See God’s amazing power through GFA’s reports from the mission field. Several field reporters cover multiple countries in South Asia to bring you news, inspirational stories and prayer requests that will enrich your life.
Medical care is hard to come by in a lot of areas of South Asia. By providing medical checkups, and care for leprosy patients through Gospel for Asia’s compassion services, the love of Christ is shared in a very practical way.
Tapan’s community is remarkably diverse for being so unified. Some people were born in lush farm country, others in desert lands. Some may have been carpenters or teachers, others were farmers. They likely grew up speaking a different language than their neighbors. Yet despite their differences, they understand each other more than most people might. They all ended up in […] Read more »
Global Handwashing Day is observed every year on October 15. Last year in 2016, GFA-supported workers held events throughout Asia to teach the importance of washing hands and how it can help prevent many fatal illnesses. Inexpensive Disease Prevention According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), “About 1.8 million children under the age of 5 die each year […] Read more »
Eighty percent of diseases in Asia are preventable and curable. Unfortunately, many people do not have money to afford medical treatment for these various ailments. But GFA-supported medical ministry is making a difference in thousands of lives. Without Help Many people in Asia go without medical treatment because they cannot afford the cost, while others are not aware of basic […] Read more »
Barun’s life was in ruins long before the earthquake ever struck his country of Nepal on April 25, 2015. When he was younger, his mother died and his father got remarried to a woman who treated him harshly. Because of the ill treatment, he never finished his studies. When Barun married, he and his wife moved away to avoid the […] Read more »
Society hated Miny. No one, not even her relatives, dared touch her. People saw her as cursed, sinful and unclean. She lived alone in a small house, shunned and despised. It wasn’t Miny’s fault, but for 17 years she suffered because of a disease her body held. The disease stole away more than her nerves and dignity—it stole away her […] Read more »
On New Year’s Day in Asia, much like in the United States, many people celebrate by throwing parties, watching fireworks, singing, dancing and enjoying one another’s company. But not all people are able to celebrate the new year. Women who are widows may be rejected and alone, and extra gifts and treats are out of reach for many impoverished […] Read more »
Dhiraj tried to hush his upset wife, concerned her harsh words would reach his nephew’s ears, but she would not be hushed. She urged him to dump their nephew, 8-year-old Mani, at some faraway place so they would not need to care for him anymore. But Mani was weak and frail; missing just one day of his medication affected his […] Read more »
Dozens of boys and girls huddled in a group and looked at the water that collected as they rinsed the soap off their little hands. It was filthy! Their attention fully engaged, they watched medical doctors and Gospel for Asia-supported Bridge of Hope staff demonstrate a life-saving skill: how to wash their hands. It was October 15, Global Handwashing Day. […] Read more »
Leprosy racked Sundrit’s body for eight years. The medications, ointments and treatments he received at the hospital failed to produce healing, as did the traditional god he worshiped. As the years wore on, the young man’s hands and feet began bearing the telling marks of leprosy. After he lost his fingers and toes, Sundrit still managed to find ways to […] Read more »
Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Utpal serves in a village in Nepal that was devastated by the earthquakes in April and May of 2015. Many homes were reduced to rubble, with precious belongings buried underneath the debris—including people’s winter clothes. Six months after the earthquakes, as winter approached, the people of this village struggled because they didn’t have the proper clothing […] Read more »
Rabia got married when she was only 12 years old. She and her husband, and—years later—their two children, lived relatively happy lives, following their traditional Asian religion. But when Rabia turned 30, she developed the symptoms of leprosy. Her husband kicked her out of the house because of it. In one fell swoop, the divorcee lost her husband of 18 […] Read more »
Around the world, October 15th is recognized as Global Handwashing Day. In recognition of the annual occasion, Gospel for Asia-supported churches, Bridge of Hope centers and Women’s Fellowships are doing their part to bring awareness about disease prevention to the people of South Asia. “In many parts of our society, awareness of hygiene is still poor and lacking,” said one […] Read more »
Today dry, cracked ground and barren fields cover the landscape of Maharashtra. The farmer’s crops are dying, and with shortages of water supplies, people’s lives waver in the balance. Clouds hover over the fields, bringing gentle drizzles instead of the usual torrential monsoons, which Northeast India is currently experiencing. How to survive stands at the forefront of many minds in […] Read more »
Heavy monsoon rains, intensified in some places by Cyclone Komen’s landfall in late July, flooded several regions of India and Myanmar, destroyed thousands of acres of crops, affected millions, left thousands homeless and killed hundreds. In Myanmar alone, more than 100 people perished. As affected regions struggle to rebuild, Gospel for Asia-supported Compassion Services teams are doing their best to […] Read more »
Charumati’s husband lay dead. Her son, Devan, clung to her, too young to fully understand what had happened. A dark pall settled over their future, and Charumati struggled to provide food and shelter for him. Through her years of labor, she didn’t notice the day the bacteria entered her flesh. It wasn’t until her son reached adulthood that Charumati recognized […] Read more »