Rejoice!

Baru studied the hardened ground at his feet. The stream that freely flowed during the monsoon season had dried up once again.

This was the closest water source he and his neighbours had, and it was already a half of a kilometer journey. When it became bone-dry, it would be even more difficult for Baru and the rest of the villagers to get a drink of water. But all that changed when a Jesus Well was drilled in their village.

Villagers’ Hearts Softened by Compassion

Baru grew up in a religious family that strongly opposed Christianity. His father prohibited him and his two sisters from attending any of the prayer meetings or services that were led by the local Gospel for Asia pastor, Pranal. Though not everyone was so openly critical of the Christian faith, most of the villagers were uninterested in what Pranal had to say.

Then Gospel for Asia drilled a Jesus Well in their village to provide clean, accessible drinking water. When the people saw this demonstration of compassion, their hearts softened. Baru’s family, along with about 150 other villagers, began to draw regularly from the well. They no longer needed to walk long distances in order to collect water for their daily needs, and the water from the well was clean and safe to drink.

Jesus Well Waters the Seed in His Heart

When the Jesus Well was drilled, Baru saw that the Christians had genuine concern and love for the rest of the village. He became curious about the God of whom Pastor Pranal spoke. Who was this God that the pastor worshipped?

Watch how a Jesus Well plays an important part of Pastor Ruben's Ministry.

When Baru came to him with the desire to know more about the Lord, Pastor Pranal gladly prayed for him and told him how God’s great love and forgiveness were shown through Jesus. Afterward, Baru began to read the New Testament and pray, and he listened to more counsel from Pastor Pranal. Over time, Baru realized his genuine need for the Saviour. He confessed his sins and chose to trust in the Lord.

Because his parents still despised the Christian faith, Baru attended church services in secret at fist. But as his faith grew, he started to share the love of Jesus with the people in his village. Even though Baru’s parents still did not know Jesus, God started a work in their lives. When they realized Baru was going to the church meetings, they didn’t oppose him but instead allowed him to keep attending.

God changed Baru’s life for eternity through believers like you who helped provide a Jesus Well. Thank you for your support to help bring the message of Christ’s compassion to people in Asia!

For 15 years, a goitre had been swelling on Preeti’s neck. Her family took her to doctors and local religious establishments and spent large amounts of money on treatments, but her ailment only became worse.

One day, Preeti’s family met a group of Gospel for Asia Sisters of Compassion who told them about the hope of Jesus. The family was impressed by the women’s lifestyle and their kindness. Because of their love, Preeti felt at ease to share her struggles with the Sisters of Compassion.

With passion and steadfastness, Sister Mary prays for the sick and suffering in her community.

They prayed for Preeti’s healing on a regular basis, and Preeti chose to go to a prayer meeting at the local church building. The swelling in Preeti’s neck gradually decreased until it healed completely. When her family saw she was healed, they all chose to trust Jesus with their lives.

With the support of partners like you, our Sisters of Compassion were able to reach Preeti and her family with Christ’s love. Thank you for your generosity!

Isa’s heart was heavy. She had no peace or joy in her life. Her family’s poverty had always been a hard-hitting source of pain, even as a young child. Isa knew little else but the struggle for daily survival. When Isa’s father died, the sadness only deepened, and it forced her to think deeply about her life and God.

Though Isa came from a Christian family background, she had no guidance in her life. Her parents never encouraged her to know Jesus personally. Instead, she spent her days roaming around her village playing with friends. Even when her mother remarried, their family condition remained a constant struggle.

Staff Brings Comfort in Tragedy

It was when Bridge of Hope came into her life that Isa felt the fist ray of joy. Isa’s stepfather happened to meet Bridge of Hope staff one day and told them about his family’s situation. The staff listened to his words with kindness. As they learned about the family’s hardships, they offered Isa a place in the centre.

Isa’s life began to change as she experienced the genuine love of the staff. She felt as though they were her family. Drawn by their warmth, wise guidance and concern for her well-being, she began to open up to them. Isa shared with the staff her worries and troubles, and in return, they encouraged and prayed for her. She flourished under their loving care. As Isa devoted herself to her studies, she soon was one of the best students in her class.

But once again Isa faced a torrent of pain when her mother passed away six years later. The Bridge of Hope staff were there to encourage and comfort the now 15-year-old. It was during this time that Isa heard the Lord speaking to her heart. She realized for the fist time that Jesus’ love was real, and she came to the saving knowledge of Christ.

Hope and a New Beginning

Joy and peace now fil Isa’s heart. She is thankful beyond expression for the Bridge of Hope staff who gave her such guidance and love as she grew up. Through the love of Christ and the staff who portrayed this love, Isa no longer lives in the pain and sorrow of her past.

Because of your support and prayers, thousands of children just like Isa are receiving this love and care. Thank you for your heart to touch these children!

Ellis felt a strange sense of peace come over him. The pastor had only spoken a few words to him, but they were enough. He hadn’t experienced such peace in what seemed like an eternity.

As he carried home the literature the pastor had handed him, joy filed his heart, and it shone on his face.

Ellis had suffered much loss in his lifetime; the guilt of his past and the agony of his daughter’s death had left a giant hole in the tender places of his heart. When Ellis met the pastor, he was powerless to help his family, and it seemed life was steadily declining.

Man’s Bad Habits and Daughter’s Death

Ellis’s bad habits had caused his family much grief. No matter how hard his wife or parents pleaded with him to stop hanging around with a bad crowd, their words failed to move him. Caught up in addictions, Ellis couldn’t stop himself.

“I was in the pleasures of this world,” Ellis says. “As the days passed by, I became worse than before.”

When Ellis’s daughter suddenly fell sick, his neighbours said evil spirits were the cause of her illness. So Ellis took her to several witch doctors, but her condition only worsened, and she died.

Ellis didn’t know why this agony had come. It snatched away his daughter—and every form of happiness in his home. Sorrow consumed Ellis. Over time he was able to overcome his deep pain, but then a new kind of trouble overtook his family.

“Both of my sons started facing problems,” Ellis relates. “They could not get proper sleep at night, due to fear.”

Strange powers began harassing them, giving his sons nightmares. When the torment affected them in the daytime, they had no rest.

“We had lost hope that we would overcome this problem,” Ellis remembers.

Man Receives Booklets and Hope

It was at this point Ellis met Gospel for Asia pastor Mishu. The pastor and his wife serve in Ellis’s village, faithfully carrying the love of Christ to the people.

Pastor Mishu offered Ellis some booklets, which Ellis received gratefully. “Read these,” the pastor said. “These booklets talk about the love of Jesus Christ. May God’s peace be with you.”

The pastor’s kind words and blessing brought a quiet rest to Ellis’s heart.

Ellis’s step was lighter as he carried home the booklets. He thought deeply about Pastor Mishu’s words.

“I liked his behaviour,” Ellis told his wife, “because he blessed me in the name of Jesus Christ, and I felt a lot of peace in my heart.”

Seeing his joy, Ellis’s wife encouraged him to read the literature.

Family Has a New Future

The next day, Pastor Mishu visited Ellis’s home and prayed for the whole family. Ellis saw the love and forgiveness found in Jesus and accepted His grace and mercy.

Ellis, now free from his addictions and bad habits, is at peace. Because of Pastor Mishu’s earnest prayers, Ellis and his family no longer struggle with fear; instead, genuine joy fills his household.

“I thank my Lord because in the right time He sent His servant to save me,” Ellis says.

Through your support, missionaries like Pastor Mishu are spreading the love of Christ to those living in bondage. Thank you for partnering with us to reach those who have never heard of the peace Jesus offers.

Ridhima couldn’t escape the pain of losing her child. Her in-laws blamed her for the baby’s death, pouring salt on Ridhima’s wounds.

Child Bride Faces Abuse, Guilt

Ridhima married at age 12. A few months later, she became pregnant. Ridhima’s in-laws told her a pregnant lady should work to be healthy and forced her to perform difficult chores around the house, including heavy lifting. Whenever she would rest because she didn’t feel well, they accused her of being dramatic to get out of work.

On top of this, Ridhima faced verbal abuse from her mother-in-law and physical abuse from her alcoholic husband.

During Ridhima’s seventh month of pregnancy, her doctor said she needed to rest because there was a complication. But Ridhima’s mother-in-law dismissed the doctor’s advice. When the birth approached, Ridhima didn’t get to the hospital on time. The doctor had to perform a C-section to deliver the baby, but the child was dead.

Instead of comforting her, Ridhima’s in-laws blamed the young teenager for the baby’s death.

Finding Comfort and Closure

Before long, Ridhima had two children. But nothing could heal the scars of losing her fist baby—except the Comforter, Jesus Christ. After seeing Him deliver her father from the clutches of an evil spirit, Ridhima chose to trust in Him and began attending the local Gospel for Asia-supported church.

Years later, when Gospel for Asia hosted a women’s health seminar, Ridhima experienced further healing.

At the seminar, Ridhima learned many things about how women should take care of their bodies, especially during pregnancy, and why it was dangerous for women to get married too young. She realized, after so many years, why her fist baby had died.

Future Generations Impacted

Unfortunately, Ridhima isn't an isolated case. Learn about the plight of South Asia's “Broken Daughters”.

Although she couldn’t bring that child back, Ridhima was grateful to learn more about health. She shared the new knowledge with her growing children and taught them how to take care of their bodies. She also made a firm decision to let her daughter attend school instead of marrying her off at a young age.

Now, with her knowledge about women’s health, Ridhima can help save future generations from the heartache she suffered.

Thank you for supporting Gospel for Asia’s Women’s Health Project. God is using your generosity and prayers to bring hope to the lives of women and girls in Asia.

Shaurav walked into Pastor Jacob’s office and invited him to come minister in his village, Parinat Khera. For the Gospel for Asia district pastor, Shaurav’s request was an answer to prayer. But most people would have been terrified, not excited, to go to Parinat Khera.

A Notorious Village, a Close Call

This village had a reputation for being a hive of criminals. Many people there were wealthy—not because they farmed or did labour work, but because they robbed coal trucks or passenger vehicles that frequented the highway near their village. After looting vehicles—and sometimes shooting the drivers—the thieves would vanish into the jungle.

One time, some GFA-supported leaders narrowly missed an encounter with looters from Parinat Khera. These leaders had hired a jeep to travel home from the region, but they missed their ride and had to take another vehicle. While waiting for the second vehicle, they learned the first jeep had been robbed.

Answered Prayers and Changed Hearts

Gospel for Asia pastors prayed fervently for Parinat Khera. Although some villagers professed faith in Christ, there was no pastor in the village to guide them. Shaurav’s invitation to Pastor Jacob showed God’s clear response to the pastors’ prayers.

They count it a great privilege to lay their lives down for Christ, even if it's to reach the very people who persecute them. They are ready to suffer.

Pastor Jacob visited the village a few months later to share Jesus’ love. Eight people decided to walk with Christ after hearing the Good News that day.

About a month later, when another Gospel for Asia pastor was leading an all-night prayer meeting in a believer’s home, police raided the village. They searched homes, looking for illegal materials. But the new Christians had nothing to fear because they had turned from their former lifestyle. Amazingly, the police left the believers’ families alone.

Transforming a Village

Now Pastor Jacob leads a worship service in the village each Sunday, and about 20 people attend. But the change in Parinat Khera isn’t just superficial. Since Pastor Jacob started sharing God’s love in this village, people from the region have told him there are fewer robberies in the area, and some drivers even say they feel safer now.

Because God sent Pastor Jacob to Parinat Khera to share the message of His love and grace, a village once notorious for crime is gradually gaining a new reputation as a place where lives are being transformed. Thank you for partnering with national missionaries to help reach villages like Parinat Khera with Christ’s love.

I am often on international phone calls, and many times I get reports that encourage my heart to continue this journey. I’ve heard wonderful things about our Women’s Health Project and how more than 120,000 women, like Ridhima, and their families were blessed through it in 2014 alone.

Thousands of our sisters have gone to villages where we have a church and have shared with the women about basic health and hygiene practices that you and I may take for granted, but for them make a world of difference.

In the past months, our sisters have even started to share this information in many villages where we don’t have a church.

Lord willing, we plan to add lessons to this health education by the end of this year or early next year, which we think will be very helpful.

My friend, think of how many women and communities will be touched by this health care training, and they will know this comes only because of Jesus. What a privilege we have to be a small part of what the Lord is doing!

Another report I’m grateful to God for is what He’s done with our literature ministry. Last year alone, by God’s grace, we distributed more than 82 million pieces of Gospel literature.

One of our senior leaders on the field, Narayan Sharma, came to know Christ through a tract many years ago. Narayan is one of the most faithful brothers I know, and when I think of all the people who know Christ because of him, I am amazed at how the Lord used that simple tract.

I could sit and talk with you for hours about all God is doing—this is an exciting time to be a part of the kingdom work. I deeply appreciate your prayers and your sacrifice. Thank you, and may the Lord bless you.