Gospel for Asia

The heart of GFA World’s work in Africa and Asia is based in prayer, so we are grateful for the opportunity to share some prayer prompts regarding poverty alleviation. Please join us in intercession for this crucial issue. Pray for provision – Impoverished families are in need of tangible supplies and support. They may need access to clean water or food for their family. They may desire to send their children to school and need tuition support. Pray for GFA pastors and missionaries to have supernatural insight into the needs around them and have the resources to meet those needs. Pray for donors worldwide to provide financially so GFA can continue to send gifts and resources into areas of extreme poverty. Pray for the purchasing power of the donations in areas where inflation is increasing dramatically. Pray for longevity – Gifts like Jesus Wells, BioSand water filters, sewing machines, bicycles, livestock and so forth need longevity to continue helping families stabilize financially...

According to USDA, food poverty or food insecurity is the inability to consistently obtain enough food for each member of a household to lead an active, healthy life. This can be a short-term or long-term situation for a family. [1] The United Nations estimates that between 720 and 811 million people in the world faced hunger in 2020. Of those people, 282 million live in Africa, 418 million live in Asia, and 60 million live in Latin America and the Caribbean. [2] When people don’t have enough to eat, what are the consequences? How does food poverty impact a person’s life? Health complications – The unavailability of food or clean water can cause significant health problems for communities. Women and children often have to travel long distances to find clean water, which is frequently contaminated and can lead to waterborne illnesses. [3] In addition, the lack of food can lead to malnutrition and negatively impact a person’s overall health. [4] Childhood difficulties – Children often...

Almost 1.1 billion individuals have managed to escape extreme poverty since 1990. [1] While the trend is going in the right direction, 1 in 10 people live below the $2.15 line of desperation. [2] So why is poverty a problem still? Perhaps this journey is like a marathon, where the last segment is often the almost difficult. GFA World seeks to continue fighting in the most difficult areas—regions where poverty is entrenched in a complex and longstanding way. Here are two important factors in this continuing problem: Inequality – In many areas where we work in Africa and Asia, there are people groups that are economically disadvantaged. Poverty is so entrenched in these areas that it takes time and intentional strategies to help them. According to the World Bank, “Intensified efforts are required to boost the incomes, alleviate the suffering and build the resilience of those individuals still living in extreme poverty.” [3] Natural and Manmade Disasters – Global and regional disaste...

Many organizations around the globe are passionate about joining the war on poverty. Though poverty is a massive challenge, substantive progress is being made. Here are some proven strategies in the war on poverty: Education There is a direct link between education and poverty. As children stay in school and gain an education, they receive the ability to thrive and uproot poverty. In fact, education is key to fight against poverty, but the lack of it continues the poverty cycle. According to UNESCO, “poverty and low education are each self-perpetuating: Those born into poverty (or illiterate households) often live the remainder of their lives in that same condition and have nothing more to offer their children.” [1] In addition, it appears as though poverty and illiteracy have a strong magnetic connection that pulls individuals who are stuck in one cycle even further into the other. GFA World is committed to helping kids to stay in school through the child sponsorship program. This he...

The question “how many children are in poverty?” has a couple of answers. About half of all people living in extreme poverty are children, meaning that 356 million kids around the world live on less than $2.15 a day. [1] But there are around a billion kids globally who live in multidimensional poverty, meaning they don’t have proper access to necessities such as education, healthcare, housing, nutrition, sanitation or water. [2] With the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, nations have agreed to end extreme childhood poverty. These goals call for multidimensional poverty to be halved by 2030, working to build a world where all children have what they need to thrive and meet their full potential. [3] There has been some great progress toward ending child poverty, but there is still a long way to go. GFA World is among the organizations working to meet this goal in the poorest places in Africa and Asia. Through child sponsorship programs in several Asian nations and in Kigal...

There are many factors that lead to children living in poverty, including economics, politics and geography. One cause of child poverty is a lack of assets in areas such as schools, hospitals, food and clean water. Exclusion and invisibility lead to poverty as well, and marginalized groups are often the poorest. Children from low-income families are at a higher risk of being forced to enter the workforce as child laborers, and girls may be forced into early marriages by their relatives. Power imbalances in communities and families can lead to poverty as well, especially in places where the rights of children might be ignored. [1] A lack of education also causes poverty and vice versa, creating a vicious cycle that is very difficult to escape. Dayita is just one example of this. [2] She was a mother of four living in Asia. When Dayita’s husband, who drank too much alcohol, became sick and bedridden, Dayita was forced to become the sole breadwinner for the family. She was illiterate, so...

Children in poverty are some of the most vulnerable people in the world. They are more susceptible to malnutrition, disease and death. [1] In addition, they are often forced to work to help their families make ends meet, missing out on an education and thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty. Child poverty impacts millions of kids all over the world—even in wealthy nations—so ending it may seem like a daunting task. GFA World invites you to partner with us to make a difference one child, one family, at a time. It can make a world of difference for children such as Petria. Petria lived in a village that did not have electricity until she was 10 years old, so she would study by the light of a kerosene lamp. [2] Though her dad worked hard as a carpenter, her parents struggled to provide everything the family needed. College was an impossibility for Petria. Then, she got the chance to join GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program, and things changed. Petria grew to love learning and writing,...

Poverty is already a terrible reality, but child poverty is especially grievous. Children are more likely to experience poverty than adults and are more vulnerable to its effects. The likelihood of childhood death is twice as high for the world’s poorest children as it is for those from wealthy families. One in seven children live in poverty, even in the wealthiest nations on earth. Regardless matter where they are raised, children who experience poverty have poor living conditions, fewer skills for the workforce, and poorer adult earnings. [1] Children in poverty struggle with more than just money. For example, they may not have the same opportunities as their peers or they may be forced to work alongside their parents instead of attending school. Poverty also greatly impacts mental health. Kids living in debt are five times more likely to be unhappy than children from better-off families. [2] Other children can, at times, contribute to this unhappiness. More than a quarter of childr...

In the last decade there has been an uptick of studies and research done regarding period poverty and other women’s issues. From that research, we have a good amount of period poverty statistics to study. Here are some highlights from the research: Approximately 500 million women worldwide find themselves without access to menstrual supplies. [1] They are unable to manage their menstrual cycle in a safe and hygienic way. 1.25 billion women and girls lack access to a safe, private toilet, and 526 million don’t even have a toilet. [2] This creates a difficult and often unsafe environment for women. In the United States, 16.9 million women who menstruate are living in poverty. [3] Studies from Kenya find that, in order for some schoolgirls to get menstrual products, they must engage in transactional sex to pay for the products. [4] A 2021 survey of college students in the United States found that 10 percent of female students skip classes because they can’t afford menstrual products eac...

There are numerous period poverty definitions, but they all have similar components. For example, one definition according to the American Medical Women’s Association is: “inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and education.” [1] Most period poverty definitions and explanations have similar key elements, such as: Lack of sanitary supplies – Period poverty has a lot to do with a lack of supplies. Women who don’t have supplies often resort to unsanitary measures that can lead to infection. Due to lack of supplies, women have little option other than to stay home from work or school. Misunderstandings about menstruation – In many cultures, a woman’s period is considered dirty or even cursed. She is thought to be unclean, making the things she touches to be unclean as well. [2] Education is key to correcting these misunderstandings and myths. Unavailability of sanitation facilities for women – Access to sanitation facilities is important to combat this issue. Women need a privat...

There are numerous answers to the question “what is period poverty?”. The International Medical Corps defines it as, “‘Period poverty’ refers to the inability of women and girls to access resources⁠—such as sanitary pads, water, soaps, medicines and sanitation facilities⁠—during their monthly menstrual cycle in a safe and dignified way.” [1] Economic poverty plays a large role in this issue since needy women do not live in areas where the elements included in this definition are readily available: Sanitary pads – Lack of sanitary supplies cause women to resort to newspapers, plastic, leaves, clothes, rags, feathers, cow dung, corn cobs and so on. When women have access to sanitary supplies, it provides safer solutions and more dignity too. Many organizations are teaching women how to make reusable cloth napkins and this is making a tremendous difference. Clean water and soap – Safe water is crucial to good healthcare, and women need reliable access to water and soap in order to stay ...

What is period poverty ? According to the American Medical Women’s Association, a common definition is, “inadequate access to menstrual hygiene tools and educations, including but not limited to sanitary products, washing facilities, and waste management. Education and advocacy can greatly improve access to hygiene facilities and products, reduce stigma and shame, and encourage education about menstruation.” [1] It is estimated that 500 million women worldwide find themselves included in these period poverty statistics and many of those can’t participate in daily life during their cycle. [2] They don’t have the items they need to manage their periods safely and hygienically and be free from embarrassment and shame. In fighting this type of poverty, there are many things to consider as solutions. Here are a few: Sanitary Products – In many areas of the developing world (and in some developed countries too), the poor are not able to afford sanitary products. A United Nations Educatio...

There is a major need for international medical missions. For many people in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa, whenever illness strikes, they can only suffer and wait for it to pass. For people trapped in this level of poverty, they often choose to endure the pain rather than to whittle away limited finances trying to access healthcare. Worldwide, 1 billion people are at risk of falling into poverty due to health spending. [1] And because so many are prevented from visiting the doctor, 2.9 million people die every year from a lack of access to health care. [2] This situation is heartbreaking, and many organizations, including GFA World, are working to bring health care to the poorest places. Nealy is one such person helped through our medical missions. He is a 55-year-old farmer, and struggled to do his work and keep his family afloat because of leg pain and acid reflux. He had endured this for six months since he didn’t have any extra income to spend on treatment. A fellow villag...

Lack of quality medical care around the world is a major problem, and many organizations are seeking to address it, both secular and Christian. Medical missions are a signifianct way that GFA missionaries can show people Christ’s love in a very practical way. One life that has been impacted by GFA’s medical ministry is Curren’s. The 40-year-old father worked in someone’s field and ran a shop in the village, earning enough to put food on the table for his wife, three children and elderly mother, but not much else. That all changed when Curren suddenly fell ill. Severe pain in his head and stomach began, and he had no idea what was causing it. Standing up made him dizzy, and the nearly unbearable pain made working in the field—his main source of income—impossible. Curren needed medical attention, but the closest quality hospital was 50 miles away, and he had no transportation. Even if the hospital had been next door, Curren would not have been able to pay for treatment since he hadn’t be...

One of GFA World’s medical missions outreach programs is medical camps. Rural and remote villages can be miles away from medical centers, impossible distances for the sick to travel. Even if a medical center is close enough to reach, many people in South Asia and Africa can’t afford to pay for medical treatment. Because of this, at least half of the world’s population cannot obtain necessary health services. [1] GFA’s medical camps seek to change this. Globally, as many as 70 percent of diseases are preventable and curable, but many people succumb needlessly because they lack access to care or knowledge of basic first aid and hygiene. [2] Workers from a tea estate in South Asia suffered from anemia and vitamin deficiencies since their income was insufficient to pay for healthy diets or vitamins. GFA World missionaries found out about these struggles and conducted a medical camp. Experienced doctors ministered to the needs of the tea estate by providing the vitamins, supplements and me...

People in developed countries may take it for granted that we can see a doctor when we get sick, but for many people worldwide, that is nearly impossible, which is why medical missions are so vital. According to a World Bank and World Health Organization report, half of the world’s population cannot obtain health services. Of those who can get care, about 800 million people spend at least 10 percent of their household budgets on health expenses for themselves, a sick child or other family member. For almost 100 million of those people, the medical expenses are high enough to push them into extreme poverty, forcing them to live on $1.90 or less per day. [1] Families in poverty are left vulnerable to simple diseases. They are too poor to afford vitamins, nutritious food, and many have never been taught basic health and hygiene principles. This means countless people are suffering and dying from preventable diseases and are unable to afford the treatment that would cure them. Burns remain...

Though the cost of a well in Africa can vary, GFA World, on average in the countries we serve, can install a project for a very economical cost, providing even an entire village with clean water. For example, one of our bore wells can serve an average of 300 people per day and can last for up to 20 years. [1] In the Bible, wells are central stages for story-telling dramas. Abraham’s servant finds a wife for Isaac at a well after praying in Genesis 24. Moses helps the priest of Midian’s daughters at a well in Exodus 2, which leads him to meet his future wife’s family. Jesus’s conversation about Living Water with the Samaritan woman in John 4 occurs at a well. GFA’s ministry continues to provide these pivotal and life-changing sources of water in the areas that need them most. One example of this is in four villages in Asia. These communities faced a severe water shortage in the summer, but in the rainy monsoon season, the water was contaminated by chemicals. Those who could afford it wo...

Installing clean water wells in Africa is one way to help the millions of people who do not have access to safe water. In 2010, the United Nations officially declared water a fundamental human right; however, 300 million Africans do not have clean water, and 700 million are living without adequate sanitation. This lack of access to good water impairs poverty reduction and hinders economic prosperity. Sub-Saharan Africa loses 5 percent of its GDP per year because of water-related challenges. And about 40 billion hours per year, which could have been spent on productive activities, are spent searching for water. [1] These numbers are heartbreaking, and GFA World is seeking to address this problem by installing clean water projects we call Jesus Wells in the countries we serve. Here is just one story of the impact of a Jesus Well: The village in Asia where 60-year-old Shriya lived struggled because of water scarcity in the area. The wealthy in the community had private wells drilled near ...

As water scarcity increases, water wells in Africa and all over the world are becoming more and more important. Globally, at least 1.8 billion people use a drinking water source that is contaminated by feces. This leads to the transmission of diseases like diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Over half a million deaths are caused by diarrhea each year. There has been some progress—since 1990, 2.6 billion people have gained access to improved drinking water sources—but it is still estimated that by 2025, half the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas. [1] GFA World is working to alleviate the water crisis through our clean water projects including Jesus Wells like water infrastructure improvements and bore wells, as well as BioSand water filters. One example of a Jesus Well at work is in Fauna’s remote village in Asia. The only water pump in the area was too far to collect water from, so Fauna and her family had to drink dirty water from unprotected sourc...

Drought, water scarcity and pollution are all contributing more and more to the water crisis in Africa, so it is becoming increasingly important to provide more clean water solutions like wells in Africa, BioSand water filters, and improved water infrastructure when able, to slow the trend. It may be difficult to understand how anyone could struggle to find enough water on a planet that has 71 percent of its surface covered by it. However, we must remember that 96.5 percent of that water is contained in the oceans and is undrinkable. And of the freshwater on earth, much more is stored in the ground than is available in the world’s rivers and lakes. Though much of the groundwater is within a half mile of the surface, it is much more challenging to collect from underground than from a stream. [1] The words of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” ring true today more than ever: “Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.” [2] Running out of water migh...

The cost of a well in Africa is nothing compared to the suffering of so many due to water scarcity and water contamination. Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a water crisis that is only set to get worse without intervention. Global Citizen reports, “It’s not an exaggeration to say that almost every African is impacted by water scarcity, both directly and indirectly. Those directly affected have no immediate access to water and have to travel long distances to provide water for their households and businesses. Water access to some citizens is not as easy as opening a tap or flushing the toilet.” [1] The Council on Foreign Relations agrees: “Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from chronically overburdened water systems under increasing stress from fast-growing urban areas … Experts say incorporating water improvements into economic development is necessary to end the severe problems caused by water stress and to improve public health and advance the economic stability of the region.” [2] You mi...

Clean water wells in Africa are possible with proper drilling and maintenance. They are also extremely needed. Multiple factors in Africa can make water unsafe to drink, cook with or even use for cleaning. UNICEF reports, “Even where there is access to improved sources, contamination of these water sources and supply systems mainly from poor sanitation and other environmental activities is an increasing challenge in the region. For example, in Ethiopia, only 28 per cent of population with access to basic drinking water services was reported to have access to safely managed services, while in Uganda, the proportion is even much lower, standing at only 15 per cent, indicating that most of the improved drinking water sources in the region could be contaminated.” [1] These are startling statistics for those of us who never question the source or safety of our water. We simply turn or lift the faucet and out comes clean, uncontaminated water. Africa’s population will only continue to increa...

Millions of people need water wells in Africa because of water scarcity and contamination issues. According to The Brookings Institute, “access to this essential resource in Africa is not yet universal, with 1 in 3 Africans facing water scarcity and approximately 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to a basic drinking water.” [1] This issue is only growing as populations increase and further urbanization demands water resources. “At least 1.8 billion people use a drinking-water source that is contaminated with fecal matter,” reports the World Health Organization. “A substantial proportion of water supplied through pipes is contaminated, especially where water supply is intermittent or treatment is inadequate. Even where the source is good, water can be contaminated while being transported or stored, especially in environments where sanitation is inadequate.” [2] The Sub-Saharan regions of Africa are at extreme risk for ongoing water scarcity. Brookings also notes, ...