Rejoice!

For the countless women solely responsible for providing their household’s needs, a sewing machine is a tremendous help for earning a sufficient income.

Daya’s life turned upside down the day her husband, a laborer, fell off a roof and died. Daya, a stay-at-home mom, had to find work to feed her three children. Unfortunately, the job she found at a matchbox factory provided very little income. Financial hardships forced Daya’s two daughters to stop their education after 10th grade. Instead of finishing school and pursuing higher education, they helped keep the family afloat. The older daughter worked as a nursery school teacher, and the younger daughter cared for their brother and kept the household while her mother and sister were at work.

Eternal Hope, Immediate Help

Soon, Daya found an unexpected source of strength. After attending a worship service hosted by GFA pastor Sachitan, Daya felt an enormous sense of peace. She began going regularly to the worship services. Her children eventually joined her, and the entire family experienced God’s love.

Daya and her children found lasting hope when they decided to trust Christ with their lives. They also learned that He cared about their practical needs.

Pastor Sachitan noticed how hard the family worked—and how they struggled just to meet basic needs. He requested that Daya receive a gift at the next GFA Christmas gift distribution. At the event, Daya and more than 50 other widows received sewing machines! Tears filled Daya’s eyes as she kissed the smooth, dark surface of her gift. For Daya, it represented a chance for her family to thrive, not just subsist. She thanked God for providing for her family.

Embracing the Chance to Thrive

Daya already knew how to sew, so she got to work sewing clothes for her family and taking sewing jobs from people in her village. Soon, her skills earned her more jobs as people saw she charged less than the market rate.

Over time, Daya’s younger daughter learned to sew, too. While Daya worked in the factory, her daughter sewed at home. When Daya returned, she would resume the tailoring jobs.

Not only did the family save money by sewing their own clothes, but they also significantly added to their income through their growing tailoring business.

Though Daya and her family still face challenges, they know they serve a God who cares for them. Through the sewing machine He provided and their hard work, they have hope for financial stability.

Pastor Jaitra (pictured in red) joyfully presented sewing machines and other helpful gifts to the inmates of a local prison.

Pastor Jaitra prayed out loud, surrounded by a group of prisoners. Eight voices echoed Jaitra’s “amen.”

The small prayer meeting broke up. Walking out the prison doors, Jaitra held one prayer in his heart: that even more inmates would find new life.

One day, as Pastor Jaitra got ready for the prayer meeting at the prison, inspiration struck him. Not only had God provided His only Son, but He could also provide for the inmates’ practical needs!

Pastor Jaitra arranged for a gift distribution at the jail. Two sewing machines were given to the inmates: one to the men and one to the women. Inmates also gratefully received free medicine, water and New Testaments. The director of the prison expressed his thanks for the care and generosity of the church.

“We wish for the growth of [the church] constantly,” he said. “No matter what people say … do good service for the people as you are doing now.”

GFA Radio speakers prayerfully prepare messages about hope, faith in Christ and godly living. Their broadcasts bring good news to remote mountain villages and crowded slums alike.

“If you come to Him by faith, He will surely heal all your pain, sorrows and troubles.” Those words echoing from the radio sparked hope in Kansha’s heart. Maybe this Jesus could help her sister find peace.

Times of Trouble

Kansha’s sister, 22-year-old Reanna, had recently moved back with her family after years of turmoil. When Reanna was in the eighth grade, her parents arranged her marriage. As was the custom, the young girl moved to her husband’s home.

At first, the newly married couple lived a happy life. Reanna’s in-laws and husband treated her well. But when Reanna wanted to continue her education, her husband and in-laws denied her request seeing no importance in it. Reanna talked to her parents about her desire, but they, too, refused to support her. Reanna’s hopes and dreams were crushed, and she fell into a deep depression.

Two years later, Reanna’s husband and in-laws noticed how Reanna would withdraw and lash out at them.

They sought help from witch doctors, but after seeing no change, Reanna’s irritated in-laws sent the young woman back to her parents. Her parents consulted many doctors and mental health professionals, but they couldn’t offer a solution.

Peace at Last

One day, while Kansha, Reanna’s sister, was listening to the radio, she came across a station talking about Jesus and His power to heal. Nothing else had helped Reanna, so Kansha decided to call the radio speaker.

Kansha told of her sister’s troubles to the speaker, GFA pastor Dhiraj, and he suggested Kansha bring Reanna to his church’s day of prayer the next Tuesday. When the sisters arrived at the church, Pastor Dhiraj and the congregation prayed for the troubled young woman. After that, Pastor Dhiraj offered the sisters a New Testament to take home and invited them to visit again.

Kansha and Reanna faithfully attended church services, and they fellowshipped and connected with the believers. Over the next few months, Reanna’s depression lifted, and her family rejoiced at the change. Now, instead of sadness, the joy of Christ dwells in Reanna’s heart, and it all started when words of hope echoed from the radio.

Twenty-two-year-old Vanathi calls a small fishing village by of the Indian Ocean her home.

Vanathi’s coastal village (pictured), once devastated in the 2004 tsunami, is once again a busy fishing town.

The past two decades have seen both tragedy and hope. More than 15 years ago, tragedy struck when the Indian Ocean tsunami submerged the coast, killing 600 people in Vanathi’s village and nearly wiping it off the map.

Vanathi

Now, Vanathi can hear the lapping of waves and cries of seagulls filling the air, combined with the shouts of fish vendors at the market. Unattended children run in the streets, while others help their parents haul and sell the fish caught while out at sea. The brash voices of fishmongers and fishermen and the yells of the children collide in a cacophony, starkly contrasting the serenity of the waves.

Instilling Discipline, Giving Love

It would be difficult for a visitor now to imagine the devastation of 15 years ago, after the deadly 2004 tsunami swept through. Around 235,000 people perished in the deadly waves, leaving the survivors to pick up the pieces.¹ After the waves receded, GFA workers stepped in to help those affected. One initiative that remains today is the Bridge of Hope Program.

Vanathi’s village received one of the first Bridge of Hope centers, and 7-year-old Vanathi was among the first to enroll. Before participating in Bridge of Hope, Vanathi hadn’t gone to school because it wasn’t a priority for her parents. For most families, rebuilding took precedence over everything else, even their children’s education. Despite this obstacle, teachers, like Jakki, offered instruction and guidance to the children.

Vanathi and her fellow Bridge of Hope students are greatly impacted by their kind Bridge of Hope teachers, such as Jakki (pictured standing). Students learn to study well and honor each other by their teachers’ example.

“The child who comes to the Bridge of Hope Project Center is well-focused in their studies,” Jakki says. “The [Bridge of Hope center] children are disciplined and orderly. But the children who do not come to the Project Center are not focused in their studies even though they go to the school. … They don’t know what to do after they come from the school. …The Bridge of Hope children have someone to guide and motivate, someone to teach them.”

Inspired to Change Lives

Vanathi, in particular, had been a troublesome child. A lack of discipline allowed Vanathi to unleash her childish but potent anger on anyone and everyone. Yet, as the years passed, the schooling, guidance and encouragement Vanathi received at Bridge of Hope transformed her from an angry little girl into a refined young woman. Looking back, the difference between Vanathi now and then is like night and day.

“I was a girl of anger,” Vanathi says. “Now I am [one] of peace.”

Jakki and other teachers educated Vanathi and the other children in every aspect of life. Love, understanding, grace, peace and other values were taught at the Bridge of Hope center. The children also learned valuable life skills, such as studying properly and efficiently. Any help they needed did not go unnoticed or unaided.

“In the beginning, I only knew that we were going to get educational support,” Vanathi says. “But after entering in the BOH, then [I discovered] that this project [center] is phenomenal and it helps and brings hope to my future. The things which they provided are so supportive to my family. … [Bridge of Hope] is the reason I could attend my higher education.”

That higher education is a pursuit of a computer science degree—something that previously would have been out of Vanathi’s reach. In addition, the guidance Vanathi received inspired her to help other children in need, just as her teachers helped her.

“I would like to help other children … and guide these children so they could learn the fullness of life,” she says.

1. “Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.” Encyclopedia Britannica. www.britannica.com/event/Indian-Ocean-tsunami-of-2004. 19 December, 2019.

The rare excitement of watching a film—in this case, about the life of Jesus—gathers large crowds. Even those who would not be open to hearing about Jesus are often eager to join the movie audience.

For the first time in 25 years, a village gathered to see life-changing scenes scroll before their eyes. Afterward, the projector screen went blank, but the story of Jesus story remained stamped on the hearts of the audience—a story most could not have read, as 90 percent of the villagers were illiterate. The GFA mobile team that had organized the show started packing up the film equipment. Suddenly, a frightened woman suddenly rushed over to them.

From Anger to Curiosity

The mobile team had encountered this woman, Lekha, earlier in the day, as they were walking through the village to invite people to the film.

When they came to Lekha’s home, she and her kids said they wanted to come to the film. But Lekha’s husband, Dhir, emerged from his room with his face set in an angry grimace. He stated that his family wouldn’t watch the film and told the missionaries to leave.

Despite Dhir’s anger, Lekha and the children went to the film show. An hour later, Dhir showed up to bring them back home, but when he saw the large crowd, he decided to stay. He left with images of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection fresh in his mind.

A Life-changing Miracle

When Dhir and his family got home, Lekha realized something was wrong. Dhir suddenly began acting violent and breaking things. Lekha rushed to find the mobile team and asked them to come pray.

As the mobile team and local pastor approached the gate of Lekha’s home, Dhir immediately calmed down. Dhir didn’t understand what had happened to him, but the believers knew God had intervened. They shared with Dhir about the power of Christ, prayed for him and invited the family to visit the local church.

Dhir (pictured alongside a GFA worker) found hope through the ministry of a mobile team.

The following Sunday, Dhir went to church. He and his family began attending worship services regularly, and after some time, Dhir decided to follow Jesus.

God used a mobile team to give Dhir’s village the opportunity to learn about His Son. Now, more people are getting to hear good news as Dhir tells others about Jesus, the God who delivered him.

Sual (pictured) overcame his anger and rebellion when he discovered new life in Jesus. Now, despite opposition from his family, he pours his life into ministering to other young people.

As a teenager, Sual lived a reckless life and refused to listen to his parents. His friends were addicted to alcohol and drugs, and eventually he abused alcohol too. Sual even stopped attending school. His arrogance, anger and rudeness stunned his family and neighbors.

As Sual’s life careened down a treacherous path, Kavan, a GFA pastor, visited the village and noticed many young people who were living destructive lifestyles. Wanting to help, Pastor Kavan got permission from the villagers to start a free tutoring class for the youth.

Around 30 to 40 students began attending Pastor Kavan’s classes. At first, Sual’s parents forced him to go, but soon the young man valued the classes. Through Pastor Kavan’s teaching and encouragement, Sual gained a fresh desire to learn.

Curiosity Leads to Difficult Choice

One day, after class with Pastor Kavan, Sual brought home a New Testament. As he read it in his free time, questions filled his mind. He talked to Pastor Kavan, looking for answers, and the pastor gladly helped Sual to understand God’s Word.

Gradually, Sual’s desire to know God’s ways increased, and his desire to live in a rebellious, self-centered way decreased.

Sual’s family, however, feared the influence of a different faith; this clouded their ability to see positive changes in Sual’s life. They insisted that he stop visiting Pastor Kavan, even though they had originally sent Sual to the tutoring classes.

Sual faced a choice: Follow his family’s wishes or disobey.

Previously, Sual had rebelled out of selfishness, but this time, Sual rebelled to pursue Jesus. As he continued meeting with Pastor Kavan and attending worship services, Sual experienced God’s love and grace. Eventually, Sual chose to fully live for Christ, and he poured himself into the local church and the Youth Fellowship ministry.

Sual refuses to stop following Jesus, though his parents still oppose him.

“I have a new life in Jesus Christ,” he says, “and I thank God for saving my life.”

I am so amazed to read what Jesus actually shared with His disciples just hours before He went to the cross to die.

He discussed no master plan, tricks, fundraising methods, building projects, spiritual laws or even Bible verses to memorize.

The entire chapter of John 15 is all about relationship—man’s greatest problem since the garden of Eden. It was in the garden of Eden that our relationship with God was broken, and ever since, all our human relationships have been in total confusion as well. These were the two things Jesus talked about with His followers.

He told them, “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit” (John 15:5 KJV).

What Jesus is actually referring to in this chapter is their lives. He is showing them how they will be able to produce the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22–23: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

What Jesus is concentrating on here is not at all the kingdom work that you and I do, nor the work the disciples were going to do later on in the book of Acts. The fruit we will bear if we abide in Him is the fruit of a transformed life. All we do is simply the result of what we have become.

A transformed life will impact everything around it and produce eternal results, without a single struggle to make it happen. … With all the frantic activities of modern-day Christianity, it is time for us to learn that it is not the plans we make or the programs that matter most, but the simple truth of letting His life flow through us.

The countless testimonies from Asia of lives touched with His love bear evidence of believers letting Him work in and through them. Simply allowing Christ into our hearts and abiding in His Word enable us to be part of incredible things, like the stories in this newsletter. Thank you, and may the Lord bless you!

Some of this material appeared on Dr. K.P. Yohannan’s blog on November 8, 2018. You can find the entire post at kpyohannan.org/2018/11/08/jesus-master-plan-transformed-life/.