5 More Ministry Commitments of Gospel for Asia

Last updated on: July 5, 2022 at 1:33 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Gospel for Asia’s ministry commitments during the past 40 years and how they have remained the same but have taken on new forms over the decades.

On July 3 of this past year, Gospel for Asia (GFA) celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding on July 3, 1979. Throughout these years, the Lord has continually allowed us the privilege of seeing lives in Asia change for the better. He has proven Himself faithful in every way, and we rejoice in what He has done in and through this ministry.

We are thankful for our many faithful supporters, through whom the Lord has worked to touch the lives of countless millions in Asia. And we are grateful for the men and women serving on the field, giving of their time, energy, emotion and every part of their lives in order that more may experience the love of God.

Our vision for ministry during these 40 years has remained the same, but the working out of that vision has taken on new forms over the decades. Here are just a few of the ways Gospel for Asia (GFA) focuses on helping the people of Asia.

Transformation. The foundation of Gospel for Asia’s ministry is, and always has been, doing whatever possible to help transform families and communities with God’s love, especially among those who have little or no opportunity to hear of His grace. Tens of thousands have joyfully understood Christ’s offer of new life and have chosen to follow Jesus over the past 40 years.
Compassion. Every personal connection with the people of Asia springs from the same compassion that Jesus demonstrates for all the people of this world. Gospel for Asia (GFA) workers are devoted to not only telling others about Jesus but also to personifying His love in action. This is how we become the hands and feet of Jesus. Compassion takes on many forms, from treating the heartbreak and physical wounds of leprosy patients to giving women sources of income to prevent prostitution to providing aid to families suffering in the wake of natural disasters. GFA-supported Sisters of Compassion are committed to serving the Lord by doing some of the lowliest tasks associated with tending to the downcast.

Sanitation. Inadequate sanitation continues to be a common problem in emerging countries. Even in countries where economic growth is being driven to new heights, millions suffer from unsanitary waste removal. Hundreds of thousands of people in remote villages across Asia continue to practice open defecation, creating breeding grounds for vector-borne diseases. Gospel for Asia (GFA) is transforming the lives of families and entire villages through improved sanitation. In 2016 and 2018 combined, GFA installed more than 17,500 sanitary toilet facilities in needy communities.

Health & Healing. Health and hygiene are among the many concerns and issues today. Disease affects millions and kills just as many. Some of the hardest-hit communities are in South Asia, where poverty and destitution leave families vulnerable to many illnesses. Unable to afford medical care or proper food, many people are afflicted by preventable diseases that are ravaging their lives. GFA-supported health initiatives seek to minister to these people and bring them health and hope amidst their troubles. GFA-supported workers organize medical camps to curb disease rates and care for those already sick. Whether it be in remote villages or crowded cities, the sick and the hurt bring hope and comfort. When many are otherwise unable to afford treatment or lack access to medical care, these camps provide them with the care they need—free of charge. Gospel for Asia (GFA) conducted more than 1,100 medical camps in 2018. That is more than an average of three per day.

Practical Empowerment. It takes more than encouragement to empower people who have either no marketable skills or means to generate income. GFA-supported workers provide literacy training for tens of thousands of women each year. Through Gospel for Asia’s Women’s Literacy Program, the written world is opening up to thousands of women for the very first time. The foundational text for the classes is Scripture, so participants gain Biblical knowledge even before they’ve completed the course. Knowing how to read is one step. Having a marketable skill is another. GFA-supported workers organize vocational training that makes it possible to learn a new trade and succeed. For instance, through a six-month tailoring course, women learn how to sew blouses, trousers, undergarments, and many other practical items they can sell to provide a healthy income for their families. Nonetheless, those women could not generate income without the proper tools. GFA-supported workers provided nearly 9,000 sewing machines in 2019 to women trained in their use.

These ministries remain just a part of all that Gospel for Asia (GFA) is committed to doing to share God’s love with the people of South Asia. Whenever we see a need, we ask the Lord, “What can we do?”

Please pray with us that we will be able to continue sharing hope, practical help and God’s love throughout South Asia.

Source: Gospel for Asia, Pray for Specific Areas of Ministry

Click here to read the original Five Ministry Commitments of Gospel for Asia, as GFA Celebrates 40 Years of Service

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Gospel for Asia’s Gift of a Blanket Leaves Lasting Impact for Widow

Last updated on: July 8, 2022 at 2:43 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Dayita and her family, their struggle with poverty, and the lasting impact Gospel for Asia’s gift of a blanket brings.

Gift of a Blanket: Gospel for Asia founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing Dayita and her family, their struggle with poverty, and the lasting impact Gospel for Asia's gift of a blanket brings. — Dayita (second from left) and her children and grandchild pose for a picture with Pastor Ansh (far right). The pastor’s gift of a blanket made a lasting impact for Dayita’s entire family.

After the death of her husband, Dayita and her children faced many challenges, especially when it came to finances. Without the presence or provision of her husband, Dayita carried grief and sorrow as her constant companions. When Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Ansh met Dayita, the expression she wore moved him to compassion.

Pastor Ansh and his wife often traveled through their village and the surrounding areas, talking with neighbors and learning more about their lives. When they came to Dayita’s home, they learned that the widow’s elder daughter was married and lived in the same village and her youngest, a son, was studying in the 10th grade. Her two remaining children worked in the paddy fields to provide for the family.

An Unexpected Gift of a Blanket

As Pastor Ansh and his wife spent time learning about the family and their challenges, they offered Dayita encouragement, sharing Scriptures from God’s Word and praying with her. Dayita was comforted by Psalm 46:1–3 as well as the truths in Isaiah 41:10:

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Before leaving, Pastor Ansh gave Dayita a blanket—a valuable gift for a family struggling to make ends meet. She received the gift; but based on her outward response, the pastor’s generosity didn’t seem to have much of an impact.

However, Dayita was actually deeply moved by the compassion and generosity of Pastor Ansh and his wife. She became interested in the God they served and was moved seeing the pastor’s compassion. Days grew into months and months into years, and Dayita’s secret desire to learn more about God continued to grow.

A Courageous Step

Finally, Dayita decided to visit the fellowship where Pastor Ansh led a community of believers. There, Dayita learned more about God and His Son, Jesus. She and her family began to regularly attend the gatherings. Now, they all enjoy personal relationships with Jesus.

“At a time of difficulties, none of our relatives came to meet us,” Dayita describes.

“Pastor Ansh came to visit our home and prayed for us. Seeing the situation of our family, he provided us with a blanket. I really felt that God had sent His angel to visit our family, and it impacted my life deeply.”

A simple blanket impacted Dayita and her family long after the gift was given. Would you consider giving the gift of a blanket? You never know how it could change a life for eternity.

*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, Gift of a Blanket Leaves Lasting Impact for Widow

Learn more about how generosity can change lives. Gifts like pigs, bicycles and sewing machines break the cycle of poverty and show Christ’s love to impoverished families in Asia. One gift can have a far-reaching impact, touching families and rippling out to transform entire communities.

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

They Placed Their Hopes in the Prayers of a Gospel for Asia-Supported Stranger

Last updated on: July 14, 2022 at 10:13 am By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan– Discussing Kalpa’s family, the sickness and poverty, and their hope brought forth by God who heals and provides through national missionaries and the GFA Christmas Gift Catalog.

Kalpa lay numb on the hospital bed. His whole body was swollen, and no medications changed his condition. Being the oldest of five children in his family, Kalpa knew he needed to care for his family. They needed him, especially since his father, Iham, was extremely ill too. But how could he help if he stayed in the hospital—or died?

Family in Deep Sickness

Kalpa and his family were poor. They lived in a two-room home, with one room devoted to their livestock. When his father got sick, Kalpa, his mother and his younger siblings had to work to survive. Because of this, some of Kalpa’s siblings had to drop out of school early. But Kalpa was determined to finish, so he divided his time between school and work.

To add to his difficulties, Kalpa suffered from a sickness for three years. When it took him to the hospital it brought sudden despair. Discouragement filled the family’s hearts as they thought Kalpa was bound to die—until Iham spoke up. Muffled by the sores on his mouth, he shared of how he had seen another villager healed from a tumor because of a pastor praying.

With a sprout of hope, Kalpa and his family left the hospital and traveled to the church where they met Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Haatim.

Pastor Prays

Pastor Haatim listened to their pleas for help and began praying for Kalpa.

For a month, Pastor Haatim and the other believers prayed, and as a result, Kalpa was completely healed. This miracle confirmed the truth of God’s love, and the entire family opened their hearts to Jesus.

Now that Kalpa was healed, he could devote more time to studying and helping his family. But even with the extra hours of work, their meager finances left them struggling and still caring for Iham’s boil-ridden face.

Son and Father Healed, Receives Gift

Though their financial struggles were prominent, they once again saw God’s healing touch: He healed Iham’s sickness.

Then Iham could help in the field, but the family still barely met their daily needs. When Pastor Haatim saw their condition, he requested a gift that would help generate much-needed income for the family.

Through a Christmas gift distribution, Kalpa received a sewing machine, which he rejoiced over. With much diligence and excitement, Kalpa learned how to sew from an in-town tailor. He became skilled in sewing women’s clothing. He started stitching the villagers’ clothing and earned a reputation of being an excellent tailor among the community. Through his earnings, he was able to help provide for his family’s needs. He even helped save the family some money by sewing clothes for his mother and sisters.

With the extra income Kalpa received, he was able to build a small shed next to his home that has his own sewing shop. He keeps a Bible and songbook next to him so he can meditate on the promises of God while he works.

Just as God used a sewing machine to provide for Kalpa and his family and grow their hope, all gifts are able to provide families with a means of living and fill them with a lasting joy that continues into many generations. Today, you can fill another family’s home with joy by providing a gift through Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift Catalog.

See other gifts for the poor

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, They Placed Their Hope in the Prayers of a Stranger

Learn more about how generosity can change people’s lives and grow their hope. Gifts like pigs, bicycles and sewing machines break the cycle of poverty and show Christ’s love to impoverished families in Asia. One gift can have a far-reaching impact, touching families and rippling out to transform entire communities.

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

Gospel for Asia Builds a Way to the Other Side of the Showers

Last updated on: July 22, 2022 at 2:01 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing Saju and Aasia’s story, one far too common to those in the grips of extreme poverty, and the tangible examples of God’s love: tin sheets, protection from rain.

Drip-drop. A rain shower patters the roof.

Drip-drop. Raindrops leak through holes in the tattered roof, falling on the inhabitants: a middle-aged couple, their children and grandchildren.

Drip-drop. Raindrops soak the family’s clothes, bedding and dry rations.

Drip-drop. The family flees to sleep under a leak-free roof.

Drip. Shame. Drop. Discouragement.

Rain keeps falling through the roof—the roof the family can never afford to adequately repair. And the waters rise.

Gospel for Asia Builds a Way to the Other Side of the Showers - KP Yohannan — Rain and a tin roof: Discussing Saju and Aasia’s story, one far too common to those in the grips of extreme poverty, and the tangible examples of God’s love: tin sheets, protection from rain.

Drowning in Hopeless Poverty

This is Saju and Aasia’s story—at least part of it. Like many others in their community, they struggled to feed their family by working on the land. In a rural area with no industry, people work in agriculture, but roughly half don’t own land. They labor eight hours a day in other people’s fields to earn approximately $1.50 USD.

Exhausted and hopeless, many men numb themselves with alcohol and gambling, wasting their meager earnings and leaving their wives and children malnourished. Illiterate themselves, they never imagine sending their children for higher education.

The cycle of poverty continues.

Saju and Aasia were among those blessed to own land, but financial hardship pushed them to mortgage their land to moneylenders. They began working as daily wage laborers in others’ fields, sometimes camping out in a nearby state to find better wages.

Meanwhile, their tattered roof loomed over their heads. Made of thatch and plastic tarps, it quickly got holes, and for five years they endured the disrepair. During the rainy season, when rain leaked into their home, Saju and the children often got sick with coughs or fevers.

Because they had already mortgaged their land, they couldn’t take out more loans to fix the roof. Saju grew discouraged.

“I used to feel sorry for myself, and I used to feel bad that I was not able to at least give good protection to my family and to my children,” Saju says. “Because of lack of resources and money, I was not able to have my house repaired.”

Forecasting Showers of Blessing

Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Ganesh met Saju and Aasia one day in 2014 as he was visiting homes in their village. Pastor Ganesh knew about the struggles Saju and the other villagers faced. He himself had grown up in the same region, and he wanted people to experience God’s compassion.

As the pastor shared about Jesus’ love, Saju and Aasia couldn’t grasp what that meant, but they were interested to hear more. They continued welcoming the pastor into their home, and he eventually began coming weekly.

During Pastor Ganesh’s visits, he noticed the tattered, ineffective roof, and he learned that the family earned tiny wages in the sugarcane fields and depended on loans several months of the year.

One day months later, the pastor had good news for the family. He told them they would be receiving a gift through the Christmas gift distribution program he was organizing to bless families in the region!

“I was very encouraged that at least there are some in the church … who think about us, who are worried about our condition,” Aasia says.

New Roof, New Lives

When Saju and Aasia received five tin sheets at the Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Christmas gift distribution event, joy filled their hearts. As they placed the shiny tin sheets on their home, they knew their children and grandchildren would finally have good shelter. No longer would heavy rain force them out of their home, spoil their food or make them sick.

Saju and Aasia saw God’s love in the tin sheets. Although they had already started believing in Jesus, the life-protecting gift tangibly showed them how much He cared for them. They wanted a deeper relationship with Him.

“When I received this tin sheet as a Christmas gift, it helped me see God’s love in my life, because God loved me so much that He provided this gift for us,” Saju says. “I know that He not only loves us and … gives eternal life, but also meets all our personal needs.”

This love and generosity also impacted their neighbors, awakening in them a curiosity about Jesus. The weekly visits Saju and Aasia received from Pastor Ganesh soon became a prayer meeting in their home. Eventually, about 10 people in total gathered under the tin-sheet roof each Wednesday to seek the Lord.

Pastor Ganesh continues to help people like Saju and Aasia receive life-changing gifts so others can know the compassion of the God who sent His Son for them and knows all their needs. Now Saju and Aasia are pressing on to know the Lord, of whom Hosea said, “He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth” (Hosea 6:3, ESV).

As Saju and Aasia experience His blessing, they want more people to know the hope they found shining through the rain showers.

“When we see people living in abject poverty and struggling in their daily life … such people find a great hope and relief financially when they receive such Christmas gifts,” Aasia says. “It also helps them see how the Christian God actually loves them and cares for them.”

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, On the Other Side of the Showers

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

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

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

Gospel for Asia Provides Twice the Mobility, Twice the Blessing

Last updated on: August 26, 2022 at 9:59 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the struggles national missionaries face in the mission field. This is a story of the impact of a bicycle as a channel of God’s blessing to reach God’s flock and the lost who wouldn’t otherwise have been reached.

Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the struggles national missionaries face in the mission field. Even with a burning heart for the lost and for their flock, without proper transportation, it would only leave a burden unfulfilled. This is a story of the impact of a bicycle as a channel of God's blessing. — Pastor Jahansuz (pictured) with his wife and two sons.

Pastor Jahansuz was the pastor of six fellowships in six different villages. The Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor tried to visit every believer, but the villages were in some of the most remote regions. As such, there was no form of modern transportation. Pastor Jahansuz had to walk almost everywhere. The pastor felt burdened when believers asked him to visit their home for prayer and encouragement but couldn’t make the journey.

Although Pastor Jahansuz tried to encourage every believer, it was impossible at times. One particular village was located five and a half miles away from his home. The pastor began to pray for the Lord’s provision, and he even asked the believers to pray with him.

The Great Provider

The Lord listened, and He provided after six years of persevering prayer. Pastor Jahansuz was given a heavy-duty bicycle through the generosity of people like you! Finally, the pastor was able to do what he wanted: minister to his flocks.

“Since the pastor did not own a bicycle, he struggled a lot,” Abarja, one of the believers said.

“We live in far places, and due to that, he could not visit us. But now, by God’s grace, the pastor is able to visit us and is encouraging us to grow in the Lord.”

Pastor Jahansuz’s bicycle brought immediate blessing, both to his ministry and life. Before, the pastor was only able to visit those within a six-mile radius, but now that range has almost doubled!

Not only does he provide transportation for any in need, but Pastor Jahansuz has also been able to visit and minister in five additional villages with the bicycle’s help. Now, many more people are hearing of God’s love.

Through this bicycle, Pastor Jahansuz can more easily minister to the believers in his area and bring the love of God to so many more. Supporters like you made this story and countless others like it possible. Thank you!

Give a Bicycle Today!

Source: Gospel for Asia Reports, Twice the Mobility, Twice the Blessing

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

Stitching to Survive

Last updated on: September 3, 2022 at 6:50 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the lives that are trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of poverty, and the gift and hope that a sewing machine can bring, opening doors to a better life.

Poverty is one of the greatest physical burdens facing modern humanity, if not the greatest. The World Bank, a main source of information on poverty, considers a person to be in extreme poverty if they make less than $1.90 a day.

Those in Need and Those Who Help

The United Nations, in its fight to end global destitution, set specific development goals in its 2030 Agenda. By 2030, the aim is to have no more than 3 percent of the world’s population—255 million—living below the poverty line.

The strides made toward ending global poverty have been monumental. In 1990, 1.85 billion people lived in extreme poverty, but today that number is down to 600 million, or 8 percent of the global population.

More work yet remains. Despite the progress made, millions remain burdened in a destitution that is passed down—generation to generation—forming a seemingly unending cycle of absolute poverty. Gospel for Asia (GFA) seeks to uplift families and individuals in situations such as these with income-generating gifts.

An income-generating gift can be anything from a cow to a trade-related tool. In Nalah’s case, it was a sewing machine.

Caught in a Cycle

All Nalah knew growing up was poverty. His father, a poor laborer, worked hard to provide for his family, but he earned barely enough money for food, let alone for education. So, Nalah didn’t go to school, but he learned enough of his father’s work to follow in his footsteps as a daily laborer.

As an adult, Nalah found himself in the very same position his father once held—working in the fields, making barely enough money to support his wife and four children. Unable to properly provide for his burgeoning family, Nalah turned to the only source of happiness he could find: drink. Nalah drank and gambled his sorrows away, while the poverty and problems he and his family faced only grew worse.

Given a Gift, Given Hope

One day, Nalah happened to meet a traveling evangelist who shared with him of God’s love. When Nalah heard he was loved and cherished despite his failures and inadequacies, he found a spark of motivation to change his ways.

“I want to live a good life for my family,” Nalah thought to himself. That very moment, Nalah decided to readily welcome God into his heart.

Some days after this miraculous meeting, Nalah met Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Gunesh. The pastor began encouraging and visiting Nalah, rejoicing in his newfound faith. During his visits, Pastor Gunesh saw the financial struggles Nalah and his family experienced. Poverty hung over them like a cloud. Determined to help this family, Pastor Gunesh requested Nalah receive a gift at the next gift distribution his leaders organized.

To his surprise, Nalah received a sewing machine during the next distribution! Through this gift, Nalah, and his son, began stitching clothes, and soon they were making enough money to not just survive but also to thrive.

“I did not just receive a sewing machine,” says Nalah. “But I have received a source of income.”

Nalah and his family join the many who’ve been helped with income-generating gifts through Gospel for Asia (GFA) or other organizations. They now have the opportunity to better their lives and the lives of their children, and work to eliminate generational poverty.

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

Lifting Their Burdens

Last updated on: September 17, 2022 at 6:03 am By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing the stories of families and people who struggle against poverty, the destitution that they experience, and the life-altering impact tangible gifts of generosity can bring to the marginalized.

I certainly wasn’t rich growing up, but I never knew poverty, either. I always had three meals a day, a roof over my head and A/C and heating (rarely needing heat because Texas winters are mostly mild). Poverty was never something I personally experienced, but having seen its effects on families and communities, I am familiar enough with it.

Absolute Poverty

Growing up at Gospel for Asia (GFA), I heard countless stories of the struggle against poverty. But I also heard how Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers—both with the truth of God’s love and with income-generating gifts such as farm animals and tools—have brought hope to numerous impoverished families.

Compared to them, I have had nearly everything handed to me on a silver platter. My daily prayer is that I don’t take for granted the blessings around me. There are children starving, literally eating dirt to satiate their hunger. Dr. K.P. Yohannan, president and founder of Gospel for Asia (GFA), shared this story in his book No Longer a Slumdog:

“One of my most painful memories has to do with a little girl named Meena. Meena was a beautiful 5-year-old living in a slum. She had the biggest brown eyes. When social workers first saw her, she was standing in six inches of sewer water. … Later, I learned that she began eating the sewage-infested dirt off of the streets. Soon she went into a coma and died.”

Breaking the Cycle

Poverty encompasses millions within its grasp; whether abandoned street children, struggling farmers or mistreated widows, millions are trapped in destitution.

Yet in the face of such despair, countless Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers and pastors toil joyfully among the struggling and hurting. It is their goal to see the impoverished and lowly lifted up—through gifts provided by our supporters and partners, they are doing just that.

But, you may ask, what gifts exist that help those in poverty? Income-generating gifts include farm animals such as cows, goats or chickens; tools such as sewing machines and pull carts; and vocational training and literacy classes. Each gift brings help in some form to families in desperate need. Goats, for instance, provide nutritious milk to sell or consume, and their offspring can be sold for additional income. Kirpal and Bani are one couple helped through a pair of goats.

Provision Amongst Struggle

One day, a believer in Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Taranga’s church informed him of a struggling family in the village. The believer asked if Pastor Taranga could go to the family and offer prayer and encouragement, because they were truly struggling, both financially and emotionally. Together with other members of the church, Pastor Taranga set out to see what help they could bring this struggling family.

The pastor met Kirpal and Bani who, together with their four children, had fallen on hard times. Bani had been struggling with an unidentifiable illness for quite some time. Her condition made it hard to eat. She became weakened to the point of being unable to walk.

All of Kirpal and Bani’s money had gone to finding a cure, but nothing had worked. Their money practically gone, the family had barely enough to survive. On top of it all, the roof of their house was flimsy, making worrying sounds in the night and leaking during rainy season.

After hearing the couple’s woes, the pastor was filled with compassion. He and the believers prayed for Kirpal and Bani, and before leaving, also promised to continue visiting. For the next several months, Pastor Taranga continued to visit Kirpal and Bani, always praying for the harried and hurting family. Through constant prayer, the illness afflicting Bani completely disappeared.

With one burden lifted off the family, Pastor Taranga began thinking of other ways to bless Kirpal and Bani. Then it came to him. Some months later, a Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported gift distribution was organized—Kirpal and Bani were invited. There, they received a pair of goats.

One year found those two goats turning 12. Kirpal was able to sell six, taking the money to buy thin sheets of cement to finally fix their leaky roof. It was also enough to pay school fees for their four children and buy enough food.

Alleviating Poverty, One Family at a Time

All it can take is one gift to truly save a family from utter destitution. Through income-generating gifts, countless lives in Asia have been changed, and will continue to be changed.

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Child Labor Today: Not Gone, But Forgotten (Part 3 by Gospel for Asia)

Last updated on: November 26, 2022 at 6:52 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report on forced child labor today: Millions of Children Trapped between Extreme Poverty and the Profits of Others

New Developments to End Forced Child Labor

Supply Chain Enforcement

If this special report accomplishes nothing else, even though it is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, it should make readers aware that every effort to eradicate child labor has failed. That is substantially the reason for the title being “Child Labor: Not Gone but Forgotten.”

Despite consistent failures, new proposals continue to be set forth. The two most recent propose supply chain management solutions.

A number of countries that are major importers, including the United States, have launched campaigns that place the onus on prohibiting the importation of products that have been produced using child labor and all forms of forced labor or debt bondage. The U.S. program is operated under the auspices of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Forced Labor Program.

The results of the program thus far indicate that in FY 2017, ICE:

Spent $12,682,597 investigating cases of international forced child labor.
Spent $16,660,000 investigating cases of domestic forced child labor.
Made 150 domestic and 66 international arrests related to forced child labor.
Obtained 120 domestic and two international indictments related to forced child labor.
Obtained 73 domestic and no international convictions related to forced child labor.
Seized a total of $626,327 in assets from domestic and international investigations on forced child labor.

You do the math. Is there any better way to spend nearly $30 million to aid the cause of child labor?

Blockchain Enforcement

In an effort to combat forced labor, major corporations, including IBM, Ford and Coca Cola, are advocating the use of the current poster child of rapidly evolving technology: blockchain. It is a potentially effective means of ensuring that the products they market do not include child labor or any kind of forced labor from the beginning to the end of the entire supply chain process.

Blockchain proposes to be a secure and accurate digital ledger for recording assets, how and where they were obtained, and by whom.

Theoretically, companies would refuse to purchase from suppliers at any point in the supply chain who use child labor. All assets, locations and employees would be required to be “tagged” so they could be identified as a legitimate part of the supply chain. Miners like Lukasa and indentured fishermen like James Kofi Annan would not be able to work because they would not be registered in the blockchain.

Products sourced from conflict zones or that were created using child labor would not be able to enter the global market.

Exhausted and broken, these children carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. Already, more than 152 million children worldwide have exchanged their futures for only a few dollars, and more join them every day. Enslaved in forced labor with no hope of a better future is no way for a child to live. CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO / © ILO/Joseph Fortin

What Can We Do About Child Labor?

The answer to that question will depend upon who answers it. Well-meaning individuals from the philosophical to the practical will take positions on both sides of the argument of whether or not the practice of child labor can be eradicated. Even the philosophical and the practical will be divided in their opinions.

One thing we do know is that nothing has succeeded thus far. That does not bode well for future success.

But this report does not propose the eradication of child labor. Rather, it is intended to draw readers’ attention to its continuing existence. The issue of child labor is a Gordian Knot, the size of which cannot be cut even with the sword of Alexander the Great.

“…Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me..” —Matthew 25:40

The problem of child labor is inexorably linked to the poverty that enslaves nearly half the world’s entire population. We must take God at His Word; Jesus reminded His disciples that there will always be people living in poverty (see John 12:8). When Jesus referred to the poor, He used a word that specifically describes people who are destitute, helpless and powerless.

Three billion people in the world live on less than the equivalent of $2.50 USD per day. More than 84 percent of those living in Sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $5.50 per day.

3 billion

people live on less than $2.50 USD per day

While various and sundry organizations and institutions attempt to solve the child labor problem, the church’s task remains what it has always been: Be the hands and feet of Jesus to “the least of these” (see Matthew 25:40).

The Lord never called us to eradicate either child labor or poverty. He will do that someday when He returns to earth to rule and reign. In the meantime, we are called to serve.

Ours is not a race to eradicate child labor. It is a journey to provide and care for those who are relegated to the lowest positions in life. Relentlessly ministering to the needs of “the least of these” is visible evidence of the love and grace of God in action.

These GFA-supported Bridge of Hope students are getting ready to begin class after breaking for lunch. As children’s lives are transformed in Bridge of Hope, they bring new aspirations and knowledge home with them, and their families benefit as a result. Even beyond this, GFA’s Bridge of Hope program does much to uplift the communities it serves.

God’s Grace in Action at Gospel for Asia

For 40 years, the singular focus of Gospel for Asia (GFA) has been “to take the love of Christ to people who have never heard His name before.”

We must understand that Jesus looked upon people with such compassion that He made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see. He didn’t just tell them that He loved them; He demonstrated His love in ways that changed their lives.

Representing Christ on earth requires that we demonstrate the same love and compassion that He did while He was here.

We are, from a heavenly perspective, blessed to be able to feed the hungry, tend to the sick and give a cup of cold water to the thirsty in Jesus’ name. These are people who know they have great needs. The Lord has granted us the high honor to love them and to serve them as His representatives. As He came to us as the “express image” of God the Father, so should we reach out to others in the express image of Jesus Christ (see Hebrews 1:3).

Poverty Alleviation

Poverty, as we have shown, is at the root of the child labor problem. Regardless of any other peripheral factors, poverty is always the driving force behind either willing or forced child labor. Therefore, much of Gospel for Asia’s work among the people of South Asia is related to rescuing families from the clutches of poverty.

Literacy and Vocational Education

The inability to read and write is a major hindrance that, unless addressed, becomes a generational curse. Illiterate people lack essential tools needed to rise above a subsistence-level existence. Furthermore, illiteracy leaves people in a position where others can easily take advantage of their situation, including entrapping them and their children in bonded labor.

Gospel for Asia’s field partners host literacy classes and vocational training classes for adults and youth, equipping them with skills that can break them out of the cycle of poverty. Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers guide class members through an understanding of basic entrepreneurial skills to empower them to create a better future for themselves. In addition, gifts such as sewing machines, fishing nets and rickshaws are just a few of the income-generating resources distributed among families who are in dire need of an income.

Farm Animals

Gospel for Asia (GFA) sponsors around the world give generously to provide farm animals for families in rural Asian villages. Chickens, goats, and cattle produce products like eggs, milk and meat, which can be sold for a good price or used to feed the family. Breeding the animals also allows the owners to expand their businesses, continually increasing their incomes to better serve their families.

Jesus Wells

Clean water is taken for granted by Westerners. However, in Africa and South Asia, women and children spend hours fetching water —not from a faucet, but from a ground source several hours away. In some cases, they must make the journey multiple times each day in order to meet their family’s needs.

By installing and maintaining Jesus Wells within poverty-stricken villages and communities, Gospel for Asia (GFA) provides a source of free clean water that can supply as many as 300 people with clean water for up to 20 years.

Not only do these people now have clean water, but it is also readily accessible. The women who fetched the water gain up to six hours a day that can now be used to obtain literacy and vocational training or to tend to their homes and children.

Bridge of Hope Centers

Children who formerly had to fetch water are now able to attend school, thereby avoiding the illiteracy and vocational poverty their parents and grandparents had suffered.

Enrollment in Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Bridge of Hope centers is offered freely to children whose parents commit to keeping their children in school. The Bridge of Hope Program is a continuation of the school day, in which the children received enhanced and advanced training.

GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program provides backpacks and school supplies, relieving students’ parents of the pressure of those expenses. Children also receive a nutritious meal each day and free health checkups. As they experience holistic growth through the program, students gain a vision for a life away from the cheap labor in brick kilns and factories—and they are equipped to fulfill that vision.

God’s Grace in Action Through You

None of Gospel for Asia’s efforts to free families from poverty and their children from child labor would be possible without people like you. The prayers and financial support of Gospel for Asia (GFA) friends drill wells; open Bridge of Hope centers; pay for literacy classes, vocational training and farm animals; and equip all of the ministries of national missionaries who are sharing Christ’s love through practical ways that change lives both now and for eternity.

We may never end child labor, but we must never forget it or those working to combat it—and we must remain relentless in being the only Jesus some will ever see.

Child Labor: Not Gone, but Forgotten: Part 1 | Part 2

Source: Gospel for Asia Special Report, Child Labor: Not Gone, but Forgotten

Learn more about the children who find themselves discarded, orphaned and abused, and the home and hope that they can be given through agencies like Gospel for Asia.

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Breaking Extreme Poverty with a Needle and Thread

Last updated on: October 21, 2022 at 7:08 pm By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) – Discussing how one man was able to sew his way out of extreme generational poverty by making clothing for customers on the side while still doing his daily labor in the tea fields.

Nalah pulled fabric away from his sewing machine to show his customer the finished product. He had just finished telling his client, one of his neighbors, the story of Jesus—the God who saved his life. When the customer left, Nalah started up his machine once more to fill another order. As the sewing needle bobbed up and down and the hum of the machine filled the air, Nalah was grateful for his new life in Christ.

But sewing wasn’t just something Nalah enjoyed. It wasn’t a hobby or a chance to express his creativity. For Nalah, sewing meant getting his family out of extreme poverty—a treacherous cycle they had been in for many generations.

Much like these men working in a tea garden in Asia, Nalah and his family lived and worked long hours trying to scrape up enough money to live on. Often the wages simply weren’t enough for his family.

Born in the Tea Gardens Made Life Hard

Nalah grew up watching his father labor in the tea fields, trying to maintain his family’s livelihood. He knew well the desperate poverty all the tea workers endured. Soon, their daily struggle became his own as he had to forsake his education to work alongside his father.

Life carried on as it did for every boy in the tea gardens. Inadequate living conditions, lack of clean water and proper sanitation, and malnourishment was the norm for Nalah and all the other tea worker families.

Despite his challenging childhood, Nalah grew up and started a family of his own. He became the father of three daughters and one son, all of whom needed to eat each day and get an education. The problem was Nalah couldn’t provide for them as he longed to. He sank into a depression and turned to temporary liquid pleasure to find relief.

While Nalah drank, he gambled his hard-earned money with his friends, trying to crowd out his sorrows like so many of the other men in the tea gardens have done for years. Nalah’s life was spent in misery, while his wife and children suffered all the more from the distance alcohol and gambling brought to their family.

Nalah Finds Something Worth Living For

But just as life was spiraling downward, Nalah met a servant of God who listened to his sad story. After Nalah had shared about his sorrows, he heard something that would change him forever: The Christian man shared with Nalah the testimony of Jesus’ life and ministry. Afterward, Nalah considered the sacrifice and love Christ offered to him and the whole world.

“If Jesus Christ is the only God, and the One who can change my life,” Nalah said, “then I am ready to give my life in His hand. I also don’t want to live a life that does not have any meaning. I want to live a good life for my family, as well as for my society.”

At that moment, Nalah gave his heart to Jesus, placing his insecure life securely in the hand of Christ.

Like GFA-supported pastor Ekanpreet (pictured), the Christian man who listened to Nalah’s life story and shared the story of Jesus’ life was like a breath of fresh air to Nalah’s depressed heart and soul. — Like Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Ekanpreet (pictured), the Christian man who listened to Nalah’s life story and shared the story of Jesus’ life was like a breath of fresh air to Nalah’s depressed heart and soul.

New Faith, New Growth

Nalah, with his new faith in Christ, needed direction. He didn’t know where any local churches could be found, and he never saw the Christian man again. This is when God brought Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor Gunesh to help walk with Nalah as he followed Jesus. Nalah and his family began to get established in Pastor Gunesh’s church and worshiped Jesus alongside other believers.

It didn’t take long for Pastor Gunesh to notice Nalah’s impoverished condition. He saw how the people in the tea gardens suffered and knew it would be impossible for Nalah to be freed from poverty merely by his meager income as a daily laborer in the garden.

Pastor Gunesh sprang into action and talked with his leaders, requesting that Nalah receive a sewing machine. Thanks to the Lord’s faithfulness and supporters across the globe, Nalah was given a brand new sewing machine during a Christmas gift distribution held at his church.

9,702 sewing machines were given to needy families in Asia in 2016, enabling many to earn a steady income and overcome their families' poverty. — 9,702 sewing machines were given to needy families in Asia in 2016, enabling many to earn a steady income and overcome their families’ poverty.

Sewing Machine Lets Nalah Sew His Way Out of Extreme Poverty

Equipped with the new machine, Nalah was able to sew his way out of poverty by making clothing for customers on the side while still doing his daily labor in the tea fields. Because of his extra income from sewing, Nalah could care for all his family’s needs, and what’s more, he was also able to minister to those who came to him for business. With a new life and beautiful future, Nalah and his family drew near to God and saw Him transforming them.

Sewing machines are effective tools that not only offer a way out of poverty but are also symbols of hope—hope for the future and dignity for the lives of many. Gospel for Asia (GFA) helps give men and women the opportunity to learn a trade through tailoring classes and by gifting thousands with machines of their own. In 2016 alone, 9,702 sewing machines were given to needy recipients.

“I did not [just] receive a sewing machine,” Nalah said, “but I have received a source of income. I am stitching my neighbor’s clothes, and happy in this service because I can interact and share the [love of Christ] with them.”

Nalah’s story is just one of many who have experienced life change through a sewing machine. Will you join us in being part of more stories like Nalah’s? Give a sewing machine today and offer hope for the future!

Source: Gospel for Asia Features, Breaking Generational Poverty with a Needle and Thread

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