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first quarter 2010 | volume 30 | number 1

{GOSPEL FOR ASIA NEWS MAGAZINE}

Little School in the Country

Impacting Eternity through Education in Nepal

A Bright Future For Bhutan

{ www.gfa.org }

from the editor-in-chief

In Jeremiah 32:27, God declares, Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh, and then asks, Is there anything too hard for Me? We know the answer as soon as He askswithout a doubt, there is nothing too difficult for our God.
In this issue, I invite you to go one step further and witness how this truth is being lived out on a daily basis in two Asian nations: Nepal, a land scarred by war yet where underprivileged children are receiving a quality education and hearing about the love of Jesus for the first time; and Bhutan, once tightly closed to the Gospel but where opportunities to share the Good News are now slowly unfolding.

Please turn to page 6 to read how Gods love is being demonstrated all across Nepal through math, science and reading!

K.P. YohAnnAn [Editor-in-Chief ]

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SEND! VoluME 30, nuMBEr 1

SEND! is published four times per year by Gospel for Asia, Inc., 1800 Golden Trail Court, Carrollton, Texas 75010. 2009 Gospel for Asia, Inc. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without permission. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

{GOSPEL FOR ASIA NEWS MAGAZINE}

Editor-in-ChiEF K.P. Yohannan MAnAging Editor Heidi Chupp Consulting Editor Larry Jerden ContriButing Editor Gisela Yohannan WritErs Bethany DuVal, Michelle Jimnez, Susan Lawson, Ellen McConnell, Shelly Moon ProoFrEAdEr Tricia Bennett dEsign DOXA ProduCtion Linda Gonzales

Many of the names and places in the stories have been changed for security reasons. One hundred percent of all missionary support is sent to the mission field. Please visit us: www.gfa.org

AdMinistrAtiVE oFFiCEs in the united states: 1800 Golden Trail Court, Carrollton, Texas 75010. Phone: 972-300-7777. Fax: 972-300-7778. Email: info@gfa.org. in Australia: P.O. Box 3587, Village Fair, Toowoomba QLD 4350. Phone: 1300 889 339. in Canada: 245 King Street E, Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1L9. Phone: 905-662-2101. Fax: 905-662-8447. Canadian publications agreement number 40978007. in new Zealand: PO Box 302580, North Harbour, North Shore City 0751. Phone: 0508-918-918. in south Africa: P.O. Box 28880, Sunridge Park, Port Elizabeth 6008. Phone: 041 360-0198. in the united Kingdom: PO Box 166, Winterscale House, York, YO10 5WA. Phone: 01904 643 233.

gospel for Asia is an evangelical mission organization that trains and equips native missionaries to share the love of Jesus Christ across southern Asia with those who have never before heard His name. These missionaries have proven extremely effective because they are already familiar with the language and culture, and they live at the level of the people they serve, thus removing many social barriers. FoundEr And PrEsidEnt K.P. Yohannan

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first quarter 2010 | volume 30 | number 1

departments:
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4 gospel for asia + you 16 in focus

18

You can impact the mission fields of Asia.

Believers Bring the Good News to Their Country

How your partnership is changing lives. In this issue, we highlight youth outreach and GFA Bible Society.

20 short reports
pg 12
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Brief glimpses of what God is doing all across Asia.

featured:

6 little school in the country

22 profile
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In the nation of Nepal, Gospel for Asias English medium schoolspart of the Bridge of Hope programare bright lights among otherwise dismal educational opportunities. Children are finally getting the education that has so long been denied them because of their background, family situation or home address.

For most missionaries, learning and explaining the intricacies of one faith are more than enough, but Jeremiah finds he does better with three.

23 five minutes with K.P.

We can make our lives look so spiritual and be right in all our doctrineyet still be completely wrong on the inside. But when we continually see Jesus in all our circumstances, that is when we will experience Him and His life through us.

12 a bright future for bhutan

For centuries, the Bhutanese way of life has been heavily entrenched in keeping ancient religious traditions. Christians today still face beatings, harassment, death, disowning and loss of citizenship, but they see the heart of their nation gradually opening to receive the Gospel.
ON THE COVER

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Along with his school subjects, this little Nepali boy is learning every day how much God loves him.

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gospel for asia + you {You can impact the mission fields of Asia}

Clean Water, Deep Satisfaction

v
I am continually overwhelmed by the difficulty of obtaining clean water in many parts of the world. The picture in my mind of the women and children of a village walking miles to and from a source of water is incredible. To be able to provide a whole village with a Jesus Well with a relatively small donation gives me such satisfaction.
W.g., Spokane, Washington

A Missions-Minded Wedding
v
My husband and I just got married last week! Big fans of GFA, we decided that instead of spending money on wedding favors that nobody needed, we would donate that money to the Unsponsored Childrens Fund. We put little cards on each place setting to let our guests know that a donation was made in their honor to this extension of the Kingdom. We both hope children can be blessed with the love of our Savior through this donation.
d.A. and E.A., Colorado Springs, Colorado

This Makes Sense

v
I learned about GFA from an interview on [the radio]. These local missionaries can do so much with so little to reach souls for Jesus Christ. This makes so much sense to me.
s.A., Greensboro, North Carolina

Visit www.gfa.org/stations to find GFA programs on your local radio stations.

Tangible Thanksgiving
v
We have seen K.P. several times at our church and know he is the real deal. At this time of Thanksgiving we would like to give thanks to our GOD in a tangible way that will help others to know the love of Jesus Christ.
J.E., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Children Blessing Children

v
I am a director of childrens ministry and have been praying for a way to get our children involved in missions in our local community and around the world. God prompted me to have them sponsor a child with their tithe. What a perfect way to show them that they can make an eternal difference.
A.M., Heath, Ohio

Visit www.gfa.org/ucf to learn more about the Unsponsored Childrens Fund.

How has God connected your life with Gospel for Asia? Wed love to hear your story.
Please email us: editor@gfa.org or write: Managing Editor SEND! Magazine 1800 Golden Trail Court Carrollton, TX 75010

Go to www.gfa.org/speakerschedule to request a GFA representative to speak in your church, or to view upcoming meetings.

Make Your Gift Count TwiceMatch It!

You can doubleor in some cases, even triple your donation to Gospel for Asia by asking your employer to match your gift.
> Some companies even match volunteer hours and non-cash gifts too. > If youre a retiree, spouse or board member, your gifts may also qualify. > Your 2009 donations may also be eligible. Dont let time run out ask your employer now!

Share the joy

of giving with your employerat no extra cost to you!

Four ways to get more details:

Contact: your companys HR department Visit: www.gfa.org/matchinggifts Email: strategicgiving@gfa.org Call: 1-800-Win-AsiA (946-2742)

>www.gfa.org

in Memory of
> Aunt Marie from Carolyn Pritchett > Bill Gawin from Hannah Loewen, John and Maria Loewen > Bill Zollinger from Claudia Edwards > Brian Tenny from Ruth Tenny > Brion Hanks from Doug and Gena Heathcoat > Clella Bowen from Forest and Dorothy Carnine > Don Hesse from Don and Janet Westphal > Ed Thomas from Aaron and Linde Kampman > Frank Siragusa from Annunziata Blandini

in honor of
> Ariel and Lilyann Sluberski from Judy Schultz > Barry and Eileen Hunter from Barbara Ferguson, Edward and Irene Anderson > Carolyn Petty from Gabriel DeMatto > Dennis Lee from James and Ann Pan > Ed Carney from Katharine Moorer > Enid Hohl from Phillip Hohl > George Lengs 80th birthday from Allan and Melanie Horning, Glenn and Cheryl Horning, Karey and Douglas Loney, Lengs Kar Care Ltd, Mark Horning, Mark Smith > Hope Darby from Ruth Graber > Jeremy and Veronica Bourne from Joseph Bourne > Lucy Belb from Jerry and Jeannette George > Mary Newson from Anita Bynum > Nick and Ann Penner from Frieda Duerksen > Pastor Paul Caldwell from Garland and Phyllis Murphy > Paul & Charolette Grant from Becky Finkle > Ron Bones from Mary Hill > Shalini Aurora and Kamal Muthusamy from Katherine Wilkinson > Sherry from Gary and Laurel Boyd > Steve Clark from Virginia Blakemore > Tim Phillips from Katharine Moorer > Yvette Landrenau from Jacquelyn McKean

new:
www.gfa.org/resource

now on our Website

Find encouragement, renew your vision and share Gods heart for the lost with otherswith free downloadable resources from Gospel for Asia! Read about three below, or visit: www.gfa.org/resource Audio: You may have already read books by GFA President K.P. Yohannan. Now listen to his messages: www.gfa.org/resource/audio Video: Get one step closer to the mission field as you view what life is like for missionaries in South Asia: www.gfa.org/resource/video PowerPoint: Download colorful and vivid PowerPoint presentations you can use in your Sunday school class or small group: www.gfa.org/resource/powerpoints

> George Snyder from Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Dickson > Isaiah Thomas Phillips from Joyce Williford > Jane Gilbert from Larry Gilbert > Jewel Oakerson from Frank Oakerson > Jimmie Kornman from Julius and June Kornman, Robert and Doris Lee > Joann Bales from Gene and Betty Comfort, Harry and Carol Morter, Richard and Patricia Lightfoot > Ken Wight from Carol Schafer > Lorree Lightfoot from Ron and Chris Maxam > Marilyn Hawkins from Wendell and Faye Leytham > Otto Kielan from Rich and Inge Kopanke > Rock Green from Jena Green > Susin Lee Mealer from Mrs. Nell Ward > Vera Graham & Arlene Henderson from Mary Hill > Wes Wesner from Gus and Carol Henry

news and Features

A tumor was growing in Madhuri Jhadavs abdomen. Her husband, Mrigesh, asked various temple priests to conduct ritual prayers on her behalf, but the amount of money they demanded was too extravagant for the couple to afford. Mrigesh wouldnt give up, though. He went back to Kaviraj, one of the priests he had approached before, desperate for a cure for Madhuri, but something was different this time. Kaviraj told Mrigesh that he was no longer a temple priest, but a follower of Jesus instead . . . Visit www.gfa.org/temple-priest-leads-couple-true-healer to read the rest of the story! And sign up at www.gfa.org/ latestnews to receive more exciting news from the mission fields of Asia.

This list is a partial representation of many generous friends who have given to Gospel for Asia in memory or in honor of loved ones. If you wish to make a donation, please contact GFA in your country (see back cover).

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Little School in the Country

Impacting Eternity through Education in Nepal

| send! | www.gfa.org

he building doesnt seem all that special. Its a low-slung, flat-roofed structure, built from simple, sturdy, inexpensive, locally available materials. The bright blue window frames, which mimic the color of the Nepali sky, are the only pops of color on the gray concrete faade. In fact, it looks like a typical building you would find almost anywhere else in Nepal. Yet the 152 children who attend this Gospel for Asia English medium school are living proof that the day-to-day routine inside this simple building is changing their lives, bringing hope to their families and making an eternal impact on their communities. >>

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This particular school in Margapuj*, Nepal, is just one of 28 scattered around this tiny country wedged between India and China. GFAs English medium schoolspart of the Bridge of Hope programare bright lights among otherwise dismal educational opportunities for Nepals youngest citizens. Most of the children enrolled are finally getting the education that has so long been denied them because of their background, family situation or home address. The majority of our students are from low-caste families, and they dont have money to study in any other school, says Madhav Dami, principal of the Margapuj school. The parents of these students are very happy that these Christians are helping. It is good.

A History of Educational Poverty

Providing adequate education has historically been a challenge in Nepal. Prior to 1950, there were only a handful of schools in the country, and these were reserved for the children of the ruling elite. After a political revolution in 1951, the public demanded a government-run education system. But it would take another 24 years before public schools became a reality. And then, even after the public schools opened and attendance became compulsory, thousands of children were still not seeing the inside of a classroom. In some places, chiefly in rural villages, parents needed their children to work in the fields and at home. A number of parents did not see the value of sending a child to schoolespecially their daughters. In many areasparticularly the villages tucked away high in the Himalaya Mountainsthere was no public school for them to attend. The villages fortunate enough to have a school had trouble attracting qualified teachers, and classrooms often sat empty. In addition, the strict social code of the caste system kept many Dalit (Untouchable) children out of class. Society saw very little need to educate people who would grow up to clean the sewers or bury dead bodies. While the government was struggling to establish a public education system, a number of private schools sprang up to fill the educational needs. The schools that had the best results were those that taught the children in English. These English medium schools, as they came to be known, developed a reputation as providing an excellent education. Nepali parents wanted their children to go to an English medium school above all else.

English medium schools in Nepal are meeting a desperate need for education, health, nutrition and moral and spiritual values in the lives of the children they are reaching. Parents deeply appreciate all that the teachers and staff do to help their children, and their hearts are opening to the Gospel as a result.

A Peoples War Closes Schools

Nepals progress in providing public education quickly unraveled during the Maoist insurgency, which began in 1996 and lasted for more than a decade. During the crisis, which the Maoists dubbed the Peoples War, both public and private schools were frequently closed because of strikes and gun battles. Public education took another blow when the government

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*The name of this village has been changed for security reasons.

shifted more of its focusand moneyto fighting the insurgency. The countrys struggling education system began to crumble. Many of the private schools also closed. Nepals children again found themselves stranded without teachers or classrooms. The countrys literacy rate hovered around 50 percent. It was during this tumultuous time that the first GFA English medium school opened in Nepal.

Proving the Character of Christ

Gospel for Asias country leader, Narayan Sharma, says the political and economic situations in Nepal in those days forced Gospel for Asia workers to earnestly seek God in prayer for new ways to share His love. Our country was going down economically. We had to find some way to not just share Christ with people, but to prove the character of Christ through our lives and through our service to the community, he recalls. So we started these little country childrens schools all over Nepal. The first school, which was fully funded by local churches, opened in 2005, at the height of the Maoist-government clash. That little country school represented a monumental step of faith. No one was sure if the schools would be accepted or how long they would be able to remain open. The Maoists never allowed any new schools in the villages because they didnt want any business done in the schools, Sharma explains. But they welcomed us because we werent making any money from our schools. We would tell them, Its a Christian school and our schools are run on Christian principles. And the Maoists even helped us start schools in many places! In fact, when there were strikes and problems, they closed down other schools, but they told us that our schools should stay open. GFAs English medium schools were also quickly embraced by the local people and the Nepali government, even though society does not generally hold Christianity in high regard. All the parents and the government know the school is run by Christian people. But at times like this, a new school is good news for the government, Sharma explains. So we feel this is Gods timing, and we never imagined or thought we could have so much influence. We are providing a free education to the whole village! Today the schools are still funded by the believers who attend Gospel for Asiaaffiliated churches throughout Nepal, and students are sponsored through Bridge of Hope. Think about all the times that Nepal needed help from Westerners or Western projects or United Nations programs. And what is working for us is a tiny, small village carrying on an indigenous project in the name of Jesus to bless the Nepali people in that community. Its a wonderful thing. Its so amazing, Sharma says.

Whats the Difference Between an English Medium School and a Bridge of Hope Center?
In addition to the 28 English medium schools in the country of Nepal, Gospel for Asia also operates 17 Bridge of Hope centers. So whats the difference between the two? The children enrolled in Bridge of Hope centers have the opportunity to obtain their primary education in a local schooleither a public, government-run or privately funded school. Part of each childs sponsorship covers these costs. After school, the children come to the the Bridge of Hope center for several hours of tutoring and other programs that will help them excel academically. English medium schools, however, are located in communities where there is no other school at all. This is a common situation in Nepal. Many schools that closed during the Maoist insurgency were never reopened, leaving thousands of children with no access to proper education. Because the country is dominated by a mountainous landscape, many villages are located in difficult-to-reach areas where there are no schools or where there are problems getting qualified teachers to work at a school. Whether they attend English medium schools or Bridge of Hope centers, Nepali children receive regular medical checkups, a nutritious meal each day and the school supplies and uniforms they need. And without fail, every time they step into class, they hear how much Jesus loves them.
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More than 100 children from kindergarten through fifth grade attend the English medium school in Margapuj (far right). One of the ways the teachers and staff (right) build relationships is through home visits (left), where they have the opportunity to reach out to the families as well.

No One Should Close Down This School

Each English medium school in Nepal has created enormous opportunities for sharing the love of Jesus. No one knows that better than Principal Madhav Dami. Before we started, they thought Christians were not good people. They didnt like our faith, Madhav explains. Now some students have chosen to follow Jesus after coming to our school. And many parents are more positive about Christianity. The anti-Christian sentiments of many Nepalis do not reach into these Christian schools. The local people love the schools and go to great lengths to defend them, according to Deepak Gurung, who oversees Gospel for Asias ministry in the Margapuj area. There were some outsiders who came in and tried to shut down one of our schools, Deepak recalls. But the parents came and stood in front of the building. They told the outsiders, No one should close down this school. This school was built for us, and this is a very good school, so we have to keep this school. These parents were even ready to go to the governments regional education office to defend it.

One Friday afternoon, the teachers from Margapuj stopped by the house of one of their students, a young boy named Deling. When they arrived at the simple home, they were greeted by Delings father. He was a well-known boxer, with a muscular build and chiseled features that have intimidated many in the ring. But on this day, his features softened as he asked the teachers to pray for his younger daughter, Saranya. The little girl had a mental condition that could not be treated in their remote area. Her behavior was so unpredictable that the family kept her tied to a tree for her own safety. She spent her days alongside the familys herd of goats, which are tied up in the same area. After the teachers prayed for her, Saranya smiled for the visitors, completely unaware that her condition was bringing such sorrow and shame to her family. Her parents eyes filled with tears at their compassion. Since then, the teachers have continued to pray for the little girl each time they visit Delings house. Saranya has shown signs of improvement during the past few months, which is encouraging to the teachers and her parents.

Building Relationships with Their Students

One of the secrets to the success of GFAs English medium schools is that they are staffed with godly, qualified, dependable educators who are committed not only to the child, but also to his or her entire family. That means their work in the classroom is only part of the job. These teachers and principals spend their time outside the classroom serving in the local church and getting to know their students families. Madhav and the six teachers from his school have spent hours hiking the narrow mountain trails and skirting rice paddies, walking hundreds of miles to visit these homes. During the course of the school year, they visit each students home at least once. Some families will receive multiple visits from the English medium school staff. The visits have a threefold purpose. At first they talk about the children and how they are doing. Then they take them some tracts and share with them about Jesus and talk to them about Christs love, Madhav explains. And the teachers always take time to pray with the families too.

Academics and True Wisdom

The teachers moved on to the next home, where they visited with the family of Chepan, another student. The parents invited the teachers in, and everyone sat cross-legged on the floor of a screenedin porch. After talking about their sons progress in the classroom, Madhav asked the father if he knew anything about Jesus. Yes, I like Christianity very much, the father said. But I dont want to accept it as my religion because I am happy living as I do in my society. If we believe in Christ, if we accept Him, our society will hurt us and oppress us. Madhav knew that what Chepans father said was true. But he also issued a challenge. I also live in this same society, Madhav explained. I was born and brought up in this very village. But I accepted Christ because He is truly the only way. The father was still wrestling with the decision that day, so Madhav and the teachers gave him some Gospel tracts. As the parent-teacher chat was winding down, the teachers caught a

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glimpse of the children peeking around the doorway. Madhav went over and gave Chepan a hug, and a huge smile broke out on the boys face. The teachers visited several more homes that day, talking about both academics and the true wisdom found in Jesus Christ. At the end of the day they were tired, but the focus of their mission was still strong in their minds. Our goal is to reach these children and their parents with the Word of Jesus Christ, Madhav shares. Our motivation is Jesus.

If we grab the opportunity now, we can change tomorrows Nepal.

Narayan Sharma, Gospel for Asia country leader

Changing Tomorrows Nepal

These simple actseducating a child, caring for his family and demonstrating the compassion of Christ in his community are doing something no amount of preaching alone could do; they are shattering long-held notions about Christianity. Christianity was always considered to be a religion for the uneducated, the poor and the downtrodden people, notes Shikal Deuba, a GFA-supported missionary who oversees an English medium school and pastors a nearby church. But this school has brought a new perspective to the people. They couldnt believe a church, especially a poor church of lowercaste people, had started a school offering English education! This has led more people to visit the church and ultimatelyhas changed their lives for all eternity. The Gospel is becoming more effective because of our actions of love being expressed through this school, Pastor Shikal says. In Shikals school, six families chose to follow Christ during the first year the school was open. And all the villages where these schools are located are having similar encounters with the love of God as they interact with the school staff and the local pastor. Narayan Sharma says greater things are yet to come. If we grab the opportunity now, we can change tomorrows Nepal, he says smiling.

More on the Web: Visit www.gfa.org/child to learn more about how you can help provide a boy or girl in Asia with a bright futureboth now and for eternity!
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{ Believers Bring the Good News to Their Country }

It was the first time Thaye saw his father cry. This was the same man who had chased him out of the house three times (once with a knife), mercilessly beat his own wife and children for their faith in Jesus Christ and falsely accused a pastor of kidnapping his family. This same man now stood before a church congregation with tears streaming down his face as he testified of his personal encounter with Christ the very one he used to loathe and oppose. In Bhutan, many people feel the same way about Christianity that Thayes father, Zinjay, once did. They fight it and do everything in their power to turn believers away from their faith. They beat them, harass them, threaten their lives, disown them and even revoke their citizenship. But Thaye is one of many Bhutanese believers who are standing strong despite the odds against them.

>>

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Bhutan: Some Basic Facts

Nearly 700,000 population Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism (official state religion)72%; Hinduism23%; Islam4%; Christianityless than 1% Christian missionaries are barred from entering the country Illegal for a Buddhist to choose to follow Christ, and church buildings are forbidden

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SAFE AND SECURE

Thaye remembers the night he thought his life was ending. His father had barged into his room while he was studying for his year-end exam. I thought he was there to wish me good luck, Thaye states. He was only 16 at the time. But as my father entered, he remembers, I saw him throwing my books and all my things around. I was nervous, not knowing what to do or what not to do. When he finished, he shut the door and nobody was able to come in. He started beating me. Thayes body buckled with each blow. His mother rushed to find neighbors who could rescue her son. They broke down the door and somehow managed to pull Thaye outside. He collapsed on the ground under the brightness of the full moon. Half an hour passed; then suddenly his father ran out of the house, a knife in his handand straight toward Thaye. I was not able to run away; I was badly beaten up, Thaye says. I just lay there, thinking it was the end of my life. But thats when thoughts of Jesus entered his mind. As he lay crying on the ground, he felt a warm presence engulf him. At that moment, Zinjay ran bybut never saw his son. This happened three times. The house was located in an open area and everything was clearly visible under the light of the full moon, but Thaye remained unnoticed. I could feel his feet touching my back, Thaye recalls. But to my surprise, he didnt see me at all. I was safe and secure in the hands of God. Unable to find his son, Zinjay exchanged Thayes life for the boys bicycle, chopping it to pieces in his rage.

We saw a change in him and took bold steps to share our faith, Thaye says. He agreed in some points, but that stubborn nature was still there. But then Zinjay woke up one morning completely paralyzed. Thaye and his siblings saw this as another opportunity. There is sin in you, Thayes sister told her father. If you confess, Jesus is right there to heal you. After listening to his children, Zinjay decided to pray and confess his sins, though he wasnt ready to surrender his life. His body was instantly healed. The believers in Zinjays village heard about this miraculous event. Zinjay had banished them before, but now they were free to visit him and pray for him. Their love and forgiveness convinced Zinjay to take the next step and trust Jesus for salvation.

TRUSTING THE LORD TO WORK

The country Zinjay grew up in shaped his mind to resist Christianity and believe that it was a Western religion accepted only by low-caste peoplenot at all Bhutan, as Thaye put it. But today, just as Zinjays spirit has softened to know the true God, so also the heart of his nation is gradually opening to receive the Gospel. All across Bhutan, people are experiencing miracles in the name of the living God. The lame walk, people are healed from mysterious, life-threatening sicknesses and countless people like Zinjay are experiencing the mighty power of Jesus firsthand. One missionary team is working in some of the most remote areas of the country where the illiteracy rate is high. Theyve discovered that the best way to express the love of God is through Christian films, and so theyre prepared to hike through dense forests and high mountains, often carrying all the equipment. Sometimes the film teams encounter wild animals like elephants, snow leopards, tigers and bears, notes a Gospel for Asia leader. Today, the first residential Bible college in the country has sprung up in Thimphu, Bhutans capital city, offering believers a place where they can grow spiritually and be equipped to reach the ones around them.

JESUS IS RIGHT THERE

For 10 years, Zinjay remained antagonistic toward Christianity, but the battle he waged against his family and their faith began to tire him. Nothing he did could separate them from Christs love in their hearts. He was exhausted. Thaye and his brother and sister sensed their fathers weariness.

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It was absolutely a historic event in this Buddhist nation, a GFA field correspondent reports of the inauguration. In addition to a well-rounded course of study that includes subjects such as Christian Leadership, New Testament Survey and Missionary Biographies, students at the Bible college are regularly involved in a special program. Students and staff members go two by two to areas where Christians have no access to proclaim the Good News openly, the correspondent explains, and pray for the salvation of the nation while walking.

JESUS IS WORTH IT ALL

While the Bhutanese way of life is still heavily entrenched in keeping the ancient traditions and preserving a cultural heritage, Christians see a bright future for their nation. Even with threats of persecution and imprisonment, missionaries and new believers alike continue to stand firm in their love for the One who delivered them out of darkness. For Thayewho has made it his lifes passion to bring the Good News to his own peopleand thousands just like him, Jesus is worth it all. These believers want that same life and hope for everyone in Bhutan. One leader sums up that desire: We trust that the Lord will be working in the hearts of the people and help them open their hearts to Jesus Christ.

More on the Web: Visit www.gfa.org/sponsor for more information about how you can help spread Gods love across Asia through national missionaries.

Pray for Bhutan:

Prayer wheels (upper right), prayer beads and religious fortresses (middle) are common sights in a land where people seek to earn salvation through religious acts. But men and women compelled by God's love (lower left, upper left) are persevering to reach their nation with His message of grace and forgiveness.

Believers to stand firm despite opposition and persecution Wisdom for Christian leaders Demonic strongholds to be broken Those opposing Christianity to personally encounter the love of Christ Increasing freedom for the Gospel

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in focus {How your partnership is changing lives}

Yo u t h o u t r E AC h

Fanning Faith into Flame

Reaching the Next Generation, Now
The Nepali church leaders sensed an immense responsibility as they prayed for Gods provision and for fruit among the teenagers. The next day they would send letters to churches in eight districts, inviting their youth to a two-day conference. But the leaders knew the event would be much more than presenting a great band and an altar call. They would be shaping the next generation of the Church in Asia.
s Gospel for Asiasponsored missionaries reach more and more young people, the issue of discipleship takes on a heavier weight. Often, young people are the firstand perhaps onlymembers of their families to receive the Lord as their Savior. Many parents and siblings are hostile to this new faith, and those who arent still demonstrate lives radically different from the lifestyle new believers are trying to model. This makes it vital that young people fully understand the biblical basis of their faith and know how to nourish their relationship with God on their own. The theme of the conference in Nepal was Be ready for service and keep your lamps burning, based on Luke 12:35. In addition to messages about holiness, worship and the Holy Spirit, teens also received practical life sessions about stewardship, counseling others and relationships. After fervent prayer in the days leading up to the conference, the leaders were excited to see how much growth the sessions produced. Still, they knew that one weekend can be hard to remember amid a lifetime of persecution. Thats why every GFA youth ministry is based out of a church that can provide long-term discipleship.

Keeping the Faith

The outreach efforts through which many young people receive Christ dont provide much time for building a strong spiritual foundation, so missionaries from local churches take determined steps to make sure the new faith of these young people will continue after the event ends. Workers in GFAs Vacation Bible School program send each child home with a package that includes a New Testament, a Bible story booklet, a poster with a Bible verse and a cassette tape with a message and songs. When children make decisions to follow Jesus, missionaries take their dedication to the childrens growth a step further and help them get involved with a Sunday school class. Although most Sunday schools are affiliated with a local church, Bible college students and missionaries

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Be ready for service and keep your lamps burning.

Conference theme, based on Luke 12:35

did You Know?

Children who receive Christ as their Savior often end up leading the rest of their family to the Lord.

in slums and leper colonies are also making the program available as they see the need. Normally held on Saturdays out of convenience for the students schedules, the weekly classes provide children and teens with regular discipleship and support from Christian adults they can consider role models. The program has the added benefit of easy communication about special events like youth camps and conferences. These events are usually held for a group of 75150 kids, but attendance has reached well into the upper hundreds. Although one of the goals is to share the Gospel with nonbelievers, the main idea behind the conferences is to encourage youth in their spiritual growth.

getting the Message out

As the students learn how to strengthen their faith, theyre also taught how to share it with others. Messages like the Mission Challenge session from the Nepali conference are helpful for teens after they leave the event and return to their homes and churches. The obvious changes in their lives seen by their friends and family give them an automatic opportunity to share the Gospel, but theyre also

encouraged to participate in outreach ministries with their local church. Missionaries take the young people to distribute Gospel tracts, help with VBS and even return to their old Sunday school classes to teach and be an example for a new group of young believers. In one district, the childrens ministry leaders are so enthusiastic about giving the youth opportunities to minister that theyre even developing mission trips and internships during school vacations. While they work to raise up future pastors and missionaries, current leaders are seeing their prayers answered. The conference was really blessed and fruitful, a missionary correspondent said about the Nepali event, because this conference provided spiritual nourishment to many young people. And as the youth grow today, theyre ensuring a harvest tomorrow.

When you give to youth outreach, you are ensuring that the work of Gospel for Asia carries on to tomorrow. Visit www.gfa.org/youth-quake2 to learn more.

first quarter 2010 | send! |

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in focus {How your partnership is changing lives}

BiBlEs

Spreading Freedom Behind Bars

Jiva Giri had been prayerfully waiting for the opportunity to start a prison ministry, and now the conditions were ripe. He and his fellow missionaries had obtained permission from jail authorities to distribute Christian literature to the inmates. They had only one concern: How would their message be received?
iva and his team members began by distributing copies of the New Testament. In many parts of Asia, copies of the Scriptures are rare, even among believers. In this case, however, the missionaries were able to give a New Testament to every prisoner. To the teams surprise, the most enthusiastic reactions came from the jail officials, who were happy to see this work going forward and offered their full support. In fact, the officials agreed to keep more than 60 Christian books in the prison library for inmates to read whenever they liked. It is the guards hope that the prisoners hearts will be changed as a result. But of all the signs of budding faith witnessed that day, the greatest was the request of a single officer. He asked Jiva to leave the missionaries contact information so that prisoners could get in touch with the ministry after being released. Jiva and his team are praying that both guards and prisoners will soon choose to put their faith in Jesus Christ. The remarkably fast growth of this new outreach is a testament to the power of Gods Word and the great hunger for truth in the hearts of people throughout Asia. Many missionaries have found that simply distributing Bibles and other literature is an incredibly effective means of communicating the Gospel. And thanks to generous gifts made to GFA Bible Society, this is happening all over South Asia.

did You Know?

GFA Bible Society can print one Bible or six New Testaments for only $3

gFA generates more than 30 million pieces of gospel literature every year.

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Photographs on these pages are GFA Stock Photos.

One Bible can become the door to salvation for an entire family! Visit www.gfa.org/bibles to give the gift of Gods Word.

No one has ever told her

that God loves her, that Jesus died for her, that she can have eternal life and a home in heaven.

Theyre ready to tell her.

Passionate about heeding Gods call on their lives, national missionaries seek to reach out to those who havent yet heard of His love. You can help spread Christs love throughout Asia by sponsoring a national missionary for just $30 a month.
sponsor online: www.gfa.org/sponsor or Contact us: Gospel for Asia 1800 Golden Trail Court Carrollton, TX 75010 1-800-WIN-ASIA (1-800-946-2742)

Sponsor a national missionary today!

100 percent of your sponsorship goes to provide for missionary work on the mission field; nothing is taken out for administrative expenses. For each national missionary you help support, you will receive a sponsorship packet that includes your missionarys photo and testimony to help you pray more effectively.

short reports {Brief glimpses of what God is doing all across Asia}

{
as he watched the films story unfold,

Read more news online: www.gfa.org/latestnews

God touched him and instantly healed him.

Declaring Their Faith
v
The once-unreached Mising tribe is now bursting with testimonies of Gods salvation! Only a few years ago, missionary Dayal Thomas struggled greatly just to share the Lords message among the Mising people. He could not find acceptance, much less an openness to God, among the tribe. Today, however, dozens of missionaries work among the Mising. Two Gospel workers, Tarak Gupta and Kavi Gupta, recently witnessed 33 new believers make public declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ. Tarak and Kavi praise God for the privilege of serving in this region, and they pray for continued spiritual growth for these new disciples.

Loving His Neighbor

v
When their only bull was bitten by a poisonous snake, the family members panicked. After all, the animal was their sole source of incomeif it died, they would certainly go hungry. At first they tried using different medicines, but the bull just grew worse and eventually fell unconscious. As a last resort, they asked Rajiv Sen, their neighbor and a Gospel for Asiasupported missionary, to pray for the bull. Rajiv earnestly interceded for the bull. The Lord answered his prayers, and soon the bull was healed and stood up. Through this miracle, three families have chosen to follow Jesus and now regularly attend the church Rajiv pastors.

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Delivered from Evil

v
Vasu was a devout man and a high-class citizen, but no amount of religion, reputation or money could rescue his family from ruin. His wife, Tanvi, suffered from mental illness and demon possession, and Vasu himself was addicted to alcohol. He and his family were faithful to perform all the religious rituals expected of them, but it brought them no peace. Vasus neighbors, who were believers, saw that they needed Jesus healing power and peace. With the help of their pastor, Samir Mistry, the neighbors organized a two-day prayer meeting in Vasus house. As they fasted and prayed together, God delivered Tanvi from her illness and freed her from demonic power. Since then, Vasu has been more open to Gods love. He has stopped abusing alcohol, and his entire household is growing in faith. Samir prays that they will choose to follow Christ and that his ministry will continue to bear fruit.

A Golden Opportunity
v
Sharad Nair made a humble living as a goldsmith in a jewelry shop, but neither silver nor gold could save him in his hour of need. One day, while refining some gold, Sharad received serious injuries and was hospitalized. Although his family spent more than 120,000 rupees (about US$3,000) on treatment, Sharads outlook remained grim, and there was little hope for his survival. It was at this time that a group of believers led by missionary Lokesh Malik began visiting him regularly. They prayed for Sharads healing, and they also shared the message of Christs love and gave him Gospel tracts so he could learn more. With each visit, Sharads condition improved miraculously, and soon he was healthy enough to be discharged. Awed by the miracle that God had worked in his life, Sharad later decided to receive Jesus as his personal Savior.

Family-Sized Faith
v
Gospel for Asiasupported missionaries Partha and Pallav were doing outreach when God gave them the opportunity to minister to an entire family. The four family members were all devout followers of their traditional religion, but their faith had not brought them any hope or joy in their difficulties. They listened skeptically as the missionaries explained Gods redeeming love. However, the youngest son, Dilip, began to take interest. All these years we have been attending the temple regularly, he told the missionaries, but we did not receive any blessings in our family. Through your prayers, if God blesses us, we will definitely believe in Jesus. The missionaries promised to return with a film about Jesus life, and the family halfheartedly agreed to watch it. As the video played, God began working a transformation in the heart of each person. As a result, the whole family is now growing in faith in Jesus Christ.

She Took the Risk

v
Severe pain shot through Charus body. Although excruciating, the attack did not surprise hershe had been suffering unexplained pain for seven years. No prescribed treatment could ease her suffering, until the day a follower of Christ came to her door. He shared the Gospel message and invited her to church to receive prayer for healing. Charu was skeptical. Why should she turn her back on her familys religion? And what would her husband think? Reluctantlyand without telling her husbandshe eventually decided to visit Pastor Daruka Durajs church. He took the opportunity to tell Charu about the power of Jesus, who was more than able to heal her, and then prayed for her. Within a month, Charus pain had vanished. Thrilled, she made the decision to give her life to the Lord and now attends church regularly. The change in Charus lifestyle piqued her husbands interest. He now attends church regularly, seeking to learn more about the God who healed his wife and transformed her life.

Healing Came to Him

v
Jagajeet Patel was stuck. He lay paralyzed in a remote village where getting around was anything but easy. The nearest health center was miles away a journey that many ailing people did not survive. But one special day, a film team visited Jagajeets village to screen a movie about the life of Christ. Jagajeet was one of about 150 attendees, and as he watched the films story unfold, God touched him and instantly healed him. Jagajeet couldnt find words to express his gratitude. Although Jagajeet has not yet committed his life to Christ, he is hungry to learn even more about Jesus and wishes to share what hes learned with his family and other villagers.
first quarter 2010 | send! |

Photographs on these pages are GFA Stock Photos.

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profile

Dinnerand Salvation
For most missionaries, learning and explaining the intricacies of one religious faith are more than enough, but Jeremiah finds he does better with three.
nAtionAl MissionArY

nAME:

Jeremiah
l o C At i o n :

South Asia

eremiah is a leader of the Zacchaeus ministry. Through this ministry, named for the biblical figure, Gospel for Asiasupported missionaries invite non-Christians to a local believers house for a meal. There, they have a time of discussing traditional Asian religions and the Word of God. Jeremiah comes and explains in detail the history and practices of two popular religions and then draws attention to some of the problems he sees in them. Then he shares from the Bible. The simple format of presenting all three religions side by side is producing incredible results in places where people are very dedicated to their traditional faiths. In one village, local leaders strongly opposed Christianity, saying it was a foreign religion meant only for tribal people. But when Jeremiah spoke, he was able to answer all the questions the people asked, and two-thirds of the group decided to put their trust in Christ as Lord. In another village, local missionaries were having a hard time making progress because the people were very skeptical and would mock Christianity. But these three missionaries kept praying that they would be able to win the lost, and they decided to have a Zacchaeus program.

Even when Jeremiah spoke, several people did what they could to disrupt the program by raising every argument they could think of, whether relevant or not. Yet eight people chose to follow Jesus that night, giving the missionaries the start they had been looking for. Jeremiahs knowledge has astonished villagers, as for the first time they learn the truth about the traditional religions theyve followed their entire lives. They were amazed to discover the false beliefs they had been nourishing in their hearts and minds, said a GFA field correspondent about a meeting where 38 people received Christ. There was so much wailing and weeping as the people confessed their sins to the Lord. Every time Jeremiah travels to a new village, he knows hes about to face some of the people most set against hearing about a different faith. But he knows God has called and equipped him for this special task. And besides, dinner with the neighbors often results in souls saved.

You can help support a national missionary like Jeremiah! Visit www.gfa.org/sponsor to learn more.

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five minutes with K.P.

We Will Be

Like HIM
We are called to be partakers of His nature (see 2 Peter 1:4). How do we do that? We see Jesus. Scripture says that when we see Him, we will be like Him (see 1 John 3:2). Just like the passing car, the thoughts we entertain, and the people we spend time withif we look at Jesus and keep Him before us, we will go to Him. We will become like Him. The measure in which were able to see Him continually in all our circumstances is the same measure we will experience Him and His life through us.

those apples? and never notice that the apples were just tied onto the branches. If you let some time go by though, anyone would be able to notice that the now-rotting apples were not really a part of the tree.

magine with me that someone bought a whole bunch of bright red, crisp apples and tied them onto an apple tree. Everyone who casually walked by the tree would think, Wow, that tree looks great. See all of

so right, Yet Completely Wrong

Our Christianity can be like that apple tree. By knowing the appropriate behaviors, we can make our lives look so spiritual. However, you and I can be right in our understanding and all our doctrines, yet be completely wrong on the inside. Look at the Pharisees. They had everything right. They knew Gods holiness and all the laws. They were missionaries. They fasted, gave, prayed and taught the Scriptures. Their problem? Everything began and ended with them. God had no part in it. What God wants us to be goes beyond doing all the right things. Our apples should be produced from the tree, or our fruit will not last. So often we want a plan, an agenda, a book to tell us how to become godly. But godliness is not a list of how-tos. The answer is Jesus. If we listen closely, well hear the Lord calling out to our hearts, Be Mine. Let My life be yours.

look for him in Every situation

In my own life, there was a particular time when I was going through great difficulty. In the midst of that season, the Lord asked me the question: Are you willing to give up your reputation? I said to myself, Oh my goodness! He is the One who didnt care what people thought about Him. He didnt defend Himself when people said all kinds of evil about Him. Hes asking me if Im willing to identify with Him and have His nature in me. Lord, I didnt see this before, I said to Him. Im happy to do it. I was able to find such peace and release from my personal anguish. Look for Him in your own situations that you are facing right now. Listen to the things He speaks to your heart. Look at His life on earth and consider what it was like for Him. Look for Him in His Word. If we see Him in every part of our lives, we will become like Him. We will have His attitude toward the Father that says, I do nothing of Myself (John 8:28) and I say whatever the Father tells me to say (John 12:50, NLT). We will walk in the humility that yields our rights for others and is respectful toward those He created. Well have His mind to suffer and not be fearful of it. We will manifest His passion to seek and save the lost. This is the kind of life Christ wants for us. It is a journey. Each day, as we see Him, we will become more like Him. Will you seek Him today? He promises that you will find Him.

A living, growing relationship

Please dont look for a quick fix. This call from the Lord involves daily walking with Him, being sensitive to hear His voice, seeking to do His will and loving Him through our choices. It is not obedience to the letter of the law, but rather understanding the heart of our Master. This is not a fill-in-the-blank test, but a living, growing relationship with the Creator of this world. We must see Jesuseverywhere, in all of our life, in everything. The book of Hebrews tells us, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2, NIV). Have you ever studied a car that was passing you, and all of a sudden, without realizing it, you actually started to steer toward the passing car? The more you dwell on negative things, the more negative you become. The more you dwell on positive thoughts, the more positive you become. The more time you spend with someone, the more you actually take on their mannerisms and vocabulary without even trying.

K.P. Yohannan is founder and president of Gospel for Asia. Visit www.gfa.org/5minutes to read more Five Minutes with K.P. articles.

This article was adapted from a chapter in K.P. Yohannans newest book, Destined to Soar. Visit www.gfa.org/store to learn how you can receive your copy.
first quarter 2010 | send! |

23

CAN YOU DIE TO YOURSELF FOR ONE YEAR?

spend a year in texas at gospel for Asias school of discipleshipyour life will never be the same.
> Grow spiritually through challenging classes and personal discipleship. > Serve in the Gospel for Asia home office alongside dedicated staff. > Participate in frequent times of prayer for the lost world. > Practice sacrificial service in discipleship home groups. > Visit the mission field and see the desperate need of the lostand the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ at work.

Class Dates:

August 21, 2010July 29, 2011 deadline to Apply: April 30, 2010 January 22, 2011December 16, 2011 deadline to Apply: September 30, 2010 Open to dedicated Christian single adults ages 1825.

For more information:

Visit www.gfa.org/discipleship Email discipleship@gfa.org Call 1-800-Win-AsiA (1-800-946-2742)

NOTE: Not a for-credit college course.