GFA Update on Manja: http://www.gfa.org/manja
-------------------------------------------------------
June 29, 2004  -  Vol. IV  Issue 23 -  140,000 Subscribed
-------------------------------------------------------

A special update from K.P. Yohannan:

Dear Friend,
As Christians all over the world have been faithfully interceding for
wrongfully imprisoned GFA missionary Manja, we have some latest news
about his case. This Thursday is a significant day for our Nepali brother.
The judges have deliberated--and made their decision. The verdict for
Manja's case will be read this Thursday in the Supreme Court of Nepal.
In a matter of days, we will find out whether he will be released or
have to remain in jail.

While we do not know what the verdict will be, we remain confident and
believe the Lord has a perfect plan in all that is happening. When I
saw him last while I was visiting him in prison, he mentioned his
confidence in God's sovereign plan and that God will fulfill His plan, no
matter what.

Please continue to pray for Manja and his dear wife and children. After
we hear the news, you will be the first ones to know. Meanwhile, thank
you for standing with us in prayer and faith on behalf of our brother
Manja.

Yours for the unreached millions,
K.P. Yohannan
Founder and President - GFA

P.S.  Listen to Manja's story as told by our Nepal leader back in
September 2003: http://www.gfa.org/gfa/latestnewsarticle?wid=1720



>GFA STORE -- K.P.'s latest book!: "Come, Let's Reach the World"
http://www.gfa.org/item?stock_code=B3&motiv=WA40-GULT

>GET INVOLVED -- Donate to Slum Ministry:
https://www.gfa.org/gfa/donate?DESIG=2012&motiv=WA40-GULT

> PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Manja before prison:
http://www.gfa.org/gfa/potwgallery?func=viewImage&wid=1724&collateralId=6154

> VIDEO:
http://www.gfa.org/video

> AUDIO:
http://www.gfa.org/audio



> NEWS: (June 28, 2004)  "Slum Ministry"
"On my way to catch an early morning flight out of Bombay, India, the
shuttle bus stopped at a red light.

"Looking out the window, I saw a young boy picking through an ugly
garbage heap in a nearby slum--probably to find a few scraps of food.

"The boy turned his face toward me, and my heart nearly froze. He
looked very much like our son, Daniel. As the bus drove off, I looked back
until he was out of sight and tried to imagine Daniel having such a
destitute life and future.

"Tears came to my eyes when I realized that no one probably ever prayed
for this slum boy--at least not to the living God. On that bus ride I
began to intercede for him with a burden as if he were my son. By faith
I asked the Lord to save him and call him to become a native
missionary. Though I must wait until heaven to see how God answered my prayer, I
am confident the Lord pointed this young boy out to me because He has a
specific purpose for his life."

My wife told me this story from one of her visits to Bombay, where 6
million slum dwellers live. I myself had similar encounters where God
showed me, through meeting one beggar or slum child, how important each is
to our heavenly Father.

For Him, slum dwellers don't get lost in a sea of makeshift dwellings
at the outskirts of a major city. He feels their pain when they are
rejected, mistreated and exploited by respectable society. And His heart
aches when they go hungry, suffer from exposure and are destroyed by sin,
sickness and the devil.

When He looks at them, He sees precious individuals for whom Jesus died
and who have the potential to become His sons and daughters and reflect
the glory of heaven.

Rapidly growing slums, with millions of people living in extreme
poverty and struggling for survival, are a huge problem for South Asia's
major cities. Thousands arrive daily from rural areas in search of jobs and
a better life, only to become trapped in the desperation and
hopelessness of slum life.

Open sewage, polluted water, lack of health care, illiteracy,
superstition and diseases such as tuberculosis and AIDS are just some of the
threats all around them.

Every day is a new battle to find a job somehow--or keep the one they
have--as laborer, porter, sweeper or house servant. If that's not
possible, they must resort to begging, scavenging and prostitution to be able
to eat. And if they get too sick or too old to work, there is no social
agency to help them survive. No wonder many slum dwellers drown their
fears and sorrows in alcohol.

The saddest truth is that they have no comfort and hope for this life,
or the next one, because they don't know the love of God and His free
gift of salvation.

Five years ago GFA started a slum ministry in four Indian cities. Today
we have 519 native missionaries serving in over 1,278 slum
neighborhoods and a Bible college training young men and women for this specific
ministry. The wonderful news is that these missionaries have established
527 churches.

Because of the desperate and complex problems they encounter, their
ministry has many faces. While sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, church
planting work and children's ministry are at the heart of their
outreach, they also conduct free medical camps and tutoring classes for
children. They care for the poor in whatever way they can.

It's incredible to encounter believers from our slum churches. You can
easily see by the sparkle in their eyes and the joy on their faces that
Jesus has brought light and hope into their lives. And their
testimonies tell of the love and power of God that set them free from bondage and
sin and even healed many from sickness. Most of all, through the Lord
Jesus Christ they are now part of the family of God and have become our
brothers and sisters.

We believe the Lord wants us to double--or even triple--the number of
students we presently train for slum ministry. This means that with each
graduating class, a significant number of new outreaches can be started
all over India and the neighboring countries, and millions of slum
dwellers will have the opportunity to find hope and salvation in Jesus.

Our missionaries and Bible college students are very much in need of
extra funds to expand their outreach work and to be able to help with
many of the urgent needs of the people they encounter.

Would you please pray for their difficult ministry and help them with a
generous gift to share God's love and free gift of salvation with these
multitudes, who, until now, have had no idea that God chose them to
become His beloved children? To donate, please visit:
https://www.gfa.org/gfa/donate?DESIG=2012&motiv=WA40-GULT .

In the eyes of our heavenly Father, one soul from a palace or a slum is
more precious than the whole earth. Let us share His values and reflect
His heart.

Yours for Asia's unreached multitudes,
K.P. Yohannan
*Post prayer or praise: http://www.gfa.org/viewaprayer
*Sponsor a missionary: http://www.gfa.org/sponsor



> NEWS: (June 25, 2004)  "Pastor Beaten and Unable to Walk" 
Despite much opposition, GFA Pastor Simon faithfully furthers the
Gospel in a South Indian community. Just a few days ago, a village believer
requested he pray for her ailing child. Simon gladly visited and
interceded for this little one who had suffered illness for some time.

As he left the house, the woman's husband confronted him, demanding to
know why he had come. Suddenly, the man began to hit Simon with a big
stick. Our pastor was beaten so severely that he is unable to stand or
walk, and dark bruises mark his skin.

Hearing of the incident, a GFA field leader visited Simon to encourage
him. Pray with us for God's physical and emotional healing for this
dedicated brother--and comfort for his family. Pray for Simon's opposer to
repent and embrace Christ's love. Lastly, pray for God's protection and
empowering for all our pastors in the region as they courageously go
forth with the light of Jesus.  Read more persecution news at:
http://www.gfa.org/persecution .
*Post prayer or praise: http://www.gfa.org/viewaprayer
*Sponsor a missionary: http://www.gfa.org/sponsor


> NEWS: (June 24, 2004)  "Many Children Brought to Christ"
Gospel for Asia's vacation Bible school outreach has begun, and already
children's lives are being touched. GFA Pastor Simon in South India
recently held a six-day program. All participants received a New Testament
and comic booklet on the life of Jesus. By the end of the week, of the
132 children in attendance--most from non-Christian homes--75 found
salvation in Christ.

Thank God for moving in the tender hearts of children--and providing
follow-up addresses for all who were present. May these new babes in
Christ shine as Gospel lights to their families. Pray also for their steady
growth in the faith and the Lord's protection from possible
persecution. To donate to VBS Childrens Ministry please visit:
http://www.gfa.org/gfa/donate?DESIG=2015 .
*Post prayer or praise: http://www.gfa.org/viewaprayer
*Sponsor a missionary: http://www.gfa.org/sponsor



_______________________

> About Gospel for Asia: http://www.gfa.org/aboutgfa

> Sign-up Information
If you received this email as a forward and would like to sign up,
please visit our website at http://www.gfa.org/emailupdate and join over
140,000 Christians around the world who receive GFA's email update!

> Removal Information
The email address you signed up with is [email protected]. To be
removed, please send the following blank email from that email account
only: mailto:[email protected]?SUBJECT=UNSUBSCRIBE NOTE:
Sending this unique email from another email client will not remove you
from the list. If you experience difficulty, simply reply to this email
and request removal. Thank you!
_______________________

Gospel for Asia
1800 Golden Trail Ct.
Carrollton TX 75010
800-WIN-ASIA