Gospel for Asia

Ashley, serving with GFA since 2012, shares her experiences as a School of Discipleship student and then as a behind-the-scenes missionary in the Mission Support Team. Her life and journey with Jesus has grown through the encouragement of being involved in the Christ-centered, missions-focused community. I was only 18 years old when I decided to leave my home and family in Pennsylvania and come to Texas to join GFA’s School of Discipleship (SD). During my SD year, it wasn’t so much the classes and the books I read that impacted me, although going through the books and classes were a good thing. It was seeing the Christian life lived out in a Christ-centered community that really impacted me and still does today. God spoke to me a lot that year through some godly leaders here at GFA, who encouraged me to pursue Christ with all my heart. I can say without a doubt that this is exactly what my journey has been: pursuing God with all my heart and seeing others pursue Him too. I only planne...

The sun was riding lower in the sky when Todd stepped into the pen. The horse was branded. She was branded with a mark of someone else—someone who had once owned her. Now she was there in the pen surrounded by a crowd of eager spectators. Everyone expected to witness this wild horse become broken and submit. But it was plain to see after some time that she was already broken. She was hurting and you could see the fear in her eyes. The horse wanted nothing to do with Todd, who just wanted her to know she had so much potential. Instead of just being a stock horse, she could be what she was created for. But something happened to her long ago that kept her from allowing people near her. She’d run laps in the pen, trying to find an escape, not wanting to be near the man who just wanted to love her. Then she’d walk backwards. “I’ve never seen a horse do this before,” Todd said as he walked beside her, trying to earn her trust. But whenever Todd got too close, she’d turn away. “It’s as if my ...

One day after a Sunday morning worship service a couple months ago, I was sitting on the couch in my living room watching a movie when I heard a knock at my front door. I hopped up, half expecting to greet one of our friendly neighbor kids from across the street. Who I found instead upon opening the door was a couple of our School of Discipleship students. “Hey guys, what’s up?” I asked. “Hi,” one of them said, shifting from one foot to the other. “We’ve been walking around the neighborhood this afternoon asking people some questions and wondered if you had a couple of minutes.” “Sure, I have a little time,” I smiled, seeing where this conversation was headed. “What’s on your mind?” “We’re wondering if you know who Jesus is?” Not missing a beat, I played along. “Yeah, they talk about Him in church all the time…” And so began our conversation about Jesus Christ and why we need Him to be our Savior. You see, among the many other spiritual disciplines that young adults learn about and le...

The day was pregnant with anticipation, like a heavy fog hanging in the air. There was a solemnness etched in Jesus’ face that penetrated to the hearts of the disciples. The things Jesus talked about these days were more and more difficult to hear, to accept. Surely the time had come for Jesus to conquer Rome and bring the Kingdom here on earth, the disciples thought. But Jesus kept talking about disturbing things, like eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He talked about suffering and dying. He said He was going away. It just didn’t make sense. It was Thursday, the day of the Passover meal. As the disciples prepared to celebrate with Jesus every sense was heightened, as if waiting for something to happen. Jesus knew the time had come. All of human history had been waiting for this moment, and the waiting was almost done. Tomorrow would be the day He would do what He came to do. But first, today. Today to bring new things to life and old things to a close. During the Passover meal ...

Most of Israel’s existence has been spent surrounded by antagonistic countries both big and small. Whether in modern or biblical times, super powers like Egypt, Babylon, Assyria or Arab nations have threatened to wipe it out of existence. Or smaller harassment’s like Philistine giants, terrorist bombings and daily barrages of rockets threaten the lives of its people. Despite this, the people of Israel have almost always had a hope of a deliverer. Like every nation, this hope is kindled whenever a new political party comes into power. The possibility for positive change and freedom from oppression entices the hopes and dreams of its people. Hope can easily interpret other changes as signs that deliverance may come. Take, for instance, the possibility of the U.S. embassy moving to Jerusalem. Could that be a sign that more positive things are still to come? Or what about the hope of years ago: Is this prophet going to deliver us from the Romans? When something happens in any national capi...

On Feb. 14, a day that should have been marked by the celebration of love, hundreds of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, fled the raging bullets of a 19-year-old gunman. Students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School walk out of their school building after a shooting. (Photo courtesy of Christy, current student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.) For some, the deaths of 17 innocent people—14 of them high school students—on Valentine’s Day will become just another sad news story in the days to come. But for 17 families grieving in South Florida today, it is the end of a story of hope, love and the promise of a bright future. It is the beginning of a story of grief that may last a lifetime. This is a time for mourning—the first step in the process of healing. We may not be able to understand the depth of their pain, but however deep and dark it is, we can pray for their healing. At our morning prayer meeting the day aft...

On April 29, 2017, deadly tornados struck just a few miles away from Gospel for Asia’s U.S. headquarters in Wills Point, Texas. The GFA campus lost power for three days, but we were deeply grateful to be otherwise untouched by the twisters. However, our neighboring communities were reeling from the devastation. Homes had been torn off their foundations; a car dealership was in shambles—and so were many lives. Local churches stepped up and organized groups of people to help clear rubble from broken homes and salvage whatever belongings could be found. Gospel for Asia (GFA) staff members quickly partnered with those churches and found ways to help serve the affected communities. Gospel for Asia staff member helps clean up homes after a tornado devastated a nearby community. I went with one group of helpers to a neighborhood that would have been sheltered in a beautiful wood just days prior. But now the trees were splintered, and logs and branches sprawled across lawns, cars, pools and ...

When I came to Gospel For Asia’s School of Discipleship I didn’t know what I was getting into (in a good way). I was shocked by how loving and friendly the community at Gospel For Asia ( GFA ) was. I didn’t just go to class, eat, sleep and repeat; I lived life surrounded by people who loved Jesus. They chose to invest in me and my classmates. Many of the families here “adopt” different students and pour into them in deeper ways. After two years in the program, I felt like I had an additional family here. While it was difficult being away from home for two years, the Lord gave me people here who loved me for me. I watched how the staff acted in an office environment, but I also saw them be laid back at home and in everyday life situations. They shared their struggles and stories with me. I learned from them and their walks with the Lord. He put people in my life who had similar struggles and those who were further along in their walks than I was to help me see Jesus. A GFA School of Di...

There is an amazing report from the field about an 80-year-old man named Naitik who heard about Jesus for the first time through a GFA-supported pastor. The story describes how through prayer and the power of Christ, the lives of this man and his wife were radically and miraculously changed. “Although I had spent my whole life in darkness, now I have found light in Jesus. He is really God,” Naitik said. “I want to live for Him for the rest of my life.” When I read reports like this, it’s a wonderful reminder to me that by serving here on staff at Gospel for Asia, I’m making a difference for God’s kingdom. As far back as high school, I can remember wanting my life to be productive and mean something. I’ve been on staff with Gospel for Asia (GFA) for about four years now and consider it an honor that my vocation is within a ministry having such an incredible impact . I know we, as Christians, can bring glory to God in our work no matter what our job is. Verses like Colossians 3:23 have...

I never knew worship like what I experienced at GFA’s School of Discipleship (SD). Before coming to SD in 2015, I had a pretty small vision of what worship was. I saw it as only singing and maybe some instruments playing, and it had to be a certain way mainly on Sundays. During my time in SD, I learned a variety of ways to worship with the community at Gospel for Asia. Whether it’s singing, playing instruments, doing lawn work, preparing food, serving in campus work days, listening to others’ struggles, or cleaning up after roommates, I learning to bring Christ into everything. Brother KP often refers to a little booklet written by Brother Lawrence called “Practicing the Presence of God” and how important it is to invite God into everything and live your life for Him. Throughout my two years in the SD program, I learned that everything I do in my life can be an act of worship unto God. I could experience His presence not only in corporate times of worship, but also in private times, a...

Bob Mayo went to be with the Lord on December 18, 2017. He served faithfully at Gospel for Asia for the past 21 years, and his passing leaves a hole in many of our hearts. Known to many around GFA as “Uncle Bob,” he was marked by his gentleness, his humility and by how much he loved others. Robert Mayo | April 16, 1947 – December 18, 2017 He is preceded in death by his dear wife, Alice, who passed away just before Christmas five years ago. Throughout the years, Bob served in many aspects of Gospel for Asia’s ministry. He led the Missions Department and the Fulfillment Department at different times. He also served in Admissions in School of Discipleship, and taught several classes in the discipleship program. Most recently, he was a Ministry Partnerships representative. His hands have touched countless missionary profiles, linking them with sponsors around the world; he managed people and packages with both love and excellence; and he called, wrote letters to, prayed for and encouraged ...

Raju looked confused by my question, and his response revealed it: “What do you mean by Christmas tradition?” I had served the Lord in Asia with Raju off-and-on for over a year. He was a first-generation, Asian believer with a tall, slim build and a heartwarming smile. He loved Jesus and was excited about the upcoming seasons of Advent and Christmas. I tried to explain what I was asking to my bewildered brother in Christ, “Do you and your family have anything that you do every year to celebrate Christmas?” I had come from a family that had been either devoted or nominal Christians for every generation that we knew of. Having immigrated from Eastern Europe to America in the beginning of the 20th century, many of the traditional ways we celebrated Christmas stretched back to before my forefathers left Europe. It never occurred to me that it may take two generations of believers to form a tradition. Raju then went on to explain the different things his family did to celebrate Christmas, m...