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People with Leprosy Are Not Cursed, Nor Unclean, They Are Loved

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“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” — Matthew 8:2–3 Leprosy. In many parts of the world, the very word brings with it a sense of fear. In the West however, leprosy cases are few and far between. Medicine has evolved to the point where if the disease is caught early enough, it can be cured. In ancient times, however, those afflicted with leprosy had but one hope: for the disease to die out on its own. The afflicted were cast out of their homes, often never to be seen again. When Jesus walked the earth, performing miracles and healing the sick, a man riddled with leprosy disregarded the law and ventured out from his self-exile. He put all his trust in Jesus, fully believing He could heal him. What an enormous amount of faith to have! I have read many reports and stories of men and women in Asia strick...
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Dying of Thirst: The Global Pure Water Crisis (#3 by Gospel for Asia)

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WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report #1 – Discussing the world’s quest for access to pure water that is safe to drink. India: Success and Challenge In recent decades, India has emerged as a global economic powerhouse. It is now the seventh-largest economy in the world by nominal gross domestic product (GDP) [27] and at least the fourth largest in purchasing power parity. [1] Much of this success stems from the technology field, India’s fastest-growing sector. Information technology, process outsourcing and software services are among the country’s booming industries. " India is suffering the worst water crisis in its history ." But success is accompanied by great challenges. India is home to about 1.34 billion people and is still growing . Its population, now the world’s second largest, [2] is projected to overtake China’s as early as 2024. [3] This has placed unprecedented stress on the country’s water resources, which are already stretched to meet the...
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Evangelical Atheism: Evangelical in Word, Atheists at Heart

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Years ago, friends and I experimented with designing listening groups. These small groups with three or four participants met once a month for seven months. Basically, we listened to one another for two hours. After a time of centering prayer where we became stilled and focused, the first person would begin and share where he or she was in life. When the first person was done, we would go back into silence, and the only way we could respond to the one who had spoken after those short moments of quiet was to ask questions. This pattern continued until we had gone around the group. Over seven years, I led some 250 people in listening groups and was amazed by the remarkable growth I saw in many of the attendees. I also was transformed in unexpected ways; I certainly became convinced of the healing power that exists when humans feel heard and understood. We always take the first session of a listening group to get to know one another a little so that we are not complete strangers. One woma...
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Dying of Thirst: The Global Water Crisis (#2 by Gospel for Asia)

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WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) Special Report Part 2– Discussing the global water crisis and the quest for access to clean water. A mother cares for her son who is being treated for cholera at a UNICEF-supported cholera treatment center in Baidoa, Somalia Photo by Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin, UNICEF Waterborne Diseases Caused by the Global Water Crisis Even under normal conditions, people in many regions are exposed to life-threatening diseases from their water, including typhoid, polio and hepatitis A . Among the most common waterborne diseases is diarrhea , which can be caused by any of several pathogens. It kills about 1.5 million children every year, more than 80 percent of them in Africa and South Asia. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 88 percent of those deaths are caused by unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene . [1] Diarrheal diseases kill by depleting the body’s fluids, often very rapidly. Children are most vulnerable because their metabo...
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One Story Among Millions Suffering in the Slums

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“In our world, one in eight people live in slums. In total, around a billion people live in slum conditions today.” —UN-Habitat Slum Almanac 2015-2016. Upon reading this fact, my mind almost shut down. An eighth of the world’s population? [1] It seems absurd, but apparently, it is the truth. The reality for those living in slums is harsher than what is reported. Maisie (not pictured) is among millions living in slums. Gospel for Asia (GFA) -supported workers seek to bring them the love and hope of God. The Slums: An Explanation Firstly, what exactly are slums? Merriam Webster defines “slums” as “a densely populated usually urban area marked by crowding, run-down housing, poverty, and social disorganization.” [2] Little to no basic utilities exist in slums. Sanitation facilities, clean water, medical provision are inadequately present in these urban areas. Diseases run rampant, with little to no prevention. [3] Slum dwellers suffer under these harsh and brutal conditions. These peopl...
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6 Reasons Why Humility Is Necessary in the Lord’s Work

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Make no mistake about it, there is no greater joy than working in the Lord’s service. Nor is there a calling in which we will receive more criticism, resistance and opposition—even more so than being an appointee to the United States Supreme Court! 1. To set aside our personal desires requires humility. Romans chapter 12 begins with the Apostle Paul urging believers to present ourselves as living sacrifices acceptable to God. 2. To set aside the world system’s potential path to success requires humility. Paul follows his plea with another one to not be conformed to this world system. The world system is all about how to become successful, and then how to become even more successful. It is a system built upon networking, self-marketing and public recognition. It is a system based on self and pride. 3. It takes humility to see ourselves as we are and to realize that we are no better than anyone else aside from grace. In verse 3, Paul admonishes us to not think of ourselves more highly th...
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Empower Gospel for Asia Supported National Missionaries With Prayer

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WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) -supported national missionaries need us to stand beside them for enablement and empowerment, whether they serve in a slum, a remote mountain community or a village for outcasts. Let’s think for a minute what enablement and empowerment mean and put them into perspective as they relate to Gospel for Asia (GFA) -supported national missionaries. Enablement The root word in enablement is “able.” Enablement intrinsically refers to providing means or opportunity to make something possible or practicable. When people support or give to Gospel for Asia (GFA) , they help GFA’s field partners provide the training, literature, equipment and living expenses to make their ministries possible and practicable. Empowerment We believe that empowerment is, by far, more important than enablement. Without empowerment, national missionaries would be ineffective representing Jesus to the thousands of people in Asia. Their ability to establish fellowships and transform...
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