Bicycle Restores Joy of School, Life for Seventh-grader

July 27, 2022 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, whose heart to love and help the poor has inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to serve the deprived and downcast worldwide, discussing Sasa, the long distances she has to travel to go to school, her family in poverty, and the life-changing gift of a bicycle through Gospel for Asia (GFA World) Christmas gift distribution program.

For Sasa, going to school was a chore. Each day she walked nearly 4.5 miles to school and 4.5 miles home. Her only mode of transportation was her legs, and after repeatedly walking the long route to school, even that mode of transportation was starting to give out as she began to experience pain in her legs.

An All-day Affair

Discussing Sasa, the long distances she has to travel to go to school, & the gift of a bicycle through GFA World Christmas gift distribution — Thanks to the gift of a bicycle and a faster commute, Sasa (not pictured) now enjoys school and a happier life.

Attending school became drudgery, an all-consuming task. Sasa often arrived late because of her lengthy commute. Furthermore, as a seventh-grader—a challenging time for any adolescent—Sasa faced the added embarrassment of arriving at school drenched in sweat. The beads of perspiration on her face seemed magnified by the stares of her classmates.

Once the school day ended, Sasa retraced her steps home. By the time she arrived, she was exhausted and had little patience to answer her family’s questions. Irritation bubbled inside of Sasa when she was recruited to assist with household chores. All her energy had been spent walking the nine miles.

Sasa often went to bed early, without even taking time to complete her homework. When she woke up the next day, the saga would repeat itself.

Request Not Granted

A bicycle would help, Sasa thought. Even though her family was not rich, perhaps her parents could buy her a bicycle so she could make it to school on time and not spend every day exhausted. She decided to ask her father.

Unfortunately, his response was not the answer Sasa hoped to hear. Her father made it clear the family of five could not afford to buy her a bicycle with the meager income he and his wife earned as farmers. As he described the family’s financial situation, Sasa felt sorry for her father and resolved to never ask him to buy her such a luxury again.

As best she could, Sasa continued her daily trek. But sometimes, when no one was looking, Sasa allowed mingled tears of exhaustion, frustration and shame to fall as she made her way to and from school.

Life-changing Gift

On Sundays when Sasa didn’t spend the day walking to and from school, she and her family attended the local church led by Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Akio. One day, they were met with a big surprise: The church provided all the school-aged girls with a bicycle, made possible through GFA World’s Christmas gift distribution program. Sasa was overjoyed. She was now the proud owner of a bicycle!

Sasa and her father rejoiced in the generous gift. Her father had felt hurt when he was unable to buy a bicycle for Sasa as she requested. When Sasa received the bicycle, he was relieved his daughter now owned the transportation he knew she needed. Both father and daughter were grateful for God’s provision through their church.

Life changed dramatically for Sasa.

“Each day I am excited to go to school now,” she said. “Before getting a bicycle, I felt that going to school was very boring. When I walked to school and returned from school, sometimes on the way I cried without anybody’s notice as I was tired and discouraged. But now, I am very happy and am ready to go to school on time.”

With her new bicycle and faster commute, Sasa spends less of her day walking and is exhausted. She can now enjoy learning at school and has more time to complete her homework. She is also able to spend more quality time at home with her family.

Sasa’s future is brighter because a bicycle provides the opportunity for academic growth and a richer community, both of which are important as she grows into adulthood. Most importantly, Sasa’s gifted bicycle is a reminder of God’s faithful provision in her life.

Read the story of another student who was blessed with the life-changing gift of a bicycle.

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

Source: Gospel for Asia Field Reports & Updates, Bicycle Restores Joy of School, Life for Seventh-grader

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

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

Application of Learning Goes Way Beyond the Classroom at GFA’s School of Discipleship

April 11, 2018 By GFA Staff Writer

Gospel for Asia (GFA), School of Discipleship News, Wills Point, Texas

One day after a Sunday morning worship service a couple months ago, I was sitting on the couch in my living room watching a movie when I heard a knock at my front door. I hopped up, half expecting to greet one of our friendly neighbor kids from across the street. Who I found instead upon opening the door was a couple of our School of Discipleship students.

“Hey guys, what’s up?” I asked.

“Hi,” one of them said, shifting from one foot to the other. “We’ve been walking around the neighborhood this afternoon asking people some questions and wondered if you had a couple of minutes.”

“Sure, I have a little time,” I smiled, seeing where this conversation was headed. “What’s on your mind?”

“We’re wondering if you know who Jesus is?”

Not missing a beat, I played along. “Yeah, they talk about Him in church all the time…”

Texas State Fair - KP Yohannan - Gospel for Asia — Gospel for Asia students and staff share the Gospel at the Texas State Fair.

And so began our conversation about Jesus Christ and why we need Him to be our Savior. You see, among the many other spiritual disciplines that young adults learn about and learn to practice during their time in School of Discipleship is the discipline of sharing the Gospel. Students study materials like Ray Comfort’s The Way of the Master training course and Josh’s McDowell’s book More than a Carpenter in class, where they can ask questions; have real, deep discussions with their peers and teachers about what they’re learning; and practice things like starting a casual conversation with someone and swinging the focus toward the Gospel. They also learn simple, practical things, like smiling when they introduce themselves. But application of learning goes way beyond the classroom. Students are encouraged to make personal evangelism a consistent practice in everyday life, out of love for Christ and the people around them.

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” —2 Corinthians 5:14–15

Even before students complete SD’s evangelism classes, they have opportunity to put their faith into action through opportunities such as tract distribution at the Texas State Fair or at Globe Life Park during baseball season. As the year goes on and their confidence begins to build, they stretch themselves and their comfort zones by sharing the Good News door-to-door in small groups or starting up one-on-one conversations at the mall. And, like the visitors at my front door, some choose of their own initiative to get together with other believers and simply practice their presentation of the Gospel, long after they’ve completed their evangelism classes.

As a member of the School of Discipleship faculty at Gospel for Asia, it’s a neat thing to see students take to heart the things they’re learning during their year, step out in faith, and by God’s grace, make those things consistent practices in their lives. Be it giving others grace, serving sacrificially, or sharing the Gospel—these things aren’t easy, but they are worth it and are daily opportunities to love people as Christ does.

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

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Gospel for Asia Shares How Family Believes in Christ After Son’s Healing

December 11, 2022 By GFA Staff Writer

Saeran woozily noted his surroundings. He was in the hospital. Something had happened to him, but the memory of what eluded him. Why did everything hurt? The 15-year-old boy had been climbing a tamarind tree, trying to pick fruit, and fell 50 feet. He had been knocked unconscious from the impact, and his body sustained deep injuries that needed immediate treatment. But there was a problem: Saeran’s family couldn’t afford to pay for the treatment.

Important Teachings at VBS

GFA World (Gospel for Asia), discussing Saeran, his injuries, the healing God wrought through prayer and GFA World VBS. — After Saeran’s miraculous healing, he attended a Sunday school class like the one pictured, where he could learn more about Jesus.

The money Saeran’s parents made was not enough to pay for the treatment he needed, and there was no one to help them. The most the family could do was wait, which, given Saeran’s injuries, was excruciating.

While they waited, the family received a visit from GFA pastor Hallan. A couple of months before Saeran’s fall, the boy had attended Sunday school at Pastor Hallan’s church. It was there that Saeran first learned of Jesus and of His great love for him. Then came an event that would change Saeran’s life.

Through the Sunday school, the boy was invited to a Vacation Bible School event held for the children. Every song and story revolved around a singular theme: connecting with God. The teachers and volunteers impressed upon every child, including Saeran, that they can live in the love of God every day. One verse stood out to Saeran: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Saeran had truly seen how much God loved him—and he had decided to live in that love.

So when the young boy spent a week in the hospital after his fall, and went home without the treatment he really needed, he didn’t seem worried. Much to his parents’ surprise, Saeran was calm about the current dilemma. Jesus would heal him, he told his parents, and he urged them to pray for him in Jesus’ name. It was part of what he had learned at VBS, after all. If he believed and prayed God would heal him, He would. They would just have to wait.

Faithful Prayer Brings Healing, Love

Pastor Hallan visited Saeran at home every day to pray for the hurt boy and anoint him with oil. After a month of prayer, the pain caused by Saeran’s fall was gone. Despite the depth of his injuries, Saeran could walk as if no accident had ever happened. He had been completely healed of any lasting effects.

It was a miracle—one Saeran’s parents couldn’t ignore. The family began attending Pastor Hallan’s church together, and Saeran’s parents decided to put their trust in the One who had healed their son. It was the same faith, the same love that Saeran had found at VBS. And now, his parents had found it, too.

Read how another child found direction in his life through VBS.

Source: Gospel for Asia Field Reports & Updates, Family Believes in Christ After Son’s Healing

Learn more about how you can give toward Gospel for Asia VBS scholarships, where the gift of VBS materials for one of these precious children will guarantee that he or she will hear about Jesus’ love again and again through skits, Bible songs and teaching and will have colorful Gospel literature to take home.

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

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

VBS Brings Inspiration, Direction

June 22, 2022 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to assist the poor and deprived worldwide, discussing how every year, VBS has a profound impact on countless children of all ages across the world. Children gather to play, learn and experience Jesus’ love and care in a safe, welcoming environment. Many of these children have never heard about God or His love before their VBS experience; others, like 12-year-old Samoset, experience God’s love in a new and profound way.

A Faithful Family

Every year, GFA World VBS (Vacation Bible School) has a profound impact on countless children of all ages across the world. — Samoset (pictured) is so grateful for Vacation Bible School and how it has helped him learn more about Jesus and His love for him.

Samoset lived with his parents and younger brother in a small village in South Asia. Their family had faced many struggles throughout their lives but had begun experiencing God’s blessing since receiving His love. His father even served the Lord in their local church. Seeing the transformation in his family and in his own life, Samoset was eager to learn all he could about God and His love for him and his family.

Hearing God’s Call

Samoset attended Sunday school every week, read God’s Word for himself and prayed daily. One Sunday, Samoset learned his church would be hosting VBS, and he excitedly anticipated attending.

As he participated in the activities at VBS, Samoset felt the love of Jesus and experienced God’s peace in his heart in a more profound way than he ever had before. While Samoset was praying, he heard a voice calling to him, “Follow me!”

Samoset knew this was Jesus, and he knew what he needed to do. Determined to answer this call upon his life, Samoset focused his attention on Jesus, choosing to have faith and trust God’s goodness in his life.

A New Direction

Responding to the call of God, Samoset resolved to serve the Lord all the days of his life. He began to diligently read and memorize God’s Word. He became even more actively involved in his church and began working alongside his dad during ministry opportunities. He shared with others his age that God loves them and cares for their lives. Samoset also began sharing with his friends and classmates about what God was doing in his life and the hope he has because of Jesus’ love.

Samoset continues working hard in school and hopes to always serve the Lord.

Samoset is so grateful for VBS and the impact it has had on his life.

“I am happy that I was able to learn more about God through [VBS],” Samoset said.

Like Samoset’s biblical role model Daniel, who had faith in every situation regardless of the circumstances, Samoset has faith in God’s call upon his life, and is willing to answer that call, trusting God to provide in all things.

Source: Gospel for Asia Field Reports & Updates, VBS Brings Inspiration, Direction

Learn more about how you can give toward GFA World VBS scholarships, where the gift of VBS materials for one of these precious children will guarantee that he or she will hear about Jesus’ love again and again through skits, Bible songs and teaching and will have colorful Gospel literature to take home.

Learn more about the GFA World Child Sponsorship and how you can make an incredible difference in the lives of children, bringing hope to their lives and their families, transforming communities.

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

Mysterious Illness Drives Nurse to Divine Healing

May 23, 2022 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by KP Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada – Discussing Anisa, her struggle with pain and disease, and the divine healing from God through the prayers of believers.

Discussing Anisa, her struggle with a skin disease, and the divine healing from God through the prayers of believers in a Gospel for Asia church. — Anisa (not pictured) spent her younger years working as a nurse. Now, at 80, and suffering from a mysterious skin disease, she became desperate for a cure that she could not find within the medical community.

Anisa spent years caring for sick people, helping them in their time of need. Now that it was her turn, she was alone with no one to turn to.

Eighty-year-old Anisa spent her youth in the medical field. She trained in a nursing program and worked in a hospital for several years. Now, in her waning years, all her medical experience failed to help her pain and suffering.

For years, a strange skin disease afflicted Anisa with pain. Though she could manage her pain through medication, nothing relived her of the disease. She consulted various specialists, but the medical treatments resulted in nothing more than discouragement. She became desperate for a cure.

One Sunday morning while walking, Anisa heard singing, praising and praying filter into the street from a nearby building. Spotting the source of the worshiping voices, Anisa immediately crossed the threshold to join the service in progress.

She had one purpose: find hope.

Skin Disease Miraculously Healed

The congregation welcomed her with a genuine love and concern. During the service, the believers offered Anisa a chance to say something. She stood among the encouraging faces and shared her pain and desperation from the incurable disease. At the same time, she asked for prayer for her complete healing.

Everyone gathered around and—with one heart—earnestly prayed for perfect healing for Anisa. As a result, the Lord healed her. The next Sunday, Anisa came to church to testify to the Lord’s healing in her life.

Because of the Lord’s miracle, Anisa’s heart turned towards the Lord. She decided to follow Jesus throughout her life.

Now, Anisa devotedly prays and reads the Word of God. Her hunger and thirst for the Word of God is so intense that she never misses even a children’s Sunday school program. Joining in all the congregation’s activities, she has become a joy to others. To Anisa’s delight, the Lord is using her life to be a channel of blessing to many souls.

Read how God brought healing to a mother battling cancer.

*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 Filed Reports, Mysterious Illness Drives Nurse to Divine Healing

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

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

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

Toilets Enable a Village to Experience God’s Love

February 22, 2022 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to assist the poor and deprived worldwide – Discussing Gospel for Asia (GFA) Pastor Rapoto and his ministry to a village in systemic poverty, and the gift of toilets that helped opened their hearts to God’s love and joy.

GFA World Toilets: Through the gift of 10 new sanitation facilities (one of which is pictured), a village experienced the gift of God’s love. — Through the gift of 10 new sanitation facilities (one of which is pictured), a village experienced the gift of God’s love.

Pastor Rapoto served a small church of 68 believers, conducting Sunday services, prayer meetings, Sunday school and Women’s Fellowship ministries. Twice a month, he would visit a particular village nearby. Though the villagers followed the traditional religious traditions, Pastor Rapoto had faith that God would enable these people to experience God’s love for themselves.

Villagers in Need

Gospel for Asia (GFA) Pastor Rapoto served in this village for eight years before seeing any fruit from his labor. His heart broke for them and their difficult situations: Most of the villagers earned only a meager income from working in the rice paddy fields, generating barely enough money to survive. They would pray to their gods for protection and prosperity, but their situations never improved.

The village did not have proper sanitation facilities, and many residents were falling ill with diseases like typhoid fever, malaria and cerebral malaria. To make matters worse, because of the systemic poverty in the village, the families of those falling sick could not afford treatment.

A Village’s Heart Opened Through GFA World Toilets

Pastor Rapoto knew the struggles of the people living in this village and submitted applications on their behalf for 10 toilets to be installed in the village. Upon hearing the news and receiving the toilets, the villagers were overjoyed!

With these new toilets, they did not have to worry about using the bathroom during the night and in the rainy seasons. Using the bathroom was once dangerous and uncomfortable for the villagers, but thanks to the new toilets, their health conditions began improving, and they experienced just how much God loved and cared for them.

Their hearts opened to what Pastor Rapoto had to say, and they even began asking him to pray for them in their times of need. Through a simple toilet, God enabled these villagers to experience his love and receive his joy.

Read how the gift of a bicycle increased Shakurah’s faith.

Source: Gospel for Asia Field Reports & Updates, Toilets Enable a Village to Experience God’s Love

Learn how to help protect people’s health, prevent diseases and help cure illnesses through donating towards Medical Camps, Mosquito Nets and constructing Outdoor Toilets.

Learn more by reading this GFA World Special Report: Taking the Toilet Challenge – Resolving Open Defecation Continues to Confound the World

Read more on Toilets and Open Defecation on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

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

Love of God Comforts Young Girl’s Empty Heart

August 2, 2021 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to assist the poor and deprived worldwide – Discussing the empty heart present in children and adults alike apart from Jesus, and the comfort and love of God discovered in Gospel for Asia Sunday School.

Dacia was known to be an obedient and joyful daughter, but now she had once again defied her parents’ explicit demands. Angered at their daughter’s out-of-the-ordinary actions, Dacia’s parents laid out harsh punishment for the 12-year-old. She was not to attend the meetings, not to mingle with her friends and she was certainly not to read that Book. But all Dacia wanted was to learn more about Jesus.

An Empty Feeling Within

Discussing the empty heart present in children & adults alike apart from Jesus, & the comfort & love of God discovered through Gospel for Asia Sunday School — Children all around the world attend Sunday school just like Dacia (not pictured) was able to do thanks to Gospel for Asia (GFA) workers and others serving in this way.

Dacia grew up in a household that revolved around tradition. She and her three siblings learned to follow in their parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps, holding to the rituals passed down from generation to generation. Life for the family was good. Thanks to her hardworking father, Dacia was able to attend school, where she excelled in all her subjects. Respectful and obedient to her parents, she heeded all their teachings. But Dacia still felt as though she were missing something; an empty feeling in her spirit grew and grew.

Dacia often listened to her friends talk about songs, dances and stories that were unfamiliar to her. Curious, the young girl would ask her classmates where they had learned these things.

At the Sunday school, they replied. Her schoolmates explained that every Sunday, children met at the local church led by Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Marek. There, they were taught songs and stories related to events in God’s Word. Hearing her friends’ constant enthusiasm, Dacia wanted to attend and, the stories and songs stirred a desire to know more.

Some days passed, and still, Dacia thought about Sunday school. Then one of her classmates said something about a week-long event filled with games, stories, songs and other activities open to all children. Dacia asked her classmates if she could also go to this event. They happily invited her, but there was a problem: Dacia needed her parents’ permission to attend.

Finding Love and Joy through Gospel for Asia Sunday School

At first, Dacia’s parents would not let her go, but Dacia begged them. After near-constant imploring, Dacia’s parents relented to their daughter’s desire.

The week-long church event was full of excitement for Dacia. The days sped by, each one full of fun games, songs and dances that taught children about Jesus. Here, Dacia finally found what she had been missing: the loving arms of God.

After the event, Dacia’s heart burned to know more. She began attending the Sunday school and eventually bought her own copy of God’s Word so she could read and meditate on it every day. Months passed, and Dacia continued to grow in her love for Jesus, but when the young girl shared her newfound faith with her parents, they responded in anger. They did not think her trips to the church or her time spent in God’s Word would leave a permanent mark on their child, yet they had. And now Dacia’s mom and dad needed to put an end to it. They forbade Dacia to attend church or read the Holy Scriptures.

Faith in the Midst of Fire

Dacia could not get rid of her cherished copy of God’s Word, so she hid it at a friend’s house, where she could still go and read it. She also found a way to secretly attend church services whenever she could, but it didn’t stay a secret for long. When her parents found out Dacia had ignored their demands, they were furious and punished her severely. The emotional and physical pain Dacia endured because of her faith drove her to tears on multiple occasions.

Despite the ire and disapproval of her parents, Dacia could not separate her heart from Jesus. She found strength in reading the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit inspiring and molding the young girl’s faith. Dacia had come to truly understand just how much Jesus loves her.

Pastor Marek and her friends also encouraged her and stood with her in prayer. In the midst of strong opposition and discouragement, Dacia was able to keep her eyes fixed on Jesus. Today, she prays for her family hoping they, too, will one day find what she did: God’s unfailing love.

Please pray for Dacia, that God will give her the strength and grace she needs to not lose heart and that she will grow deeper in her relationship with Jesus. Pray her parents will recognize God’s love for them.

Read how Sunday school inspired a fearful girl to be brave.

Source: Gospel for Asia Field Reports & Updates, Love of God Comforts Young Girl’s Empty Heart

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

Learn more about the Sunday School Ministry that can pioneer ministry work in a village, where sometimes when missionaries go into a village, the only ones willing to listen to the Good News are the children.

Read more on Sunday School on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

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

She Calls Me Dad

June 16, 2021 By GFA Staff Writer

by Dr. David R. Mains

She called me Dad. Jessie had come home to celebrate her birthday—she was turning 68. “I know the routine, Dad” she reminded me. (I am 83 years of age.) And immediately, she began to jump in and help my wife, Karen, with tasks that needed doing around the house. My wife hates to run errands. She feels that they can eat up a whole day when she’d rather be accomplishing other kinds of goals—such as meeting writing deadlines.

Jessie had first come to live with us when she was 37 years of age. Homeless. On the streets. A mutual friend brought a very disgruntled young woman to our door. Wearing a leather jacket, she had developed one of the toughest demeanors I’ve ever seen. This was her adaption in order to face down a hostile world. Karen, nevertheless, with a spiritual gift of discernment, understood that beneath Jessie’s rough exterior, there was a beating heart still filled with unaccountable tenderness.

“Yep! On the inside, I’m just a marshmallow,” Jessie says now, describing what we came to discover was the truth. Despite an abusive mother, despite getting into “a lot of bad stuff” as Jessie would say, something true and beautiful, had survived those years as a motorcycle gang moll. Some inner spirit filled with longing for the right kind of love had survived her practiced liturgy of worshiping the dark and satanic.

Karen says that when she opened the door and discovered this tight ball of humanity beside our friend, an unaccountable kind of love flooded her emotions. So, Jessie came to live with us, went through an extensive rehabilitation as part of our family of four growing children. She stayed for six years. She and Jeremy, our youngest son and 10 years old at the time, became great buddies. How could Jessie not thrive with Jer acting as counsellor and life coach. This budding relationship was not only hilarious, it was touching beyond description.

We asked Jessie, on her latest visit home, what she remembered about those years in our house. “Oh, the love. You just loved me, and you loved one another. I also remember that we prayed a lot. I mean a LOT! … Why did you take me in?”

Well, it was obvious. Karen had prayed for help in the house, with the children, with the hated running-errand tasks, with the piles of laundry, and with the dishes in the sink. Who was she to argue with God concerning the way that prayer was answered and how it was packaged?

It occurs to me as we head into another national day that honors the fathers in our lives, that there are many people who become non-biological fathers to displaced folk who desperately need fathers.

Jessie’s transformation to a God-lover, to an ardent Jesus follower (“Oh, Jesus! He’s my life. He means everything to me!” she reported in our recent catching-up conversation.) was framed and formed by living in our not-perfect-by-any-means family, where there was at least a healthy and caring father-figure.

Have you observed that it’s easier for people to form an understanding of a loving God when they have had loving parents? Loving, wise, caring father figures often pave the way for a redemptive path toward God.

So, this Father’s Day, perhaps it would be a good exercise to consider those men who have been father figures in our lives. What teacher gave you crucial and encouraging attention? Did you have a neighbor who taught you how to use his tools? Was there an uncle or a great-uncle who encouraged your faith walk? Was there a Sunday School teacher who let you know he considered that you had much promise?

I had a band teacher in high school, Dan Perino, who took me aside and asked if I had ever considered running for student council president. “If you did, David, you would be sure to win.” In fact, I had never even thought of such an idea. However, I took his nudge seriously, mounted a campaign and to my great surprise, won the election! This was an embryo incident that helped me understand I had qualities in my personality that other people considered “leadership potential.”

Karen says that whenever Jessie calls on the phone and in her gravely voice prays, “DEAR LORD, BLESS KAREN . . .” my wife is always moved to tears.

I know that I am moved deeply when she calls me “DAD.”

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

Read more on Family on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

Son’s Persistent Faith Brings Healing to Father

June 4, 2021 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, whose heart to love and help the poor has inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada, to serve the deprived and downcast worldwide – Discussing Salbador, his struggle to provide for his family against poverty while enduring near constant chest pain, and his son’s persistent faith for healing for his father.

For 32-year-old Salbador, the past two years had been fraught with discomfort and pain. The father of three worked at a factory to provide for his family, attempting to keep them out of poverty. Long hours and tough labor resulted in severe, near-constant chest pain. Multiple hospital visits proved no help; the doctors could offer no relief for Salbador’s pain.

A Son’s Faith

Discussing Salbador, his struggle against poverty while enduring near constant chest pain, and his son's persistent faith for healing for his father. — Udahl (pictured front second from the left), convinced his father, Salbador (pictured center back) to attend the church after his chest pain would not dissipate.

Salbador was a believer in name but didn’t fully follow in Christ’s footsteps. His 10-year-old son, Udahl, however, attended church faithfully. Multiple times, Udahl invited his parents to go with him, but they always found some excuse to not go, even after they listened to Udahl chatter excitedly about all he learned at Sunday school.

When Salbador’s chest pain first flared up, Udahl recommended they go to the church.

“I have seen [Gospel for Asia (GFA)] Pastor Pallatin praying for many sick people in the church,” Udahl told his parents.

Maybe the pastor could pray for Salbador? Maybe Salbador could be healed?

Still, Salbador did not go. Udahl was a child; what did he know?

Undeterred by his father’s stubbornness, Udahl decided to invite Pastor Pallatin to his home. His father could be healed, Udahl knew it.

Through constant and diligent prayer, great things can be accomplished. And like this man pictured, Salbador experienced God’s love through constant prayer.

Healing Finally Found

When Pastor Pallatin visited, he shared exactly what Udahl had told his father: Jesus could heal Salbador’s pain. It seemed impossible, but this time Salbador finally decided to listen. Pastor Pallatin continued to visit the family, continually offering up prayer for Salbador to be healed from discomfort. And soon, those prayers were answered.

Salbador’s chest pain, which had plagued him for two long years, vanished. Rejoicing, the family invited Pastor Pallatin to continue visiting their home and sharing from God’s Word. And after a few blissful months of growing in Christ’s love, the whole family devoted their lives to Jesus.

“For the past two years, I had been taking medicines, but there was no relief,” Salbador said. “Now, the Lord Jesus healed me completely, and I do not feel any discomfort and pain during my regular work.”

Through his son’s persistent faith, Salbador has found healing and a new, invigorated life.

“We are proud of our son,” he said. “As he took initiative for this new life.”

Read how a leprosy patient experienced God’s love and healing.

Source: Gospel for Asia Field Reports & Updates, Son’s Persistent Faith Brings Healing to Father

Join the GFA World Prayer Team as we lift up in prayer the people of Asia and their needs. Receive prayer requests for Asia with a special focus each month. You can have a part in ministering to those in need—through our most powerful tool: prayer.

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

Read more on Prayer and National Missions on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

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

Gospel for Asia Fulfills a Last Wish

December 2, 2020 By GFA Staff Writer

WILLS POINT, TX – WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like Gospel for Asia Canada – Discussing a widow, mother & a female GFA worker — Malati, the difficulty, pain & opposition, her husband’s last commission & the promises in God’s Word.

“After my death, there will be many people—even my relatives from our own house—they will reject you. They will say [unkind] words to you; they will oppose you, but never forget the love of Jesus,” Jyan’s words pierced through Malati’s heart.

Malati and her husband had endured much together, and now he commissioned her to stand—without him. Even as he lay weak from heart disease, the four years he spent committed to the Lord gave him strength to endure through the end.

Bearing the Name Widow

After Jyan died, Malati witnessed his dying words come true. Villagers and relatives asked why she was continuing to follow Jesus and live as she was when she should return to her old traditions. Malati’s pastor, Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor Jaton, encouraged her, much like he had been doing the past four years. Now his encouragement was even more appreciated than before as she struggled with bearing the title “widow,” taking care of her two young children and desiring to pursue the Lord more.

“I will stand beside you, and I will pray on behalf of you,” Pastor Jaton said.

Journey of a Female GFA Worker

Malati wanted to serve the Lord and commit her life to ministry. But could she? Should a woman with two young children who was now living the life of a widow dare go this route? The vision, the passion…they were all there, and for Pastor Jaton and the leaders of the church, that was enough.

For one year Malati studied at a Bible college. With a burden searing her heart for others to know her Comforter, Malati spent a second year on the field doing a practical internship with a young woman who also attended Bible college. Pastor Jaton, during this time, took care of Malati’s two sons.

After graduation, Malati wanted to go back home and minister to her relatives, but the Lord had need for her elsewhere. There was a pastor who needed help reviving one of his churches. Willing to serve where the need was the greatest, Malati and her two sons moved.

Submission and Eternal Fruit

Today, Malati serves in three surrounding churches. She leads the children’s Sunday school and Women’s Fellowship. She also helps lead prayer meetings in believers’ homes and often travels with a few other women to nearby villages to share the love of Christ.

Malati’s journey as a female Gospel for Asia (GFA) worker, however, hasn’t been without pain. As a widow, she faces difficulties among those with whom she shares the love of Jesus. To bring down the barriers that hinder the message of hope she shares, Malati doesn’t always explain she is a widow.

“I know it is very difficult being a widow and being a woman,” she says. “Whenever I find that people are not genuine, . . . and they are going to treat me in a different way, . . . I did not disclose myself as a widow, knowing that they would reject me.”

It also causes her much heartache when she is scolded for not remarrying. People will tell her, “You are still young and you have children, . . . so now why do you continue your journey like this? It is better that you get married and have a husband.”

But as a faithful daughter of the King, Malati doesn’t let other people’s remarks or criticism keep her from serving Him. The love of Jesus propels her to continue. It is her one constant source of strength, and she keeps reaching out to the sick and stretching out her hand to the needy.

Whenever she faces discouragement, she kneels on the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks, asking God to help her bear the stinging remarks of others who don’t understand the Lord’s calling on her life. Being a widow, a mother and a female Gospel for Asia (GFA) worker doesn’t come without pain. But she clings to her husband’s last commission and the promises in God’s Word, and she is able to continue.

When she rises to her feet, she rises renewed and with a passion to reach more villages and proclaim with fervency the comforting love of the Savior. The road ahead may be long and hard, but Malati has decided to follow Jesus—there is no turning back.

Learn more about the female GFA workers and their heroic efforts, dedicating their lives to bringing hope and God’s love to the women of Asia.

Source: Gospel for Asia Featured Article, Fulfilling a Last Wish

Learn more by reading the GFA special report titled “An Imaginative Exercise in Empathetic Fear: Think About Living in a Community with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women”

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