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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
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{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.
Email: [email protected].
In New Zealand: PO Box 302580,
North Harbour 0751. Phone: 0508-918-918.
Email: [email protected].
In South Arica: P.O. Box 28880, Sunridge Park,
6008. Phone: 041 360-0198.
Email: [email protected].
In the United Kingdom: PO Box 166,
York, YO10 5WA. Phone: 01904 64 32 33.
Email: [email protected].
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/ -
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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
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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 -
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january 2012 | send! | 5
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/ -
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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}
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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.
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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).
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A Bright FutureOne Village Finds Transformation through
Bridge of Hope
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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 -
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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).
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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.
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january 2012 | send! | 15
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 -
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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.
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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!
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in ocus {How your partnership is changing lives}
18 | send! | www.ga.org
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
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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.
january 2012 | send! | 19
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.
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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.
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january 2012 | send! | 21
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.
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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!
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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.
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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)
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