GFA World Newsletter

December 2016, Vol. 12, No. 8

Parmeet once struggled to provide for his family because he couldn’t work in the extremely harsh weather. Now, because of his new jacket, he can work even when it is very cold!

“I have many times cried because of the bitter cold,” shared 70-year-old Parmeet during an interview with a GFA-supported field correspondent last year.

“When it is extremely cold, we are not able to do anything; we are not able to go out and work in the field,” he explained. “And if we don’t work, we don’t get food.”

Life Below Zero

Where Parmeet lives, it drops below zero degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Throughout the winter months, people can’t even take a bath because it is so cold—they only wash their faces, and that only after heating the water.

“If we touch the cold water, it hurts our hands so badly,” Parmeet explained.

People’s hands become dry and cracked. Frostbite is a regular threat for Parmeet and his large family, who layer all the ragged clothes they own in an effort to stay warm. To survive the frigid nights, the entire family crowds together near the kitchen stove and sleeps on sacks filled with husks and sawdust.

Firewood is essential for survival. In fact, Parmeet, a daily-wage laborer, often spends hours gathering firewood for his neighbors in order to earn a meager income. But due to the cold, he couldn’t get an early start or work for very long, meaning he struggled to provide food for his family. But that changed the day he received a jacket through the donations of GFA friends—through people like you. “This is a very good jacket,” Parmeet shared. “It is of very good quality. … It has kept my body very warm. … Now I am able to go and do whatever work I am assigned.”

Sustained by the warmth of the jacket, this father, who already knew the love of the Savior, can work longer hours and make more money to feed his family.

“This jacket has not only protected me from cold and sickness, but this has encouraged me,” he said. “I feel my spirit is very high; I am very happy now.”

Thank You!

Although a large percentage of winter clothing packets go to help pastors and other GFA-supported workers, some are also given to help and encourage men like Parmeet.

“I am so happy and so grateful to you for giving me this jacket,” Parmeet said, addressing his unknown benefactors around the world. “I pray the Lord would bless you. … Thank you very much for loving me and caring for me.”

It is because of your great concern [that] today our daughter is in good condition. —Rasika’s parents

Rasika’s health was very poor when she joined Bridge of Hope in 2004, but through the nourishing meals and attentive care of the staff, her health has greatly improved.

Something was wrong. Rasika couldn’t focus at school. She missed some of her classes, and she was too tired to study when she got home. Her parents watched their child deteriorate, not knowing what they could possibly do to help. Rasika’s condition only grew worse, leaving her weak and sickly, and hindering her ability to grow into a healthy member of society.

Child Helped by a Loving Staff

But things didn’t stay that way forever. Rasika enrolled in a local Gospel for Asia-supported Bridge of Hope center, and the staff were able to help her in her time of need. These men and women prayed for her specifically during their devotion times and gave her extra attention and help while she was at the center. Through Christ’s love, their encouragement and motivation had a tremendous effect on Rasika, as did the nutritious meals she received as part of the program.

What’s more, as the staff went to her home to speak with her parents, they helped her mom and dad understand some simple and practical changes they could make to help Rasika grow and develop properly.

As time passed, Rasika’s health improved, much to the delight of her parents. One day, they decided to go to the Bridge of Hope center with the specific purpose of thanking the staff for their involvement in their daughter’s life. This is what they shared:

Rasika in 2007

“It is because of your great concern [that] today our daughter is in good condition. We cannot pay [you] back for all your contribution, but it is our desire that God would bless you and use you to help many more needy individuals in our society in the days to come.”

Encouraged by Stories of Gratitude

When parents come to thank the staff at Rasika’s Bridge of Hope center, as many do, it encourages the staff to keep pressing on to love, pray for and encourage the children they work with. We hope it is the same for you—that the stories you read in this and other issues of Harvest encourage you to love the Lord more and help you see that your life is truly making a difference!

Even when no one wants to listen to them, pastors like Kundan are eager to help their communities with their daily problems, such as the lack of clean water. This well, like the one in Pastor Kundan’s village, is a testimony of Jesus’ care for the poor and needy.

When Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Kundan and his family first came to Antim’s village, Antim, like everyone else, wasn’t interested in what he had to say.

But Pastor Kundan didn’t just talk about Jesus’ love—he lived it out. Just as Jesus reached out with hands of compassion toward the hurting and destitute, even feeding thousands of people, Pastor Kundan wanted to help the people in Antim’s village. One day, he saw an opportunity.

A Jesus Well Meets Their Need

Many people in Antim’s village struggled to get adequate, clean water for drinking and cooking. When Pastor Kundan saw this need, he contacted his leaders about installing a Jesus Well. Before long, thanks to the donations of friends of Gospel for Asia, they were able to drill one.

This Jesus Well piqued Antim’s interest, and he realized there was more to this visiting pastor than just words.

One day, Antim struck up a conversation with Pastor Kundan and began asking him questions—questions Pastor Kundan could answer. As their friendship grew, Pastor Kundan shared with him from the Word of God and encouraged him to pray. Although Antim had heard the name of Jesus before, he didn’t know the Savior’s love and had never met someone so passionately in love with Jesus before.

A Growing Love

Over time, not only did Antim open up his heart to the love of the Savior, he also opened up his home to hear Pastor Kundan share from the Word of God. More people joined Antim and Pastor Kundan to spend time with Jesus, eventually growing in number to a point where they began praying about building a permanent church building in which to worship God. Praise the Lord!

“In the beginning of my ministry,” Pastor Kundan reflects, “I thought I would not be able to work in this place. … But today I am very much thankful to God, who used my life to start His ministry here. … It is not because of me or anyone, but it is all because of [the] infinite love of Jesus Christ.”

Thank you for your prayers and support to see more people understand the infinite love of Christ.

Congregations like Pastor Lomash’s, and like this one pictured, engage in corporate prayer and intercession for the needs of people in their community.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” Pastor Lomash quoted, telling the attentive family of Jesus’ words from Matthew 11:28.

Pastor Lomash went on to tell Bhakti and her family how God had transformed his own life, and as he shared, Bhakti longed for the peace and rest Jesus offered.

From Security to Attempted Suicide

Bhakti had grown up in a happy home and faithfully followed the religion of her ancestors. When she was married at the age of 24, peace, prosperity and happiness continued to mark her life . . . until her husband began drinking alcohol. It started slowly, but before long he came home drunk every single day. He scolded Bhakti and argued with her continually, leading her into hopelessness.

In desperation, she contacted a witchdoctor who told her to sacrifice a goat, but even this did not bring the restoration she longed for. Unable to cope with the difficulties, Bhakti tried to commit suicide—not just once but three times. Thankfully, her parents were able to intervene and save her life.

A Chance Meeting Brings True Life

Then God sent one of His servants, Pastor Lomash, to speak to Bhakti’s family. When he met them, during the course of the conversation, he shared his testimony and some Scripture with them. They asked him if they could start going to church with him, and he said yes. Pastor Lomash told the church of Bhakti’s family troubles, and the congregation prayed earnestly for restoration. Miraculously, after two weeks, peace returned to Bhakti’s home life: Her husband stopped drinking and started treating her with love again. This transformation provided the catalyst for Bhakti’s whole family to find true and lasting peace.

Every day, Gospel for Asia-supported pastors like Lomash have the opportunity to speak to men and women in need, ministering the Word of God to those who are eager to hear of His peace and grace. Thank you for standing with us to see more people understand the great love of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

After watching a movie about the life of Jesus, audiences are invited to come forward for prayer. Like Dulal (not pictured), many find peace in Christ and new hope for their families as a result.

“Sir, we have been going through numerous problems at our home, and there are always fights between me and my wife,” 30-year-old Dulal told Pastor Kaditula.

“I always beat my wife, and I don’t know what happens to me,” he went on. “Though I want to stop myself, I cannot. If my father comes to make me calm at that time, I don’t listen to him. In my family, we have no peace at all.”

Step One: Go to the Movies

Earlier that evening, a Gospel for Asia-supported worker named Sadar arrived in Dulal’s village to help Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Kaditula, who ministered to the people in the area. With the permission of the village head, Sadar and his team set up a screen and a projector and invited everyone they met—including Dulal—to come watch a movie about the life of Jesus.

Step Two: Stay After the Show

When the movie ended, Dulal didn’t want to go home. As he sat quietly with his wife, their children playing nearby, Pastor Kaditula and Sadar went over to talk to him.

“After watching the miracles of Jesus, I felt something different,” Dulal shared, after telling them of his troubles at home. “I am very interested to know more about Jesus. Can we believe in Jesus?”

“Yes, of course, anybody can believe in Jesus,” Pastor Kaditula told him. “He will give peace, and He is the way for eternal life.”

Step Three: Find Help

Then and there, Pastor Kaditula and Sadar prayed for Dulal and his family. They also visited him the following afternoon, where they found Dulal excitedly awaiting their arrival. The two men prayed again for Dulal, and before long God spoke to Dulal’s heart.

Today, Dulal and his family are praising Jesus with the local congregation.

Through the prayers and support of people like you, people like Dulal and his wife can now pray to Jesus together instead of argue. You are a vital step in the process of eternal reconciliation. Thank you for making a difference in people’s lives.