gfa world magazine

Wartime Hope for Jaffna’s ChildrenAn aunt takes on loving and providing for her orphaned nephews while her country is at war. // p.9

world TRANSFORMINGCOMMUNITIES THROUGH CHRIST’S LOVE

Gospel for Asia’s Magazine | July 2014

Fishing in Troubled WaterA pastor watches the Lord

change people’s hearts. // p.12

Two ‘Worlds’ Connected by a WellA small church provides

water for thousands. // p.16

Editor-in-Chief K.P. YohannanManaging Editor Michelle JiménezContributing Editors John Beers, Rich Lodi, Gisela YohannanWriters Terri Castellanos Savannah Conole, Bethany DuVal, Colleen Fellars, Susan Lawson, Veronica LeguireProofreader Tricia BennettDesign DOXAProduction Gwendolyn CrossPrinting The John Roberts Company

GFA World Volume 34, Number 1

GFA World is published three times per year by Gospel for Asia, Inc., 1116 St. Thomas Way, Wills Point, Texas 75169. ©2014 Gospel for Asia, Inc. Each issue costs about 70 cents per copy to produce. Please contact us for permission to reproduce any part of this magazine.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For security reasons, many names of people and places in our stories have been changed.

About Gospel for Asia: We are committed as a family of believers to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with lost men, women and children throughout Asia who still have not heard His precious name. Our ministry is about changing lives—both for this life and for eternity.

One hundred percent of all contributions for use on the mission field are sent to the nations we serve.

Please visit us: www.gfa.org

CONTACT GFA IN YOUR COUNTRY:

Australia

P.O. Box 3587 Village Fair

Toowoomba, QLD 4350

1300 889 339

07 4632 4131

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.gospelforasia.org.au

Canada

245 King St. East

Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1L9

1-888-WIN-ASIA (946-2742)

905-662-2101

[email protected]

www.gfa.ca

Finland

Gospel for Asia ry

PL 63

65101 Vaasa

Finland

+358500369699

[email protected]

www.gfa.fi

Germany

Postfach 13 60

79603 Rheinfelden (Baden)

49-0-7623 7974-77

[email protected]

www.gfa.org/germany

New Zealand

P.O. Box 302 580

North Harbour 0751

0508-918-918

[email protected]

www.gfa.org.nz

South Africa

P.O. Box 28880

Sunridge Park 6008

041-360-0198

[email protected]

www.gfa.org/southafrica

South Korea

Seok-Am Building, 5th Flr.

6-9 Tereran-ro, Yeoksam-dong

Gangnam-gu

Seoul 135-080

(080) 801-0191

02-6279-7798 or 02-6279-7799

[email protected]

www.gfa.or.kr

United Kingdom

PO Box 316

Manchester

M22 2DJ

0161 946 9484

[email protected]

www.gfauk.org

United States

1116 St. Thomas Way

Wills Point, TX 75169

1-800-WIN-ASIA (946-2742)

972-300-7777

You may have noticed the magazine you now hold in your hands has the title GFA World written across the top instead of Send!. I want to assure you that this is the same magazine with the same stories, the same mission and the same focus to reach the most unreached with the incredible saving message of Jesus Christ. The only difference is the name.

When we first published the magazine in 1982, the title Send! fit. It was our beginning; we were primarily involved in training national workers and supporting their work on the field. As the years passed and the ministry has grown, the Lord has given us such incredible opportunities to bring the Good News to the most unreached in our generation. It has gone far beyond anything we ever could have possibly imagined.

This is the reason why we chose to change the name of our magazine, to reflect both the life and growing ministry of GFA. We are so grateful for each one of you and for standing with us to reach the untold millions with the love of Christ. Peace.

The SameMagazine?

July 2014 | GFA World | 3

Features

Wartime Hope for Jaffna’s Children / 9An aunt takes on loving and providing for her orphaned

nephews while her country is at war.

Fishing in Troubled Water / 12In an area known for chasing out Christians, one GFA pastor

sees God perform miracles.

Two ‘Worlds’ Connected by a Well / 16A small church in North America provides water for thousands

in South Asia.

Given a New Vision / 20A land mine explosion radically changes a man’s life and takes

him on a journey to God.

Departments

Conversations / 4

News from the Mission Field / 6

Ministry Focus / 14

Profile / 15

Guest Writer / 18

Prayer Focus / 19

Resources / 22

Five Minutes with K.P. / 23

9

4

16

18 20

12

6

4 | Gospel for Asia | gfa.org

At the same time, we discovered a very prime piece

of buildable land. Due to a downturn in the local economy,

it was well below market value. As we sought the Lord’s

guidance, a friend of the ministry sensed the Lord leading

him to provide the funds for purchasing the land.

Q Your desire has always been to know

the Lord and make Him known. How will

this move enable GFA to reach the lost more

effectively? // The passion the Lord gave us to reach

the most unreached continues to move us forward. We

pray the Lord will enable us to see tens of thousands

of laborers trained and sent out to the harvest fields of

South Asia.

This new location and setup will enable us to save

more than $4 million each year in overhead expenses.

We’ll be able to provide simple on-site housing for staff

and School of Discipleship students, significantly reducing

the amount of money needed to sustain a staff member.

Every day we face the reality that there is so much

more we could do if we had additional people on staff.

Our passion is to rescue 500,000 children through

GFA Bridge of Hope and to share the love of Christ with

hundreds of millions who have not even heard His name.

With the costs of living on campus being so much lower

than living in local homes and apartments in Carrollton,

Q How did the Lord lead GFA to relocate its

headquarters? // After being at our present

location for the past 14 years, we are moving to a new

facility about an hour away. Lord willing, the move will

take place by the early part of August.

For many years we have prayed about and

explored the idea of moving to a location where we

could provide housing for staff and cut our costs, as well

as have a place to be able to accommodate discipling

hundreds of young people and to be a blessing to the

Body of Christ through regular Renewing Your Passion

(RYP) conferences.

A couple of years ago, we came to the point where

we realized we were growing quickly, and there were

many opportunities opening before us to reach the lost.

The leaders of the ministry also realized we needed to

do all we could to reduce the overhead expenses and

continue to send 100 percent of our donors’ field gifts

to the mission field.

Conversations { DIS CUS SIONS W I T H K . P. YOH A N NA N }

In this conversation, K.P. Yohannan shares how relocating will not only save the ministry money but will also expand its reach among the unreached.

GFA Is Moving


Texas, we will be able to effectively cut our staffing

budget in half.

Everyone who is on staff or who joins School of

Discipleship raises their own support—often a lengthy

process. If a family needs to raise only half of what they

had to raise before, they may be able to join us sooner.

Having the ability to bring staff sooner, while at the

same time saving millions of dollars annually, is really an

unbelievable blessing the Lord has brought before us to

help accomplish this dream.

Q You mention School of Discipleship students.

How will this move impact your ministry

to young people? // When I was barely 17 and just

beginning to serve the Lord, I was with a group of young

men and women who were also passionate about the

Lord and about evangelism. It was through my time with

those teams that I developed a close and intimate walk

with the Lord and really began to grow in understanding

of what it means to be Christ’s disciple. I knew that people

could grow very quickly and deeply in their walk with the

Lord if they were guided by godly leaders and walking

closely with other like-minded young men and women.

It has always been my heart to help impact young

people in the same way. With the new facility and

reduced amount of needed support, it’s my dream to

have 200 School of Discipleship students, preparing

them for a lifetime of ministry. These young men and

women spend a year or two of their life with us, living

and working full time alongside our staff in the office.

They are radically discipled and encouraged to follow

the Lord and know Jesus intimately. They also get to visit

the mission field in Asia and see what God is doing. It’s

really incredible to see how He changes their lives during

their time here.

Q GFA is known for being very passionate

about following the Lord. How will this new

campus help you share this passion with people

in the USA? // I am very excited about the potential to

hold more Renewing Your Passion conferences once we

are established in this new facility. We have held several

in the past, but we were limited by the handful of hotels

and convention halls in the Dallas area that could handle

such an event. We had two smaller ones at our GFA U.S.

office last year, and I hope we will be able to have several

every year at our new campus.

During each RYP conference, we invite men and

women from all over the country to come and spend a

few days with us, hear stories from the mission field and

renew their passion for Christ and His Great Commission.

We have clearly seen how these conferences garner

more prayer support for the mission field. When we

move to our new campus, we will have the land, facilities

and space available to host RYP conferences at a

significant savings in both cost and time.

Q Any final words you would like to add? //

The Bible says, “The people who know their God

shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (Daniel

11:32). A day is coming soon when Jesus will come back

for His bride. There isn’t much time left to let this world

know of Jesus’ sacrifice and love for them.

My prayer and hope is that GFA will continue to be

a means for the people of God to draw close to Him and

be used to reach the most unreached in our generation.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is, “They first gave

themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of

God” (2 Corinthians 8:5). I am so glad this truth is being

fulfilled in and through GFA in this generation. I hope our

new headquarters will enable us to do this even more.

The doors are open now to share the Good News

of Christ’s love. There is much to be done for His sake.

May we all keep His return in mind and live for Him

with all our hearts. Now is the time to move forward.


NEWSfrom theMISSIONFIELD

Why not use it to reach possibly thousands in Asia with the Good News of Christ? Whether it’s a newer vehicle that you no longer need or an older one, donating it can help save lives! Vehicle donation is one of many creative ways you can help

share Jesus’ love and hope with those who have never before heard of Him.

Donated vehicles are either used at Gospel for Asia’s headquarters or sold

and the proceeds used to further the work on the mission field.

Not sure what to do with that car, boat, truck or RV you don’t need?

The donation process is easy. Find out more: Visit: gfa.org/s/vehicles Call: 1-800-WIN-ASIA Email: [email protected]

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SOUTH ASIA – Seeking to help 2 million Dalit families by 2020, Gospel for Asia’s micro-finance program is already seeing new businesses thrive and their owners transformed by the love of Christ.

Created to help upend the cycle of poverty in South Asia while sharing the Good News of Jesus, the micro-financing program, operating under GFA’s Women’s Fellowship, brings together local Dalit women with talents or ideas for businesses. Already, 70,000 women are participating in the program.

After receiving loans, which are overseen by the local church, the women form a “chapter” and attend weekly meetings where they discuss income generation, long-term savings, health insurance,

time management and financial discipline. More important, these meetings become a place where they can pray together and learn more about the love of Jesus.

Chapters are led with the goal of improving members’ whole lives, both physical and spiritual, with special programs held for their children and meetings that include time for sharing personal struggles.

“[The micro-finance program] knowingly helps poor people and gives them a better future,” said Tanmayi, a loan recipient, who had difficulties providing for her family before joining the program.

The micro-loans allow women to improve their lives and start businesses, yet the program also offers them hope found in Jesus. Now Tanmayi and thousands of other Dalit women can live knowing their futures are secured in Christ’s provision—and especially His love.

Micro-Finance Provides More than Loans

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USA – This spring, more than 900 children were sponsored during Gospel for Asia’s Mother’s Day campaign.

After last year’s campaign, Dr. K.P. Yohannan encouraged staff to take a leap of faith and ask people to honor their moms by providing 2,000 impoverished children with schooling, daily meals and medical care.

For more than four weeks, GFA shared stories from the field and videos, including a special message from Yohannan. As a new feature this year, participants were able to print out cards for their mothers featuring the children they sponsored.

GFA had its first online Mother’s Day campaign in 2013, inspired by a desire among staff to give something meaningful and lasting to their moms. In two weeks, 250 children were sponsored by people honoring their moms, by those hoping to be moms in the future, or by those simply following the direction they had already heard from the Lord.

“I’ll be 24 next month and always kind of thought I would be a mom by now,” said Veronica of Findlay, Ohio, “and since I’m not, this was actually kind of in honor of my own desire to be a mother.”

Together, many friends of the ministry allowed a simple holiday to give new life to many.

Mother’s Day Campaign Offers Gift AlternativeSOUTH ASIA – Churches

across South Asia held special services on April 6 to observe GFA Radio Sunday, a day for believers to learn about and pray for the ministry’s radio programs.

Speakers shared how God is changing lives through radio, which broadcasts 15-minute messages about handling ordinary life issues according to the Bible. The speakers gave requests for a special prayer session, and churches also took up special offerings to continue the work.

In one church, GFA pastor Kalpa, who is also the radio broadcaster in the local language, spoke to around 150 people, including several non-believing families, about how

Dr. K.P. Yohannan first started the radio programs. Pastor Kalpa encouraged the audience to spread the word about GFA Radio.

Eelakili, a local believer who attended the event, said, “Whenever I go for my daily wages in the tea garden, I will tell my friend about GFA Radio.”

After the service, church leaders distributed booklets about the programs to the locals. Although many have yet to embrace the God they hear about, some regularly listen to the program and are encouraged by the messages.

“I am blessed by this program,” said Saipraasad, a member of a traditional religion. “Now, I will always listen to GFA Radio.”

GFA Radio has played a vital role in reaching and transforming lives in South Asia for nearly 30 years.

Churches Celebrate GFA Radio Sunday


We Remember & HonorIN MEMORY OF

+ Bob Edwards from Scott and Kris Davis

+ David Erlandson from National

Association of Letter Carriers

+ Dorothy Regina Schuller from James

J. Knoedler, Gary and Linda Erickson,

Wilma A. Rohn

+ Hector Dominic DeSimone from

Christian Legal Society, David and

Regina Maxwell

+ Rose Nikkel from Dr. and Mrs. Lee

Balzer, Janie Jones, Les and Tonja Isaac,

Gary and Sandy Skinner, Joyce L. Frey

+ William M. Korman from Jason and

Rachel Thomas

IN HONOR OF

+ Art and Lois from Russ and

Beverly McHenry

+ Brad Pettijohn from Russell and

Glee Pettijohn

+ Clyde Bish from Phyllis Eyerkuss

+ Kimberly Schieche from Donald and

Sue Schieche

+ Mr. Matthew Lunders from W. Lunders

This list is a partial representation of many

generous friends who have given to Gospel

for Asia in memory or in honor of loved

ones. Visit gfa.org/memoryhonor to view

the complete list. If you wish to make a

donation, please contact GFA in your

country (see page 2).

NEWS from the MISSION FIELD

*)() *)()*)()*)()*)() *)()*)()*)()*)()*)()

CANADA – Gospel for Asia’s Canada office celebrated its 30th anniversary on May 9–10 by holding its first Renewing Your Passion (RYP) conference. Approximately 200 people came to Scarborough, Ontario, for two days of prayer, hearing from ministry leaders and celebration.

“We praised God, we gave Him glory, we prayed together, and we loved the Lord together,” says GFA Canada office director, Pat Emerick. “That’s what we did for our 30th anniversary.”

GFA Canada began in 1984, after U.S. ministry leader Fred Schaphorst was invited to tour 20 Canadian cities with the Keith Green Memorial Concert. For three weeks, Fred gave away the two printed materials GFA had on hand: a brochure and a Send! newspaper. When he returned, requests to sponsor missionaries began to come in.

In the years since, Emerick says, the Canadian Church has shown a great heart for the lost. Emerick noticed friends of the ministry tend to possess a unique passion for initiatives like winter clothing and clean water, giving nearly 1,000 Jesus Wells every year.

“There’s a strong national commitment that Canadians have had for generations,” Emerick says, “for helping people and for being charitable and loving.”

In the years ahead, GFA Canada’s staff hopes to see more Canadian believers united through that commitment, as they were for RYP.

“I think we’re just starting to scratch the surface, honestly,” Emerick says. “There’s a long, long way, but the Lord is with us.”

GFA Canada Celebrates 30 Years


Bombs blasted and shrapnel flew as rebel forces fought the Sri Lankan army for the creation of

their own ethnic state. The Jaffna district was caught in the heat of the battle. ✺ Over the course

of the 26-year-long war, 100,000 fell dead—civilians included. Jaffna was hit hardest. Land mines and

bullet holes littered the region. For decades, people endured trauma and lived under fear, and tens of

thousands of children became fatherless or motherless. ✺ Amid the violence, the war-weary people

continued with life and death; 2-year-old Singan and 5-month-old Kavin were no exception.

FOR JAFFNA’S CHILDREN

*)() *)()*)()*)()*)() *)()*)()*)()*)()*)()

Left AloneIn 2003, Singan and Kavin’s mother died.

Complications after delivering Kavin had gone untreated, leaving the young mother susceptible to the sickness that eventually took her life.

Eight days later, Singan and Kavin’s father abandoned the two boys and married another woman. The 2-year-old and 5-month-old were left without father or mother in a land under gunfire.

An Aunt’s LoveThe boys’ aunt, Aruli, took them in. Like a mother,

she devoted herself to them—sacrificing everything else in the process.

“I always consider them as my own children,” Aruli shares.

The boys live with her and an elderly relative, who was crippled by a bomb blast during the war, in a home provided by the government for the poor.

Many people lost their livelihoods in the upheaval and were sustained only by aid from the government and NGOs. At times, some families ate one meal every two days. Aruli and the boys were among the destitute.

Without any skills or education, Aruli works in agricultural fields to provide for the four of them. She earns an average of 87 cents per day.

“I spent everything for them,” Aruli shares. “When everything was [gone], I even sold my jewels and took care of them.”

Still, that wasn’t enough. Time and time again, her boys were hungry, and she didn’t have food to give them. But she asked for help.

“Sometimes I would ask the shopkeeper to lend [me] some grocery items,” she shares. “He would definitely give. He will never say no to me for anything.”

When her boys needed medical care, Aruli borrowed money from her neighbors.

At one point, a man proposed marriage to Aruli. She asked him if he would take the boys too.

“He did not agree to what I said, and that’s all,” she shares. “I sacrificed my life because of the children.”

Refuge of Hope In the final phase of the war, a GFA Bridge of

Hope center opened its doors to 80 of Jaffna’s afflicted children—including Singan and Kavin.

The children had been rattled not only by their own experiences of war but also by a society clutched by fear, never knowing what each day would bring.

“The children [of Jaffna] have lots of needs,” says the leader of Bridge of Hope in Sri Lanka. “Somebody has to be there to help these children to come up with their lives, to shape up their lives.”

At the Bridge of Hope center, Singan and Kavin, now 12 and 9 years old, take classes and receive daily meals, medical care and the critical message that Jesus loves them.

When Singan and Kavin first enrolled in Bridge of Hope, they did poorly in their academics.

“If the Bridge of Hope center was not there, children would have struggled much,” Aruli comments. “In the future, the children would become like us illiterates.”

But through the teaching and encouragement of their teachers, they are now doing well in their studies.

Before coming to the center, Singan and Kavin had never heard about Christ. Most of the other children hadn’t either. But God, through Bridge of Hope, is reaching into the lives of these children and showing them the great love He has for them.

“Now we can see all these fears, anxieties and all those things are slowly vanishing,” Lal Vanderwall, the leader of Gospel for Asia’s work in Sri Lanka, shares.

Through the practical help they’re given through Bridge of Hope, these children are recognizing Jesus’ love, and as a result, they’re gaining confidence.

Future for Jaffna’s ChildrenSingan and Kavin have had a difficult past, but

because of what Aruli and Bridge of Hope have done for them, they have a future.

As for the rest of the children in this war-torn region, they no doubt have a long road of rebuilding before them. But the Lord’s work is just beginning, and so is hope for the children of Jaffna.



Pastor Udyan and his wife knew they might face trials, and they were right. Throughout his time ministering in this

village, he has faced people threatening to beat him, to cut off his legs and to kill him. But this faithful pastor and his wife refused to leave. Amidst a sea of hostility, God started changing people’s hearts one by one and brought in a catch of “fish.”

Woman Delivered, Harvest Foreshadowed

Years before Pastor Udyan’s arrival, Raaka lived a troubled existence. Her husband was an abusive alcoholic who squandered almost all his earnings. Raaka worked hard to feed her family of seven, but she earned only 500 rupees (approximately $8) a month. The worst of her problems, however, was more mysterious and disturbing.

For nine years at each new moon, Raaka would fall unconscious after responding to a knock at her door. She performed many painful rituals to deliver herself from these strange occurrences, but nothing worked.

One day, while traveling by bus, Raaka lapsed into a trance-like state. As she stepped off the bus, she fell and

hit her head. People rushed her to the hospital, but even after one month, nothing could wake her from the trance. Doctors finally suggested Raaka go to a church.

It was there that a GFA pastor prayed for Raaka, and God delivered her! She devoted her life to Christ and later joined Pastor Udyan’s fellowship.

Under Pastor Udyan’s shepherding, Raaka grew in Christ and began praying for her family. She watched as the Lord increased her income and softened her husband’s heart to embrace His love.

Raaka has seen her Savior perform miracles in many other lives too—including her brother-in-law Kulik’s.

Hope for Abusive Alcoholic Kulik’s alcoholism was tearing his family apart. He’d

spend all but a tiny portion of his earnings on alcohol, and he’d beat his wife—behaviors that led to a violent confrontation with her family. Ashamed and wanting to punish himself for the shambled state of his life, Kulik decided one night to slam a stone weighing more than 40

Fishing In Troubled

WaterFollowing the Lord’s call to be “fishers of men,” Gospel for Asia pastor Udyan Venkatesan and his wife, Sakina, came

to a village where people had chased the last Christian pastor out of town. Out of 5,000 people, only 10 Christians lived there, and there was no church. In this village, people fervently practiced their ancestral religions and had little

interest in hearing about Christ.


pounds into his leg. This left his leg a bloody mess, and Kulik couldn’t walk for a few days.

When Kulik’s wife took him to the hospital, doctors found the wound infected and worm-infested. The leg would need to be amputated.

Raaka suggested he seek Pastor Udyan’s help, and with no other options, a devastated Kulik took her advice. As Pastor Udyan prayed for him, Kulik felt his pain diminish day by day. After one year, his leg was completely healed!

Kulik then embraced the love of the God who restored his life. Amazed by the miracle, Kulik’s wife and a neighbor family also decided to follow Jesus. As Kulik grew spiritually, the Lord helped him overcome his alcohol addiction, and now he works hard for his family’s survival.

No Longer ChildlessThe same year God changed Kulik’s life, He also

brought Pastor Udyan into the path of a woman named Talikha, who had waited to have a child for 11 years. She had been pregnant twice but miscarried both times.

During her third pregnancy, Talikha heard about Pastor Udyan and sought him out so he could pray for the health of her unborn child. Three months after he prayed, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Talikha decided to follow Jesus, and now she prays for her non-Christian family members to find the same joy she has in Christ.

Treasures from Troubled WaterTalikha, Kulik and Raaka are just a few of the

many people who have joined Pastor Udyan’s church after being transformed by Christ’s love. Through Pastor Udyan’s ministry, many others have tasted God’s goodness and decided to follow Christ—including Ahijit, a respected community leader who used to persecute Christians, and Jeevan, a once-abusive alcoholic who almost committed suicide.

Despite the limitations of a society hostile toward Christianity, Pastor Udyan and Sakina have gotten to watch God do the miraculous: bring in a crowd of “fish”—new disciples who’ve been transformed by His awesome power and love.


The faint hum of voices in song came wafting into Ayyapan’s living room as he watched television. The melody tickled his ears and seemed to linger in the air, vying for his attention. Ayyapan hadn’t heard this tune before, but the more he listened to it, the more fascinated he became.

A yyapan soon switched off the TV and ran outside, following the trail of the melody. He reached an open field

filled with children and stood curiously watching them enjoy an afternoon of singing. He found out the young boys and girls were taking part in a Gospel for Asia Vacation Bible School program. When they told him the festivities were open to all people of any age, 20-year-old Ayyapan joined in.

“I spent time with Christian children for about two hours for the first time on that day,” Ayyapan says. “The Sunday school teachers taught me good action songs and treated me with so much love . . .”

Ayyapan returned home singing new songs and filled with a new type of happiness he hadn’t experienced before.

The next day, right after he finished his breakfast, Ayyapan jetted out the door to attend the VBS program, taking his older brother, Randhir, with him. When they arrived, the two brothers were surprised to see the children joyously welcoming them with clapping.

Soon, the children started praying to Jesus for them. Overpowered by the Holy Spirit’s presence, Ayyapan and Randhir—who grew up performing all the rituals of their traditional religion—found themselves joining along.

“I could not stop myself,” Ayyapan recalls. “So I too started praying loudly and joined with them in praising God.”

When a few GFA pastors prayed over the brothers, Ayyapan said they both felt a blazing fire kindle within them.

“We could understand the work of Jesus Christ in our lives,” he remembers. “Jesus helped me to realize His divine love. … That was the day I experienced Jesus taking away all of my burdens.”

After spending the rest of the day alongside the little children, being renewed and filled with the Lord’s love, Ayyapan and Randhir went back home to tell their family about the only true Giver of Life.

“Jesus touched me with fire,” Ayyapan remembers his brother telling him as they walked home, “and [He] promised me His protection.”

Now, thanks to the high-spirited singing of a group of children, Ayyapan’s whole family has discovered new life in the amazing grace of Christ.

Ministry Focus { VAC AT ION BI BL E S C HO OL }

Whispers of a Melody Lead to the Fire of Christ at VBS

Think About ItAyyapan felt no shame or embarrassment, even

being 20 years old, when he joined the young boys

and girls for their Vacation Bible School program. In

South Asia, it is typical for young men and women

to participate in VBS or Sunday school programs

without any age restrictions—and the Lord is using

these programs to spread His love like wildfire.

Watch children sing, dance and laugh

at a GFA VBS program. gfa.org/s/vbs


“If you go to the church again, we will banish you from our family and community!” they yelled.

P alash’s family wanted nothing to do with Christianity. They felt it defied their culture, and if Palash decided to go against

everything they had ever known, they wanted nothing to do with him—not even after witnessing this God heal their loved one.

A Struggle to LiveIt had been 16 years since Palash had eaten his last

decent meal. Every time he ate, the pain became increasingly unbearable to the point where he was barely eating. Doctors eventually determined he was suffering from severe stomach ulcers. But medical treatments, witch doctors and the gods Palash’s family held so dear were all unable to help.

When Gospel for Asia pastor Sabal met him, it was obvious Palash was stepping closer to death’s door.

Regaining His HealthPastor Sabal listened as the dying man explained his agony.

Afterward the pastor said, “I am just a simple man, but if you believe in Jesus, He can heal you and take away all your pain because He is gracious.”

Holding on to that message of hope, Palash prayed with the pastor and miraculously experienced the Lord remove his pain. His family rejoiced to see Palash regaining his strength—but they still didn’t put their trust in the One from whom the healing came.

Rejected by FamilyWhen Palash fully recovered, he knew it was a miracle and

decided then that he would live to serve his Healer.But Palash’s family did not share his gratitude. Instead, they

were angry with him for following the God they hated. They made good on their threat to banish him from their family when he continued to attend Pastor Sabal’s church.

With nowhere to go, the pastor took Palash in.This time in Palash’s life became one of intense growth.

During the three years that he lived with Pastor Sabal, he learned to read the Bible and understand more of God’s love for him—as well as His love for others in his village.

Palash shared his testimony with neighbors and friends, but instead of receiving the wonderful news of the Savior’s love, his community tried to kill him.

Enduring FaithUndeterred by such hostility, Palash faithfully prayed for

his family and neighbors to see the truth of God’s love for them—and the Lord answered.

When his mother became ill, Palash knew firsthand who had the power to heal, so he prayed. The Lord touched her, and this time, she recognized it and chose to follow Christ. Later, Palash’s younger sister also embraced Jesus.

Although Palash’s remaining family members refuse to listen to the Good News, he prays daily for them. Every week, Palash shares his testimony with whomever will listen and offers God’s Word to those who will receive it.

“It is my great desire and burden,” Palash says, “to follow Him and share His love with my people as long as I live on this earth.”

Burdened for Those Who Hate His God

Profile { ON E L I F E , M A K ING A DI F F E R ENC E }


Half a world away, a man named Jack, director of the Awana children’s Bible club at a Baptist church in Pennsylvania, had Jesus Wells on his mind. His chances of collecting the funds for one, however, seemed depressingly slim.

Chaitra’s village had no roads, but that didn’t stop the nomadic locals from coming and going. With no jobs, facilities or clean water, there wasn’t much to stay for, but there was something different about the village Chaitra’s relatives had invited her to visit—that much was evident as soon as she got off the bus and found a hand pump for fresh drinking water. The sign next to it said “Jesus Well.”

TWO ‘WORLDS’ CONNECTED BY A WELL


T he kids at the club had seemed excited when Jack presented the idea of collecting enough

dimes to build a Jesus Well—even more so when he pitted the girls against the boys. But after the first night of the contest, the children had pulled in a whopping $2.60 to buy a $1,000 well.

“It was such a low amount that I couldn’t believe it,” Jack says.

In 29 years of serving with Awana, Jack has organized many girls-against-boys fundraising contests, all with modest results, but he had good reason to feel hopeful about this year’s campaign to fund a Jesus Well: The year before, they had given three times what they initially expected.

That year, Jack set his hopes on buying a cow through Gospel for Asia. The children’s initial excitement was encouraging, but the adults in the congregation surprised Jack by asking if they could compete too.

By the end of eight weeks, the Awana club and congregation had raised 110,000 pennies—enough to buy three cows and a flock of chickens.

But Jack didn’t know what happened the following year.

Don’t people care? he thought.

‘WATER WELLING UP’While Jack struggled with

discouragement, Chaitra struggled with the well’s pump. She was thirsty, but without someone’s help, she wouldn’t be able to drink. When a man came to her aid, he introduced himself as Pastor Nadin, and as he and Chaitra talked, he shared about Jesus Christ.

When Pastor Nadin left, Chaitra saw that the well’s sign had something written about “water welling up to eternal life.” When she arrived at her relatives’ house, she was full of questions.

BEATING THE ODDSAfter the first week’s dismal results, Jack prayed,

“Lord, I know that You want us to help these folks, but we gotta do something other than this, I think.”

The next week, God did. As Jack encouraged the church with stories about people and villages impacted by Jesus Wells, the Lord moved in people’s hearts. By the contest’s end, the church had raised enough money for two Jesus Wells.

When it came time for the next contest, the whole church was excited to raise money for another Jesus Well. But the church’s pastor, Lee, felt unsure about the goal.

“One well is great,” he told Jack, “but can’t we do better than that? Why don’t we shoot for something high and see what God does?”

With only $95 collected and only four Sundays to go, Pastor Lee and Jack announced that there would be a special offering. Their total goal: $5,000.

A LIFE-CHANGING PHONE CALLChaitra asked her relatives about the message

she had heard and read at the well. Being Christians, they eagerly told her about the Living Water and gave her Pastor Nadin’s phone number. Chaitra called him as soon as she got home.

“I want to become a Christian and attend a church service,” she told him.

“Definitely,” Pastor Nadin said.

BEYOND WHAT THEY COULD DO ALONE

On their special-offering Sunday, it was up to the 120 people in the service to make up the remainder of their goal.

After everything was tallied, Pastor Lee was astonished to read the total: $10,116. In one Sunday, the church gave enough money for 10 Jesus Wells. Added to the rest of the contest’s total, they were able to fund 11.

“When Pastor announced it, the church basically went nuts,” Jack says. “It was quite a moment for our little tiny church.”

Encouraged by the people’s response, Pastor Lee told Jack, “We have to stop thinking so small all the time and think about what a great God and wonderful God we have, [who does] a lot more than we could ever do by ourselves.”

TASTING THE LIVING WATERAfter talking to Chaitra, Pastor Nadin directed

her to a church in her own village, led by a Gospel for Asia pastor. Chaitra now attends regularly, drinking deeply from the Living Water. And now, thanks to Jack’s church, hundreds of others are going to experience the same refreshing love of Jesus Christ through the Jesus Wells.


I recently visited a community in Sri Lanka that was ravaged by the nation’s 26-year civil war.

What should have been an island paradise was a devastated mess. Our jeep passed coconut trees with their tops blasted off, rusty vehicles that were modified for warfare and crumbling homes pocked by bullets. Skulls and crossbones flashed empty smiles at passersby, warning of landmines.

When local people returned from refugee camps a few years ago, it was without many of their innocent loved ones who had been killed in the crossfire. Much of the community was destroyed, but they had to come back—there was no other option.

There was one family, though, that moved here by choice. Gospel for Asia pastor Navaneeth, his wife and their three children gave up their familiar lives and came with a vision to bring hope. Each day, Pastor Navaneeth traveled on his bicycle and shared the love of Jesus with struggling villagers. Many were healed from diseases through Pastor Navaneeth’s prayers or were drawn to Christ by the love and care the Lord showered upon them through His servant.

Before long, there was a group of people gathering each Sunday in a church building they patched together out of boards, tin sheets and a tarp from the United Nations refugee agency. Brightly colored saris draped around the makeshift building, compensating for the lack of a proper roof and walls.

One of the regular visitors was a 63-year-old paralyzed man named Abisayan. Devout in his traditional religion, he used to visit temples and plead for healing. One time he stayed at a temple for 16 days straight—but nothing changed.

When Pastor Navaneeth met him and talked of Jesus’ power to heal, Abisayan believed him. He started coming to the makeshift church each week by auto rickshaw. Unable to sit, he would lie motionless on the ground and earnestly pray. He seemed on the verge of death, but God did a miracle.

When I visited the church, Abisayan was walking with crutches and sporting a huge grin. He testified about all Jesus had done in his life—not only healing him, but giving him peace he’d never experienced before. He’s still praying and trusting God for complete recovery.

My trip to this war-torn community left me amazed at the contrast between the believers’ circumstances and their joy. They have lost so much, but they have hope that stretches into eternity. And it is all because of one pastor’s faithfulness to get on his bicycle and share Christ’s love. Even more amazing is the fact that Pastor Navaneeth is only one of many Gospel for Asia pastors giving their lives every day to bring hope to the nation of Sri Lanka.

Learn more about Sri Lanka: gfa.org/s/sri-lanka

Guest Writer { A N N I E PE T E R , G O SPE L F OR A SI A FI E L D C OR R E SP ON DEN T }

In the Wake of War

Annie Peter, a Gospel for Asia field correspondent, shares

what she experienced while visiting Sri Lanka to see how

God is bringing healing to this war-torn country.

gfa. org

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Twelve-year-old Thuza Nu had never heard there could be assurance of where she will go after

she passes from this earthly life. She and her family worked hard in being devout and strong adherents to their traditional faith, only hoping they could one day reach a place of bliss.

But when the young girl attended a Gospel for Asia youth camp outreach, her worldview changed. She discovered the promises of the Lord, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

“Only Jesus is the real God and Savior,” Thuza Nu proclaimed.

When Thuza Nu’s parents heard she had embraced Christ, they ignored it, believing it was a fanciful whim. There was no way their daughter could give up the family’s faith—not when they were so zealous over their religion and had raised her to be the same. But three months later, news of Thuza Nu’s public devotion to Jesus triggered the wrath of her parents like a sudden thunderous squall.

“Why did you forsake [our religion]?” they yelled at her. “You cannot forsake [our faith] without your parents’ permission.”

Unleashing his anger, Thuza Nu’s father beat her for loving Christ. He then went over to the local GFA pastor, Myo Zaw, and accused him of forcibly converting his daughter and others to Christianity.

“It is Jesus,” Pastor Myo Zaw replied. “God changes their lives.”

Thuza Nu’s parents strongly warned her not to take part in any Christian activities. But her heart yearned to worship her Savior and learn more about the One who promises eternal life, so Thuza Nu secretly continued to attend church services and Sunday school classes—even to this day.

“I know Jesus is my Savior and Lord. I will stand firm in my faith in Him in whatever situation might be,” she said. “If I die, I will die for Jesus.”

Thuza Nu prays for her parents, that they, too, might experience the joy and peace she now has.

Young Girl Withstands Her Parents’ Persecution

Prayer Focus { IN T E RC E DING F OR A L O ST WOR L D —T O GE T H E R }

ThinkAbout It

Thuza Nu is able to withstand her parents’ persecution because

she has encountered the freedom and goodness of God. But

she is one of many young believers who have to endure the

hatred and anger of parents and family members because

of their love for Christ. Let’s pray for our young brothers and

sisters, that they may know the Lord as their shield and reward.

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Dayshaun walked along the pathway wondering how he would care for his wife

and two small children. Civil war had broken out in his country of Sri Lanka. Living had become difficult.

“We didn’t know when they will come and attack; we didn’t know when the bomb will blast,” Dayshaun recalls. “We were [counting] our lives on our hands and just running to escape. … There was no peace. Our lives were under threat.”

To add to the uncertainty of life, the cost of supplies increased to nine times its normal price. For a daily wage laborer making 40 rupees a day, attaining food and basic necessities costing 275-900 rupees per item became a luxury Dayshaun couldn’t afford.

As Dayshaun walked, he hoped to find food for his family. Instead, he saw what looked like bars of soap lying near his path. He picked one up—and everything faded away.

Help from AboveThe bar of soap turned out to be a mine. It exploded

in Dayshaun’s hand, sending him flying 15 feet in the air. His body lay bloody and singed in a thorny bush. Dayshaun instinctively cried out to his gods to save him, but no help came. His eyes burned as his sight dimmed.

Then he remembered there was a God he didn’t worship but who could heal, a God whom his co-worker had once told him about but he had only mocked. Dayshaun cried out, “Jesus! Jesus!”

Given a New Vision


Suddenly, he heard a loud sound come from the sky and coolness began to surge through his scorching body.

“I saw that, slowly, the blood that was oozing [out of my body] stopped, and the foam, which was coming down from my mouth, also stopped,” he recalls.

Then Dayshaun lost consciousness.

Failing EyesightWhen he woke up, darkness and coldness surrounded

him. He yelled out, “I’m alive!” Men nearby screamed in fear. “The doctors thought I was dead,” Dayshaun says.

“They put me in the mortuary.” They transferred Dayshaun to the hospital for

treatment. Surgeons amputated his lifeless hand that had held the mine. His eyesight was seriously affected. For months after leaving the hospital, he struggled to see clearly. At times, he thought his vision was strengthening, but then everything would fade again.

A New Type of HealingDayshaun traveled to a neighboring country for

additional medical treatments. That’s when he met Gospel for Asia pastor Pilu, and a friendship began.

“I heard the Good News from Pilu only in a deeper way, in a better way,” Dayshaun says.

From then on, Dayshaun began praying, and the Lord began revealing Himself through dreams and visions. Dayshaun listened to all the Christian cassettes Pastor Pilu gave him and spent time conversing with another believer.

“The whole day [this believer] would come and sit in my home and speak about God’s Word,” Dayshaun recalls. “I would ask my questions, and he would clear my doubts. He began to help me, guide me in the Word of God. My spiritual life began to sprout.”

Burning in His SoulDayshaun went back to his home country never

experiencing physical healing. Instead, he arrived with a new vision: to bring this message of hope and new life to his fellow countrymen.

“The Lord began to give me a great hunger. Twenty-four hours a day I wanted to serve the Lord,” Dayshaun says.

He remembers thinking, Where shall I go? To whom I shall share the Good News? How can I pray for this man? This soul is so precious.

By this time, however, Dayshaun’s eyesight had completely gone. His physical limitations posed a problem in fulfilling his desire to serve the Lord. No church wanted him, believing his blindness and amputated hand incapacitated him to serve. But he would not give up.

Without support or a concrete plan, Dayshaun began praying and sharing the Word of God with people. His wife and young daughter, Jania, joined him, keeping track of the people’s prayer requests.

“In spite of all the difficulties and problems in my personal life, we were completely committed to the Lord as a family,” Dayshaun says. “As we began our ministry, one family and two families, they began to come. People would take me to different places to pray for the sick or [tell them of] God’s Word. I saw that the Lord began to use my life in a special way.”

Eyes to the BlindDayshaun spent long hours praying and seeking the Lord’s

guidance in his ministry. A few years later, he met the leader of Gospel for Asia’s ministry in Sri Lanka, who encouraged him to continue serving the Lord no matter the obstacles.

Dayshaun eventually joined GFA and continues to spend large amounts of time in prayer, deepening his relationship with his Savior and relying on Him for direction and wisdom as he pastors three growing churches.

His daughter, Jania, still helps him extensively in the ministry. She travels with him, helps with Sunday worship and Women’s Fellowships, and also reads the Bible to Dayshaun, helping him prepare for his Sunday messages.

“God gave me a wonderful daughter,” Dayshaun says. “She is my right hand.”

Even though Dayshaun is blind, he says, “God is with me, and He enables me. He gives me the power to go further. When I compare [my physical limitations to what] the Lord is doing through my life, these things are nothing.”

Now Dayshaun is able to see God’s transforming work as He uses him to open the eyes of the spiritually blind.

Watch a video about

Pastor Dayshaun’s life.

gfa.org/s/bomb

gfa. org


Resources { G O SPE L F OR A SI A M AT E R I A L S & IN F OR M AT ION— J UST F OR YOU }

“Veil of Tears: Hope Is on the Way”

“A powerful, riveting film . . . that grabs at the heart and won’t let go!”

—American Family Association

Fear, loneliness, shame—the life of a woman in South Asia. Gospel for Asia’s new feature-length documentary, “Veil of

Tears,” sheds light on the world women of South Asia live

in all because they were born “the wrong gender.” You’ll

travel through blusterous cities, rural villages, tea gardens

and slums of South Asia to talk with women who know

what it’s like to be despised and rejected and who once felt

utterly hopeless about their circumstances.

There’s Maloti, a young woman whose in-laws tried

to poison her because she belonged to a different social

standing. Sukhwinder tried committing suicide because of

the constant harassment she faced after giving birth to a

third daughter. Sanjali and Malati took their children to the

local market, hoping to sell them off because they simply

couldn’t take care of them.

These women barely escaped becoming part of

the startling statistics about the lives of women seen

throughout the movie.

But as the movie’s subtitle suggests, hope is on the

way! “Veil of Tears” is more than just a depressing tale of

hardships; it’s a visually stunning journey showing you the

beautiful transformation that takes place when Christ’s

love is given and embraced.

In “Veil of Tears,” you’ll see how GFA women

missionaries work to restore women’s worth and bring

back their once-lost dignity. You’ll see the smiles and

feel the joy of those who have discovered what life is like

being valued and loved by the true King and His servants.

You’ll see how this great love is revolutionizing entire

communities.

“Veil of Tears” brings you face to face with the harsh

realities of these women’s lives but also shows you their

hope and redemption.

Your church can host a free screening of

“Veil of Tears” and help change the lives of women

in Asia. Order your FREE Church Movie Night Kit.

veiloftearsmovie.com/churches

To get your DVD of

“Veil of Tears,” you can:

1 Call us at 1-800-WIN-ASIA

(1-800-946-2742)

2 Visit gfa.org/s/veildvd to order online

3 Use the order form in the center of this

magazine to mail your request

Suggested donation: $8 each

gfa. org

NowAvailableon DVD


where You are, and I can’t find You. Please talk to me.” And He did. At the end of seeking Him for two weeks, the Lord showed up. I can’t explain how, but within a few seconds, millions of pictures began to flash before my eyes: faces, images and places I had been to on the mission field. And then He said, “I have been waiting for this day when you would come to the end of yourself. I have called you. I know you.”

I expected the Lord to say, “You messed up. Sell everything, go back to India and wear rags.” But He didn’t.

Instead, I was so overcome with the awareness that He loves me, He understands me and He wants me. I wasn’t able to stop crying. For weeks I couldn’t think of anything else than just being His. I was so overwhelmed by His love that He could have asked me anything outrageous, and I would have done it.

I believe God, in His mercy, allowed me to take this journey so the ministry He wanted me to do was born out of love for Him.

One outcome of this encounter with the Lord was that I looked at the possessions I had accumulated for myself, and I started giving them away. They had lost their pull on my heart.

Another was that my heart was once again aching for the lost world, and I could pray and weep for the multitudes who were dying without Jesus.

My dear friend, you may feel spiritual in a crowd on Sunday morning, but following the Lord is intensely personal. You cannot borrow this life from someone else, nor can you get it by imitating the actions of others. You see, my giving away material things and praying with tears for the lost had nothing to do with attempting to act like Jesus. It was the result of being overcome by His love for me and falling in love with Him.

The apostle John wrote, “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NASB).

I don’t know where you are in following the Lord, but if your heart is unmoved by the things that break Jesus’ heart and your eyes are dry, then I urge you to seek Him and wait in His presence until you are overcome by His love and you love Him back.

Everything about following the Lord will change when you fall in love with Jesus.

W hen Jesus walked on this earth, He was deeply moved by the lostness and suffering of humanity. His heart

ached over the harvest fields that were about to perish. He wept over Jerusalem and a nation that had rejected their Messiah. He knew what was waiting for them, and it broke His heart.

We cannot be disciples of Christ and live like Jesus lived unless we too have a broken heart and tears to weep over the lost world.

I remember well, how often I stood on the streets of northern India where I preached the Gospel for eight years, looking at the lost multitudes, unable to control my tears.

That was before I came to the United States, and before I wanted to become like everyone else.

I was studying in seminary, pastoring a church and doing well. Two or three years went by, and I found I couldn’t cry anymore. No, I didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, I was busy preaching and teaching, and people thought I was spiritual.

However, without my being aware of it, the affections of my heart had shifted from being consumed with reaching dying souls to desiring material things. I found myself buying expensive clothing, books for my growing library, watches, a stereo system and other things to feed my new appetite. At the same time, I was committed to conservative faith, and I memorized wonderful prayers by Peter Marshall and others to include with my preaching, and people liked it. But on the inside I was dying. Even the Bible had become just a tool for me to prepare my sermons.

There I was, asking myself, “How can something like this happen to someone like me?”

I had known God so intimately, He had talked to me and I heard Him, but now I could not find Him.

It was time for me to make a decision about what to do with my life. I didn’t see any sense to continue in ministry because my heart was dead. As a last attempt, I said to myself, “I will talk to the Lord and see if He will talk back to me.”

I went into my study, sat on the floor and simply prayed: “Jesus, I don’t know what to do. I know so much and everybody thinks I am a spiritual person, but I am so lost. I don’t know

EVERYTHING CHANGESWhen You Fall in Love

K.P. Yohannan President and

International Director

Gospel for Asia

Five Minutes with K.P.

Bound by despair in a culture that deems them hopeless.You can help remove the shackles of rejection— one child at a time.

By sponsoring Bridge of Hope children, you are extending

the touch of love that will change their lives through:

+ Message of Jesus’ love+ Quality education+ Medical care+ A daily nutritious meal

Your investment goes far beyond the child’s individual life.

These children often run home to share with their parents

what they learned at the Bridge of Hope center. It is the simple

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reaching further into the communities and into eternity.

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Gospel for Asia1116 St. Thomas Way

Wills Point, TX 75169

www.gfa.org

Sponsor online

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