WILLS POINT, TX — A global mission organization is lifting the veil on the incredible suffering of millions of “invisible” widows around the world — many even cast off by their own families. In many places, widows face extreme hardships, abuse, exploitation and sexual violence. Even their own families show them “little or no mercy,”…
WILLS POINT, TX — Mission agency GFA World (www.gfa.org) has launched an appeal to help thousands of “ostracized widows” around the globe at risk of starvation and abuse after being abandoned by their family and neighbors. “Millions of widows live in societies where they are blamed for their husband’s death, regardless of the illness, accident…
PUEBLO, CO — International ministry World Challenge recently helped build houses for 60 impoverished widows in Guatemala, reported Christian Post.[1] As part of World Challenge’s widow ministry program, which seeks to fulfill the biblical directive to care for widows, local partners meet practical, daily needs of widows, such as food, medicine and shelter. Partners also…
LOVES PARK, IL — A U.S. organization is aiming to help 1,300 “frontline pastors” and ministry workers in Russia and the former Soviet Union this winter who, it says, are “risking everything” to aid orphans, widows, and suffering families. During the pandemic, local pastors across Russia and the former Soviet Union have trekked hundreds of miles…
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – The premature death of a spouse threatens the stability of a family and leaves a gaping emotional hole for the surviving wife or husband. An Israeli organization is reaching out to families, widows, and orphans using the Bible as their guide. Chris Mitchell, CBN News: Once a week this home is filled…
EUSTIS, FL – Young people are probably more familiar with Rafiki than older adults. For them, Rafiki is a character in Disney’s Lion King. But Rafiki is so much more than that. It is the word in the Swahili language for “friend.” And the Rafiki Foundation has been a friend to Africa for 35 years….
WILLS POINT, TX — One of the world’s biggest poverty-alleviating organizations spotlights the huge “uphill battle” facing many of the world’s 258 million widows in a recently-released report. Treatment of widows is often startlingly unfair and cruel, catapulting them into a crisis of survival, says the new global report by Texas-based Gospel for Asia (GFA…
WILLS POINT, TX — Leading faith-based humanitarian agency Gospel for Asia (GFA), announced today it will provide crucial aid and spiritual support to hundreds of “shunned and shamed” widows to mark International Widows Day, Sunday, June 23. “In some Asian cultures, when a woman’s husband dies, she is often stripped of her dignity, her worth,…
Gospel for Asia (GFA World) Special Report: Hope to Overcome the Challenges of Widowhood Written By Ken Walker of InChrist Communications Accounts of the humiliations, insults and indignations suffered by widows worldwide would make anyone cringe. Gulika, a widow in Asia, experienced helplessness after the people in her village turned their backs on her after…
WILLS POINT, Texas – The United Nations has set aside June 23rd of each year as International Widows Day “as an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows. According to the UN, “It has been estimated that there are some 258 million widows around the world, with over 115 million of…
SENAU, ARUNACHAL PRADESH – Members of the Believer’s Eastern Church in Senua reached out to help about 30 widows living in the village on International Widows Day, What the church did was quite unusual, at least for westerners, yet deeply appreciated by the recipients. The Senua BEC regularly looks after the needs of widows with…
One of the widows touched by Gospel for Asia-supported teams’ help-and-hope visits speaks of her ‘beautiful house’ made possible by simple donation WILLS POINT, Texas—The message of God’s sheltering love for the destitute and disenfranchised was spelled out practically with tin sheets and umbrellas when Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported teams reached out to some of…
TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA —The Samaritan’s Purse project Tesfa for Tigray has created a safe haven for children who have fled ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. My city is Humera. It is my favorite city and a wonderful city. I miss my hometown Humera the blessed city. The sun rises from Western Tigray. Because of her children the…
WASHINGTON, DC— The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), the world’s largest association of Christian communicators, is pleased to announce the addition of 15 organizations and individuals as NRB members in the second quarter of 2024. “We are delighted to welcome these fifteen new members into the NRB family,” said President & CEO Troy A. Miller. “There’s…
LOVES PARK, IL — A new evangelical church movement is bringing hope to Moldova — a vulnerable, ex-communist nation on the edge of the Ukraine war. “Concern among Moldovans is very real that, after Ukraine, they could be next,” said Eric Mock, senior vice president of ministry operations at Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA), a…
WILLS POINT, TX — The public viewing for the late Dr. K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan) on May 15 in Dallas, Texas, was attended by approximately a thousand mourners, including presidents of national Christian organizations; former dignitaries of the Indian parliament; bishops, priests and leaders of various Christian denominations; and many men and women who grew…
WILLS POINT, TX — On May 15, around a thousand people visited Restland Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas, to pay tribute the late Dr. K.P. Yohannan (Metroplitan Yohan), founder of GFA World. Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., a steady stream of people flowed into the funeral parlor, including presidents of national Christian organizations; former…
MOORESVILLE, NC — KP Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan) — founder of missions agency GFA World (formerly Gospel for Asia) who died May 8 — once said to me: “I’m just a skinny kid from India who grew up to be a follower of Jesus.” Genuine humility was the mark of the man — a man whom…
WILLS POINT, TEXAS— K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan), founder and director of GFA World and Metropolitan of Believers Eastern Church, departed in the presence of God on May 8, 2024. He was a missionary statesman with an undying call to share the love of Christ with this world and to inspire others to follow in his…
LOVES PARK, IL — Kids’ War Art is ‘Window to Their Souls’ as Pain Grows — Children in Ukraine, for whom death and destruction has become part of life, are expressing themselves through “war art” — giving a heart-wrenching window into their young minds and souls. Eleven-year-old Sophia’s wartime artwork shows missiles raining down while…
MEDIA ADVISORY — This is your opportunity to cover a unique event for approximately 50 courageous women in Ukraine whose husbands risk their lives every day to help others and bring God’s comfort on the frontline of the war. These women and pastors’ wives face deadly missile attacks on their own communities day and night….
FARMINGTON, PA — From personal tragedies like disease, suicide and financial difficulties to catastrophes on a massive scale such as shootings, fires and floods, many Christians may feel unprepared to offer comfort and hope to those who are grieving and in despair. On May 4, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) – a nationwide…
NIGERIA — It’s been 10 years since the Chibok Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria. More than 90 of the young women are still missing. On 14 April, parents of the girls gathered for a service to pray for the missing women. Yakubu Nkeki – Chibok, Nigeria: My name is Yakubu…
NIGERIA — In May 2023, Pastor Zachariah returned home to find his wife and son had been killed in an attack by Fulani militants. His home had also been burnt to the ground. To help him deal with his devastating loss, Nigerian Pastor Zachariah received trauma counselling and practical support from Open Doors partners. It…
LOVES PARK, IL — A Ukrainian couple facing their own life-and-death battle with advanced cancer are helping others suffering from anxiety and despair on the frontline of the Israel-Hamas war. Ukrainian-born Jew Yura, 51, and his wife Luda, 53, who has undergone major surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy to treat Stage 4 cancer, left…
NORTH KOREA — The Open Doors World Watch List 2024 ranks the countries where Christians count the highest cost for following Jesus. These are the 5 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Could praying put you in danger? Could going to church risk your life? Could following Jesus cost you your job, your…
NORTH KOREA — Christian freedom in the world is marked by a deterioration that seems to be getting worse. This is reflected in reports and statistics, such as those collected by the organization Open Doors. That entity has just published the World Persecution List 2024, with data related to the period between January and October…
NORTH KOREA — Longstanding Christian communities could disappear in parts of sub-Saharan Africa through a double blow of violent instability and authoritarian control. Christian minorities across east and west Africa face twin existential threats: violent disorder exploited by radical jihadists and autocratic governments backed by larger powers outside the region.This is one of the disturbing…
CHARLOTTE, NC — The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) will deploy to Claremont, North Carolina, after severe storms swept through the area on Tuesday. The National Weather Service reported that an EF-1 tornado tore through the area, where one person was killed, several others were injured and dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed….
LOS ANGELES — The God is Love Takeover came to downtown Los Angeles Friday January 12, 2023 for Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday weekend in partnership with the Azusa Street Mission to spread the power of love, unity and service. From city to city, the God is Love movement has poured out love by donating…
NORTH KOREA — Ji Ho* in North Korea counts the cost of following Jesus every day. Her father was taken away by police agents when his Bible was discovered, and she has to keep her faith secret – or face terrible consequences. *Name changed for security. Ji Ho*: I didn’t know what the book was,…
IRAN — Those Christians who are Iranian who want to live their faith in Jesus freely are often sent to prison, where they are frequently tortured and interrogated. They flee the persecution that plagues the country, becoming refugees in other nations. Kouroush is one of them. Kouroush: I had to leave everything behind. My country,…
LOVES PARK, IL — A unique Christmas program is bringing the gift of hope to thousands of children caught in the devastating wars in Israel and Ukraine. American Christians are supporting the annual Christmas campaign called Immanuel’s Child that will deliver gifts and a “star of hope” to as many as 75,000 needy children this…
GREENSBORO, NC — Packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child is one of the many activities Lela Mae Cummings enjoys in her still-active lifestyle at “98 and a half years old.” Leila Mae Cummings: I’m Leila Mae Cummings , and I’ve lived in the Guilford College area all my life. And I’m at Friends Home Guilford,…
UK — More than 42,000 Christians from more than 360 UK churches are taking to the streets December 16-17 in various Christmas Shine Your Light outreach events with the sole purpose to share that Jesus is the reason for the season. Dr. Jonathan Oleyede – National Day of Prayer and Worship: This Christmas the whole…
WILLS POINT, TX — Can a chicken really change someone’s life? It’s happening all around the globe, according to mission agency GFA World (www.gfa.org). The Texas-based organization has launched its annual Christmas “Chickens & Goats” campaign on WAY-FM Radio — an opportunity for people to buy life-changing gifts, such as chickens and goats, for families…
LOVES PARK, IL — Jewish Christians in Israel, including Russian-speaking immigrants who’ve fled the war in Ukraine, are delivering aid to traumatized Israeli families, even as rockets continue to rain down. Hamas continues to fire rockets at the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, where many frightened families are huddled in bomb shelters. Partnering with Illinois-based…
NORTH KOREA — In North Korea, saying the word “Jesus” can be a death sentence. Hea-woo is a persecuted Christian, one of the prisoners in North Korea. Although her mother was a Christian, she only heard about Jesus through her husband. To maintain her faith, the Christian fled to China, but there she was discovered…
LOVES PARK, IL — Churches in Ukraine are using portable solar-powered “survival systems” to bring relief and hope to those without electricity as drones relentlessly target the nation’s power grid. Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org) — an evangelical mission that has been supporting local churches in the region for decades — has supplied 40…
LOVES PARK, IL — The war in Ukraine has caused a dramatic surge in the number of “social orphans,” according to a U.S.-based organization responding to an escalating crisis of child abandonment. Ukrainian church leaders estimate there are as many as 50,000 “hidden” social orphans, children barely surviving under the radar who’ve been abandoned or…
BAKERSFIELD, CA — This month, CityServe International will have a grand opening for their new CityServe Family Center in Kyiv, Ukraine. In partnership with churches in Ukraine, this family center will serve to heal the multi-generational trauma of a war that has already claimed over 20,000 Ukrainian lives, including many civilians. The grand opening ceremony…
BURKINA FASO — Almost two million people in Burkina Faso have been displaced by extremist violence. Many are Christian widows and orphans. Traore* (17) is one of them. He moved to a safer area after a jihadist attack brought tragic loss to his family. Traore*: Sometimes, my heart is broken when I think about my…
LOVES PARK, IL — Ten-year-old Maryna kneels beside her bed and prays for the war in Ukraine to end. For Maryna, the horrors of war have already left lifelong scars. Surgeons had to amputate her crushed leg after a shell exploded next to her home. Now she wears a prosthetic. Any loud noise brings her…
LOVES PARK, IL — A U.S. mission is rushing to support Ukrainian churches racing to help families impacted by the catastrophic dam collapse in southern Ukraine as a counter-offensive gets underway. “People are desperate for water, food, and a way to charge their phones as flood waters surround them and the counter-offensive goes on,” said…
NIGERIA — Ayuba’s* father was killed by Boko Haram militants in 2020. Ayuba swore to take revenge on the man who had betrayed his father to the militants – but has found healing through a trauma centre, supported by Open Doors. *Ayuba is portrayed by an actor and his name has been changed for security…
LOVES PARK, IL — A one-of-a-kind podcast featuring inspiring stories from Ukraine, Russia, former Soviet countries and Israel will give Americans the hope they’re looking for, its producers say. “We’re delivering an entirely new type of podcast,” said Michael Johnson, president of Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org) that produces “Encountering Hope – The Podcast.” “They’re…
LOVES PARK, IL — The Ukraine war and growing desperation in hard times are driving a surge in the number of children expected to flock to Bible camps this summer across the former Soviet Union, a region once steeped in atheism. Amid fears the Ukraine conflict could escalate at any moment, Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association…
EAST AFRICA — Munah* is a young woman from east Africa and one of only a handful of Christians in her strictly Muslim tribe. Her family’s choice to forsake the beliefs and practices of their people group came at the considerable cost of isolation.But an Open Doors trauma care programme is helping her in healing…
LOVES PARK, IL — Courageous pastors, some wearing bulletproof vests, are risking everything to deliver life-saving aid to desperate people living near the frontline of the war in Ukraine. “Jesus used to go where there was pain, where it was difficult, where people needed him,” said armor-wearing Pastor Vlad, as he and church members distributed food…
WILLS POINT, TX — Mission agency Gospel for Asia (GFA World) is challenging people to “pray tenaciously for the world’s vulnerable women like never before” — including the more than 250,000 women and girls who’ve disappeared without a trace in the U.S. As the annual International Women’s Day takes place in March, the Federal Bureau of…
