Rejoice!

The lines on Magda’s frail face traced the story of a wearisome life. After losing her husband while still a young woman, Magda had struggled to support their daughter, Callee. When Callee eventually married, she was too distant and poor to care for her aged mother. Magda was alone, with no one to look after her, when she became ill.

Unable to keep down any food, Magda grew weak. Seeking medical care produced no results. She turned to traditional rituals and witch doctors but to no avail.

Then Magda discovered the culprit: An evil spirit was terrorizing her.

Distressed by the spirit day and night, Magda performed rituals in an effort to appease it. But her condition only worsened. Magda suffered for eight long years, with no relief in sight. She longed for companionship and comfort, but Magda’s only visitor brought torment and robbed her of any peace.

Peace at the Door

Then four bearers of peace, clad in white, came to Magda’s home. Perhaps she blinked in disbelief, surprised anyone would care enough to visit. For so long she had been overlooked, forgotten.

Magda eagerly welcomed them into her home, but she wondered who the women were and what they were doing in the village.

“We are serving the Lord and humanity,” the GFA World Sisters of Compassion told her. “We have come here to help the poor, children, widows, disabled people and all those who are in need, because Jesus Christ loves them.”

“Are you living here alone?” the Sisters asked Magda. “What about your family?”

Tears began to flow as Magda shared her lonely tale. Hearts burdened, the Sisters comforted Magda with news of God’s love and deliverance.

Deliverance? Perhaps this God could provide the deliverance she needed.

In the coming days, Magda’s new friends continued to visit her, bringing encouragement and prayer. Gradually, Magda’s faith grew.

A Dream Realized

One night, Magda dreamed the evil spirit was fleeing from her body and her home. Maybe it seemed surreal amid her slumber, but Magda awakened to discover a new reality: A peaceful home.

Sisters of Compassion minister God’s love to hurting and impoverished people, including slum residents and widows.

God had miraculously delivered her from the evil that had invaded! Full of peace, Magda felt light and free. Perhaps unsure how to respond to her new reality, Magda went about her daily chores.

Then the second wonder occurred: Magda was able to eat, without vomiting. Magda rushed to share her good news.

“[Jesus Christ] delivered me from the powers of darkness,” Magda said. “I am so happy and excited.”

Now free, Magda has joined the local community of believers and is growing in her faith. She is no longer alone or bound. There is a new light in her wrinkled face.

Thanks to donors like you, Sisters of Compassion can bring hope and deliverance to lonely widows like Magda.

Believers gather to pray at the dedication for Yitta’s new home (pictured).

Surrounded by stark hospital walls, Yitta received devastating news: Her home was no more. While she had been undergoing medical treatment, an electrical fire incinerated six houses, including Yitta’s. The news sent bolts of shock through her mind. Still, the widow held on to her faith.

Leaving the hospital, Yitta returned to a mound of ashes where her house had once stood. A relative provided temporary housing, but Yitta had nothing to survive on, no funds with which to rebuild. Hurdles encumbered any path to recovery. Still, Yitta did not lose faith.

Instead, she utilized it, enlisting fellow believers to join her in prayer. Surely, God would provide.

When GFA pastor Taden learned of Yitta’s dilemma, his heart went out to her. He sought help from church leaders, and the church aided Yitta with funds to construct a new house. Yitta obtained other needed items, and within two months, construction was complete!

Joy and gratitude filled Yitta’s heart as she beheld her new home, thankful for her church and their support. She had held on to her faith, and the Lord had answered, providing for her needs and proving Himself faithful once more.

When calamity strikes, GFA workers step in and compassionately provide aid to people in need, like Yitta. Thank you for helping workers tangibly show the love of Christ to hurting people.

Rabee (pictured with his parents) once didn’t want to attend school, but GFA World’s child sponsorship program helped motivate him to success.

Today, teenage Rabee encourages other students to listen to their teachers and be obedient. He actively participates in games, sports and other events. He faithfully does his schoolwork. But Rabee didn’t always show the promise of becoming an exemplary young man. Ten years ago, he was a small boy whose life was defined by shame. Ten years ago, he didn’t want to go to school; he was just hoping for a good meal.

Second Chance for a Struggling Boy

Rabee’s father, a daily wage laborer, struggled to provide for his wife, two daughters and Rabee. He couldn’t afford to buy the notebooks, clothing or pencils his children needed for school, and he felt ashamed. Rabee, the youngest, struggled with physical weakness that often debilitated him, perhaps because of malnourishment. Even when he was physically well enough to attend school, he had only shabby clothes to wear, and he couldn’t take notes since he had no notebook. Rabee, like his father, was ashamed, so he often skipped school. It was unlikely he would continue on in school and graduate one day.

But in 2011, Rabee got the chance to join GFA World’s child sponsorship program. Hope and excitement seeped into his parents’ hearts as their son gained a second chance to succeed.

Free Meals Lead to Fresh Motivation

Rabee, on the other hand, was only excited about the free meals. He had already lost interest in education. But as he continued to come to the program, things changed. The nutritious food helped him grow healthier. The staff members’ patient teaching and guidance eventually motivated the boy to learn. Soon, his grades improved.

The changes in Rabee’s life filled his parents with joy.

“Rabee has improved in many areas of his life,” his mother says.

Rabee’s father adds, “I have never thought of living a happy life due to heavy burden and guilty feeling in my life. Because, as a father, I was not able to provide for my children all they needed, but [GFA World’s child sponsorship program] changed our lives. We are happy and grateful for this great help.”

Poverty, discouragement and shame almost robbed Rabee of a future. Today, because of the education and care he has received through GFA World’s child sponsorship program, he has the chance to achieve success in life.

GFA workers seek to minister to people in need of hope, like the woman pictured and like Para.

Adas’s response—or lack thereof—stifled the small, roadside home. Was he willing to change?

GFA pastor Balt had come to the house because Adas’s wife, Para, desperately wanted help. Their marriage was in dire straits. Para had sought Pastor Balt’s counsel, and she was willing to change. Much of the change that needed to happen, however, also depended on Adas’s response. Adas’s silence hung in the air.

An End to Their Fairy Tale

It had been a passionate teenage romance. Para and Adas started seeing each other when Adas worked on a vegetable farm near Paras’ parents’ home. Neither of their parents approved of the relationship; they thought Para and Adas were too young. So at age 19, Para and Adas eloped. Suddenly, they had what they so desperately wanted … or did they?

Soon after marriage, Para realized it was not what she had expected. Adas’s behavior changed. He spent a lot of time away from home engaging in illicit behavior with friends. Arguments erupted between Para and Adas—arguments which led to days of silence. Adas wouldn’t eat the food his wife cooked. Sometimes he left the home and wouldn’t return for days. Even when he was home, the couple didn’t sleep in the same room. Overwhelmed by frustration and disappointment, Para didn’t know what to do.

A Search for Restoration

One day, when Para was walking to the store, she met Pastor Balt. As they chatted, Para was struck by the pastor’s words about a Man named Jesus, who had the power to change lives.

GFA workers seek to minister to people in need of hope, like the woman pictured and like Para.

Para told Pastor Balt the story of her troubled marriage. Could Jesus turn their situation around and give her and her husband a happy life together? Para desperately wanted to know. Pastor Balt prayed for her and assured her that, yes, Jesus could change their lives if they trusted in Him.

Para wanted to pursue this Jesus in hopes that He could transform her husband’s heart and save their marriage. But first, she asked Christ to change her own life and bring peace to her home. She began attending worship services at Pastor Balt’s church, and eventually she told the pastor she wanted to follow Jesus.

Seeing Para’s desire to walk with Christ but knowing the challenges she would face—especially with an unsupportive husband—Pastor Balt visited her home to counsel her and Adas. Pastor Balt spoke to the couple, particularly to Adas. But Para’s husband uttered not a word.

A Surprising Turnaround

The following Sunday, however, Pastor Balt was shocked when Para—and Adas—walked into the church. Even though Adas had remained silent after their previous conversation, something in his heart changed. The couple asked Pastor Balt and the church to pray for them; they said they wanted to change their lives and walk with Jesus together.

After that day, Para and Adas’s lives turned around. No more fights, no more arguments. Instead, they faithfully went to worship services and studied God’s Word together. Adas continued working in the vegetable farms, and Para received an additional blessing: the chance to enroll in a nurses’ training program. She hoped one day she could touch the lives of patients with the love of Jesus, who had changed her life.

“I am so thankful to our Lord Jesus for giving us peace and joy and taking away all our family problems,” she says. “I had no hope of ever finding love … but He has given us a new life. Thanks be to God.”

Para and Adas would not have experienced this transformation if God hadn’t sent a national worker to pray for them and counsel them. Thank you for equipping national workers like Pastor Balt to help communities and families in need.

Snake charmers in Asia often face poverty and stigma, and they see little hope of pursuing education or other professions.

At 20 years old, Raddford’s entire world revolved around the catching, taming, training and raising of snakes for snake charming. Nearly every member of Raddford’s remote village depended on wooing snakes to dance in front of an audience for their livelihood.

Around 200 children lived in Raddford’s village, and none attended school. They hadn’t ever seen a school before. Raddford probably hadn’t either. Outsiders rarely set foot within the village, not wanting to associate with those who caught snakes for a living. The only way parents could make money and provide for their families was to travel outside the village and ply their trade, which paid barely enough to sustain themselves.

One day, several GFA workers entered the village, handing out literature and inviting people to see a movie that night. It was a rare occasion for outsiders to visit, and even rarer for them to show a film.

Almost every villager showed up to watch, including Raddford. A story unfolded on the screen before their eyes, the story of a Man called Jesus. They saw how Jesus uplifted the broken and the needy and granted them new life in Him.

After the film, villagers approached the workers, pleading with them to return—pleading with them to help their children.

“We do not have any relationships with outsiders due to our culture,” Raddford said. “I am suffocating in this culture. I do not want to live here. I want to become like you people, … living a respectable life.”

The workers went back to their leaders and shared the story of the village. Extreme poverty smothered the villagers, they explained, and their children possessed few prospects. What could they do to help?

A few months later, teachers from GFA World’s sponsorship program made their way to the village to provide the children with the guidance they needed to reach a better future. Through the children, the village could be lifted out of poverty.

The entire community thanked the workers for visiting them and for not being blind to their needs. Raddford, inspired by the workers’ example and encouragement, desired to achieve a better life for himself. Thanks to the team showing a film, a village’s fate could be altered, and an entire generation’s future could be ensured.

GFA World child sponsorship workers helped provide groceries to sponsored children, their families and their communities.

Last year, the coronavirus pandemic sparked a series of economic setbacks—especially for impoverished families. In South Asia, GFA workers rose in response and ensured families had provisions in their time of need.

Because of lockdown restrictions, however, GFA World’s sponsorship programs could not operate as normal, so staff and other GFA workers partnered with local officials to organize food distributions for students, their families and their communities.

“Due to the pandemic, all the schools and the [sponsorship centers] were shut down,” said Pallis, a sponsored child. “Therefore, my studies had a great setback during this time. There was [also] no work, and as result, my family had to face great difficulty.”

GFA World child sponsorship workers helped provide groceries to sponsored children, their families and their communities.

Pallis wasn’t alone. Many other children faced similar situations.

“Due to the pandemic, my father and mother are jobless,” said Saverio, another sponsored child. “No one has any work to earn a living, and my family had to go through lots of hardship.”

Like millions of others affected by the pandemic, these children’s families faced financial adversity, but GFA workers were able to step in and provide more than 30 pounds of rice, lentils, cooking oil, biscuits, soybeans and soap to help alleviate hunger and the burden of not being able to care for their families.

GFA World child sponsorship workers helped provide groceries to sponsored children, their families and their communities.

These children, and dozens of others, were thankful the workers were there for them in their most desperate hour of need.

“I and my family are greatly benefited and happy to receive the ration kits from [GFA World],” said Saverio. “May God bless the [people] who came and helped us.”

K.P. Yohannan

Too often we forget that we are here for only a short time. All those God has elected to be His are left here on earth as spiritual children to go through the school of life to learn God’s ways. The few years we have here on earth are a training session in which we are being equipped to reign with the Lord forever. When we make the decision, Jesus, You are my Lord, a transformation soon begins to take place. This individual, if he or she lives a sacramental life (a life fully set apart for the Lord), will see the importance of eternity and surrender to the Lord in every matter.

This incredible reality means we get to share in the beautiful way God begins to make Himself known through our earthen vessels, even as we experience a little of what it will be like to reign with Him for eternity.

When, here on earth, we lose sight of this commitment, we start to meander. Consider the people who go to buy groceries with a list made out. They know exactly which store they are going to and in which aisles and on which shelves they’ll find the items that they want. There is no meandering; their lives are intentional, focused.

By way of contrast, there are folks who just kind of walk around exploring, seeing if there might be something they hadn’t thought about or might have missed. … They might buy nothing, or they might buy things on impulse that they later regret. They have no intention to get something done and be on their way. … We must remain vigilant and focused on what the Lord has set before us, on what He has ordained us to do while on this earth. We must also remember that we are not alone in this endeavor—God is with us.

I thank God daily for His mercy in holding my hand and letting me continue to walk with Him and never allowing me to walk away, although there have been more than enough attempts by me to do so. His grace and His mercy have kept me from wandering away. …

What can give us the motivation to press on amid so many distractions surrounding us? It is the awareness that time is very short, and we simply cannot afford to give our lives to the things of this world.

It is due to your support, and the work of thousands of men and women, that we at GFA World can bear witness to what God is doing in the lives of the struggling and hurting. Let us continue to be aware of the short time allotted to us on this earth and strive as one body to help families and communities who are fighting against poverty and hopelessness without Jesus. Thank you for partnering with us!

https://www.gfa.org/offer/nevergiveup/.