my prayers.”

The new building was christened “Bethsaida Prayer Center,” inspired by Jesus’ healing of a man who had been sick for 28 years by the pool of Bethsaida. Bethsaida Prayer Center would eventually grow to see 3,000 to 4,000 people pass through each year.

Trusting God in Life and Death

Sister Mary stood in awe as God healed thousands of people in the Bethsaida Prayer Center through her simple prayers and those of her team. But not everyone rejoiced at the reports of miraculous healings.

One day, a man suffering from throat cancer, Kalpa, came to the prayer center. After a month, the Lord healed Kalpa. He and his whole family embraced the God of healing who came through for them in their moment of need. When the family returned to their village, news of their newfound belief stirred up trouble. When another family from the village wanted to join Kalpa in worshiping Jesus, the other villagers became enraged with Sister Mary and the prayer center staff.

“I told the villagers that the Lord did the healing [of Kalpa], and I told the family that the Lord loves them and offers eternal life,” Sister Mary shares.

“Hearing that made the village head furious, and he took a machete and tried to hack me. But the Lord protected my life miraculously. … I did not even realize [the machete] had touched my neck.”

A few months later, the very man who viciously attacked Sister Mary came to her for prayer when he was suffering from cancer. In His mercy, the Lord healed the man, which opened his heart to believe in the Lord Jesus.

Another time, Sister Mary was injected with a lethal poison by a violent man who opposed her ministry.

“I survived because my God is a living God, and He rescued me,” Sister Mary says.

“Yes, there are threats to my life in ministry, but I believe that God is always with me and protects my life … That incident did not douse my passion and desire to serve the Lord, rather it deepened my commitment to serve the Lord all the more.”

A Life Devoted to God

Prayer is the fuel for Sister Mary’s faith in the Lord. Her time with Him energizes her life, bringing the power to love and serving everyone she interacts with. Her trust in the Lord is the natural fruit of seeing Him perform so many miracles and answer so many prayers.

“I am so happy and glad that the Lord not only hears our prayers, but He also answers,” she says. “I know that the Lord is able to do what man is not able to do. … I always want to be surrounded by His presence.”

God, in His mercy, has seen fit to use the weak, despised and rejected—women like Sister Mary—to proclaim His glory around the world. Many women all throughout Asia serve as instruments of the Living God to bring the hope of Jesus into broken and suffering lives. Women have a unique opportunity to enter the secluded and often vulnerable lives of other women. The ministry and prayers of these mighty women are flooding communities in Asia with hope and joy in the name of Jesus.

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

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

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, ‘The Lord is with Me When I Pray’

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Gospel for Asia Disaster Relief: Rebuilding The Rubble

Last updated on: February 22, 2023 at 8:20 am By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the GFA-supported Compassion Services teams comprised of national workers and missionaries, and their commitment to bring disaster relief to where it’s most needed.

Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Compassion Services teams grew in the wake of natural disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, that pummeled areas where Gospel for Asia-supported workers were ministering. National workers had always responded in times of crisis, but as the ministry grew—and disasters seemed to increase in ferocity—the need for coordinated relief effort took form.

Present the Moment After Tragedy

In the hours following a cataclysmic event such as a tsunami, cyclone or earthquake, stunned silence punctuated with grief-soaked sobs hangs heavy in the air. Compassion Services teams—often the first to arrive—bring provisions for survivors and listen to those who endured such horrific experiences.

These relief workers quickly erect emergency shelters and distribute food rations. Along with provisions for basic needs, survivors are given comfort and hope.

Kalei, a mother and grandmother who survived 2013’s Cyclone Phailin, which ravaged the coastal shore of Odisha, India, escaped the storm with nothing but the clothes on her body. Her family’s mud hut was washed away by torrential rain, along with all their possessions. Compassion Services came to her village with groceries and clothing to help the immediate need.

Then there were the side-by-side earthquakes in Nepal during the Spring of 2015. It was the worst disaster in the nation’s history. The 7.8 and 7.3 magnitude earthquakes, occurring two weeks apart, toppled cities and villages across the rugged landscape of the nation, whose northern border runs through the Himalayan Mountain range.

With a wide reach of established pastors and national workers in the country, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported disaster-relief teams partnered with the government of Nepal to search for survivors and rescue people stranded in the mountains.

Committed to Long-term Rebuilding

Fast forward one year: Displaced victims of the Nepal earthquakes returned to their villages and schools. Compassion Services teams switched from food rations to household items and school supplies. Simple items like mugs, buckets and salt brought relief and hope. Villagers who did not have the means to replace what the earthquake stole rejoiced at gifts of warm blankets and coats.

In 2013, the receding flood waters from Cyclone Phailin revealed the full impact of the storm. Homes and farms that were completely washed away left hundreds of thousands of people like Kalei without permanent shelter or a means to support themselves. National workers surveyed the damage and committed to the long-term rebuilding needed in decimated villages.

Christmas gift distribution programs provided survivors with sewing machines, carpentry tools and livestock—the means to build a new source of income. Plans developed to rebuild more than 1,000 homes—houses made of brick and cement and able to weather future storms.

Kalei stood at the door of her newly constructed brick-and-cement home with tears in her eyes.

“We were not able to build a house [for ourselves, especially one] made of bricks and cement,” Kalei said. “We are so thankful to our God for his mercy and to our church for their help.”

My Neighbors: Disaster Relief Specialists

When catastrophic disasters strike Asia, national workers are in the perfect place to respond immediately. Already part of the culture and community, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported response teams arrive on the scene within days or even hours, providing hope and relief.

In August 2018, floodwaters deluged the South Indian state of Kerala. Across the state, roads became rivers, and hundreds of thousands of people were stranded on rooftops, searching for higher ground.

Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers—filling the ranks of Compassion Services teams—cruised flooded streets in boats, rescuing those surrounded by rising waters. In the boat, team members gave bottled water and food to passengers and took them to emergency shelters.

“Because we have brothers and sisters living and serving in Kerala, we will be with these flood survivors for the long haul,” said Dr. K.P Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia (GFA).

“We will help them clean their homes, rebuild their houses and provide them with income-generating gifts to restore their lost livelihoods. We will minister hope in the name of Jesus and share His love in word and deed.”

Offering hope and help in the name of Jesus during great suffering is the heart of Gospel for Asia-supported ministry. Compassion Services teams are present in the tragic moments following catastrophe with the love of Christ to help survivors journey into joy.

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.

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, Rebuilding The Rubble

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Kidnapped Girl Finds God’s Grace

Last updated on: September 6, 2022 at 6:32 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the real struggles and discrimination women and girls face, and the difference missionaries can make, whether young or old, to rescue the hurting, poor and needy.

Since 2012, the world has celebrated International Day of the Girl Child on October 11. According to the United Nations General Assembly, the day was established to shine a spotlight on “the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.”

For far too many girls in the world, the process of growing into womanhood can not only be difficult, but it can also be dangerous. Unfortunately, danger played a role in Waida’s story.

Waida’s Story Begins

Discussing the real struggles and discrimination women and girls face, and the difference women missionaries can make, whether a young girl or old, to rescue the hurting, poor and needy. — Ziah’s gift of friendship, as shown between these girls, has made a world of difference in Waida’s life.

Waida was born into a happy family that worked hard to meet their daily needs. Sadly, Waida’s father died when she was young.

Eleven years after her father’s passing, Waida’s mother, Gitu, married a man she met at work. At first, Gitu’s second marriage was a happy one, like her first. However, her new husband’s attitude soon changed.

A Shocking Request

One year after they were married, he admitted he wanted to marry his teenage stepdaughter and asked Gitu to give Waida to him. Gitu was shocked by his confession. She refused his request and asked him to leave.

Later that evening, he left as she asked—but he took Waida with him.

When Gitu learned her daughter had been kidnapped, she fainted. Onita, a believer from the local church, heard what had happened and took Gitu to the hospital. Onita also told the local Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor, Kasu, about the situation.

Praying Her Home

The community of believers sprang into action. Onita stayed with Gitu, offering comfort through prayer and God’s Word. Others joined Pastor Kasu to search for Waida, but they could not find her or her stepfather anywhere. When there was nowhere else to look, they continued to pray fervently for Waida’s safe return.

While Gitu was surrounded by support from believers in the community, she conversely faced intense ridicule from some of her neighbors. The verbal abuse she endured while waiting, hoping and praying for her daughter to come home was almost too much for Gitu to bear. She nearly left her home to escape the hurtful words of some in her village. Thankfully, Pastor Kasu and a few believers from the church encouraged Gitu to stay.

Two months after being kidnapped, Waida miraculously returned home. Her stepfather brought her back, and then he left the village. The distressed mother’s tears turned into smiles at the sight of her daughter.

Although the mother and daughter were reunited, they were alienated by many in their village. Waida was troubled by the way her neighbors now looked at her, and her mother continued to face condemning words.

A New Beginning

Not everyone acted this way, however. One girl from the local church, Ziah, befriended Waida. She told Waida stories of Jesus’ love and His forgiveness. Soon, she invited her new friend to the Sunday school class at church.

“I thank my friend, Ziah, because when I was in a painful situation, she became a good friend for me,” Waida said. “Though she knew about the situation, she didn’t hesitate to make a friendship with me. She encouraged me a lot; I could see the love of Jesus Christ through her attitude. Now, I have peace listening to the stories from the Bible. So, I believed in Christ. Please pray for me that I would walk in His path constantly.”

Waida’s mother also chose to begin a relationship with the God in whose words she found comfort while her daughter was missing. However, she fears the villagers who already mistreat her will harass her even more if she attends church. Please pray for God’s favor and courage to rest upon her.

Waida’s story depicts the very real struggles some girls face around the world. By the grace of God, this story also shows the power girls possess to be a friend even when it isn’t popular. It can change someone’s world.

Discover another life-changing story of friendship between two women in Bhandura’s story.

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, Kidnapped Girl Finds God’s Grace

Learn more by reading the GFA Special Report: Widows Worldwide Face Tragedy, Discrimination — Some Find Hope to Overcome the Challenges of Widowhood.

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

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

Equipped to Succeed

Last updated on: September 6, 2022 at 6:36 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing Pastor Roshan, from alcoholism, to being filled with the Spirit, through limitation and imprisonment, and the impact a bicycle can bring, maximizing the effectiveness of national missionaries to reach people for Christ.

Pastor Roshan slung his bag over his shoulder and helped his wife onto their bicycle. They had a lot of ground to cover. As they cycled out of their village, Roshan found a sustainable pace for the trip. His muscles might be tired by the time he reached his destination, but that didn’t matter. Teaching from God’s Word in the distant forest villages and seeing believers grow in their love for Christ made the trip seem like a small sacrifice.

Roshan didn’t always have a bicycle—or ministry in any of these villages. In fact, just a few years earlier, his relationship with Christ was anything but exemplary.

An Alcoholic Sunday School Teacher

Roshan grew up in a nominal Christian environment. He attended a church and was even assigned roles of prominence within the congregation, but in reality, everyone knew his heart’s affection was for alcohol, not Christ. He neglected his wife and children and often squandered all his earnings on drink. While intoxicated, he roamed his village and intimidated those he met, even threatening to kill them. Then on Sunday, he went to church and led Sunday school, teaching action songs and Bible stories.

“People knew I was of not-good character,” Roshan says. “Still, nobody minded, and I was given all these responsibilities in the church.”

However, Roshan’s brother, a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported worker, counseled Roshan often and prayed he would leave his destructive ways and pursue Christ. Slowly, Roshan’s conscience began to awaken within him.

One day, Roshan jolted awake at 3 a.m. Conviction washed over him as he felt the Lord working within his heart. He realized he could no longer continue in his selfish life.

“I knew it was the Holy Spirit who told me that going out with friends and involving in drinking, gambling and quarreling and fighting with people is not going to give me life,” he says. “The Lord touched my heart that early morning. That was the turning point of my life.”

Strong Character, Limited Body

After years of letting alcohol rule his life, Roshan (pictured) realized his responsibility to his family, and God empowered his weak body to labor hard to provide for them. Later, Roshan’s heart became burdened for those in his community who didn’t know Christ, and he dedicated his life to ministering to them.

Roshan bravely turned toward a new life as a God-honoring husband and father. He recognized his duty of providing for his wife and children, but the only work he could find was manual labor. At that time, he weighed barely 80 pounds. Years of drinking and irresponsible behavior had left him ill and weak. Even so, he woke up early every day and walked around four-and-a-half miles to his jobsite, where he carried and hoisted sacks of coal weighing as much as he did. Then he walked all the way home.

Life was tremendously difficult, but Roshan’s determination held fast through the strength of God’s favor.

He labored this way for three-and-a-half years, until he felt God impressing ministry upon his heart. In obedience, Roshan equipped himself for ministry at a Bible college and then returned to his home village.

His passion to see his own family thrive grew to include every individual he met. The same energy and courage he applied to his manual labor job now found an outlet in his ministry. The needs within a cluster of villages tucked in a forest several miles from his hometown gripped his heart, and he began making the journey regularly. Years before, Roshan had walked nearly five miles to his job in order to care for his family, and he was prepared to do the same for other families so they could know the love that transformed his life. Thanks to the generosity of believers around the world, he didn’t need to spend hours walking anymore: He owned a sturdy bicycle that allowed him to travel much faster and easier. He could even bring his wife with him to minister to the ladies they met.

Thanks to the generosity of believers around the world, he didn’t need to spend hours walking anymore: He owned a bicycle that was sturdy and allowed him to travel much faster and easier.

Faithfulness Despite Imprisonment

During the next three years, God worked through Roshan in powerful ways. Several families in each village began gathering for prayer and Bible study, and soon it became clear they needed a permanent place where they could worship together. God provided yet again through His children in various places, and construction for a church building began.

But the construction activity disturbed some of the community members. They started believing Pastor Roshan received the funds for the building through an insurgent group that haunted their area. Under these false accusations, Pastor Roshan spent the next 18 months of his life behind bars.

Shock and discouragement cast a shadow over Roshan during the first few days of his imprisonment, but he quickly aligned his heart with the peace of Christ. He still carried a deep desire to see troubled lives transformed—and there were many troubled men in the prison around him.

“No one can come personally here and tell [the inmates] about Jesus, live with them and show them what a Christlike life is,” Roshan remembers thinking early in his imprisonment. “So, I thought maybe this is how the Lord is going to use me.”

Even while imprisoned under false accusations, Pastor Roshan (pictured) poured his life out for the sake of those around him. By the end of his imprisonment, dozens of inmates wanted to know Jesus, including these two men.

And the Lord did use him. When Roshan’s release occurred 18 months later, dozens of inmates had expressed a desire of living for Jesus.

Even during Pastor Roshan’s absence, his ministry continued. His wife, Saachi, assumed her husband’s mantle of ministry while he was absent, using his bicycle to continue visiting believers and answering questions about Christ in various villages. She even traveled several miles to the construction site regularly and oversaw the completion of their place of worship for her husband. Through their teamwork as a couple, even while separated, lives changed within prison and without.

Maximizing the Effectiveness of Willing Workers

A bicycle played a vital role in Pastor Roshan (pictured) and his wife’s ministry. Bicycles offer reliable transportation and help many other national workers, breadwinners and schoolchildren alike to accomplish their day’s goals. — *A bicycle played a vital role in* *Pastor Roshan (pictured) and his wife’s ministry.* *Bicycles offer reliable transportation and help many other national workers, breadwinners and schoolchildren alike to accomplish their day’s goals.*

Pastor Roshan’s bicycle served as a tool to increase his effectiveness in ministry. Without it, he would have had to spend more time walking and less time ministering, and his ministry in distant villages would have been severely hampered. It even enabled his wife to minister in a greater capacity.

Transportation impacts the productivity of national workers and breadwinners alike. What a different Pastor Roshan’s heavy-labor days would have been if he had owned a bicycle then! He had to walk around nine miles round trip every day for one year, which is the equivalent of walking from Augusta, Maine, to San Diego, California—this was in addition to his grueling heavy labor and ill health.

Similarly, schoolchildren who live in remote areas often lack transportation and struggle to attend school. Walking several miles alone to class each day is unsafe in many areas, especially for young girls, and the wear on their bodies hinders their studies—and their futures.

Your donation today to provide national workers, breadwinners or school children with a sturdy, Asian-made bicycle will dramatically impact their lives. They are pouring diligent effort into their different roles—you can enable them to maximize their effectiveness!

Give a Bicycle!

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, Equipped to Succeed

Learn more how to demonstrate God’s love through the gift of Bicycles — to Missionaries, school children, farmers and daily laborers. Through these gifts, people experience Christ’s love.

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

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Discovering Stability Under Tin Sheets

Last updated on: September 6, 2022 at 6:42 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the widows’ lives, like Kata who, through abuse, instability, difficulty, discovers the God who cares for the poor and fatherless.

Kata labored alongside her father on the farm, her hard-earned knowledge going unused yet again. She had all the requirements she needed to run her own business and even had a piece of land to start a beauty salon, but she labored on the farm instead. The pain of her past and the shock of the present happenings in her life weighed on her. She had no peace and worried about her fatherless daughter.

Abused by Husband, Widowed Young

Kata married as a young woman, but life wasn’t happy. Kata’s husband got drunk every day and found fault with everything she did. He lived his life in pursuit of his own happiness and gave little financial help to his wife and daughter. Due to his alcohol addiction, he died a young man. Kata became one of the 75 million women living in Asia who bear the title many people see as a curse: widow. Kata and her 4-year-old daughter faced life alone.

Kata’s in-laws did not help provide for her and their granddaughter, so within one year, Kata moved back into her parents’ home. She was one of the blessed few widows in Asia to have the love of her family accept her back into their home—as most widows experience social discrimination, even from loved ones.

Kata (not pictured) became one of the 75 million widows in Asia after her husband died. She, like the woman pictured, suffered incredible grief when she became a widow.

Kata enrolled her daughter in a school, and they settled into their new home. Though she struggled through life before, Kata felt her existence become even more hopeless as she contemplated her future as a widowed woman.

Kata, even though she carried her concerns to her traditional deities through prayer, had no inner joy to counteract the worries of being a single mom. To add to the tumult inside, life took another devastating turn when her mother passed away unexpectedly. To ease her stress, Kata took special training classes to one day open her own beauty salon, all while helping her father work on the farm.

At the end of her training, Kata felt confident to start her own business, but one obstacle stood in her way: She had no way of providing for a building. Her family owned some land, but she didn’t have the money to build a proper place for her salon.

Kata lived in this place of helplessness and continual unrest until, one day, she found out there was someone who cared about her—and the future of her daughter—even more than she did.

Discovering the God Who Cares

Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Niket met Kata one day, and through their conversation, he shared about Jesus and the love He has for the whole world—especially the widows. Hearing this good news, Kata opened up to the pastor and shared her sorrows with him. She also told him about her need for a building to open her own business. Pastor Niket prayed for Kata and left her that day with the beauty of God’s unconditional love to think about.

But Pastor Niket not only prayed for Kata, he also held a gift distribution at his church and gave Kata a gift to help her start her business: tin sheets. When Kata received seven tin sheets, she was so happy and grateful.

Pastor Niket and his family minister to those in need in their community. Pastor Niket was able to speak life and joy into Kata's troubled life. — Pastor Niket and his family minister to those in need in their community. Pastor Niket was able to speak life and joy into Kata’s troubled life.

Seven Tin Sheets and a Blessed Business

With the help of her older brother and the tin sheets, Kata constructed a building for her salon and started her business. The Lord greatly blessed her business. She was able to send her daughter to a good school and even started another business for ladies’ accessories alongside her beauty salon.

Kata saw the work of the Lord in her life and started to faithfully attend church. As she understood the love of Jesus, she opened her heart to Him. Kata’s older brother also came to know Jesus after seeing the work of God in his sister’s life.

Today, Kata is walking with Jesus as she works in her salon. She is no longer burdened with bearing the name of widow or plagued with worries. Instead, she is able to face life with confidence through Jesus. As a single mom, she knows her daughter has the loving care of the Heavenly Father and can always carry her needs to the Lord.

By God's grace, like this woman pictured, Kata was given tin sheets to help provide for her needs through a GFA-supported gift distribution. — By God’s grace, like this woman pictured, Kata was given tin sheets to help provide for her needs through a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported gift distribution.

Look After the Widows

Gospel for Asia (GFA) is honored to help widowed women like Kata get up on their feet. It is the heart of God to look after the poor and fatherless, and we take the charge in James 1:27 seriously.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and the widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” — James 1:27 NKJV

The sad reality remains true every day that many widows in Asia are frequently pushed away from their families and communities. They are often accused of being the very cause of their husband’s death.

You can be part of looking after the widows and telling them they are cherished through supporting our Widows Ministry. This fund enables pastors and national missionaries to care for widows’ needs, much like Pastor Niket was able to do for Kata.

You can help meet the needs of the widows in Asia through prayer and financial support today!

Would you be willing to partner with us in helping these precious women? God loves them so dearly, and their lives matter to the Lord. Give to Widow’s Ministry today and bless a woman who may have never realized before how deeply she is loved by God.

Source: Gospel for Asia Features, Discovering Stability Under Tin Sheets

Learn more on how to give the poor a better future and show them Christ’s Love through GFA Christmas Gift Catalog’s “Gifts for the Poor”. Each of the items in this category is truly a gift of compassion. Some gifts generate income for years to come, while others meet immediate needs and could save lives. In addition, recipients have a chance to experience the redemptive love of Jesus—the best gift they could ever receive.

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

The Danger of Widowhood

Last updated on: September 17, 2022 at 6:06 am By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the life of Kuvira who, like many widows in asia, are exposed to the dangers of isolation, discrimination, hopelessness, and the women missionaries who take it upon themselves to bless the lives of countless women they encounter.

June 23 is an inauspicious date for many in America. But at Gospel for Asia (GFA), it is much more than just another day. June 23 is International Widows’ Day and is celebrated annually to help spread awareness of the plight of widows across the world. Many widows, especially those in Asia, face abuse, neglect or poverty.

In many parts of Asia, social stigma and prejudice surrounds women bereft of their husbands. If their husband died of illness or an accident, the widow might be blamed. Any possessions they had may be taken from them—they may even be forced out of their home by their late husband’s relatives. In Kuvira’s case, it was only the love and courage of a dear friend that kept a roof over her head.

The Loss of a Loved One

GFA-supported workers like Latha (not pictured) provide comfort and hope to women like Kuvira during their darkest hour. Many widows in Asia today are experiencing the same love Kuvira now holds in her heart. — Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers like Latha (not pictured) provide comfort and hope to women like Kuvira during their darkest hour. Many widows in Asia today are experiencing the same love Kuvira now holds in her heart.

Kuvira’s husband, Ratan, was at death’s door. Fearing for her wellbeing, Ratan gave Kuvira instructions on what to do after his passing.

“Go to the church,” he said, “because no one else will take care of you and our children.”

Near Ratan and Kuvira’s home a local church gathered for worship. One of the Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers who served there was a woman named Latha, who also happened to be Ratan and Kuvira’s neighbor. During Ratan’s kidney failure, Latha ministered to him and Kuvira, offering what comfort and encouragement she could provide.

After a month of constant ministering, Ratan’s time had come. Fearing Kuvira would suffer the same struggles as millions of other widows in asia, Ratan asked that she remain close to the church.

“Apart from Sister Latha, I cannot trust other individuals,” the ailing man said.

Before he passed away, Ratan accepted God’s love into his heart. Finally, Ratan died from his kidney failure, leaving Kuvira and their two children alone.

Never Alone

But Kuvira was not quite alone. She began attending church services and building stronger relationships with local believers. Latha stayed close to her grieving friend, continuing to encourage Kuvira and her children through their struggles. Latha was specially equipped to provide Kuvira with much-needed counsel and guidance because she also was a widow.

Much of what Kuvira was experiencing now, Latha had gone through. The loss of a husband, the uncertainty and worry for the future—those things were very familiar to her. Her comfort and advice touched Kuvira’s heart, and the young widow came to understand the love of God.

In the Face of Adversity

Ratan’s final worries for his wife came to pass, when his relatives attempted to force Kuvira and her children out from their home. But Latha would have none of it.

“Where were you when her husband was sick?” she boldly asked. “Why didn’t you take care of him in his time of trouble?”

Backing down, Ratan’s relatives never bothered the widow again.

Now, Kuvira happily continues to attend services, rejoicing in the fellowship of the church and the love of God. She is particularly thankful for Latha and her abundant love and compassion.

“If [Sister Latha] had not come to our house, we would not have seen this day today,” Kuvira said.

Without Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers like Sister Latha, Kuvira would have been like many other widows in Asia—suffering with no love or hope in their lives. But by the grace of God, there are thousands of workers like Latha who passionately want to help these women.

Learn more about GFA-supported women missionaries like Latha, and how they bless the lives of countless other women and widows in Asia.

Learn more by reading the GFA Special Report: Widows Worldwide Face Tragedy, Discrimination — Some Find Hope to Overcome the Challenges of Widowhood.

Click here, to read more blogs on the plight of widows in asia on Patheos.

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

From Shouting Obscenities to Proclaiming God’s Love

Last updated on: September 17, 2022 at 6:15 am By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing how God can change an anger filled heart to one that burns for Him, desiring nothing more than to let the world hear of God’s Word and know God’s love.

Personal testimonies can include stories of lives transformed from the depths of sin, tragedy or persecution. My own personal testimony is nothing dramatic. I was born and raised in a Christian family and I received Christ when I was 7 or 8 years old (I really don’t remember the exact day or year). But the stories I have heard of God working in people’s lives instills within me awe of God’s love that never fails and how each person’s testimony is unique.

Pastor Myo’s Story

One testimony of such complete transformation is Pastor Myo Zaw’s. Before he was a Christian, Pastor Myo was known as the local drunkard in his village. Quick to anger, Myo often fought with his fellow villagers. Nobody was safe from the volatile man.

But then, something changed. One day the villagers noticed something odd about Myo. He wasn’t hurling obscenities or throwing out challenges, but instead yelling something about someone called Jesus.

Miraculously, Myo had come to know Christ. The anger that dwelt in him had been replaced with a burning love for God. The villagers were astounded by this sudden transformation and wondered if Myo had gone insane.

Contrary to the villagers’ misconceptions, Myo’s mind was clearer than ever. Even his family almost didn’t know what to think. They were simultaneously shocked and ecstatic at the change of heart Myo had undergone.

Least Kept Secret: God’s Love

“I just wanted to pour [God’s love] out and share it out,” Myo said. “I was not able to stop sharing the Word of God.”

However, Myo couldn’t keep his newfound faith to himself.

“I could not keep silent,” Myo remembered. “I used to shout and share the Word of God throughout my village. … So my village said, because he drank too much, he became mad.”

Myo began preaching to anyone and everyone he could. Whether it was on the street or in the market, Myo would talk to them about God.

“I just wanted to pour [the love of God] out and share it out,” Myo said. “I was not able to stop sharing the Word of God.”

Myo began sharing not only with those in his village but with other local villages as well. He simply could not keep the love of God to himself. He continued his one-man ministry for a few years.

One day, Myo heard about a nearby area where the love of God had never been experienced. Hearing this, Myo wanted to go. But he needed help. So, he approached a local Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported leader and asked if he could be sent to this area. The Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported worker agreed, and so, Myo and his family left the village and never looked back.

Enduring Faithfulness

Nearly three decades after Myo’s change of heart, Myo is a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor. He has seen thousands of people introduced to the same God who changed him. The pastor and his wife have remained steadfast throughout challenges that threatened to hinder their ministry. They endured sickness and violence, yet let the love of God guide them always.

“Let the people hurt me, let the people stone me. No problem,” says Myo. “I will still show my love. What I have found in my life is that love is the most powerful weapon we have from God.”

Learn more about National Missionaries – the men and women the Lord God is raising up living in Asia to be His ambassadors.

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

What Does Ministry Mean to You?

Last updated on: September 23, 2022 at 2:50 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the definitions that encompass missions & ministry, the sacrifice and service, from those who are behind-the-scenes to the national missionaries who are in the field.

Let me ask you a quick question. When you hear the word “ministry,” what words come to mind? I posed this question to several Gospel for Asia (GFA) staff members and wrote their answers down.

“God” and “Jesus” were, obviously, chiefly among the answers, followed by “sacrifice” and “service.”

But why “sacrifice”? Why “service”?

Ministry; Defined

Do those words come to your mind when you hear the word, “ministry”? Or do other images come to mind? Do your thoughts wander to lands far off, of sprawling jungles or shifting sands? Do you think of the stories and testimonies of missionaries long gone?

Ministry can happen anywhere, whether it takes place through a local outreach program run by a church or through an international missions organization. According to Merriam-Webster, to “minister” is “to function as a minister of religion, or to give aid or service.” Gospel for Asia (GFA) as a missions organization fits both categories. Through the generous donations of our supporters, we are providing national workers in Asia with the tools and resources they need to minister to the hurting and needy.

As Christians, we are called to serve wherever the Lord sends us. But what does it truly mean to serve? For staff members of Gospel for Asia (GFA), one aspect of serving the Lord means we are working behind-the-scenes, aiding the work in Asia from behind desks in our own country.

Jesus says in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

To give one’s life as ransom for many—what does that even mean? For many, like our brothers and sisters on the missions field, it is literally laying down their lives so others may hear of Jesus. That is sacrifice. Paul in writing to the Romans says,

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

But what else might ministry include?

1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

The gifts of God, whether it be things like love, prayer or encouragement, should be given freely in service to those around us, whether they are Christian or not. Showering God’s great love on others is a vital aspect of ministry, for as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13, we can accomplish great things in God’s name, but if we have not love we “are as clanging cymbals.”

What Does Ministry Mean to You?

Having grown up in Gospel for Asia (GFA), I can say with little doubt that I know what ministry requires. Firstly, a great deal of personal sacrifice, and secondly, a servant’s heart. They go hand-in-hand—rarely do you see one without the other, at least in my experience.

Ministry can occur wherever and whenever. Whether in your church, your community or in missions helping workers bring the love of God to the furthest corners of the world. So, take a minute to think: What does ministry mean to you?

Learn more about National Missionaries – the men and women the Lord God is raising up living in Asia to be His ambassadors.

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

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

Tuning In to the Power of Radio

Last updated on: September 23, 2022 at 2:52 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the impact Gospel ministry through radio in Asia continuously brings to more than one million listeners each year, bringing them hope in the love of Jesus.

I can’t remember the last time I owned a stand-alone radio. I remember evenings as a child, sitting on my grandfather’s lap and listening to the stories, the news and the music emanating from the speakers in that mysterious piece of furniture.

I remember hearing the choir singing “Jesus Saves” as Dr. Charles E. Fuller and the Old-Fashioned Revival Hour came onto the air. Rudy Atwood was at the piano and the Old-Fashioned Revival Hour Quartet was always ready with an inspirational song. The entire congregation singing “Heavenly Sunshine” was a treat every week.

I was once in New York listening to the uplifting music and Bible lessons aired across the entire continent from Pasadena, California.

But today, technology has lured most of us away from anything as “old-fashioned” as radio. There are just too many other things to occupy our times and our minds. Who needs radio?

People in Asia Need Radio

Radio is one of the least mentioned but most enduring ministries supported by Gospel for Asia. Gospel for Asia (GFA) has been producing and airing radio programs in Asia since 1986, speaking hope and truth into areas with extreme need.

Religious, social, and political barriers often make ministry challenging in various regions. Rough terrain can also hinder national workers from bringing aid and comfort to the residents of rural villages. Even illiteracy, which is high in many regions of Asia, can make it hard for people to learn about Christ. But a family doesn’t need to know how to read to listen to their radio, and radio broadcasts can cross treacherous terrain to share with people who are hungering for a love greater than the world can offer. Walls cannot keep this faithful messenger away, so hope-filled programs can be heard within prisons, hospitals and even brothels.

Even in the most remote areas, radio waves can bless whoever tunes in. And in Asia, it is still one of the most cost-effective tools for sharing the message of Christ’s redemptive hope. For so many people, a radio program may be their first and only exposure to the love of Jesus.

Gospel for Asia’s radio ministry supports broadcasts in more than 100 different Asian languages. Each year, more than one million listeners contact Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported radio teams to ask questions about Jesus Christ or about how to live for Him.

While many of us may consider radio a thing of the past, to those in Asia whose lives are being transformed by the hope it brings, radio is helping shape their future—even their eternal future.

Now is a good time to reflect on the global impact of radio when used by followers of Christ. It’s not time to tune out. It’s time to tune in and pray.

Sources:

The Road to Reality, Official Website
Gospel for Asia, Radio in Asia
Gospel for Asia, Facts about Radio in Asia

Learn more about how the Holy Spirit is moving powerfully in the hearts of listeners throughout Asia through radio. GFA Radio is reaching across geographical and political barriers, establishing fellowships in isolated areas yet to be reached by missionaries.

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

Remaining Steadfast in God’s Passion at Gospel for Asia

Last updated on: September 23, 2022 at 3:09 pm By GFA Staff Writer

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

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

It was that simple.

Facing the ‘Impossible’

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

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

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

Serving Together as a Family

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

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

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

An Impactful Pillar

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

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

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

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

Why We Do What We Do

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

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

Find a behind-the-scenes missionary to support

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

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

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