Gospel for Asia Update
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August 10, 2004  -  Vol. IV  Issue 27 -  152,000 Subscribed
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Dear Aalie,
How are you today? I trust you are serving Jesus and walking with Him
on the narrow path.

Persecution on the field is dramatically increasing for native
missionaries and believers across Asia. I want to share the following story
with you and request your prayers not only for this brother but many
others facing similar trials and tests of their faith.


"GFA Church Threatened" - Aug 10, 2004
Imagine worshipping at your church, only to be disrupted by angry men
issuing threats. Many of us can’t picture this, but for GFA Pastor
Ramzan (photo: http://www.gfa.org/gfa/latestnewsarticle?wid=2038 ) in
largely unreached Karnataka (India) it became a reality last Sunday when 300
members of a radical anti-Christian group barged into his church. They
accused the pastor of forcibly converting people and threatened him.
They staged a protest where they yelled accusations against Christians
and distributed propaganda against missionaries. Even local authorities
did nothing to stop the mistreatment.

Previously many Christian workers fled the area because of warnings
from opposers of the Gospel. But Pastor Ramzan stayed and continued to
reach lost people for Christ. Karnataka is South India’s most spiritually
destitute state, with nearly all its people groups still unreached. Out
of a population of 53 million, 2.1 percent are Christian. Pray with us
for this congregation and their pastor, that God may comfort them. Pray
for peace in the area and that authorities will intervene in the
situation. Most of all, pray these believers in Christ will be able to say,
like the apostle Paul, “that the things which happened to me have
actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel�?(Philippians 1:12,
NKJV).


May the Lord richly bless you as you seek to reach others with the
Gospel.

Grace and peace,
John Schwartz

P.S. To sponsor a native missionary like Pastor Ramzan please visit our
site here: http://www.gfa.org/sponsor .



::: NEWS: Night Journey - 08/09/04
Darshan lay on her bed, curled up in pain. If only I had more money,
she thought. But even if she could afford it, she was afraid to undergo
surgery to cure the piercing pain in her stomach.

She had already been to the doctor after suffering discomfort for some
time. He told her it could be stones, and that she should get treatment
right away. But Darshan was too poor, so she went home and continued
trying to bear the pain.

One night Darshan writhed in intense pain. My life is going to end, she
thought. Only 35, she was sure she was dying.

Yet the Lord had mercy and sent some Christians who pointed her to GFA
Pastor Laddi (photo: http://www.gfa.org/gfa/latestnewsarticle?wid=2035
). It was around midnight when she traveled to meet him in her weak
state.

Though it was the middle of the night, Pastor Laddi had compassion on
Darshan’s pitiful condition and started to pray for her. As he did, her
pain began to subside. Soon it was gone. The journey in the night that
led her to Pastor Laddi had brought relief: The living God had healed
her!

Pray this miracle will open doors for Darshan and many others to
receive the Gospel. Rejoice that through Pastor Laddi’s witness in this area
of Tamil Nadu (India), 10 people have come to the Savior in the past
six months.  
*Post prayer or praise: http://www.gfa.org/viewaprayer 
*Sponsor a missionary: http://www.gfa.org/sponsor


::: NEWS: Hungry to Hear More - 08/06/04 
A GFA pastor in North India recently reported about an area of 35
villages where 8,000 people have been tuning in to Gospel for Asia’s
Athmeeya Yathra radio broadcast for the past three years. Now they are
interested in hearing more about the Lord Jesus.

A GFA leader has made plans to send a musical team to present the
Gospel in this area. “Please pray,�?he writes, “that the Lord will help us
establish several churches soon.�?GFA currently broadcasts in 83 Asian
languages. Thank God for how He is using radio to touch hungry,
unreached hearts in Asia. 
*Post prayer or praise: http://www.gfa.org/viewaprayer
*Sponsor a missionary: http://www.gfa.org/sponsor


> NEWS: A Son for Masih - 08/05/04
With mixed joy and longing, 52-year-old Masih watched his seven
daughters at play. As a believer, he thanked God for his children. There was
just one thing he still desired: a son. While he deeply loved his
daughters, they could not carry on the responsibilities of sons.

For some time Masih and his wife had anxiously hoped for a son, and the
whole family eagerly looked to God to bless them with this gift.
However, as they grew older, the chances of the couple having another child
became slim.

One day, Masih and his family visited with Pastor Hajind (photo:
http://www.gfa.org/gfa/latestnewsarticle?wid=2022 ), who urged them to
keep believing and shared Bible stories of God’s miracles and
blessings. Encouraged, the family asked the Believers Church pastor to pray for
them.

Then they waited expectantly. Soon, to everyone’s excitement, Masih’s
wife was expecting. The family praised God when she gave birth to a
healthy baby boy—the answer to their prayers. This little boy—and the
miracle that brought him—reminded the family of God’s faithfulness. Pray
this special son and his seven sisters will grow up to testify of God’s
grace. 
*Post prayer or praise: http://www.gfa.org/viewaprayer
*Sponsor a missionary: http://www.gfa.org/sponsor



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