Gospel for Asia

God’s heart for the vulnerable of the world is evident throughout Scripture. We can find ‘help the poor’ Bible verses from both the Old and the New Testaments. The first time we see clear commands about our treatment of the poor is in Exodus when God begins to give His people, the Israelites, His Law. Exodus 22:25 is the first command about the poor: “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.” This is a clear mandate to not take advantage of those who have less and need assistance in their circumstances. There are many lenders and extortionists in the world who will lend money and exact a very high interest rate with extreme terms on the loan. If a person is not literate, as is often the case for those in extreme poverty, they cannot understand what they agree to. God is also very clear about non-preferential treatment, either for the rich or the poor. In Exodus 23:3 and 6, Exodus 2...

“Whoever despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he” says Proverbs 14:21. God’s Word tells us that the poor will always be with us. 1 This doesn’t mean we can ignore the problem. Scripture is clear that caring for the poor is honoring to God. 2 Let’s examine what God’s Word tells us about Jesus helping the poor. Jesus, in responding to John the Baptist’s question about if He was the Savior, said, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 3 This gives an idea of where to start in being Jesus to the poor of the world. He wants us to help the poor and the suffering in practical ways and bring them the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The second instruction we are given is from Jesus’s half-brother, James, In his epistle, he talks much about...

Though many organizations have ways to donate to the poor, it’s best to find one with the following criteria: A clearly designated name, headquarters office address and official 501(c)(3) designation (United States only) Transparent funds designations and annual reports A documented history of success through stories and reports A form of oversite, such as a board After you have established the structure and relevance of an organization, you will want to find organizations that address the root causes of poverty instead of the symptoms. For example, meal service in a time of crisis is wonderful, but it cannot lift anyone out of poverty. Stable income and skills for a better job are the best ways lift a person and their family out of poverty. World Vision cites these areas as keys to poverty reduction, too: 1 Educate children Provide clean water Ensure basic health care Empower a girl or woman Improve childhood nutrition Reach children in conflict Prevent child marriage Click here , to ...

Helping the poor is a noble goal and one that organizations have been working toward for decades. GFA World has been serving the poor since 1979 in Asia and has recently began serving in Africa as well. We serve the “least of these,” often in places where no one else is working. GFA supports national missionaries, who serve the needs of the poor in their communities. These missionaries are best equipped to serve the people. In fact, helping the poor is a natural and organic part of their ministry. It is a tangible way to share God’s love. Poverty has devastating impacts on people. They are often unable to earn enough money to provide for the physical needs of their families. Children are often unable to go to school, either because the family can’t afford it or because the children need to work in order to help meet the needs of the family. Other children can’t attend school because they are in charge of gathering water for the family, and the only water source may be miles away. When ...

Numeracy skills are often lacking in cultures where education is not valued. For example, over 250 million women in Asia are illiterate in both math and reading. 1 Many women long to learn, but the resources are unavailable to them. When adults are unable to do basic math, they are often taken advantage of in the market or in housing contracts. This makes an already financially strained family go even further into debt. GFA World teaches adult literacy classes in Asia, releasing women and men from the confinement of illiteracy. They learn how to read, write and do basic math. This knowledge qualifies them for higher-paying jobs and sometimes they are even trained in starting their own vocation or business. With these new skills, they are able to realize a better future for their family. Often, literacy and education are the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty. There are multiple positive effects of numeracy. Some are: Ability to understand a budget and how to live within it. Ability...

GFA offers financial literacy classes for adults in Asia. Over 250 million women in Asia are illiterate in both math and reading. 1 This illiteracy leaves women susceptible to abuse and fraud. For example, if someone can’t do basic math, he or she is highly likely to get taken advantage of in the marketplace or when making agreements for rent or other living expenses. GFA’s literacy classes include instruction for reading, writing and basic math. In 2018, 61,880 women learned to read and write through GFA’s literacy classes. 2 A student in literacy training is given a book titled, A New Beginning, and that’s what it is! She learns the alphabet of her language and how to form letters and numbers with a pencil. Through literacy classes the women: Learn to read and write – The teachers start with the basics of how letters are formed and the sounds they make. Then students learn how to write on their own, opening a new world of opportunities for them. Learn basic math – Women learn how...

Financial illiteracy significantly impacts people living in extreme poverty. Until a person understands numbers and basic math, it is difficult to budget and dig one’s way out of a pit of debt. That is why financial literacy classes are essential. “Equipped with mathematical skills, a parent can wisely make choices on purchases, contracts and family budgets. And in any business, an increased understanding of finances and mathematics helps guard business owners against being taken advantage of.” 1 Dayita was only 17 years old when she had the dream of starting a tailoring business to help meet the needs of her family. 2 Her family was in severe poverty, and her parents didn’t have the knowledge to increase their income potential. Dayita enrolled in a tailoring course and gradually improved her skills. The only problem was, she didn’t have a sewing machine. Starting a tailoring business without a sewing machine is impossible! The startup costs of such a dream brought her plan to a grind...