GFA World Media
Photos: For the Least of These
Maachah, 13, lives in a small coastal village in Asia, where she also attends a GFA-supported Bridge of Hope center. This particular center was one of the very first and was built in response to a tragedy.
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At 13 years old, Maachah has a future in store for her.
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Many children in Maachah’s village were left without hope when the tsunami hit; many lost one or both parents, and most became homeless.
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Having been at the Bridge of Hope center since its inauguration, Jakki has seen many children helped through Bridge of Hope.
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Dania has served in the Bridge of Hope center in Maachah’s village for around seven years. Her wish is that more children can be helped through the program.
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Through the Bridge of Hope center, children are being helped and encouraged, laying the foundation of their future.
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These children are among the thousands being helped through GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program, yet millions more urgently need help.
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Maachah works through a supplementary lesson with her fellow Bridge of Hope students, sharpening her skills and preparing for the future.
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Aalay, like Maachah, hopes to be a force for change in the world around him after he graduates.
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As these children leave the Bridge of Hope center each day, they bring the lessons and teachings they learn home to their families, changing them and their entire communities.
Photos: A Tool In God's Hands
The sun had not yet illuminated the day, but Rahi was awake and on his knees. Every morning, he spent an hour talking with the Creator of the universe, His Savior, about all the things stored in his heart: family, ministry, personal needs and desires, the believers in his churches. Then he spent another hour in God’s Word, meditating and seeking the Lord’s will for his day and ministry.
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This is Rahi, who has been serving the Lord as a GFA-supported worker for about 15 years.
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Because Pastor Rahi pastors 12 churches, he conducts worship services throughout the week. This small fellowship meets on Monday evenings in a makeshift structure constructed in front of a believer’s house.
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Pastor Rahi leads worship services in the courtyard of a believer’s home. The space has become too cramped as more and more people attend the services. They often have to open up the rooms next door so people can listen to Pastor Rahi teach about Jesus.
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As Pastor Rahi’s ministry grew, the need for more national workers to join him became apparent. Today, a group of Sisters of Compassion, Bible college students and women missionaries travel with him to minister and share Christ’s love.
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Pastor Rahi’s wife also accompanies him in ministry when she is able.
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Pastor Rahi often stops to visit with people and offer prayer for those in need of healing or encouragement.
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Part of Pastor Rahi’s ministry is giving away “Christmas” gifts to people in great need. He helped provide this young mother with an outdoor toilet—a gift that will keep her and her family healthy while protecting their dignity.
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Pastor Rahi has given away many gifts, including mosquito nets, fishing nets, bicycles, rickshaws and sewing machines. This family received a sewing machine that now helps them earn more income.
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As Pastor Rahi and his team continue to minister, people are coming to know the love of Christ. Please pray for him, his family, his ministry and the many people he serves.
Photos: The Lord is with Me When I Pray
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.
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This is Sister Mary, who has been serving the Lord alongside her husband as a GFA-supported worker for about 12 years.
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Sister Mary begins her day with prayer and Scripture. Because she is illiterate, Sister Mary’s husband reads the Bible out loud.
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Sister Mary has seen God bring healing to thousands of people through her simple prayers. In response, this prayer center was built. People from surrounding communities seek Sister Mary at the house of prayer and receive hope from God.
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At 18 months old, baby Kalpa cannot walk or sit up. He has weak legs. Baby Kalpa’s parents bring him to the prayer center every morning for Sister Mary to pray for him and massage his legs.
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Having gone to several doctors and hospitals for mental instability, Gyan finally went to Sister Mary for prayer. He stays at the prayer center where Sister Mary and her team help care for him.
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Sister Mary leads evening prayer at the center. Residents are also encouraged with God’s Word.
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National workers and residents of the prayer center join the local church services.
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Many people, after receiving healing at the prayer center, join their local congregation to praise the God who brought wholeness to their lives.
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Sister Mary’s prayer ministry has become an integral part of the ministry of the local fellowship. As she and her husband have been faithful to serve the Lord, they have seen Him answer countless prayers and change thousands of lives.
Photos: On the Other Side of the Showers
Sister Mary grew up in a small, remote village in Asia. She never went to school and has remained illiterate for 42 years. Despite her limitations, Sister Mary has seen God do impossible things. This is her story.
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Saju and Aasia earn meager wages by working as agricultural laborers about eight hours a day to support their children and grandchildren.
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Saju, Aasia and their son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren now enjoy a dry home, but they once lived under a leaky roof.
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Saju and Aasia are now good friends with Pastor Ganesh and his wife. After Pastor Ganesh met Saju and Aasia, got to know them and saw their struggles, he wanted to help the family. He arranged for them to receive a gift through a Christmas gift distribution program.
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In 2015, Saju and Aasia received five tin sheets like this one. Overjoyed, they quickly replaced their tattered, leaky roof with an effective one.
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Saju, Aasia and their family now enjoy a dry home, safe from heavy rains, and they no longer get sick from living in a wet environment.
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Saju and Aasia’s leak-free home serves as the location for a weekly prayer fellowship Pastor Ganesh leads in the village.
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Aasia listens to Pastor Ganesh share from God’s Word during a prayer meeting. Now a faithful member of the church, she is growing in Christ.
“Because of this Christmas gift, my trust and faith in the Lord now are deeper,” Aasia says.
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Pastor Ganesh and his family remain friends with Saju, Aasia and their family, encouraging and ministering to them.
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Grateful to God for His provision and compassion, Saju and Aasia want others to know the joy they’ve found. The congregation in their village is growing.