Features & News Archive

For current reports from the mission field, visit the GFA (SA) Reports blog.

2023

March

31st - Wayward Teen Finds Purpose

After skipping school to hang out with his friends much of the day, teenager Rondale made his way home. He likely knew his parents were disappointed in him. They had told him several times to become a good person, but what did they know?

14th - Gift Ends Villages Torrent of Hopelessness

Rain came pouring down, with no sign of letting up. The ground would be a slippery, muddy mess. Still, Kylan and his wife, Esmae, needed water to quench their thirst, wash clothes, clean dishes and take baths. So, they gathered their water vessels and headed out. Every day—rain or shine, hot or cold—they had to fetch water from the water hole multiple times. It was a long walk there, and the path became treacherous in rainy seasons.

February

27th - Education Opens Doors for Girls Future

Selyne, local development officer for GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program set out with a goal in mind. Girls in the area were typically not given the same opportunities as boys when it came to education, and that needed to change. Selyne went into the villages to do a survey, and she visited families, looking for girls who were underprivileged and from the poorest families who needed an education. It was Selyne’s task to help parents understand the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty and to persuade them to let their daughters attend the program and receive an education.

10th - Devastating Illness Brings Family to God

Ten-year-old Neina walked to the forest near her home to collect firewood. In their very remote village, they had no electricity, transportation or communication, and schools were very far away. For the most part, Neina stayed home to help her mother, Jaslyn, with household chores. For her, this was just like every other day.

January

18th - Pastor’s Prayers Answered After 30 Years

GFA pastor Sothear gazed at the church building before him. A red ribbon draped across the front door. A crowd of smiling faces gathered nearby. Perhaps Sothear took a deep breath and smiled too as he took it all in. Thirty years. He had waited 30 years for this moment, and now it was reality.

4th - Wrapping Love Around a Lonely Widow

Once again, Saadet measured out her single ration of rice. Once again, she placed it in an isolated vessel. Once again, she cooked alone. In perpetual mourning and separation, Saadet was one widow among 258 million worldwide, and she was helpless and alone. Would her plight ever change? Or was she destined to live out the rest of her days trapped in loneliness and want?

2022

December

12th - A Kid to Feed a Widow’s Kids

Myla could hardly believe it—her beloved husband, Robi, was gone. A sudden heart attack had taken his life, and with it, her security. Her two young children had lost their father, and the weight of their care now rested solely on her shoulders.

1st - Poor Vision and Pandemic Open Eyes to Christ’s Love

Fear gripped Gethin. A cloud in his eyes dimmed his vision. No matter what he tried to do about it, what witch doctors he visited or what sacrifices he made, nothing worked. His vision steadily became worse, and with its decline came a deep-rooted fear Gethin could not shake.

November

7th - Seeking Warmth Among Rags

Sagen, Raam and Balin had traveled from other states in search of jobs, looking for some way to provide for their families. They had hoped to offer their children a better life by finding stable employment. Instead, they found themselves picking through rubble for survival, shivering at night under thin blankets as they slept in makeshift dwellings.

October

3rd - Man Raised from Deathbed to Change Lives

Nantai’s mother looked on, her heart heavy, as her son lay comatose in the hospital. He had suffered from severe dizzy spells for some time, but now his life hung in the balance, as did his soul. His parents had come to know Jesus when Nantai was a child and had taken Nantai to church regularly, but as a teenager, he had stopped going to church, preferring to hang out with his friends. He had ignored their advice and lived recklessly. What would become of him now?

August

23rd - Fighting Malaria, One Net at A Time

There’s a common problem in GFA pastor Kagan’s area, one he is all too familiar with. Born and raised in the region where he now serves, Pastor Kagan knows the effects of malaria from personal experience, and he sees many others suffer from it, too. Whenever it appears, it often brings debilitation and anguish—and sometimes death.

July

11th - Finding Water Amidst the Rocks

GFA World pastor Oisin and the volunteers kept digging. Other members of the village, however, had their doubts about the project the pastor and the believers had undertaken. It wasn’t possible, they said. But Pastor Oisin and his team kept digging. They shoveled and excavated, going deeper and deeper. It seemed an impossible project—but Pastor Oisin and the believers didn’t give up; they had faith.

June

6th - Mountain Trails No Deterrent for GFA Medical Camp

Remote. Rugged. These two words perfectly described the village GFA pastor Birkley visited. Two years prior, there had been no roads leading into the village. Nestled among a mountain range, the only way to reach the village had been by foot, traveling along paths that snaked up the mountainside. Now, there was a simple dirt road—but the trek was still difficult. So, why would Pastor Birkley lead a dozen men and women to this particular village, so out of the way and removed from everything?

May

6th - Timely Help in a Desperate Hour

Since he was a boy, Daito had traveled to other states to find work. That seemed the only realistic option to earn a decent income and provide for his family. But in 2020, after years of traveling, he suddenly got stuck in his village, a place where it was nearly impossible to make a living.

April

13th - Miraculous Stories Inspire Young Woman’s Faith

Porsha peered into the mirror once more. An attractive woman of 20, the reflection might have filled her with confidence. Instead, shame surged through her being. A goiter marred her neck, and a tumor marred her right hand.

March

1st - Well Halts Family’s Troublesome Stream

Fauna’s daughter was sick again. This time it was Cadee’s kidneys, the latest ailment in a steady stream of waterborne health issues. Once again, doctors recommended clean water along with medication. Once again, the news saddened Fauna’s heart, for they had no clean water to drink. Would their stream of waterborne troubles ever cease?

February

7th - Boy’s Lingering Symptoms Invoke Fear

Rahm’s parents examined the red bumps on his skin once more. Brows likely furrowed. Perhaps it was the blistering rash that concerned them most. Perhaps it was the fever or loss of appetite. Perhaps it was simply the fact the young boy’s symptoms wouldn’t go away.

January

13th - Pandemic Threatens Family’s Survival

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, GFA pastor Yaphet and other GFA missionaries have marched to the fringes of society to bring help and hope to people in despair, people such as Callon and Sada. Their most demanding adversary? Hunger.

6th - A Burden Slides Off Preteen Girl's Back

Against an angular backdrop of steep hillsides and spacious valleys, Sahlma waged an uphill battle. A load bore down on her small frame as the girl pressed onward. The preteen shouldn’t have been working as a porter, a physically demanding job that required transporting groceries, sand and firewood up and down the mountainside to people. She didn’t like being a porter. But how else could she provide for her siblings? Sahlma’s life, like her work, was a struggle.

2021

December

17th - Goat Shatters Mother’s Cycle of Poverty

Raina sat counting the money sent from her husband, Ander. Like his last paycheck, it wasn’t much, perhaps barely enough to cover their expenses for that month. She looked up from the meager earnings and out to her field. Perhaps if she imagined hard enough, the field would be full of growing crops to sell. But, try as she might, Raina’s imagination alone wouldn’t bring in the money she desperately needed.

1st - Woman Exchanges Drops of Misery for Sounds of Peace

Another hard day’s work. Another argument with her husband. Another night Dahiana’s five children would go to bed hungry.

November

3rd - Simple Gift Offers Safety for Her Sons

Rosina’s little boy coughed, and she could hear the phlegm in his chest. Pneumonia battered his lungs. Rosina knew what to expect; it wasn’t the first time one of her two sons had gotten sick with pneumonia.

3rd - A Solid Foundation

Kaila and Sabinna, two teenagers, live in a region where angular mountain slopes give way to vast valleys. Houses and buildings perch against steep hillsides.

2nd - A Trek for Her In-laws

With an hour’s walk through hilly terrain, Raiza had ample time to think. She had been hesitant to make the journey. Would it be worth it for a blanket? Would it just be a thin, unsubstantial piece of material? Would the church even have enough?

October

26th - Raising a Crop of Missionaries

GFA pastor Haruto warmly greeted individuals he met while walking about the village, visiting, listening and praying. Though today there were likely more smiles than scowls that greeted him, these neighbors had once been hostile to the pastor. They had scorned him and his message.

11th - Keeping His Future Intact

The surrounding countryside’s picturesque serenity warred with the turbulent thoughts churning in Neale’s mind. That morning, the 8-year-old had missed his bus to school, unable to afford the ticket. While it may seem a trivial matter, that bus was the only way Neale could make it to school on time, and he wanted nothing more than to go to school; in fact, he needed to go to school.

September

13th - Rebuilding a Widow's Life

Medicine failed. Witch doctors failed. And Addi’s body continued to fail. Fever and body aches put him in a perpetual state of decline. Subira, his wife, looked on helplessly as Addi became weaker and weaker.

August

24th - Saved from the Crushing Weight of Domestic Violence

At just 25 years old, Achsa bore the weight of providing for her family and the scars of an untrusting, abusive husband. Like many women who endure violence, the young mother believed she was alone with no one who would believe her.

24th - "First We Pray"

I know a lot about Gospel for Asia (GFA World). That’s because I have watched it from its beginning days. That’s a little more than 40 years of close observation from stateside and by means of seven or eight extended trips to the field. So let me give testimony to the attribute I believe most uniquely marks this unusual ministry: prayer.

24th - Bridge of Hope Becomes Orphans 'Parents'

Expectation swelled in Pilan and Lali’s heart when their 5-year-old son, Dyami, started at the local GFA World Bridge of Hope {% trans 'center' %}. This would be a new beginning for him. They desired a better future for their children, and now one of them would get that chance.

24th - A Well-Meaning {% trans 'neighbor'|capfirst %}

The well was deep, and it was dangerous, but it was also the only permanent source of water within a two-mile walk for the people of Sandor’s village. Severe drought had made water scarce. Many villagers, in desperation, spent hard-earned money on water from an itinerant water tanker service. But numerous others, such as daily wage laborers, couldn’t afford the fee to buy water; it would consume more than a few days’ wages.

16th - She Gave It All She Got

Betty Fields was a force to be reckoned with, unrivaled in her childlike faith in Jesus, her stewardship over God’s creation and her strong work ethic. She lived her life with an all-or-nothing attitude, unafraid and unabashed—and she did it for Jesus.

10th - In the Trail of Two Wheels

GFA pastor Matai gingerly dismounted his bicycle and stretched his weary muscles as the sun lowered over the horizon. He had traveled many miles since its rising—without any food. Perhaps his stomach grumbled as he caught scent of dinner wafting from his home. He might have exhaled and pushed aside a cloud of discouragement as he at last found respite for the night.

2nd - Serving Humanity in the Face of a Pandemic

Pastor Rivas had just heard the news that his entire nation was entering a lockdown because of COVID-19, the virus making its way around the world. No one could leave their homes except for very specific reasons and with special permission from local authorities. No one could visit their friends and {% trans 'neighbor' %}s. No one could go to work.

May

26th - A Safe Place to Go

Anxiety nagged at Pamalla’s mind. As usual, she had woken up, taken her daughter Aalia to the field to use the bathroom, fixed breakfast for her four children and left for work. But each day, as she labored in the fields, she couldn’t stop wondering if her 14-year-old daughter would be OK.

19th - Overcoming Poverty: A Dream to Feed Her Children

Leena made her way to a nearby tailoring center, hopeful she would find an avenue to fulfill a dream and help provide for her family of four. Who knows what Leena was thinking as she walked? Maybe she was nervous. Perhaps she fortified her resolve to ask if they would be willing to teach her how to sew. Many times that desire had entered her thoughts and heart, and today she would see if it could become a reality.

April

12th - How A Mosquito Net Was A Dream Come True

Saphyra swatted again and felt the satisfying splat of a mosquito’s demise. She turned over only to discover another mosquito buzzing over her head. Saphyra sighed. It would be another restless night. How many would this be in a row? She had lost count.

February

26th - A Family's Fight Against Contaminated Water

The water bucket was empty—again. A child was sick—again. Another child was struggling in his studies—again. All were results of a common culprit.

January

29th - Man Stripped of Dignity Finds Value Again

You can’t walk on this path, they said. You’ll contaminate it for everyone else, they scowled. You’re not welcome here.

6th - Medical Camp Helps Man Too Weak to Walk

Curren mustered his strength to stand but staggered as the room spun before him. Reaching out to steady himself, he surveyed the concerned looks from his family—five loved ones depending on him for provision. His head throbbed, and Curren grasped his stomach as he slid back to bed, the excruciating physical pain rivaling that in his heart at the thought of his children going hungry.

2020

December

9th - What Happened to the Extortion Man

Under the morning sky, the vegetable sellers braced themselves as a familiar man with a long, lined face approached their stalls along the highway. For the past three years, the man, Andru, had usually inspired their dread and hatred. With threats and harassment, he manipulated them into selling him vegetables at a low price, and they felt powerless to stop him.

3rd - A Widow's Bleating Blessing

Raziyah’s face was radiant as she recounted her story to yet another neighbor. Overwhelmed by the goodness of God, joy and gratitude overflowed through her lips.

November

13th - A Miraculous Sweater Changed Her Life

Kalyani slid her shawl from the wire hanger on the mud wall of her home and wrapped it around her. A draft swept through the roof’s cracks in her bedroom, giving her a sense of what awaited her.

October

2nd - Chasing Education for Her Sister's Future

Sumana helped her parents pack up for the move to the city and corralled her siblings as their departure grew closer. As one of the older sisters, Sumana shouldered a lot of responsibility. Her family was poor, and it took many hands to keep the family fed. Though still a child herself, Sumana did more caretaking than being taken care of.

September

11th - Traipsing the Globe on Her Knees

Twelve-year-old Fae listened intently to the speaker from the old-fashioned tent meeting revival. Visions of exotic and far-flung places flashed though her mind. When the speaker called people to dedicate their life to missions, Fae walked down the aisle, each step paving the path that would become her life’s legacy.

3rd - Widow's Heaven-sent Roommate

The day 23-year-old Sadhri buried her husband, she was blindsided by the news that her father-in-law was also dead. In a culture where a woman’s social standing is contingent on the men of the family, Sadhri, unmoored from the security of a husband and his father, feared the future that lay before her and her baby girl.

August

24th - The Birth of a Missionary

One chilly Tuesday, a blind baby boy was born into an impoverished, illiterate family in a remote village tucked into the foothills of the Himalayas. The parents loved their little boy and named him Sundar.

June

16th - Magnifying the Praise of God

Jiva sat outside her home with her husband, Vahaan, distractedly washing dishes. Pain and severe discomfort from her illness typically preoccupied her mind, but not right now—the words and songs coming from a nearby building captured her full attention. Vahaan listened intently, too, then he uttered a short sentence, and they both walked purposefully out of their courtyard.

May

29th - Neglected Girl Replaces Mud Canvas with Paper, Pencils

The tarp walls of Divena’s home could not contain the sound of her mom and dad’s constant arguments. When her mother suddenly left to be with another man, the house fell silent. Three-year-old Divena and her older brother never saw their mother again.

8th - A Miracle for an Ambitious Daughter

Vinaya sat with other believers during a prayer meeting, mulling over her family’s problems. She knew Jesus cared about their needs—and that His power could change their situation. Finally, she opened her mouth and told her prayer group about her family’s private financial issues.

April

15th - Hearts Changed Before the Credits Rolled

Paritosh excitedly sat down with his wife and other members of his community. They were about to enjoy a special treat that evening: a movie. As the film progressed, however, Paritosh’s mood changed from that of seeking entertainment to one of deep contemplation. This movie was not what he expected, but he was far from disappointed.

March

10th - Enough for Everyone

Garjan watches groups of people from neighboring villages come on bikes to fill large vessels with water from the main well in his village. Instead of frustration that other people are taking his village’s resources, Garjan sees these people with compassion—and empathy. He wishes they didn’t have to face the same hardships he and his loved ones once faced for years.

6th - What She May Never Have Had

A life of uncertainty and poverty lay before Ridhushni, but she was too young to understand. All she knew at 4 years old was that she wanted to play with her friends.

3rd - New Bride, New Village, New Well

Young Suhana stood in her bridal dress next to her soon-to-be husband, ready to enter adulthood through marriage. After the ceremony, the new bride would move to her husband’s village. A village where just a couple years before, another newcomer had arrived providing fresh, clean water to the entire village—a Jesus Well.

February

3rd - Someone Who Cares

“What shall I do?” Ranjini wondered aloud. Ranjini powerlessly watched her hands and feet deteriorating before her eyes. As a widow and a person afflicted with leprosy, Ranjini needed help. But so many people in her society turned a blind eye to widows and leprosy patients, and she was both; who would trouble themselves about her?

January

10th - Rejected Daughter Meets Unconditional Love

Rasa stood in shame in front of her parents listening to the angry, disappointed words falling from their lips. How could she, their eldest daughter, engage in a secret romance with a village boy and bring disgrace to their family?

2019

December

9th - Alone No Longer Because of Bridge of Hope

Imagine a little girl gazing out a living room window, two streams of tears cascading down her cheeks. Out the window, she sees empty paths flanked by lush vegetation. She would rather look outside—or sleep the day away—than feel the isolation of the small room. This is what Jenya’s life was like.

October

31st - A Father's Good Gift

Their bags sat ready at the door. Again. Tavish looked around at the room that had sheltered them for the past few months; then he and his family of five began their trip back to their house in a distant village. Where was their home? It was here; it was there; it was wherever he could find a job.

30th - Good News Travelling in a Winter Coat

Shutting the front door behind him, Balaark hugged himself tightly and pressed his thin, worn jacket to his torso. The icy wind stung his ears, painting them bright red. He felt the muscles in his entire body contract in a fruitless effort to ward off the invisible assailant. Balaark walked into the wind and began his course through the cold.

16th - Chills of Winter Give Way to Warmth

Sinhal’s childhood was marred by poverty and trauma. He and his family struggled to survive, staving off hunger and illness any way they could. Yet, above all else, there was one problem that never seemed to go away, hounding Sinhal and his family: the cold.

September

13th - Common Passion Unites Unlikely Team

When André read Revolution in World Missions in 2004, it stirred afresh the burden God had given him after visiting a country where there were no churches.

13th - For God and the People of Asia

13th - Rebuilding The Rubble

13th - On the Other Side of the Showers

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 the land. In a rural area with no industry, people work in agriculture, but roughly half don’t own land. They {% trans "labor" %} eight hours a day in other people’s fields to earn approximately $1.50 USD.

13th - 'The Lord is with Me When I Pray'

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.

13th - GFA's School of Discipleship Program

Since 2004, GFA has been teaching young men and women to deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow Christ through its School of Discipleship program.

13th - 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.

13th - A Fount of Healthy Blessings

Pastor Dalajit sighed at the long list of sick families to pray for. Dysentery, typhoid, malaria and other maladies plagued many of the families in the village where the GFA-supported pastor served the Lord.

13th - Trek Through Mud Brings About Renewal

The constant rain poured onto the earth, turning the packed dirt of the road into mud that no person risked driving their vehicle through. Yet that was the road Jinesh and Tavish desperately wanted to be on.

13th - Led by God down Unforeseen Paths

I was walking with Dr. K.P. Yohannan to prayer after a leaders meeting discussing how God had led us unwittingly into impacting more people with Christ’s love—again.

13th - Touching God's Heart

One day, while driving home from work and listening to a radio program, Charlie heard guest speaker K.P. Yohannan share about the new ministry of GFA. As Yohannan shared a vision of impacting lives with the love of God through national workers, Charlie knew this was exactly what he had been looking for.

13th - 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.

3rd - Unlocking the Door of Literacy

Jeni studied the curling lines and shapes on her grandson's homework paper. With a sigh, she handed it back, knowing a great treasure lay within those squiggles and loops, but she lacked the key to unlock it.

August

19th - Equipped to Succeed

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

5th - Twice the Mobility, Twice the Blessing

Pastor Jahansuz was the pastor of six fellowships in six different villages. The 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.

July

22nd - Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact

It’s Monday morning at GFA’s U.S. headquarters in Wills Point, Texas, and dozens of men and women—behind-the-scenes missionaries—make their way to their desks after spending time together in prayer. Some are bursting with energy, while others are blearily drinking their coffee. Whether their day will be spent answering phones, fixing computers or printing missionary profiles, they each know the importance of their work: They are bringing the knowledge of Jesus to communities in Asia.

June

24th - Social Media Led Her to the Truth

Starting at a young age, Lochani saw her father beat her mother, Ayomi, for going to church or not doing exactly what he said. Now, after the fire, he angrily beat 5-year-old Lochani whenever he saw her, believing she was the cause of their devastation.

13th - Drugs, Cancer Took His Parents but Not His Hope

Tears rushed down Sam's cheeks. His mother had succumbed to cancer, leaving the 6-year-old alone in the world. Soon, Sam’s father sent a message from prison—would someone please help his son?

May

31st - More than Just Tears in Her Eyes

Waves of memories flooded Minosha’s mind as she recounted her life story to a GFA-supported field correspondent. Sorrowful memories about her husband, whom she never got to say goodbye to; about giving birth to their son alone, wondering where her husband was; about the day she learned she was a widow. The endless tears. Yet by the end of their conversation, a smile shone in her eyes—she also remembered the day she met Jesus.

24th - Dusting Off Her Potential

Jinsy stood in her home, contemplating once again the financial struggles of her family. What can I do to help? Her husband's source of income wasn't enough to provide for their family's basic needs. Their financial hardships led Jinsy to her knees in prayer, asking God to provide a way for her to earn additional income. Soon, they saw His answer.

April

23rd - Simple Medicines, Practical Kindness

If you had a stomachache or a headache, what would you do? Probably take some pain relievers or go see your doctor. But what if you didn’t have those available? What if you didn’t have medicine and couldn’t afford to go to the doctor, and the nearest health care center was located miles away? This is a struggle thousands of people in Asia face every day.

8th - Doctors at the Doorstep

“I see lots of people suffer and die because of various kinds of sicknesses,” says GFA-supported pastor Ganesh. “Most of the people where I work are from very poor families.”

1st - Villages in Danger

Abhijun, 21, and his fellow villagers lived in near-perfect harmony. But underneath the beauty, the fertile lands hid a dangerous secret.

February

18th - Treasure Unearthed in a Slum

Madin finally had to leave. Being from the lowest class, he had suffered exploitation and mistreatment at the hands of his upper-class neighbors all his life. He couldn’t handle the abuse anymore. Seeking peace for his family, he knew they could no longer live in their village.

January

29th - The Curse of Leprosy Cured

Prina sat in her room all alone, waiting for her food to be delivered—the best and worst part of her day. Leprosy had locked her away, isolated from her family. She longed for the human interaction that occurred when a family member carried food to her room.

7th - Water Buffalo Provides Security for Family

Kalinda’s husband, Anton, stood in the night air, just outside the house. It was the end of a long day at work, capped by a family dinner. The children were in bed, and Anton and Kalinda prepared for their nightly respite. Enjoying one last moment under the starry sky, Anton suddenly felt faint. He crumpled to the ground, his life extinguished by cardiac arrest.

2018

December

11th - Rickshaw Unlocks a New Path

Alcohol was Tanul's constant companion ever since he was a child—just like the poverty he was born into. When Tanul married, he did not lay aside his drinking. As the burden of caring for a family increased, so did his time with the bottle. Children came, and Tanul was unable to provide adequate food for his family or cover school fees—making a hopeful future for them nearly impossible.

4th - From Death to Life at the Hands of a Good Samaritan

Marut's heart raced as his feet tore down the dark road in front of him. It had been a weary day of labor, and now his lean body strained as he flew from the wild dogs closing the gap between them.

November

20th - Moving Poverty Out of the Picture

Tavish’s father died when he was just a small boy. His death not only created a hole in their family unit, but it plunged them into a state of financial crisis. Young Tavish and his mother cultivated the land they owned, leaving the boy with no opportunity to go to school.

13th - Waiting for the Sun to Rise

Pastor Babar shivered under his thin jacket. He walked up to a group of villagers huddled around a blazing fire in the early morning hours. Warming his hands, the GFA-supported pastor shared a story about Jesus to the chilled figures gathered around the heat of the flames. This joyful story constantly burned in his heart, no matter how cold the weather was outside.

October

23rd - Hope in the Unknown

Sibirah's husband Jairus left home before he even saw his newborn son's face. His addiction to alcohol left him hardened to the needs of his family, even after much pleading from his pregnant wife. Tensions eventually exploded in one final argument. Sibirah was now a single mother, left with hospital bills to pay and nothing to support herself and her new baby, Rajdev. But these weren’t the only troubles she faced.

September

18th - A Building Worth Waiting For

Pastor Mahon looked at the beautiful blue and white structure. It stood so strong—and pointed to God’s glory. Within its walls, reverent believers gathered in celebration, praising the Lord. The saints who gathered there had an anchor of hope living inside them. As GFA-supported pastor Mahon gazed at the building, all the struggles and opposition he had faced faded away. God had done what once would have seemed unthinkable.

August

10th - Discovering Stability Under Tin Sheets

Kata labored alongside her father on the farm, her hard-earned knowledge going unused yet again. She had all the requirements she needed to run her own business and even had a piece of land to start a beauty salon, but she labored on the farm instead.

July

23rd - 'More of a Lifestyle, Less of a Job'

Meet Jonathan, Erica and their four daughters, who are behind-the-scenes missionaries with Gospel for Asia—and see what motivates their service.

3rd - 2017: A Year in Review

2017: A Year in Review

June

25th - He Gave More Than a Handful of Rice

GFA-supported pastor Biru loved the people around him. You could almost see his compassion as he passed by paddy fields after a day of ministry. No one could have guessed that Biru, with his selfless, observant nature, was once a nuisance in his home village.

May

15th - Breaking Generational Poverty with a Needle and Thread

Nalah pulled fabric away from his 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.

April

17th - Life-changing Doctor Visits

Ahmed clutched his abdomen as the constant discomfort intensified. He wished for a doctor, but he knew the impossibility of such a costly appointment. See what happened.

March

29th - What My Faith Had Seen All Along

My 12-year-old heart felt it. It was real, yet so distant and vast. I was swept away by the incredible love God held for precious people in Asia, and I was heartbroken. There was nothing else I could do but kneel on my bedroom floor and weep and pray for those who didn't know the love I knew.

20th - Digging a Well: Uprooting Discouragement

When Laul got sick with typhoid fever he lost his livelihood and couldn’t provide for his five kids. No doctors or treatments could help him. But when his village received a Jesus Well—Laul's life changed in more ways than one.

February

26th - What Leprosy Couldn’t Steal

Leora stretched out her arms towards the light. She thought the white spots would have disappeared by now—and it worried her. But Parthiv, Leora’s husband, brushed off his wife’s fears; he assumed they were probably nothing. But when the spots grew numb and oozed puss, a fearsome word haunted Leora’s mind: leprosy.

2017

December

15th - 125-Year-Old Woman Receives Blanket

White, uncombed hair crowned 125-year-old Rayna’s head. There on the floor, the widow sat unable to walk without a helping hand. Her wrinkled and swollen face showed years of discouragement. The torn and shabby clothes she wore testified of the poverty and hardship she had endured in her long life.

11th - Yards of Mesh to Shield and Unite

It wasn’t much to look at—Shara could see right through it, in fact. But the simple threads that interlaced together in a tight mesh wove significantly into Shara’s life. Without it, her family would not be what it is today—someone might have even died.

November

21st - A Church Without a Home

The believers inside the tea estate wanted to worship the Lord in safety and peace, but it seemed nature and their neighbors were against them .

20th - My Life for His Glory

Young adults are giving up one year of their lives to intentionally pursue the Lord and ending up radically changed.

20th - Failing Kidneys, Opposition and Answered Prayer

Rajasi’s relatives blamed her for the death of her husband. “All these [problems] happened in your life only because of your faith in Jesus,” they said.

13th - Flushing out Disease, Building Dignity

Anesh and his family rubbed the sleepiness from their eyes as they assembled to make their morning trek into a thick, green forest. Tall trees surrounded them with hopeful privacy, but still, there was no telling what they would encounter that morning. Wild animals and lurking men made the daily morning journey a dreaded one, especially for women. But they had to relieve themselves, and the outdoors was their only option.

7th - Life on a Tea Estate

A GFA-supported pastor acquainted with the struggles of tea estate laborers works to bring change and dignity in their lives.

7th - A Safe Place for Tea Estate Children

Danger and hopelessness fill a tea estate in Asia, but the children have one refuge: a Bridge of Hope {% trans "center" %}.

October

31st - Stashed Papers and a Dream

Manish’s wife closed the door and scanned the pamphlets in her hand. Quickly recognizing their topic, she lost interest—why would she want to learn about the God worshiped by people her community looked down on? Even so, she didn’t throw away the religious papers. Instead, she stashed them away in her home, completely unaware of the significance of that tiny decision.

24th - Jesus: Faithful in Sickness and Health

Bahaj was too weak to work. The encompassing stomach pain he suddenly contracted while laboring in the fields looked like it had ruined him forever. Hearing footsteps near his door, Bahaj soon saw a figure of a young man who introduced himself as Pastor Tukal. Bahaj didn’t know it then, but this unplanned visit was about to change his life forever.

4th - Twins Find What the World Can’t Give

The twin brothers were certain: If they followed Jesus, they would miss out on the pleasures of life. If they obeyed Christ’s teachings, life would be too occupied with Christian laws and regulations. The teenagers decided they would spend their youth doing whatever made them happy—they didn’t want to miss out on what the world had to offer.

September

19th - The Redemption of a Dying Man

Kaling’s father gathered his five sons. Taking five oval eggs in his hands, he cracked one in front of them all. It was a sign they all understood: Kaling, the rebellious and disobedient one of the bunch, was now no longer a son.

12th - 80-year-old Man Hears of Jesus for the First Time

Naitik was 80 years old before he ever heard the name of Jesus. And he is not alone—this is the story of millions of others who live in remote places in Asia, where, so far, there’s been no mention of Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.

5th - Literacy: Something to be Treasured

Mandeepa grabbed her treasure and veiled it under her arm with her scarf. It was treasure many women in Asia never have the chance to own themselves. Mandeepa kept the precious tool out of sight from the villager’s prying eyes while on her journey. When she reached the church, Mandeepa took the precious workbook from its hiding place and gathered with other eager women there. Mandeepa’s long-awaited dream was being fulfilled.

August

22nd - Peace Through the Airwaves

Maitra’s fingers suddenly stopped on the radio dial. Words of truth resounded into the mountain air, words that said she was loved and could have eternal hope and peace. This message on the radio would change Maitra’s life forever.

8th - A Promise to Keep

Tanaya’s husband had already died of HIV; now it was killing her. Stricken with the life-arresting virus that was ruining her immune system, Tanaya had to do something. She didn’t have the strength to watch over her little ones, Sachiv and Rukma, anymore, so the young widow packed up their things and moved in with her mother.

July

31st - Jesus' Love vs. Animal Sacrifice

It was a Sunday morning in August when Teesha and her husband headed out on a bicycle. They wheeled through a village that had a church building, and as they rode by, Teesha glanced inside. What she saw caught her eye. Believers clapped their hands and worshiped the Lord with joy. It was here that Teesha’s tiresome journey came to an end.

18th - Reviving Health and Blooming Faith

In the midst of Asian farmland, villagers toiled under the sweltering heat of the sun. After a long, tiring day in the fields cultivating potatoes and green chilies, the diligent farmers refreshed themselves with a glass of murky water. Their drinking water often led to sickness, but there was no other choice.

11th - Rebuilding a House, Building Trust

Wind and rain swooshed across the Asian landscape, as a fierce cyclone raged through the village. A small bamboo hut collapsed. Now the poor and despised elderly widow, Bidya, and her unmarried daughter had less than they ever had before. Just as their dignity left them years before, now their shelter disappeared, too.

June

27th - The Desperate Search

Sadgati trudged down the road. She stopped in front of a building. She was tired—tired of having constant turmoil in her heart, tired of her endless search for answers. Sadgati had exhausted every option she knew, yet her gods and goddesses seemed silent to her tears. But as Sadgati stepped inside this building, she was surprised. Maybe her 20-year quest for peace had finally come to an end.

23rd - Netramani: A Widow's Story

Would you want a "bad omen" in your house? "When my husband died, my entire family rejected me; they did not love me," she said. Sadly, this is the case for many widows throughout South Asia. They are considered a curse, so no one wants to have them around. Cast out of their homes and left to fend for themselves, these desperate women usually end up on the streets with nothing.

6th - Young Child Laborer Finds New Life

It burned. Ashmita hurled her exhausted young body into the kitchen. Her eyes stung as she cried out in agony. Chili powder washed off her small cheeks in a red stream as she anxiously tried to recover from the new form of abuse. But the pain in her eyes couldn’t compare to the pain and confusion found in her young, tender heart.

6th - Love-hungry Athlete Finds True Love

Sweat rolled down Safal’s skin. He ran after the ball again, aiming for a goal. From the outside, Safal looked like an outstanding and accomplished young soccer player, but inside he felt alone and without peace.

May

30th - A Helpful Thief

It’s difficult to know how Pastor Patakin had the idea to put a thief in charge of caring for the Sunday School and the students. Fourteen-year-old Bhoj already had a terrible reputation among his classmates, and even he wasn’t thrilled with the idea. Bhoj knew it would force him to mend his ways, and he wasn’t excited for the change.

16th - Uncovering a Treasure After 16 Years

Madira lay bedridden and hopeless. The witch doctors had given up. The medical treatments didn’t work. And now, six years of pain marked her life. Her thoughts yearned and searched for some ray of hope—something that would bring her healing. Then her thoughts turned to an event that happened 16 years ago. She called her son over. “Now listen to me clearly,” she told him, “and do what I say.”

8th - Anxiety in the Delivery Room

Sanjita gazed over at her husband, Chatur. He sat alone and silent on a bench, cupping his head in his hands. Anxiety wracked both Sanjita’s and Chatur’s minds. Why did the doctors rush their baby from the delivery room? Sanjita worried and wondered what kind of child she had given birth to for her husband. Soon, the doctors returned with disparaging news of their firstborn.

April

24th - Trading Plastic Bottles for a Brighter Future

Ever since she was a little girl, Asha picked through garbage to find things to sell. It was the only way she could help provide for the family. People saw her family as "Untouchable," and Asha faced rejection at school because of it. But then she heard about Bridge of Hope, and the impact it had on little Asha changed her life completely.

4th - ‘I Must Do the Work’: When Cancer Tries to Take Over

Munay served God for many years, but when cancer ravaged her body, she was bedridden. She sobbed and pleaded with God not to take her life. Then God began healing Munay, and with the little strength she had, Munay went to church and encouraged the believers there. The message she shared with them is one we all need to hear.

March

21st - Rejected Couple Forced to Drink Dirty Water

Desperate for water, Madhura and Jaival pushed the handle up and down on the old, abandoned hand pump. A brown substance spilled from the dirty pipe. It was not fit to drink or cook with in any other circumstance, yet it is what they were forced to use. They had no other choice. If they didn’t drink water, they would die; if they drank it, maybe they would die from waterborne diseases. This is what Madhura and Jaival faced every single day for five years.

17th - See how this BioSand filter brought Nirmala’s family JOY!

Nirmala’s family experienced constant pain and sickness because they drank pond water. But since they received a BioSand filter from the pastor, they are now free from sickness!

7th - The Stranger at the Bazaar

The clamor of bargaining could be heard above the bustling crowds. Stalls displayed beautiful fabrics of bright colors and patterns, while the aroma of food wafted in the air. In the midst of all this excitement, a mysterious woman strolled aimlessly down the street of the bazaar.

2nd - Walking Four Miles Every Day for Water

What would you do if the people in your community forbid you from using the local water to drink, take showers or wash your clothes? You would have to immediately find another water source for your family and livestock to survive.

1st - Hope in a Bucket of Water

Morning came early for the villagers. They trudged down a dusty path as the heat began to rise with the sun, dawning a new day. The morning light exposed strange yellow and red stains inside the pots they carried by hand, or had lifted above their shoulders or they placed atop their heads. Those stains revealed an immense struggle in the villagers' daily lives.

1st - A Legacy that Will Touch Generations

A Legacy that Will Touch Generations

1st - ‘We Want to Sacrifice’

‘We Want to Sacrifice’

1st - Love on Fire

Love on Fire

February

28th - Too Poor for Suicide

Suicide. The thought pulsed in Chamudi's mind as relentlessly as the hunger that gnawed in her stomach. Completely broken at the thought of her children's suffering, Chamudi decided today was the day to end it all—for herself and for her children.

21st - The Church that Ended the Gossip

Could a church without a building really be trusted? People were talking. Not just any people: fellow Christians. They saw the place where Naisha, Sahaj and other believers met to worship the Lord and they started to gossip.

17th - A Jesus Well Transforms Salil’s Family

In one northeastern region of South Asia, just beneath the Himalaya Mountains, a river flows, and heavy monsoon rains often cause flooding. It’s difficult to imagine that the residents of this lush land would lack clean drinking water. But it’s true.

January

31st - ‘I Will Be Their Daughter’

“Don’t open my bandage!” the leprosy patient cried out. For years the patient believed it was because of their sin that the destructive disease controlled their body. Now, they thought they must suffer and settle with bearing it alone.

26th - Mina’s Story: Joy in the Face of Suffering

Audrey, a sponsor from Texas, shares about a woman she met in a leprosy colony in Asia: "When I was on a vision tour in Asia a few years ago, I met a woman named Mina, who was affected by leprosy. Mina told me her story."

16th - Drying the Tears Behind Her Smile

Madura smiled when she was in the company of others. From the outside she pretended everything was ok—but it wasn't. Loneliness and rejection filled her aching heart. Madura hadn't experienced what every child longs for: to be loved by a mom and dad.

1st - Healing for a Broken Home

Healing for a Broken Home

2016

December

20th - Altering Their Income

Altering Their Income

6th - How Goats Fixed a Leaky Roof

How Goats Fixed a Leaky Roof

November

29th - A Gift that Won’t Ever Wear Out

A Gift that Won’t Ever Wear Out

21st - An Unearthly Courage

An Unearthly Courage

18th - Adhira: Living Her Life for Others

Adhira: Living Her Life for Others

15th - Learning How to Save Her Baby

Learning How to Save Her Baby

15th - The Return

The Return

15th - Leprosy Patient to Lioness: The 100-Year Journey

Leprosy Patient to Lioness: The 100-Year Journey

15th - Kantilal: Man of Prayer

Kantilal: Man of Prayer

8th - Blessings Beyond Full Tummies

Blessings Beyond Full Tummies

1st - Saved from the Edge of Insanity

Saved from the Edge of Insanity

October

18th - When Hard Work Wasn’t Enough

When Hard Work Wasn’t Enough

3rd - When the Alcoholic’s Son Prayed

When the Alcoholic’s Son Prayed

September

26th - A Dream: Turned Away at Heaven's Door

A Dream: Turned Away at Heaven's Door

August

30th - A Future for Children Orphaned by HIV

A Future for Children Orphaned by HIV

16th - Touched by the Blessing Others Received

Touched by the Blessing Others Received

4th - Monsoon Rains Cause Floods, Landslides in Five Nations

Monsoon Rains Cause Floods, Landslides in Five Nations

2nd - Dreaming of Food and Schoolbooks

Dreaming of Food and Schoolbooks

July

19th - Seeking Death but Finding Life

Seeking Death but Finding Life

4th - Child Lost in a Sea of Faces

Child Lost in a Sea of Faces

June

20th - Treasure Hunters, Mental Illness and Hope

Treasure Hunters, Mental Illness and Hope

14th - Finding Jesus in a Grocery Store

Finding Jesus in a Grocery Store

May

31st - Four Days to Live

Four Days to Live

3rd - An Education They Never Dreamed Of

An Education They Never Dreamed Of

April

25th - Courage When the Ground Shakes

Courage When the Ground Shakes

21st - Drought Develops into Severe Water Crisis, Affects Millions

Drought Develops into Severe Water Crisis, Affects Millions

19th - When a Mother Comes Home

When a Mother Comes Home

12th - Widow Shares Hope with a Fellow Widow

Widow Shares Hope with a Fellow Widow

March

31st - Where They Sowed Their Dreams and Sorrows

Where They Sowed Their Dreams and Sorrows

22nd - Where Pure Water Flows

Where Pure Water Flows

3rd - The Expectation That Was Met

The Expectation That Was Met

3rd - Love that Casts Out Fear

Love that Casts Out Fear

3rd - A Slum Child's Return

A Slum Child's Return

3rd - Fulfilling a Last Wish

Fulfilling a Last Wish

1st - Four New Wells Bring Clean Water to 5,300 People

1st - Toilet Provides Families with Privacy and Safety

1st - Water Filters Are Making an Incredible Difference

1st - Jesus Well Displays Christ’s Compassion

1st - Clean Water for an Entire Village

1st - Ten Jesus Wells Inaugurated in One Region for World Water Day 2016

1st - Enjoying the Gift They Didn’t Want

Enjoying the Gift They Didn’t Want

February

23rd - When They Uncovered the Student’s Secret

16th - Mother’s Faith Follows in Daughter’s Footsteps

Mother’s Faith Follows in Daughter’s Footsteps

January

26th - He Found Jesus at Just the Right Time

He Found Jesus at Just the Right Time

5th - A Bicycle Prepares the Way

A Bicycle Prepares the Way

2015

December

15th - How Piglets Supplied an Education

How Piglets Supplied an Education

8th - When the Vegetable Vendor Couldn’t Buy Vegetables

When the Vegetable Vendor Couldn’t Buy Vegetables

November

25th - Burdened to Serve

Burdened to Serve

25th - Burdened to Serve

Burdened to Serve

23rd - Sewing Machine and Widow’s Dignity

Sewing Machine and Widow’s Dignity

10th - Compassion Fills Bare Home with Joy

Compassion Fills Bare Home with Joy

2nd - A Deeper Sacrifice

A Deeper Sacrifice

2nd - A Cold Cross to Carry

A Cold Cross to Carry

2nd - Love, Shame and Drunken Fury

Love, Shame and Drunken Fury

2nd - Saving the Baby in the Dumpster

Saving the Baby in the Dumpster

October

27th - Once Addicted, Now Transformed

Once Addicted, Now Transformed

14th - Tin Sheets Help Teen Go to Church

Tin Sheets Help Teen Go to Church

September

29th - Temptation and Redemption

Temptation and Redemption

23rd - Not Unnoticed

Not Unnoticed

16th - What Friends, Alcohol and Smoking Couldn’t Do

What Friends, Alcohol and Smoking Couldn’t Do

August

19th - Booklet Leads Rejected Wife to Hope

Booklet Leads Rejected Wife to Hope

4th - Bounty Found Through Brokenness

Bounty Found Through Brokenness

July

14th - Finding Life After 65 Years

Finding Life After 65 Years

June

22nd - Through a Widow’s Tears

Through a Widow’s Tears

11th - VBS in South Asia

VBS in South Asia

9th - Far-Fallen Man Finds Faithful Friend

Far-Fallen Man Finds Faithful Friend

May

28th - Prayers and Mud Puddles

Prayers and Mud Puddles

20th - Pastor Marty

Pastor Marty

13th - When Fathers Die and Hunger Hurts

When Fathers Die and Hunger Hurts

6th - Desperate Mother Receives a Gift She Couldn’t Give

Desperate Mother Receives a Gift She Couldn’t Give

April

15th - An Unexpected Chain of Films

An Unexpected Chain of Films

1st - Freed From Death to Walk in Life

Freed From Death to Walk in Life

March

18th - The Gift That Stopped the Fighting

The Gift That Stopped the Fighting

11th - Water From the Rocks

Water From the Rocks

4th - The Cost of Sharing Christ

The Cost of Sharing Christ

4th - A Place to Call Home

A Place to Call Home

4th - From Funeral Wood to a Pencil

From Funeral Wood to a Pencil

4th - Searching for Jesus Through the Radio

Searching for Jesus Through the Radio

February

17th - Pastor’s Question Saves Daughter’s Life

Pastor’s Question Saves Daughter’s Life

January

20th - Healing for the Sores on Her Soul

Healing for the Sores on Her Soul

7th - 'Morally Loose' Women Change a Wife's Character

2014

December

22nd - Welcome to Their Toilet

Welcome to Their Toilet

16th - Sheltered by God's Love

Sheltered by God's Love

9th - Vegetables on Wheels Save Kids’ Futures

Vegetables on Wheels Save Kids’ Futures

4th - Happiness and a Hand Tricycle

Happiness and a Hand Tricycle

November

18th - Be A Light

Lights in the Darkest Places

18th - Faith Through the Fire

Faith Through the Fire

10th - God Broke Through

God Broke Through

October

29th - They Placed Their Hopes in the Prayers of a Stranger

They Placed Their Hopes in the Prayers of a Stranger

2nd - When My Tumor Disappeared

That particular evening, I started to think about my past behavior and how I had not worshiped any gods for the last year. I thought to myself, That could be the reason I got ill, and now I am going to die. I had no hope for my life. I felt heavy darkness surrounding me, and death was following me.

September

24th - The Man Who Didn't Want a Jesus Well

The Man Who Didn't Want a Jesus Well

August

13th - Now Entering Filth and Fertile Ground

Prisha stepped out of the rickshaw only to be greeted by a crowd of dirty, half-naked children running around. One woman stood nearby barely clothed—much to Prisha's embarrassment. Animal carcasses and burning waste littered the village, creating a stench so bad passersby would speed recklessly through the village to escape it.

12th - Rebel Faces Daughter’s Defiance

Rebel Faces Daughter’s Defiance

July

22nd - She Met God on the Rooftop

She Met God on the Rooftop

8th - Demanding a Refill

Demanding a Refill

June

25th - Forced to Build Their Church Five Times

Forced to Build Their Church Five Times

May

27th - Seven Years to Build a Church

Seven Years to Build a Church

5th - Drinking Lessons with Mom

Some mothers prepare their teenagers for adulthood by helping them in their studies, feeding them healthy meals and teaching them how to treat others well. Sahdev’s mother, Vahini, spent time drinking with her son.

April

28th - Waiting for Her Husband to Disappear

Waiting for Her Husband to Disappear

15th - Boy Tormented by Evil

Boy Tormented by Evil

1st - No Better than His Father

No Better than His Father

March

18th - A Village Starving for Water

A Village Starving for Water

11th - Her Husband Kidnapped Their Son

Her Husband Kidnapped Their Son

February

18th - A Baby Girl is Nothing to Celebrate

A Baby Girl is Nothing to Celebrate

5th - Their Mother's Hidden Legacy

Their Mother's Hidden Legacy

January

28th - World Leprosy Day: A Love They Can See

World Leprosy Day: A Love They Can See

28th - Compelled by Love

Compelled by Love

21st - Torment in the Land of Kings

Torment in the Land of Kings

6th - Abandoned by the god's She defended

Abandoned by the Gods She Defended

2013

November

18th - The Prisoner's Weapon

The Prisoner's Weapon

October

28th - In the Heart of South Asian Slums

In the Heart of South Asian Slums

8th - Living to Die

Living to Die

September

24th - A Mother Fights Her Daughter's Prayers

A Mother Fights Her Daughter's Prayers

10th - A Life Dedicated to Sorcery

A Life Dedicated to Sorcery

August

27th - Not by the Blood of Goats

Not by the Blood of Goats

13th - Neighbor Healed and Nobody Cared

Neighbor Cured and Nobody Cared

July

30th - No Time to Rest

No Time to Rest

23rd - Desperately Searching for Survival

Desperately Searching for Survival

16th - She Just Wanted to be Like Other Children

She Just Wanted to be Like Other Children

2nd - Famous Shaman Battles New Power

Famous Shaman Battles New Power

June

25th - Broken Lives Now Mended

Broken Lives Now Mended

18th - Desperate for More Than Clean Water

Desperate for More Than Clean Water

11th - Watch Kavisan's Life

Watch Kavisan's Life - From Tsunami to Hope

4th - Christian Daughter Forced to Marry Unbeliever

Christian Daughter Forced to Marry Unbeliever

May

28th - Church Under a Tree

Church Under a Tree

21st - One Dream Not Worth Following

One Dream Not Worth Following

13th - She Sacrificed Her Son

She Sacrificed Her Son

6th - A Request They Were Eager to Grant

6th - Thirty Children Embrace Christ at VBS

6th - She Wants to be Like Jesus

3rd - She Sold Her Daughter

She Sold Her Daughter

3rd - A Mother Again

A Mother Again

3rd - The Dream

The Dream

April

30th - A Missionary's Past Leads to New Life

A Missionary's Past Leads to New Life

23rd - Two Sisters Build Their Family a House

Two Sisters Build Their Family a House

16th - Mula: A Widow's Story

Mula: A Widow's Story

9th - Early Morning Prayers Build Church

Bhadra knelt down on the ground with his wrinkled hands clasped together tightly. He didn’t know what else to do but pray. His family was growing quickly, but his small hut wouldn’t be able to hold them much longer. Some of them already had to stay outside, and what would they do during the rainy season?

2nd - Christ's Call

Christ's Call

March

12th - The Team that Changed Everything

The Team that Changed Everything

6th - Ready to Suffer

Ready to Suffer

February

26th - Widow's Struggle to Survive

Widow's Struggle to Survive

January

1st - Half a Penny, the Price for Peace

Half a Penny, the Price for Peace

2012

December

12th - Ranjan Finds Hope After Tragedy

Ranjan Finds Hope After Tragedy

November

13th - Girl Brings Scandal to a Village

Girl Brings Scandal to a Village

July

3rd - Nominal Christian Transformed through Women's Fellowship

3rd - Women's Fellowship Burdened for Their Village

June

22nd - Real-life Hero

Real-Life Hero

1st - New Testament Lies Dormant for Years

May

8th - A Mom and Her kids

A Mom and Her kids

2011

November

29th - 'The Source You Have Given to Us Is Never Finished'

<table class="figure"> <tr> <td> <div><img src="//www.gfamedia.org/images/newsupdate/112911-eml11-01a.jpg"> <small>Pranjal was given a new cycle rickshaw. Now he can earn enough money to provide for his wife and four children.</small></div> <br> <div><img src="//www.gfamedia.org/images/newsupdate/112911-eml11-01b.jpg"> <small>This BioSand water filter helped keep Shikar and other villagers safe from waterborne diseases.</small></div> </td> </tr> </table> <p>Families all over South Asia didn't receive sweaters or ties last Christmas. Instead, they received gifts that changed their lives.</p> <p><strong>Nothing Temporary Here</strong><br> Pranjal had no way of providing medical treatment for his ailing wife, Sukthi. A witch doctor told them she should have surgery to fix her decaying rib, but the cost of the operation was more than Pranjal could afford.</p> <p>As a day laborer, Pranjal barely made enough to feed his family. In desperation, he went to the local Gospel for Asia-supported church and asked for financial help. But Pranjal received something even better than money. Instead of the church giving him money that could only temporarily fix what would be a prolonged problem, they gave him a cycle rickshaw so he could earn an income, provide for his family and get the medical treatments his wife needed.</p> <p>The local GFA-supported pastor also began visiting the family and prayed for Sukthi's healing. </p> <p>A few months after receiving the gift, Pranjal took his wife to the hospital for a check up. Miraculously, the doctors told them regular medicine could help cure Sukthi's sickness and no surgery was needed. </p> <p>Pranjal and his wife knew it was the Lord Jesus working in their lives.</p> <p>"If I had received financial help then that money would have been gone within a few days," Pranjal said. "But the source you have given to us is never finished. It still helps us exist. Now I am earning a good amount through the cycle rickshaw by carrying passengers. I am taking my wife also for treatment in my vehicle, and I'm able to buy medicines for my wife. I am happy with the help provided to me by the church."</p> <p><strong>New Carpenter in Town</strong><br> Surviving was tough for Mahir and his family. He was scarcely able to provide for his family's needs because he wasn't able to find a job. However, GFA-supported pastors in the area took notice of his great need. </p> <p>They invited Mahir and his family to attend their Christmas gift distribution program, and to Mahir's surprise, he was gifted with carpentry tools. </p> <p>Even though Mahir had no experience or knowledge in carpentry work, he began doing small repair jobs in his village. Slowly, his carpentry skills developed to the point where he was able to build furniture and even houses. Now, through this gift, Mahir is able to earn 1,500-2,000 rupees ($30-$40 US) a month, which is enough for him to take care of his family.</p> <p>"It is good to have such programs in our region for needy and poor people that will uplift their living standards," Mahir shared. "May God bless those who provided me with these carpentry tools."</p> <p><strong>Satisfying Their Thirst</strong><br> Shikar and his family were constantly getting sick from the water sources in their village.</p> <p>"There was hardly a week or month in which we did not have to visit a doctor and spend our hard-earned income on medicine," Shikar explained. "My family and I were often exposed to waterborne diseases because we had no choice but to use dirty and contaminated water from open wells for cooking and drinking."</p> <p>Shikar and his family suffered with stomach problems, jaundice, typhoid and diarrhea. And because necessity compelled them to use ponds, rivers and contaminated well water for bathing, they also suffered from skin infections. </p> <p>The doctors told them they needed to use a water filter, but Shikar couldn't afford to buy one. Fortunately, GFA-supported pastors provided for this need by giving Shikar a BioSand water filter from the <em>Gospel For Asia Christmas Gift Catalog</em>. Now he, his family and even other people in his village don't have to worry about getting sick.</p> <p>"Since the time the water filter was installed, no one has suffered from any waterborne diseases, and we are spared from unnecessary medical expenses," Shikar shared. "Through these BioSand water filters, not only our physical thirst has been quenched, but also our inner thirst for the love of the Lord and for one another was met very strongly."</p> <ul class="arrowed"> <li><a href="/gift/">Give gifts that keep giving</em></a>.</li> </ul>

2010

December

29th - Sharing Christ at Christmas

<table class="figure"> <tr> <td> <div><img src="//www.gfamedia.org/images/newsupdate/122910-web10-01a.jpg"> <small>Many churches conducted special Christmas programs for the community. These dancers were part of one of the services.</small></div> <br> <div><img src="//www.gfamedia.org/images/newsupdate/122910-web10-01b.jpg"> <small>This congregation is just one of many who had a Christmas worship service.</small></div> <br> <div><img src="//www.gfamedia.org/images/newsupdate/122910-web10-01c.jpg"> <small>During a radio interview, this GFA-supported missionary shared about Christ and the spiritual significance of Christmas.</small></div> </td> </tr> </table> <p>How do you explain Christmas to someone who has never celebrated the holiday? Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries and staff start by sharing the story of Christ. Each year during the weeks leading up to Christmas, missionaries, Bridge of Hope workers and office staff fan out and share the Good News about the Savior who was born in a stable.</p> <p>Each group of GFA workers creates their own program and chooses their own venue for sharing the Christmas story.</p> <p><strong>Singing and Praying</strong><br> In one area, staff and missionaries visited a hospital and sang Christmas carols for the patients, doctors and nurses. </p> <p>"When you were singing, I felt heaven coming down and the presence of the Lord covering this place," one of the patients told the missionaries.</p> <p>They also took time to share the story of Jesus and to pray for the patients. One man, who had been bedridden for 10 years, was brought to tears by the prayers.</p> <p>"Now I have peace and joy in my life. I thought no one loves me, but now I understand that Jesus loves me," he said.</p> <p><strong>Seeing Answered Prayer</strong><br> This same group also sang carols and prayed for the people at a local military base, where they had sung and handed out Gospel tracts the year before. Many remembered them from their previous year's visit and warmly welcomed them back. Team members were blessed to hear about answers to their prayers from the previous year.</p> <p>They met a baby whom they had prayed for while he was still in his mother's womb. They had also prayed for the mother after discovering her husband had been paralyzed in an accident. The team rejoiced on this return visit when they saw the husband up walking around again. </p> <p>"I was waiting for you to come this year so that I could testify of God's miracle to you," the new mother told the team. </p> <p>Another family at the military base thanked the team for praying for their 10-year-old son the previous year. The boy had a mental problem that made it impossible for him to perform even the most basic functions, like standing up. The team praised the Lord after seeing the boy standing up and joyfully clapping along to their songs. </p> <p>After visiting the hospital and the military base, the team turned its attention to the marketplace. They went out to the bustling streets in their community and sang songs, which always attracts a crowd. The people who gathered to hear the concert received Gospel tracts and New Testaments. </p> <p>Another street party was held on December 23 in front of the GFA administrative office in that area. The GFA team worked with Christians from other organizations, and together, they led a candlelight Christmas worship service and shared the Gospel with those who gathered to participate.</p> <p>On Christmas Day, the believers gathered for worship, and after the service, the Women's Fellowship teams distributed food packets to beggars and homeless people in the busy railway station. They also handed out Gospel tracts and New Testaments to the people in the station.</p> <p><strong>The First Official Christmas in Nepal</strong><br> Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries had the unique opportunity to share the Gospel on the first-ever publicly recognized Christmas holiday in Nepal. That's because 2009 was the first year the Nepali government declared Christmas as an official holiday. </p> <p>Believers and the missionaries who serve as their pastors had worship services to mark the holiday and invited people from the local communities. The pastors clearly presented the Gospel and gave Bibles to visitors. In one area, 12 people chose to follow Christ after hearing about Him at church that day. </p> <p>GFA-supported workers joined with the local churches to produce a Christmas program that runs on Nepali television stations throughout the country. Missionary leaders were also guests on several radio programs during which they had the opportunity to share about Christ and His role in the Christmas celebration.</p> <p>While it is obvious that all of this reaching out in love during Christmas goes a long way toward showing the love of Jesus to those who have never heard, it serves another purpose as well, according to one GFA leader.</p> <p>"Christmas becomes real when we are truly able to express the love of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others," he said.</p> <ul class="arrowed"> <li><a href="/news/articles/showing-love-downtrodden/">See a photoshow about how Gospel for Asia-supported workers reached out to the people in a local hospital and a slum area</a>.</li> </ul>

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