Rejoice!

Grishma had seen the slum where men earned their wages by collecting trash, where children had to beg instead of attend school, where women lived in agony as they watched their children starve.

When it came time for Grishma to decide where she wanted to serve the Lord, it hardly seemed like a choice. Grishma had seen the slum where men earned their wages by collecting trash, where children had to beg instead of attend school, where women lived in agony as they watched their children starve. She knew what she had to do. The slum would be her ministry.

Grishma knew how easily she could have been one of these slum dwellers. It was only by the Lord’s grace that she was raised in a Christian home, the youngest of four children. She was allowed to attend school, and she had parents who loved her. Shortly after completing high school, she attended a Gospel for Asia-supported Bible college. She was an excellent student and was eager to obey the Lord by fulfilling His call on her life.

So, when Grishma learned that she could serve in the slums, she quickly volunteered to go where the Lord was calling her. She was ready.

Hope for the Hopeless

Watch the story of one missionary who, like Grishma, is willing to serve in the slums.

It is not hard to feel deep compassion for those who live in the slums. The poverty is shocking. Jobs are rare, which makes begging and trash-picking common vocations. Furthermore, many men waste what precious little money they earn on alcohol. Most families live without hope, without any means to escape. That is, until someone like Grishma comes along.

Knowing that she would be of no use without the Lord’s favor, Grishma prayed earnestly for wisdom. She decided to visit each house in the slum to build relationships, no small task in a community of 200 houses. She made a point to share with the families that there is a God who truly loves them, and then she would pray for their needs.

The people, so desperate and broken, listened to Grishma as she spoke of God’s love, a notion that was sometimes difficult for them to understand but often intriguing as well.

A Thriving Ministry

Grishma is already experiencing a great deal of fruit from her ministry. An adult literacy program was established, allowing some of the women from this slum the previously unthinkable opportunity for an education. In addition, Grishma has begun a ministry for children, keeping young ones off the streets and teaching them about the hope found in Jesus.

Recently, as the ministry has grown, two more young women have come to serve alongside Grishma. Now all three are teaching the women of this village about proper hygiene and distributing much-needed clothes to the residents. In the future, Grishma hopes to start a tailoring center where women can learn to make their own clothes and earn extra income for their families.

Grishma knows why her ministry has been blessed: “We three sisters are in God’s hands,” she explains. “Let God use us according to His desire for the expansion of His kingdom.”

Whenever there is a natural disaster in South Asia, Gospel for Asia-supported Compassion Services teams step in to provide support and demonstrate Jesus’ love to those in need.

Such was the case when flooding recently occurred in a western district of Sri Lanka.

Flooding is common in this district, and on this particular occasion, the overflow contaminated several wells in the area. So, five team members came with cleaning equipment—and hearts to serve.

For the first two days, the team managed to clean 17 wells. Then they traveled to another district and cleaned 33 more. The villagers were so thankful for the help they received, and what a delight it was when they even pitched in to help!

And because of their thankfulness, the residents are much more receptive to hear about the love of Jesus. Compassion Services teams fulfill a truly special calling by using their lives to demonstrate the servant attitude that Jesus showed to us: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Pastor Birbal had no intention of stopping in this particular village. He was just passing through to minister in a different area that day.

But when he saw a man lying in the road, bleeding and wounded, he knew he had to help.

The man’s name was Gurdeep, and he had a simple explanation for his condition: “While I was fighting with my friends, they hit me in the forehead with a lampstand.”

Sadly, occurrences like this were not unusual to Gurdeep. He admitted to Pastor Birbal that he was an alcoholic and often fought with his neighbors and friends.

A Change of Heart

Pastor Birbal helped clean Gurdeep’s wounds and walked him back to his house. Birbal learned that Gurdeep had never heard the name of Jesus before—and neither had anyone else in his village.

Later, Gurdeep brought his entire family to Pastor Birbal’s house to learn more about Jesus. Birbal told all of them the Good News and shared with Gurdeep that he didn’t have to live in hostility against his friends or God any longer. Birbal encouraged him to give up his drinking and embrace God’s love.

Thankfully, Gurdeep listened. In fact, he, his wife and their two children all chose to put their trust in Jesus!

A Village Hears about Jesus

Gurdeep decided to start a family prayer night in his home. Villagers were certainly surprised to find out about the change in their neighbor. He no longer drank and no longer quarreled with his friends. Now he was at peace and filled with joy.

Gradually, neighbors began to attend the prayer meeting, and many found a new relationship with Christ as well. The prayer meeting soon outgrew Gurdeep’s home, and they began to meet in a larger facility for Sunday worship.

How incredible that a fellowship was started in this village among people who had never heard of Jesus, all because one faithful servant helped a man in distress.

“I am so thankful when I hear stories like Gurdeep’s. If not for our faithful brother, he would have been left to a life of despair. Just think of the countless people who have never heard the name of Jesus, who are being touched in village upon village,” says GFA President K.P. Yohannan.

“Your prayers and support make it all possible. Thank you and God bless you mightily.”

Lankesh had a secure job as a bus conductor in the city.

He was responsible for the safe transportation of hundreds of Sri Lankans every day. With the income from his job, Lankesh helped support his mother and sister at home.

Every weekend, Lankesh would faithfully come home to visit his mother and sister, and just as faithfully, every weekend his mother, Yachana, would share with him about Jesus. However, Lankesh was convinced of his traditional religious beliefs, and he had no interest in giving them up. When his mother would talk about Jesus, Lankesh would get angry and leave the house, usually to go drinking with his friends.

Alchohol Takes Over a Life

Then suddenly, Lankesh stopped making his weekend visits. His alcohol habit had become so excessive that he even discontinued his own religious activities, which he had once valued so highly.

See the power of prayer demonstrated through one group of children in Asia.

To make matters worse, Lankesh was no longer providing money for the family. Yachana was already struggling financially, and she was devastated by her son’s disappearance. Her heart ached as she wondered where her boy could be. So she did the only thing she could think of: She prayed.

Yachana visited her Gospel for Asia-supported pastor, Fateh. She explained to him that she had not seen her son in some time, and she was afraid for his safety. Fateh encouraged her to continue praying for her son and to trust in the Lord. Yachana was convinced that her pastor was right. She went home that day full of faith that she would see her son by the end of the week.

A Wayward Son Comes Home

Imagine Yachana’s delight when Lankesh came home that very weekend! She was so thankful to see that he was safe. And she was even more overjoyed when he agreed to go to church with her that Sunday.

However, Yachana noticed a distressing change in her son that weekend. Lankesh’s eyes were red, and his face looked strange to her.

Free from Demonic Possession

During the time of prayer at church, Pastor Fateh prayed for Lankesh. But Lankesh began to scream wildly, and the pastor immediately recognized that he was possessed by a demon. Lankesh collapsed to the floor. The pastor continued to pray fervently over the young man, until the demon was gone and Lankesh was delivered.

Today, Lankesh is earnestly following after Jesus and has given up his former lifestyle. Yachana is at peace and thankful to the Lord for freeing her son from danger. She credits the incredible power of prayer for delivering him. She is delighted to see Lankesh carrying a Bible now instead of a beer can.

Gaura has grown up her entire life in a village that is aggressively hostile to Christianity. Her father works as a farmer and her mother is a housewife, but they do not earn much of an income. Gaura is currently in the 9th grade, enrolled in one of Gospel for Asia’s Bridge of Hope centers. The fact that this Bridge of Hope center even exists, in a village that detests Christianity, is truly a blessing.

Gaura’s family members were faithful to the traditional religion of their community. Everything changed, however, when Gaura became ill.

Surgery Needed

About seven years ago, Gaura started suffering from epilepsy. She would often fall unconscious with little to no warning. Her parents took her to various doctors until they received shocking news. Gaura needed surgery on her brain.

The family took her to a specialty hospital, where they received the same recommendation: surgery or else. But even with the costly surgery, the doctors could not guarantee Gaura’s recovery. The medical staff sent her home with medication to try to ease the symptoms. Her parents didn’t know what to do.

Praying for a Miracle

Aware of Gaura’s unfortunate condition, the Bridge of Hope staff and even students came to her house to pray for her.

Gaura also started to pray. She trusted that Jesus could heal her condition. Soon her seizures disappeared altogether. It was a miracle.

Gaura and her parents returned to the specialty hospital. The doctor had a new diagnosis this time: She was completely healed! The parents realized that the one true God had healed their daughter, and they gave their lives to Christ when they saw His love and power.

Another Problem Arises

Although Gaura and her parents rejoiced in God’s touch on their lives, they also knew that their neighbors would not be pleased to find out about the family’s new religion. They wanted to attend the local church but were afraid of repercussions from anti-Christian extremists.

In the meantime, Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Pastor Kamukh makes frequent visits to them and disciples the family in the Word.

See how one pastor helped a believing couple stand firm in the midst of persecution.

“Persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ is a common reality in South Asia,” says GFA President K.P. Yohannan. “This is why discipleship from our dedicated brothers is so crucial for these precious young believers. Thank you for your support and fervent prayers for them to remain faithful in the midst of suffering.”

A film team consists of two missionaries, traveling each morning to a new village.

They minister to people during the day and then show a movie on the life of Christ in the evening. And a film team’s day is often full of surprises.

Trouble for a Young Woman

One such surprise came in the form of a young lady named Dhriti. For some time, Dhriti had been suffering with health problems. It got to the point at which she was no longer able to eat and, as a result, became extremely sick. In addition, Dhriti’s behavior was erratic, causing tension in her family. It turned out this was no ordinary illness. An evil spirit was afflicting Dhriti.

Her husband took her to various doctors and temples in an effort to heal her, but nothing seemed to help. Her behavior only worsened as time went on. Frustration was mounting, and Dhriti’s husband had reached his breaking point. Not knowing where to turn or what to do, he was ready to leave her.

But the Lord had other plans.

A Timely Meeting

That day, film-team members Nirav and Udyan met Dhriti and her husband. They told the couple about the love of Jesus and invited them to watch the movie later that evening.

Dhriti’s family decided to attend, but Dhriti had no interest in going. In spite of her angry protestations, however, the family somehow convinced her to come along.

She may have agreed to go with them, but she didn’t go quietly. Dhriti shouted disruptively throughout the film. After the movie, our film team prayed for Dhriti’s deliverance, and her family couldn’t believe what they saw. She was immediately freed from her bondage, and the demon was gone. That very evening, Dhriti and her parents received Jesus into their lives.

A Village in Awe

The village was well aware of Dhriti’s troubles, so to see her transformation was a shock to many. Dhriti’s healing has opened many of the villagers’ hearts. Dhriti’s husband also changed his mind about leaving his wife. Praise the Lord for sending the film team at the right time and for healing this broken family!

I used to go to our library to look for materials and references. But now, instead of spending hours looking through books, I can find online information within a few seconds—from 10,000 books. We used to get 3 or 5 or 10 television channels; now there are 2 million! Maybe someday you can just think it and your teeth will be brushed!

So many things in our lives have changed. Yet our lives have become more complicated, not simpler. With all the conveniences, are you finding your life more at peace?

In this climate, it takes a deliberate decision to follow the Lord. How do we follow the Lord faithfully?

When Jesus called His disciples, His statement was very simple: “Come, follow Me.”

It’s a very clear message. The thing I have to remind myself every day is that I need to follow the Lord. Rather than the work of ministry or what I can get out of it, it’s the Lord I am following.

It is the same call for our missionaries in Asia. Although they live in a culture that feels like another world from ours, they still need our prayers and partnership to stay strong in this spiritual journey. I thank you for standing with them—and for being part of so many changing lives!

What a privilege to know that through your gifts and prayers, you affect the lives of people like Gurdeep, once lost and hurting and now alive in Christ. You’re joining hands with missionaries like Grishma, who went boldly into a slum to bring the Light of the world.

It is a continuous journey of saying goodbye to this world and choosing a life of eternal value. The more we do that, the more we walk into the world of knowing Him. May the Lord help us to hear that call every single day: “Come, follow Me.”