Gospel for Asia

You can supply a bible to needy people in Asia! Click this image to find out how. Every worker needs to be equipped with the tools to do their job. The most important thing when selecting a tool is to get the right tool for the job. Since the creation of Gospel for Asia, we have devoted ourselves to sharing God's great love for the people of Asia. Over the years, our partners have given generously to supply important tools for national workers ministering to the needs of those in Asia. Together we have been able to help supply much-needed tools, such as bicycles, projector kits, lanterns, generators, flip charts, mobile public-address systems and vehicles. Each local worker has different needs, often depending upon where they live and minister. The right tools for a national worker in an urban area may be expected to be different than that for another in a remote village. The right tools for ministering in mountainous regions may be different still. However, there is o...

In places where traditional women missionaries face persecution, Sisters of Compassion are welcomed as trustworthy counselors and friends of the community. Widowhood. No one can imagine the pain that follows the death of a spouse until they have experienced it. Suffice it to say that the only way to describe that pain is that it is, indeed, unimaginable. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you live, the indescribable pain of the loss lingers long after you expect it to. Two Scripture verses have been a comfort to me as I have experienced the pain of which we speak. One is from the Old Testament; the other from the New. “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.” (Psalm 68:5) “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27) A Biblical perspective on widowhood is essential for Christians everywhere...

In the book of Isaiah, we see a glimpse into God’s heart for the broken. In Isaiah 66:2 (NIV) God says, “ This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word .” But we have a problem. By nature, we all are the opposite of the one whom He esteems . We are all unbroken . We are as solid as the hardest substance you can find—unbending, self-centered, self-ambitious and never wanting to give in. We are part of a world in which we are told, either directly or indirectly, “Fight for your rights! Be your own person! What matters is success, ability, personality, position, being important and first class in everything.” This is ingrained in us. It is with humility and compassion that GFA-supported national workers minister to those in their region. I remember some years ago a man applied to join GFA’s home staff. He was a computer expert, a brilliant man whose ability and talent would help the ministry in a significant way. As he was ...

Have you ever lost someone you loved—a family member, a relative or a friend? This kind of loss is such a difficult, painful part of life. We struggle to deal with the grief and to grasp that we will never again see that loved one on this earth. For me, I think of my mother and father. How often I wish that I could see them again, that I could talk with them. But my heart especially goes out to a certain group of people whose pain is multiplied by the shame and insults that come with their loss. In a time when they need comfort and support the most, they are completely rejected and abandoned. Who am I talking about? They are the widows living in many parts of Asia . There are millions of them, and you cannot imagine the suffering they go through. This quote from the United Nations paints the picture well: “Absent in statistics, unnoticed by researchers, neglected . . . and mostly overlooked . . . the situation of widows is dramatic and, in effect, invisible.” The sufferin...

Unbrokenness is a fearful thing. It is the spirit of Satan, whose nature is incurable pride that can forever resist God. God’s greatest problem is not our sin (for He dealt with that on the cross), but the hardness and unbrokenness of our hearts. That is God’s greatest problem, the root of all our troubles . May we come before God with the humility of a child The Bible has its lists of unbroken people . Consider Pharaoh as one example. Pharaoh could have been Moses. What an incredible opportunity. He could have become like Ruth of Moab or Rahab the harlot. He could have been the most incredible individual in history to join with Moses and lead the children of Israel. He could have said, “Moses, we grew up together. You left Egypt and I thought you were an idiot to give up all you had. But here I sit on this ivory throne with all the power in the world, yet I am so empty, lost and hopeless. My power and possessions are just a show. I am nothing. But Moses, I see in yo...

A well-known Christian preacher flies into town for a citywide evangelistic meeting . He expects to be greeted at the airport by a delegation of prestigious individuals. Instead, an old taxi driver holding a piece of cardboard with the preach er’s name misspelled waits at baggage claim and then drops him off at a second-class hotel. The room is small, the bed uncomfortable, the service lousy, and there is not even a fruit basket or welcome note. When no one calls or takes him out to dinner, he feels deeply offended and says to himself, “How dare they treat me like this? Don’t they know who I am? They don’t deserve my ministry. That’s the last time I’m coming to this place.” The next morning, however, all his honor and good fortunes are quickly restored after the organizers discover that their guest speaker had become a victim of miscommunication. Could it be that this incident was not an unfortunate mix-up, but rather the Lord testing His servant’s humility? After all,...

“Little puppy, what do you want?” The big horse snorted in contempt. “You are wasting your time in this house; The Master has no use for dogs like you. I carry the loads and pull his cart— And you, a tiny thing—what can you do?” The little dog was hurting inside; He walked away with a heavy heart. A cow mocked, too, with words as sharp as a sword: “The milk I give makes me, you know, The most valuable thing on this farm. Dogs like you are a pest We don’t ever want to see you again!” The rest of the animals joined the cow, Each one boasting of his or her use. Chickens prided themselves in the eggs they gave; Cats boasted in the mice they caught. Now the puppy was truly sad And began to sob out loud. An old dog had been listening to all of these claims; He called the puppy to his side. “They are right,” he said to the little one “You are too tiny, and you know it well. But you must do what God made you for— ...

What is courage? How can we wrap our hands around it and bring it into our own lives? It’s a word many in this world are familiar with, but few really know it by personal experience. There is a particular side of courage that I want to focus on. It is defined : the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery. National workers show incredible courage as they share God's love in so many remote places. Simply put, Courage is the resolve in our spirit that we will stand strong no matter what comes. Our mind is made up— no difficulty will deter us. It is a determination that suffering cannot cause to quit. And it was an essential element to Timothy’s ministry, as it is today with every servant of God. When Paul encouraged Timothy to be unashamed and courageous, he was trying to prepare Timothy for all that lay ahead, to bring him to the place of decision wher...

In Genesis 25:23, God gives the promise concerning Jacob and his older brother, Esau, before they were even born: “The older shall serve the younger.” God’s promise was there from the beginning. But despite that fact, Jacob lived his life trying to fulfill the promise through his own scheming and clever plans. What a man he was! He was bold enough and clever enough to steal his brother’s birthright and trick his father into blessing him instead of Esau. Because of the tension now between him and his brother, Jacob fled to his uncle Laban’s house for safety. While en route, he had a dream in which he saw the angels ascending and descending. God promised to make Jacob’s descendants great and to bless him and bring him back to his homeland. But still, Jacob wanted to do things his own way. He bargained with God, saying, “If you’ll let me just continue in the way I am going and keep me safe and feed me, then when I come back I will build a temple for You. I will give tithes” ...