Missions Box News recently published a report about GFA-supported pastors and missionaries who had visited an orphanage in which all 28 boys have lost their parents to AIDS and are themselves infected with the dread disease. The pastors and missionaries undertook this effort to assist and encourage the boys and educate them about the HIV…
LONDON – Great Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, ordered a review today into the escalation of persecution of Christians around the world. Current estimates are that 250 Christians die every month as a result of persecution-related violence. The aim of the reviews is to determine what the UK can do aid what is now more…
WILLS POINT – If you sang “Silent Night” with at church or with your family on Christmas Eve, you probably did not realize that your rendition was specially timed. Christmas Eve 2018 marks the 200th anniversary of the first presentation of “Stille Nacht.” The words were originally penned as a poem in 1816 by Joseph…
WILLS POINT – While we gather together with our families during this Christmas season there are 68.5 million forcibly displaced people around the world who are separated from home and families and have nowhere to go. According to the UNHCR, people are forcibly displaced faster than one every two seconds as a result of conflict…
CHENGDU – Last week Chinese authorities detained Pastor Wang Yi and 100 members of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Szechuan, China.Bob Fu, the president of ChinaAid, said that “the massive overnight attack . . . represents a major escalation of religious persecution in China.”Former U.S. Senator and current U.S. Ambassador at Large for…
LONDON – Sadiq Khan is the Mayor of London, England. He had been a Member of Parliament since 2005. He is also a devout Muslim. However, whether politically motivated or out of sincerity, he has proven to be kind to Christians. Just a few days ago on December 16th, he addressed a crowd of 10,000…
MOSUL – There are places in the world where Christians are under attack. Some countries prohibit Christians from telling others about Jesus under anti-terrorism or anti-evangelism laws in regions where Christians are in the minority. We tend to be somewhat surprised by this, but the Lord is not.He has known this would happen from before…
OSLO – Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Christian doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was named a co-recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize earlier this week. Dr. Mukwege is a world-renowned gynecologist who specializes in treating the survivors of sexual violence within war-torn regions like his own beloved DRC. Mukwege is the son…
RIMBO, Sweden – December 10th marked the fourth day of peace negotiations in Sweden between the warring Houthi rebels and the representatives of the government of Yemen. Meanwhile, the United Nations has described the conditions within Yemen as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” If we have learned nothing else over the past two millennia, it…
WILLS POINT, TEXAS – World Toilet Day was November 19, and the chances that you celebrated the day are probably quite slim. Neither is it likely that you even discussed the matter at the dinner table that day or three days later on Thanksgiving—even though having functioning toilets is something that the Western world should…
WILLS POINT, TEXAS – Gospel for Asia (GFA) has been a leader in ministering to “the least of these”—the millions of people living in abject poverty in Asia—for nearly 40 years. Dr. K.P. Yohannan‘s, Gospel for Asia (GFA) founder, ground-breaking book Revolution in World Missions accurately foretold the need for a dramatic change of methodology…
COLORADO SPRINGS – The 8th chapter of Acts records an incident where Philip, an early follower of Jesus, approached an Ethiopian who happened to be reading a copy of the book of Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30 NKJV) The man replied, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”…
JERUSALEM – Nightfall on Monday, December 10th marks the end of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This year the last day of Hanukkah will be marked by the consecration of a stone altar that has been prepared for…
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until [these] calamities have passed by. KERALA – When we hear the words typhoon, cyclone, or hurricane our first reaction is a heightened awareness of potential danger….
NEW YORK – The 2018 Global Nutrition Report was released on Thursday, November 29th – and it is not good news.The report measures the progress being made to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number Two: Zero Hunger by 2030. The SDG initiative is, in part, to “end hunger and ensure access by all…
KINSHASA – The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has escalated into the second largest in history. The outbreak that started in August is known to have infected more than 425 people and has been fatal to nearly 250 to date. The incidence of Ebola cases has more than doubled since…
WILLS POINT – When K.P. Yohannan originally published the now classic Revolution in World Missions, he discussed the coming change that would radically transform the established norms of missionary work. Missionaries would no longer be sent out to foreign countries where they had to learn a new language and live in cultures they did not…
MIAMI – The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) is the largest evangelical group in the United States. The NHCLC is currently mobilizing to help the thousands of people in the caravan of immigrants, asylum seekers, that has traveled through Central America to the border between the U.S. and Mexico. The NHCLC Vision Statement begins…
SINGAPORE – Maintenance of religious harmony. It sounds wonderful. An idea that promotes people getting along together. True freedom of religion. But the artwork of legislative ambiguity is misleading in many countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, the city-state at the southern end of Malaysia. Two men and two women, residents of Finland, were detained…
MUMBAI – The supply of clean water is a world-wide issue. Access to and availability of clean water is so common to American households that we rarely think about it. Turn on the tap. Out flows safe, clean, potable water. Even when Gospel for Asia (GFA) and other NGOs explain the need for clean drinking water…
The first step in any advance in any realm of our human experience begins with an awakened awareness. Psychologists tell us that we can’t help someone until they realize that they need help. That is why it is difficult to help an addict who says, “I don’t have a problem.” They have yet to come…
KRIMPEN AAN DE IJSSEL, Netherlands – Dutch businessman, Johan Huibers, completed construction of a full-size replica of Noah’s Ark in 2012. The $5 million ship was built to the specifications outlined in Genesis chapter six. The 2,500-ton vessel measures 410 feet long, 95 feet wide, and 75 feet tall and contains five decks. Similar to…
AGOURA HILLS, CA “What good is it if we only trust the Lord when we understand His ways? That only guarantees a life filled with doubts” – Joni Eareckson Tada Joni Eareckson Tada has been an inspiration to millions of Christians around the world for over 51 years. At the age of 17, Joni suffered…
CARACAS – The Venezuelan economy is collapsing. One-twelfth of the country’s population has left the country hoping to find a better life. More than three million are now displaced and seeking refuge somewhere outside of the Venezuelan borders. How bad is it? The Washington Post calls it: “The biggest crisis in the hemisphere.” USA Today…
LYNCHBURG, Virginia – Shoes. They are an ordinary, everyday part of life. You probably didn’t think twice about them today, except perhaps, deciding which pair to wear. There are hundreds of thousands of people – perhaps millions – around the world today who don’t get to make that choice. They have either one pair or…
It’s that time of the year when Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, so let’s slow down, take a breath, and consider what Thanksgiving means. Let’s start with what it is not. It is not ‘Turkey Day.’ Nor is it about going over the river and through the wood to grandmother’s house for pumpkin pie. Nor…
Passion: A strong desire or devotion to some activity, object, or concern. Routine: The daily grind that is most likely to dim the flame of passion. WILLS POINT, TEXAS – The home staff of Gospel for Asia (GFA) recently took an entire Friday off work to refresh their passion for prayer, fellowship and sharing Good…
TORONTO – It has been said that God uses common things to accomplish uncommon things. Whoever said that may have been thinking about loaves and fishes or Balaam’s donkey. It is not likely that they were thinking about sailors and comic books, but God can use them, too. He has, and He still is. Warmolt…
WACO – Christian musician, composer, conductor, and music industry executive, Kurt Kaiser, entered into Heaven on Monday, November 12, 2018. A humble man by every account, the writer of more than 300 Christian songs was best known for two beloved choruses, “Oh How He Loves You and Me” and “Pass It On” written in the…
LONDON – The Thomson Reuters Foundation presented its annual Stop Slavery Award to a company that has been previously criticized for partnering with offshore suppliers who employed underage workers and used employment tactics that fall under the definition of slavery and human trafficking. The award was presented to tech giant Apple, not because of the…
DELHI – Countless families in Asia have little or no insulation or indoor heating. Those who sleep on the streets are even more exposed to the cold. Blankets provide comfort and protection and serve as tangible expressions of Christ’s love. It is estimated that more than 100,000 men, women, and children sleep on the streets…
SHANGHAI – Channel NewsAsia has reported that African swine fever has spread rapidly to more than half of China’s provinces despite measures to contain it. A joint statement was issued by the ministries of agriculture, transport, and public security on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, stating that: The African swine fever prevention and control situation is…
![Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. It often involves using the most basic of tools such as buckets, brooms, and baskets . . . Manual scavengers are amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged [people].](https://missionsbox.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Scandal-of-Manual-Scavengers-230x300.jpg)
DELHI – If “manual scavenging” sounds like it might be a fun game like a scavenger hunt, think again. Manual scavenging is a scandalous practice prevalent in South Asia even though it is illegal. According to the United Nations in India, Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in…
The 410 Bridge is in Alpharetta, Georgia, a few miles north of Atlanta. However, if you were to look at a map of the area, you might be surprised to find that you can’t find a highway number 410. No highway, no bridge, right? Wrong. There is a 410 Bridge. Not a physical bridge leading…
WILLS POINT, TX – Christmas is coming. Once again we have the opportunity to share the love of God by giving gifts to help people living in desperate need, just like the Lord sent His Son to rescue us all from our desperate spiritual need. The Courier and Ives version of Christmas is an over-the-river-and-through-the-woods…
Word and Deed: Serving God, Bridging Communities, Renewing LivesTHOMAS, ONTARIO – Word and Deed is a registered non-profit organization whose mission is based on the Bible directive found in Colossians 3:17 – “And whatever you do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father…
WILLS POINT, TEXAS – There is nothing scary about the bricks in Will Point, Texas. The main street has been lined with them since the 1920s. But every year, as it nears Halloween, the brick streets turn into a small community event called BOO on the Bricks, where children—and adults—can dress, get candy and learn…
MYRTLE BEACH – From time to time we need to be reminded that putting our faith into action is just as important at home as it is in distant lands. I saw the love of God in action in the wake of the Hurricane Florence disaster after it left families in parts of the coastal…
RUKBAN – Situated at the far northeastern corner of the border berm between Syria and Lebanon, Rukban is an arid desert site that is home to more than 50,000 Syrian refugees. Heart for Lebanon, a faith-based NGO headquartered in Black Mountain, North Carolina, is committed to helping refugees in Lebanon in what the United Nations…
JAKARTA – Many Americans assume that measles has been eradicated. The disease that once plagued us as school children is rarely seen in the United States today. A combination of events could change that, beginning with one halfway around the world in Indonesia. Let’s begin by reviewing fundamental data about Indonesia shared in a recent…
Forgotten Missionaries International: Building partnerships to empower indigenous church plantersThis is the second article in our new “Spotlight” series that homes in on our primary intent of “Connecting the Church in the West to news of what God is doing through nonprofits around the world.” This article shines the Spotlight on Forgotten Missionaries International (FMI),…
ISLAMABAD – Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who had been held on death row in a Pakistan prison for eight years on charges of blasphemy against the Muslim religion, was secretly released during the night of November 7th and spirited away to an undisclosed location. The British Pakistani Christian Association has been in touch with…
DELHI – Indian officials opened the new Signature Bridge in Delhi on November 4th. The bridge is India’s first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge. Although inaugurated and opened for traffic, construction to complete the bridge will continue for another three months. It has taken 14 years to complete the structure that spans the Yamuna river, but the…
NEW DELHI – On Monday, November 5th, the United States imposed economic sanctions on 50 Iranian banks, 65 Iranian aircraft, 200 individuals, and all shipping vessels used for the transportation of Iranian oil. The U.S. granted India and seven other nations waivers allowing them to continue importing Iranian oil on a declining basis for the…
PUNE – The fall armyworm (FAW) has invaded India. This is a cause for concern because all species of armyworms can rapidly multiply and are capable of destroying more than 100 species of plants over wide geographic areas. The pest is considered a threat to global food security. Its first appearance in India was noted…
ISLAMABAD – Christians around the world rejoiced when the Supreme Court of Pakistan announced last week that it had acquitted Asia Bibi of the charges of blasphemy for which she had been held on death row since 2010. Although the court issued an order to do so, she has yet to be released. As expected,…
gosNEW YORK – The Asian and Pacific regions are home to more than 50 percent of the world’s undernourished children. According to a new report issued this week by four separate United Nations agencies, the two regions will suffer “colossal human loss” if the countries there “do not recommit themselves to ending all forms of…
When God sent us into the world, He never promised it would be easy – just that He’d be with us. – Marine Chaplain, Daniel Robinson QUANTICO – That may be one of the most important lessons that U.S. Marine Chaplain Daniel Robinson has to teach the trainees during Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia….
SÃO PAULO – Four days following his election, Brazil’s President-elect, Jair Bolsonaro confirmed that he will keep his campaign promise to relocate the country’s embassy in Israel from its current location in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is…
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed a delegation of American Evangelical Christian leaders in the capital city today, November 1, 2018. The visit, arranged by Dr. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem, has been months in the making. The American delegation, which is visiting leaders throughout…
