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1/24

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january 2012 | volume 32 | number 1

{GOSPEL FOR ASIA NEWS MAGAZINE}

1

{www.ga.org

+ How A Rickshaw Changed Everything

A Bright FutureOne Village Finds Transformation through

Bridge of Hope
http://www.gfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/


2/24

{GOSPEL FOR ASIANEWS MAGAZINE}

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF K.P. Yohannan

MANAGING EDITOR Heidi Chupp

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Rich Lodi,

Gisela Yohannan

WRITERS April Baltensperger, Terri Castellanos,

Madelyn Fox, Michelle Jimnez, Susan Lawson,

Shelly Moon

PROOFREADER Tricia Bennett

DESIGN DOXA

PRODUCTION Michele Alexander

send! SEND! VOLUME 32, NUMBER 1SEND!is published three times per year byGospel or Asia, Inc., 1800 Golden Trail Court,

Carrollton, Texas 75010. 2012 Gospel or Asia, Inc.

No part o this periodical may be reproduced

without permission. Unless otherwise noted,

Scripture taken rom the New K ing James Version.

Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by

permission. All rights reserved.

Many o the names and places in the stories have

been changed or security reasons.

One hundred percent o all missionary support

is sent to the mission eld. Please visit us:

www.ga.org

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

In the United States: 1800 Golden Trail Court,

Carrollton, Texas 75010. Phone: 972-300-7777.

Email: [email protected].

In Australia: P.O. Box 3587, Village Fair,

Toowoomba QLD 4350. Phone: 1300 889 339.


In New Zealand: PO Box 302580,

North Harbour 0751. Phone: 0508-918-918.


In South Arica: P.O. Box 28880, Sunridge Park,

6008. Phone: 041 360-0198.


In the United Kingdom: PO Box 166,

York, YO10 5WA. Phone: 01904 64 32 33.


Gospel or Asia is an evangelical mission

organization that trains and equips national

missionaries to share the love o Jesus Christ

across southern Asia with those who have never

beore heard His name. These missionaries have

proven extremely eective because they are

already amiliar with the language and culture,

and they live at the level o t he people they

serve, thus removing many social barriers.

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT K.P. Yohannan

rom the editor-in-chiee

K.P. YOHANNAN [Editor-in-Chie]

Please turn to page 10 to read o

the transormation in progress

in this South Asian village!

Amidst barren limestone hills and

scrubland lives a group o people who

were orgotten, ignored and rejected

by society. Their poverty was deep. Starvation was a

daily reality. They sent their children to the nearest city

not to attend school, but to beg. These men, women and

children suered so much in this world and had no hope

or eternity either. But today, Bridge o Hope is making a

dierence in this impoverished community! What an

immense privilege it has been to bring Gods love to these

precious children and then watch this Good News spread

to their amilies and the entire village. And now we get to

share this joyul story with you.
http://www.gfa.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.gfa.org/


3/24

insend!departments:4gospel or asia + youYou are impacting the mission eldso Asia.16in ocusHow your partnership is changing lives. Inthis issue,we highlight our Christmas git

distribution, national missionaries and lm

ministry.

20short reportsBrie glimpses o what God is doing all

across South Asia.

january 2012 | send! | 3

january 2012 | volume 32 | number 1

22profleToday, God is using Pastor Vasu Rangen

in mighty ways, but he would never have

imagined that in his early years.

23fve minutes with K.P.What a day it is going to be when westand beore the throne to nd multitudes

rom every nation, every tribe and every

tongue! Our willingness to live or eternity

now will make heaven that much richer.

6 how a rickshaw changedeverythingSince turning to Christ, Josep had worked hard to care

or his amily, but he just could not earn enough

money. When his pastor distributed items rom GFAs

Christmas Git Catalog, however, Josep received a

special git that helped turn everything around.

10 a bright utureBeore a Bridge o Hope center was established in this

village, the children had no opportunities to learn or

play together. Instead, they were begging and

starvingand dying.

O N T H E C O V E R

For the rst time in their lives, these little children are

learning to readand discovering Gods love or them.

eatured:

20

23

19

16

18

One ChristmasGit, ManyBlessings

pg 6


4/24

gospel or asia + you {You can impact the mission elds o Asia}+

I Cant Wait to Meet Themv

Even with no raise in three years,

God has still provided or my wie

and me beyond what we need. I elt

the Spirits leading to do more or

those who are less ortunate than

me. I cant wait to meet the children

and missionaries I have sponsored

when we get to heaven.

Jim D., Saint Petersburg, Florida

Moved by Realityv

I received a copy oThe Road to

Reality rom a riend, and it is such

an amazing book. I was so moved

by it that beore I even nished

reading it, I knew I couldnt keep it

to mysel and ordered ve copies to

give out to riends or

acquaintances.

Kyle H., Exton, Pennsylvania

Visitwww.ga.org/store to

order your own copy o

The Road to Reality!

Forgotten No Morev

We have heard K.P. Yohannan

speak on the radio, otentimes

when driving in our car. Many

times we considered adding this

ministry, not only to our prayers,

but to our giving as well. However,

it would oten be orgotten. But

praise the Lord, it is orgotten no

more. Not only will we besponsoring a missionary, we will

also be sponsoring a Bridge o

Hope child and look orward to

also providing a bicycle to one or

several o the missionaries who so

selfessly give o their time to spread

the Gospel.

Clete F., Winchester, California

Go to www.ga.org/stations to view

a listing o stations and times when

our radio programs air.

Sharing His Blessings,Spreading the Wordv

My amily struggles paycheck to

paycheck, and we rarely have much

letover or all the extras. When

we are down to our last dollar and

arent sure where the money is

coming rom or our next tank o

gas, God ALWAYS comes through

or us and I am overwhelmed byHis blessings . . . and I just want to

share that with others. I am so glad

I ound this site! I will be spreading

the word. :)

Shannon L., King, North Carolina

How has God connected your

lie with Gospel or Asia?

Wed love to hear your story.

Please email us:[email protected]

Or write: Managing Editor

SEND!Magazine

1800 Golden Trail Court

Carrollton, TX 75010

Make an eternal dierence with yournancial investmentsand avoid capital gains

taxby donating appreciated stock and mutual

und shares to help reach the unreached in Asia.

Visit: www.ga.org/stocks

Or call us: 1-800-WIN-ASIA

(1-800-946-2742)
http://www.gfa.org/storehttp://www.gfa.org/stationsmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.gfa.org/stockshttp://www.gfa.org/stockshttp://www.gfa.org/stocksmailto:[email protected]://www.gfa.org/stationshttp://www.gfa.org/store


5/24


Now on Our Website

Impact lives or eternity by using Activate My Faith, your new

custom online campaign tool rom Gospel or Asia. Whether

its a bike-a-thon or bake sale, a youth group or just you and

your riends, Activate My Faith will help you share your vision

as you raise unds to help spread Gods love in Asia.

Now its easy to create a campaign to ft your needs! Once

you create your prole, you can upload photos and videos to

help get the word out. And because 100 percent o all

donations go toward the project you select, you know that

every penny will make an eternal dierence.

News and Features

Ater our years o prayer, Gospel or Asia Bridge o Hope

centers opened recently in Myanmar, giving children the chance

to fnally have an education and learn about Christs love.

Many o Myanmars children end up as child laborers in

tea shops or brick kilns. Their childhoods are stripped away

while they carry the burden o providing or their poverty-

stricken amilies. But with Bridge o Hope, all that changes.

Now, 615 children are going to school and have hope or a

better uture.

I it werent or a Bridge o Hope center, these childrenwould not be able to study because o the fnancial hardships

their amilies ace. Now you can fnd them behind a desk, eager

to recite all the lessons they are learning . . .

Visitwww.ga.org/news/articles/hopeormyanmar

to watch this entire PhotoShow! And sign up at

www.ga.org/latestnews to receive more exciting news

rom the mission elds o Asia.

www.ga.org

{ }This list is a partial representation o many generous riends who havegiven to Gospel or Asia in memory or in honor o loved ones. I you wishto make a donation, please contact GFA in your country (see back cover).

Visit:www.myga.org

In Memory o

> Ama Lee Brockman rom

Robert and Kathi Meyers

> Angelo Vardakostas rom

Maheen Vardakostas

> Bobby Gottsch rom Dan

Hoselton

> Christina Lindquist Hoehn

rom Sandi Dunbar

> Cliord Witte rom Dr. and

Mrs. Angus Graham, Jr.

> Dion Wilson rom Douglas,

Denise and Dylan Weir

> Dora Saunders rom

Mrs. Evie Ward

> Dr. Sam G. Ferrell rom

Julius and June Kornman> Ernest Quier rom

Marlene Steele

> Harriet Real rom Gus

and Carol Henry

>James S. Cookrom

Benjamin Kim, Sue Smith

>Jeery Schneider rom

Mrs. Art Schneider

> Katherine Grimshaw

rom Mrs. Eileen R. Grimshaw

> Kay Rene Murphee rom

Mrs. Pamala Paul

> Melba Phillips rom

Marshall and Angie Warren

> Mr. John Porter rom

Barbara J. Porter

> Pat Avery rom Jim Avery

> Paxton Snively rom Amy

Braord, Dana Craword, Deb

Cooper, E. Mae Poland, Ellen

Comes, Eric and Sheila Glazier,

Georgea Scoumis, Glenn and

Sue Sprunger, Greg and Linda

Gerich, Helen F. McClellan, Jean

Lonsinger, Jody J. Strand, John

Norris, Katherine A. Smeltzer,

Kathleen A. Allman, Larry and

Doris Snively, Mark and Lisa

Snively, Mrs. Kimberly S. Snively,

Mrs. Mary M. Lewis, Mrs. Susan

Peoples, Muriel B. Aurand,

Scott and Kris Davis, Todd

and Tracy Ruggles

> Phung Dam rom

the Trieu Family

> Richard Hewitt rom

Fred and Luci Schaphorst

> Rosemary and Cecil Potter

rom loving amily

> Sara and Bill Gawin rom

Timothy Kobernat

> Thelma Duncan rom

Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Dickson

> Valarie Silvia Mitchell rom

Mary McFall

> Vance and Viola Anderson

rom David and Janet Anderson

In Honor o

> Amanda Major rom MikeAlexander, Peggy McKinnis

> Bob and Linda Holmes rom

Mrs. Alyssa Underwood

> Frank and Janice Radich rom

Jerey and Shawna Kelly

> Gary Bishop rom Gary

and Licia Bishop

> George, Gina and Christiana

Long rom Gay S. Long

> Lewis Boettner rom Alvin and

Phyllis Sigaus

> Mbazi Wise rom Don and

Joanne Beachy

> Mike Clements rom

David A. Arispe

> Pastor Mike Stevens and

amily rom Jane Brouillette

> Phillip and Whitney Hawkins

rom Jimmie Mae Moore

> Phillip Brost rom

Mrs. Darlene Leistner

> Ralph and Sandy Laskie rom

Farmers Branch Church o Christ

> Ruth McClain rom Mrs. Byer

> Todd and Kathy Freeburg rom

Don and Lydia Stevens

> Tony Farina rom Charles M. andPeggy Farina
http://www.gfa.org/news/articles/hope-for-myanmarhttp://www.gfa.org/news/articles/hope-for-myanmarhttp://www.gfa.org/latestnewshttp://www.gfa.org/http://www.mygfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/latestnewshttp://www.gfa.org/news/articles/hope-for-myanmarhttp://www.mygfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/


6/24

Monsoon-driven winds howled outside, and rain

poured into the tent. Inside, Josep and Hania Masih

desperately tried to keep their makeshit dwelling

rom blowing over. The cots where their our children lay

sleeping were already soaked, and it elt like the tent could

collapse at any moment. In the midst o this nightmare, Hania

cried out to heaven.

Jesus, I believe in Your name, and You know I am Your

child. Help us! Help us come out o this condition, help my

children and help my husband to believe in You, Hania prayed.Ater the storm passed, Josep sat in the quiet o his

waterlogged home, humbled by his own sin, which had brought

his amily to the desperate point o living in a tent beside a busy

road. He had previously rejected Jesus and His oer o salvation.

But ater the terriying storm, Josep bowed his head and thanked

the Lord or sparing his amily and asked Jesus to orgive his sins.

That night I started to believe in Jesus Christ, Josep recalls.

Joseps lie today stands in stark contrast to the ear and

desperation he experienced during that storm. Josep is no longer

a hopeless alcoholic, drinking his amily deeper into poverty.

Instead, he is a businessman who owns and operates a cycle

rickshaw. He no longer lives in a tent. Instead, he is ahomeowner. And rather than chasing ater the things o the

world to numb his pain, Josep is a child o God.

HOW A RICKSHAW

CHANGEDEVERYTHING{One Christmas Gift, Many Blessings}


7/24



8/24

8 | send! | www.ga.org

Downward Spiral

The Masihs had once lived in a small village, but

they moved to a larger city, looking orward to the

nancial opportunities they imagined it to oer.

Instead, however, they joined thousands o amilies

living in a depressing slum. Josep looked or work,

nding only menial, low-paying jobs.

I did manual labor and would earn about 20

rupees (44 cents) or one job, he recalls. I had to

manage all the household needs with that.

Josep turned to alcohol to try to orget his

struggles. That decision led his amily on an even

aster downward spiral.

We were suering and couldnt pay the rent. So

we moved rom the rented room to the tent, he

recalls. We just settled into lie over there, but we

constantly worried. We knew that i a truck came o

the road and into our tent, that we would die.

Eventually Josep ound work as a rickshaw driver,

but even this did not solve his nancial diculties.

I was renting the rickshaw each day and wouldearn about 150 rupees ($3) or my days work. But

we had to give hal o that money to rent the

rickshaw, Josep explains.

A Dramatic Improvement

When Gospel or Asia-

supported missionary Sundrit

Shazi met Josep, his heart was

lled with compassion. Sundrit

knew that since turning to

Christ, this husband and ather

had worked hard to care or his

amily, but he just could not earn enough money. So

when the opportunity came to distribute items rom

GFAs Christmas Git Catalog to people in his village,

Sundrit arranged or Josep to receive a rickshaw.

Josep was thrilled with his git. He took his

rickshaw out early each day and worked late into the

evening oering his services. A typical ride earned

him about 15 rupees (33 cents).

The rickshaw has dramatically improved the

amilys lie.

Through the money I earned rom driving the

rickshaw, I bought land and I built a house, he says.

But the blessings o the rickshaw have extendedeven urtherwell beyond the physical security o a

job and a house to go home to at the end o the day.

Did You Know?Driving a rickshawis one o the ew dignied jobs open to people rom

low-caste and poverty-stricken backgrounds.


9/24


Doing Gods Work

When Josep received the rickshaw, he wanted to

use it in a way that would honor God.

I take Gospel tracts with me and I share Jesus

with my passengers and give each o

them a tract, Josep explains. So with

this rickshaw, I am doing the work o

God also.

He also invites his customers to

attend his church, where Sundrit is

the pastor.

Sundrit is one o Joseps requent

customers. The missionary uses Joseps services when

he visits homes to share the love o Christ.

Joseps new two-room home is also a blessing to

his entire community. Although it is small by Western

standards, it is larger than many other homes in the

area. So Sundrit was thrilled when Josep oered it or

prayer meetings.

Each Thursday evening, Josep and Hania

welcome dozens o people into their house. People sitcrowded together on the foor. When theres no room

let inside, they spill out into the yard. These believers

worship the Lord, then hear a message rom Sundrit

beore they take time or prayer. Aterward, Josep

serves a meal. He is all smiles as he dishes up rice and

curry and passes out hot chapatti bread to everyone.

Somebody Loves Them

When the believers have all gone home and the

dishes are washed, Josep gathers his wie and children

or one last prayer time beore bed. These amily

membersonce homeless and living on

the streetsthank God or the

Christians on the other side o the

world who provided the rickshaw that

helped transorm their lives.

I am very much thankul or

them and I pray or them, Josep says,

that every year they would be

stronger in their aith.

Beore I got this rickshaw, I was hopeless about

my uture, he remembers. But ater receiving this

rickshaw, I cant stop thinking about how much God

has blessed me.

And Pastor Sundrit says thats what its all about.

When we give these gits, we are showing the

love o Jesus, he says. Ater receiving a Christmas

git, these people realize that somebody loves themand cares or them.

Christmas EveryDay o the Year!

Visitwww.ga.org/gitto learn more about

how you can show Jesus love to a poor Asian

amily in powerul and practical ways.

Photos: Josep Masih takes good care o his rickshaw (opposite page,

ar let), a Christmas git that made it possible or him to move his

amily out o the slum (opposite page, upper right) and into a sturdy

home (opposite page, lower right). Today he is a ollower o Jesus and

opens his home or weekly worship services (this page).
http://www.gfa.org/gifthttp://www.gfa.org/gifthttp://www.gfa.org/gifthttp://www.gfa.org/gift


10/24


A Bright FutureOne Village Finds Transformation through

Bridge of Hope


11/24

send! | 11


12/24


WHAT IS BRIDGE OF HOPE? Millions of children in South Asia live their lives never knowing the hope thatawaits them in Christ. However, through Bridge of Hope, Gospel for Asias child sponsorship program, they get to learn for the first time

what its like to have new life and be embraced by their Heavenly Father. We provide school uniforms, books, tutoring and help with

homework; at least one nutritious meal each day; and a yearly medical checkup. Visitwww.gfa.org/bridgeofhopeto learn more about

how you can adopt one of these precious children!
http://www.gfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/bridgeofhopehttp://www.gfa.org/bridgeofhopehttp://www.gfa.org/bridgeofhopehttp://www.gfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/bridgeofhope


13/24

Hoobs supervising pastor visited the village and was

also moved by the plight o these people.

I was really shocked, he admits. The children were

dying in ront o their eyes due to starvation. It touched my

heart, and I elt urgency that we should do something or them.

About a month later, Gospel or Asia drilled a Jesus Well

in the village to provide clean water year-round and thenbegan the process o establishing a Bridge o Hope center.

Obstacles rom Children and Parents

On opening day, project director Yohan Matthew

looked around and saw his work cut out or him. He knew

that leading this center would be dicult, especially with

children who had never been taught

discipline or experienced much structure.

And he was right.In the classroom, Yohan and his

teachers had to deal with multiple

behavioral issues.

Most o the students hadnt learned personal hygiene

at home, and their dirtiness tested Yohans patience. Their

unwashed bodies reeked, and their unkempt hair was

matted and greasy. He began to encourage the children to

come to the center neat and clean.

Gurpreet arrived with a penchant or bullying, which

posed another problem. Fights oten broke out as a result

o his insults or punches. He resented being told what to do

and even threatened to injure his teacher when she

corrected him. He was troublesome rom the outset, and

Yohan needed to admonish him repeatedly. In addition,

Gurpreet and a ew other children had a habit o chewing

tobacco, ollowing the examples they ound at home.

Surprisingly, Yohan and his sta aced resistance rom

the mothers and athers as well.

Initially, some parents reused to send their children to

school. Begging was a much more lucrative activity,

especially or such an impoverished community. Yohan

learned that in some homes, the children were threatened i

they went to the center. But he insisted that the parentsallow their students to come to Bridge o Hope, and he

began to visit each household to ensure this happened.

Some parents were concerned or their childrens

saety. The center was located near a busy highway, where

some children had died in an accident. Yohan assured them

that he and the teachers would supervise the children as

they walked to and rom the center.

Photos: Gurpreet (above) had a rough start initially when he joined the

Bridge o Hope center, but now he is hungry to learn. All the children

attending (below), along with their parents, are experiencing Gods love in

very practical ways through the center and through the Jesus Well that was

drilled in their village (center).


14/24


Drastic Changes

But Yohan aithully prayed or

transormation, and he saw God answering his

prayers.

His students now heed his advice about

cleanliness. The Jesus Well is located near the

Bridge o Hope center and has become a popular place or

washing clothes, brushing teeth and bathing.

When Yohan corrects children or bad behavior, they

receive his rebuke and change their attitude. Although they

once didnt acknowledge Yohan when they would see him

in the village, they now fock around him in greeting. They

look up to him like an older brother and call him Big Sir.

Yohan has especially noticed a dierence in the lie o

his ormer problem student Gurpreet.

Gurpreet shows up promptly every time the Bridge o

Hope center is open, usually reshly bathed. He stays

engaged in the activities and work his teachers assign.

And Gurpreet genuinely enjoys his time at the center

each day. He loves learning songs, especially action songs,

and he is thankul to be grasping how to read and write.

It is really amazing that I am able to read

some o the words, he says.

Bipin, Gurpreets ather, has also noticed

Bridge o Hopes positive infuence on his

sons lie. Beore the center opened, Gurpreet

deliberately rebelled against his parents.

When they asked him to do something, he ran

o instead.

But since Gurpreet began attending Bridge o Hope,

things have been dierent, Bipin says.

I have noticed drastic changes in his lie, especially in

regard to respect. Beore, he was not that obedient.

Bipin knows it is a privilege or his son to receive a good

education, something he and the other parents never had.

Tomorrow there is going to be a bright uture or us

through our children, Bipin remarks.

Daily Oering Hope

Yohan and the Bridge o Hope teachers instruct

Gurpreet and close to 200 other students six days a week.Yohan makes sure the children understand their school

work, sometimes sitting on the foor with them while the

teachers give lessons and joining in the recitations. The girls

and boys love him or it.

Along with training in academic disciplines, personal

hygiene skills and good character, the children hear Bible

DID YOU KNOW?

Currently, more than 60,000 children are

experiencing Gods love through Bridge o

Hope. At least 50,000 children still wait or the

chance to enroll in a Bridge o Hope center.

Photos: Pastor Hoob has seen a tremendous response in the hearts

o these tribal villagers over the last ew years. He leads a worship

service every Sunday at a believers home, and now the growing

congregation is at the point o needing a church building.


15/24


stories and learn Scripture verses and action songs. Then,

ater some outdoor games, the students line up into columns

or their daily assembly, gathering together or a time o

prayer beore enjoying a well-balanced meal. Most villagers

dont have access to ruits and vegetables, but these meals

ensure that the children receive rice, vegetables, ruits and

proteins like lentils and eggs at least once a day. And the cooks

use clean water rom the Jesus Well to prepare the ood.

In addition to caring or students at the center, Bridge

o Hope sta is helping meet larger physical needs as well.

All the children recently received toothpaste and

toothbrushes, and the center also held a mobile medical

clinic to distribute medicines among the community. And

Yohan and other sta members spend two hours o each

school day visiting childrens homes, during which they talk

and pray with the amilies.

They Started Trusting Us

The parents are grateul or the blessing that Bridge o

Hope has brought to their lives. Like their children, they,too, are acquiring good health practices. They now take

regular baths. Many no longer drink the locally brewed

alcohol, and some have stopped distilling it.

And most important, the Bridge o Hope center is

pointing these villagers to Christ. Through the genuine care

that Hoob, Yohan and

the other believers

have shown them, their hearts are opening to His love.

These things built up their condence in us, and they

started believing in us and trusting us, Hoob says. And

slowly they are being interested in the Gospel.

Today, Hoob pastors a growing congregation in the

village that meets every Sunday on a believers property.

The group gathers outside because there is no longer

enough room in the house where they used to meet.

Sometimes, crowds o people wait ater the worship service

to receive prayer or various concerns. Although many o

the villagers who attend services havent yet surrendered

their lives to Christ, the changes in the village have sparked

their interest in knowing Jesus.

As the villagers see visible evidence o Gods love

poured out to their children and learn rom Gods Word,

they thirst to be clean inside and out. They want their

childrenand their neighborsto have new lives too.

Gradually, the people o this village are coming to

know Jesusthe One who loved them when no one else did.

Beore accepting Jesus I was a drunkard, Suyash, a

parent and an elder in Hoobs congregation, recalls. But

now I am a totally dierent kind o person.

Watch Lie and Hope Explosive Growth,

a video showing the change a GFA correspondent saw

in Gurpreets village between his two visits in 2007

and 2010:www.ga.org/videos/lieandhope

Pray for

Bridge

of Hope

Children
http://www.gfa.org/videos/life-and-hopehttp://www.gfa.org/videos/life-and-hopehttp://www.gfa.org/videos/life-and-hopehttp://www.gfa.org/sponsorachild/pray


16/24


in ocus {How your partnership is changing lives}

A NEW KINDOF CHRISTMAS

Ater receiving a special git,

Ambika has a smile on her ace

and hope in her lie, a Gospel

or Asia correspondent says. For a

Christmas present, that is quite a

signicant response!Ambika is part o a community in

South Asia where a Gospel or Asia

Christmas git distribution recently took

place. She received a sewing machine, a

git that has the potential to change her

entire amily.

Ambika has to earn the amily

income because her husband lost his leg in

a train accident. Ater his injury, the

couple struggled to provide or their

young child. Ambika took a training

course to learn how to make and tailor

clothes. But with no sewing machine, she

had no way to use her newly learned skills

and make money.

Now, with her brand-new sewing

machine in hand, Ambika is starting her

own business. She is grateully trusting the

Lord to provide or her amily through her

Christmas git.

Gits Filled with Lie

This wonderul blessing was only oneo the stories at the git distribution that

day. Besides Ambika, 339 other amilies

received a git rom GFAs Christmas Git

Catalogto help lit them out o poverty

and set them on the track to a uture lled

with hopethe hope o Jesus.

It is such a big relie or me, said

Chameli, another woman who also

received a sewing machine. With this

git, I am condent that I can at least

support my childrens educational needs.

Chameli had been lled with despair.Her husband was addicted to alcohol and

spent all the amilys earnings on his

destructive habit. Chameli and her two

daughters were let to nd a way to

survive on their own.

Like Ambika, Chameli had learned

to tailor but didnt have a sewing

machine. When she received one rom

Gospel or Asia, it meant she could

provide or her daughters without being

dependent on her husbands earnings.

Chameli was so thankul to Jesus or

helping her in this way.

These Christmas gits were a display

o the Lords love and concern or both o

these women. GFA workers are praying

or them to stand rm and trust in Him

through whatever lies aheadincluding

prayers or their husbands situations.

Each o the 340 amilies who received

a git that day had their own story. And

each git, given by someone around the

world in the name o Jesus, will impacttheir lives or years to come!

Under theChristmas Tree

At the Christmas git

distribution program

where Ambika and Chamelireceived their sewing

machines, other amilies in

deep poverty also received

these gits:

>100 goats provide milk todrink and sell, as well as baby

goats to sell

>16 rabbits to raise litters orood and income

>50 chickens provide eggsor ood and income

>13 sewing machines to start a tailoring business

>100 sets o masonrytools to earn a livelihood

without needing to rent

materials

>70 blankets to keep pooramilies warm in wintry weather

And this is just one of many

gift distribution programsthat take place across South

Asia, thanks to the generous

kindness of GFA friends

around the world.


17/24

SHE CAN SEW HER WAY

TO Auture o hope,THANKS TO SOMEONE

WHO SENT HER

the love o Jesusor Christmas.

CelebrateChristmasall year round!

Through Gospel or Asias ChristmasGit Catalog, you can send a git thatwill change a amilys lie.

Go towww.ga.org/gitto give hope

no matter what the season!
http://www.gfa.org/gifthttp://www.gfa.org/gifthttp://www.gfa.org/gifthttp://www.gfa.org/gift


18/24

in ocus {How your partnership is changing lives}


Gospel or Asia-supported missionaries Adesh

Chauhan and Param Singh have been serving in

one South Asian village or more than three years

and have established a ellowship o around 40

believers. The congregation aithully meets to

worship the Lord in a believers home that is

located near a amous temple.

As the nearby ellowship o Christians grew,

those worshiping at the temple sensed that

something was not right. It elt as though

their deity was losing some power. The devotees

responded by oering more sacrices and perorming

more rituals to try to x the problem. They invited

important priests to reinstate the deitys power. When

that didnt work, they began asting and praying orone week every month. Ater all these eorts, they

only became more rustrated in the end.

Thats when the Christian worship services

eventually caught the attention o many locals. When

the villagers learned that this gathering was near the

temple, they decided to move the location o an

important upcoming estival so it would be arther

away rom the Christians.

As the community became more aware o Jesus,

many villagers have begun questioning their deitys

power. Six members o one amily abandoned the god

in the temple and chose to ollow Jesus instead. Now

they attend the local church.

All across southern Asia, thousands o aithul

men and women like Adesh and Param are ollowing

the Lords leading to take the love o Jesus to their

own people. Through their aithul service and by

Gods grace, these national missionaries are

establishing approximately 17 ellowships every day

among unreached villages and people groups. In

places where Western missionaries would encounter

language, cultural and travel barriers, national

missionaries have relatively easy accesssometimes

just a village away!

More on the Web: Visitwww.ga.org/sponsor

to learn more about how you can partner with a

national missionary to help bring the name o

Jesus to those who have not yet heard.

JESUS GOT THEIR ATTENTION

N A T I O N A L M I S S I O N A R I E S
http://www.gfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/sponsorhttp://www.gfa.org/sponsorhttp://www.gfa.org/sponsorhttp://www.gfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/sponsor


19/24

F I L M M I N I S T R Y

SomebodyDied or Me

A

ter the lm ended, Kanad

walked up to the Gospel or

Asia-supported missionaries and

asked, Is it impossible or me to reach

heaven without receiving Jesus Christ?

The missionaries told him Jesus was the

only way.

Kanad knew nothing about

Christianity. He had grown up ollowing

the traditional religion o his ancestors,

but his lie was in shambles. His riends

were horrible infuences, enticing him to

partake in their allen ways. This led to

some close encounters with his own

mortality.Several times I met with accidents

on the road, Kanad says, but I escaped.

I did not know how. Even then, I didnt

turn away rom my wrong ways.

Kanad used to ght with people on a

regular basis and would verbally abuse

his loving parents. Drugs had a strong

grip on his lie. But he knew something

wasnt righthe elt an emptiness but

wasnt sure what could ll that void.

I was ed up with my lie, Kanad

recalls.

But ater he was introduced to

Jesus through the lm showing,

everything changed.

I have come to know that there is

Somebody who died or me, Kanad told

the lm team.

That bit o truth opened Kanads

heart to receive Gods love and brought

him to repentance. He turned away rom

his sinul ways to the One who oers

hope. Today, Kanad wholeheartedly lives

or Jesus, thanks to the lm team

missionaries who were willing to bringthe Good News to his village.

More on the Web: Check out

www.ga.org/flmto learn more about

GFAs lm ministry. There are also photos

and a video o our lm team missionaries.


Did You Know?Film team missionaries oten have to

endure tough terrain to reach a remotevillage, winding up steep mountains

or sliding down hidden paths covered

with inches-deep mud. When the

terrain is too much or a vehicle or

bicycle, the missionaries must carry

the equipment on their shoulders

sometimes or miles.

Kanad Chohan sat entranced as he watched the lie o Jesus being played

out on a white sheet strung between two poles in his village. Questions

about this Man, who gave up His own lie to redeem him rom his sins, ran

through his mind, and Kanad needed to know the answers.
http://www.gfa.org/filmhttp://www.gfa.org/filmhttp://www.gfa.org/film


20/24


short reports {Brie glimpses o what God is doing all across Asia}r

By the grace o God and through the prayers o the believers little Charu wasnally delivered rom the evil spirit that was making her sick.

Read more news online:

www.ga.org/latestnews

Helplessness Leadsto Healingv

Beore encountering Gods love, Eha and his amily were strongly

rooted in the traditional religion o their remote village and

wanted nothing to do with Jesus. That all changed ater Eha was

in an accident.Cutting rewood in the jungle one day, Eha was suddenly bit

by a snake. He managed to make it home and was given treatment,

but the pain did not diminish. He had no way to get to the hospital

to receive more aid. Then Ehas wie went to a Bridge o Hope

center and asked the sta members to come to their house and

pray or her husbands healing.

God heard their prayers, and the next day, Eha shared some

exciting news with the Bridge o Hope sta: Not only was he

healed rom his unbearable pain, but he and his entire amily were

choosing to ollow Jesus.

Delivered roman Evil Spiritv

Nobody knew why 11-month-old Charu Patels hands would at

times go limp. There was no diagnosis or this baby girls peculiar

sickness, leaving her parents and doctors very conused. Her

parents nally realized she must be demon-possessed.Seeking help, they brought her to a village ellowship led by

Gospel or Asia-supported missionary Sharan Sen. Although they

believed in the traditional gods and goddesses o their village, the

amily still attended the asting and prayer service, hoping that

God would heal their daughter.

By the grace o God and through the prayers o the believers

and pastor that day, little Charu was nally delivered rom the evil

spirit that was making her sick. Because o this miracle, her entire

amily has chosen to ollow Jesus Christ and is part o the

ellowship o believers in their village.
http://www.gfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/latestnewshttp://www.gfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/latestnews


21/24


A Familys Hungerv

When students at a Gospel or Asia Bible college had the opportunityto share the love o Jesus in their community, some o the students

met an elderly lady named Sarah who owned a small business.

Because Sarahs business wasnt making a lot o money, her large

amily was going through hardship, and they oten went hungry.

In hopes o nding a better job, Sarah had traveled rom

another state, hoping that her nancial condition would get better.

However, her circumstances did not improve, and when the Bible

college students met Sarah, the amily had no ood in their home.

The Bible college students spent time listening to Sarah as she

explained her situation. She admitted she had once been close to

God and was looking or a place to worship, without success. Thestudents invited her to church with them and also gave her some

money or ood. Ater meeting the Bible college students, Sarah is

interested in visiting their church.

The students are praying that God will meet Sarahs needs and

that her relationship with God will be restored.

Teen Summer

CampvDuring the summer holiday, Gospel or Asia-supported

missionary Prisan Pinak organized a three-day seminar or

the high school and college students in his church.

The young men and women were encouraged and

motivated by the Bible college teachers and sta who helped

with the seminar and taught them new concepts that

strengthened their walk with the Lord. Sessions were based

on three topics: a disciplined lie, communicating the

Gospel eectively, and praise and worship. They also had

opportunities to serve in the local church.Along with the youth, some o the church members

participated in the seminar as well. Everyone enjoyed the

seminar and was greatly encouraged by the Word o God

that was shared.


22/24


proflep

GFA

MISSIONAR

Y

Vasu was born to illiterate parents; his ather

was an alcoholic and sold all their property to

satisy his addiction, dragging his amily into

debt. Vasu was orced to quit school because his

amily could not aord to send him.

But the Lord began working in Vasus lie and

things changed rapidly. He started attending church

regularly ater God miraculously delivered him rom

evil spirits. He decided to ollow Jesus and later

testied o his new aith in ront o many people

without shame.

Ater declaring he was a ollower o Jesus,

however, Vasu experienced even more hardship thanbeore. His amily and community excommunicated

him ater nding out about his decision. He was let

alone and abandoned.

But Vasu stood rm in his aith. His pastor

encouraged him to attend a Gospel or Asia Bible

college. The young man, who had previously dropped

out o school, not only attended but graduated. Then

he traveled rom village to village, sharing the love o

Christ. Eventually, he established two mission stations

in nearby villages, where many were healed and chose

to ollow Jesus. In another village, he started a church

that grew to include 30 new believers ater just a ew

short months.

Even though Vasu encountered adversity in his

lie, God used him to reach many, including one

young man named Fahad. When Pastor Vasu met

Fahad and shared the love o God with him, Fahad

was hungry to know more and asked many questions.

Ater his conversation with Vasu, Fahad could no

longer worship his amilys traditional deities because

it did not eel right to him anymore. Fahad eventuallychose to ollow Jesus and is now studying at a Gospel

or Asia-supported Bible college.

Fahad and many other believers like him now

have a strong relationship with the Lord because o

the impact o Vasus witness. And Vasus lie bears

testimony to how Gods grace has helped him

overcome numerous obstacles and bear much ruit or

His kingdom.

N A M E :

Vasu

L O C A T I O N :

South Asia

Vasus lie bears

testimony to

how Gods

grace has helped

him overcome

numerous

obstacles ...

More on the Web: Visit

www.ga.org/sponsor to

learn more about how you

can link your lie with a

national missionary like Vasu!
http://www.gfa.org/http://www.gfa.org/sponsorhttp://www.gfa.org/sponsorhttp://www.gfa.org/sponsorhttp://www.gfa.org/


23/24

5fve minutes with K.P.

MAKE YOURLIFE COUNT

Regrets. Ive had a ew in my lie. There are times I said

to mysel, I only . . . or I wish . . . Like you, I eel sad or the

past ailures, mistakes and sins.

One o my most painul memories has to do with a little girl

named Meena. Meena was a beautiul 5-year-old living in Bombay. She

had the biggest brown eyes. When the social workers rst saw her, she

was standing in six inches o sewer water.

Meena was one o the thousands o children who survive bybegging on the streets. No one knows i her parents abandoned her or

simply died. Her lie was sustained by the meager sums she could coax

rom passersby and the scraps she would oten eat out o the garbage

piles just to stay alive.

I saw a photo o Meena, and its one I can never orget. Later, I

learned that she began eating sewage-inested dirt o o the streets.

Soon she went into a coma and died.

The sad thing is that there are still children eating dirt to ll their

empty stomachs. They are silent victims o poverty, quietly passing

unnoticed rom some o the darkest places on earth.

Acting in Jesus NameFor Meena its too late. My deep regret is that we didnt have a GFA

Bridge o Hope center in her slum to rescue her.

You and I did not ask to be born and raised in the circumstances

and comorts we have. You too could have been born destitute in one

o the slums o Calcutta or in a Dalit amily in Bihar. You could have

been that little slumdog, blinded and turned into a street beggar. Its

true, you might even have been sold into the sex business and died

long beore your 20th bir thday.

God in His mercy gave us the privilege o living our lives with the

reedom and blessings words cant describe.

Once in a while God tries to break into our normal lives and tell ussomething important. He brings a matter to our attention that tears at

our hearts, maybe even brings us to our knees. But then, sadly, so oten

that is all that happens.

So many times as I learn and relearn the reality these children ace,

I again realize that or too long I missed something important. So I cry

out, Lord, what is wrong with me? How could I possibly orget?

I get so caught up in my day-to-day activities that weeks and months

and even years pass, and I dont realize how quickly they have gone.

It is or Jesus sake that we act. It is in His name that we sacrice.

Together, you and I, we can make dreams come true or precious children.

Whatever Happened to Time?One o the earlier memories o my college days in the United

States is about a television show starring George Burns. He looked old,

really old. He wore these round glasses like Gandhi, whom I respect so

much. He was always pung a cigar in between his stories and songs.

There was something about him that I just liked. One thing was

this song he sang, and he did it oten. A ew words really stuck with me,

I wish I was 18 again.When the Lord called me to serve Him, I was barely 16! I was living

in a tiny village in a small state at the southern tip o India. Today, as I

am writing these lines, I am 60! And I think to mysel, Whatever

happened to time? It kind o eels like it was yesterday when I let my

home, traveling 2,000 miles to northern India to serve the Lord.

How did time slip by so ast . . . I dont know!

Along with George Burns, I too eel like singing, I wish I was 18

again. Why? Because there is so much to be done. The world is broken,

lled with so much suering, so many precious childrenall lost and

helpless. I want to lead them to Jesus, the One who is their hope.

But I cant turn back the clock. Time fies by and beore we know it,

its all over. Theres the nal good-bye rom this earth and to all the

things we thought were so important and held on to so tightly.

Think about it! One hundred years rom now, what do they

matter? Oh, how silly we are not to live in the light o eternity! In her

bookThings as They Are Amy Carmichael said, We shall have all eternity

to celebrate the victories, but we have only the ew hours beore sunset

in which to win them.

What a day it is going to be when we stand beore the throne to

nd multitudes that no man can number rom every nation, every tribe

and every tongue! Our willingness to work these ew hours will make

eternity that much richer.

Live in the light o eternity. Make your lie count.

K.P. Yohannan is ounder and

president o Gospel or Asia.

This article is an excerpt rom K.P. Yohannans

newest bookNo Longer a Slumdog, available

or a special introductory price o $5 at

www.ga.org/storeor by using the order

orm in the center o this magazine.
http://www.gfa.org/storehttp://www.gfa.org/storehttp://www.gfa.org/store


24/24

Give him hopefor today

and for eternity.

Send him a missionary with theGood News of Jesus.

Sponsor online:

www.ga.org/sponsor

Or contact us:

Gospel or Asia

1800 Golden Trail Court

Carrollton, TX 75010

1-800-WIN-ASIA

(1-800-946-2742)
http://www.gfa.org/sponsorhttp://www.gfa.org/sponsor

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