WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) was born 40 years ago when K.P. and Gisela Yohannan felt the call of the Lord on their lives to minister to the people of Asia in His name. Even before His specific calling was clear—and every day thereafter—their commitment has been to walk in the beauty of God’s holiness and trust Him to direct their paths.
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.” — Isaiah 30:21 (KJV)
Yohannan, a skinny 29-year-old at the time, could have continued to pastor churches in the comparative comfort of the United States. But that was not the way the Lord was telling him and his wife to go. In fact, the way He was telling them to go was humanly impossible.
Looking back to 1979 and the founding of Gospel for Asia, K.P. and Gisela would acknowledge that they knew the path they were to follow, but they had no idea what marvelous and miraculous blessings the Lord had awaiting them along the journey. Here are just a few of the impossible tasks that have become milestones marking 40 years of passionately sharing the love of Christ.
1986 – Revolution in World Missions is Published
Originally entitled The Coming Revolution in World Missions, K.P. Yohannan’s ground-breaking first book was published. More than 4 million copies of the book that accurately foretold the coming change and the need to support national workers have been distributed around the world. Measured on its impact on the new pattern of world missions alone, Revolution in World Missions must certainly be numbered among the most important discourses in the history of world missions.
1986 – Gospel for Asia’s Radio Ministry Begins Broadcasting
Analog, digital and online radio continues to be an effective way to share the Good News—often in remote parts of Asia where national workers have not yet visited. Throughout the years, programs have been broadcast in 110 languages.
1988 – 100 Mobile Teams Commissioned
The Lord impressed upon Dr. Yohannan that enabling mobile teams showing movies and telling people about Jesus in remote places is a powerful way to share the love of Christ. Mobile Teams were the fulfillment of that vision to reach oral learners in remote locations.
1994 – GFA Vertically Integrates Printing of Christian Literature
Christ-centered literature and Gospel tracts are an effective means to communicate the hope found in Christ, but the expense of printing can quickly become prohibitive when the numbers of those who do not know of Jesus in Asia are in the multiple millions. Gospel for Asia (GFA) is committed to producing Bibles, New Testaments and millions of pieces of Gospel literature in order to share the love of Christ.
1998 – Gospel for Asia-supported Slum Ministry Begins
Gospel for Asia’s ministry to the slums began in four major cities in Asia. Today, many GFA-supported workers serve in slum neighborhoods, bringing hope by living out and sharing His sacrificial love.
- GFA-supported workers conduct free medical camps and teach basic hygiene and preventive health measures.
- They provide literacy classes for adults, conduct tutoring classes for children and hold weekly Sunday schools.
- They have established hundreds of local fellowships, and thousands have heard the love of Christ.
2000 – GFA Begins Providing Jesus Wells
GFA-supported Jesus Wells provide water to people living in villages that have no immediate access to clean water. The water is available free to all residents in the name of Jesus, from whom the springs of living water are freely available to all.
2004 – Bridge of Hope Centers
Bridge of Hope centers now provide more than 70,000 needy children a daily meal and regular medical checkups for their physical health and development. It also helps children with their education and provides them and their families with simple necessities of life, such as toiletries and pots and pans. Bridge of Hope provides children trapped in generational poverty with opportunities to pursue and even excel in their God-given skills and interests.
2007 – Reaching Friends Leprosy Ministry
Caring for those who have leprosy is a particular concern for Gospel for Asia as about 60 percent of the world’s documented cases occur in South Asia. What started as a handful of men and women pursuing opportunities to care for outcasts is now a ministry that serves 44 leprosy colonies, bringing hope and love to hurting hearts. Be sure to read GFA’s special report on Leprosy.
2014 – GFA Releases “Veil of Tears”
“Veil of Tears,” is a feature-length documentary film that tells the untold story of millions of women in India who are culturally persecuted for no other reason than the fact that they are women—and what God is doing for them through GFA-supported women’s ministry.
2018 – The GFA Mission Support Team Is Officially Launched
The Mission Support Team program gives people in the West an opportunity to partner with behind-the-scenes missionaries serving in GFA’s U.S. office. Behind-the-scenes missionaries serve in administrative roles and actively intercede for the communities and national workers with whom their lives are linked.
No one could have imagined in 1979 how the Lord was going to bless Gospel for Asia to become one of the largest and most effective faith-based organizations in the world. We can only wait and wonder with great anticipation what the Lord has in store for GFA in the days ahead.
To read more news on World Missions on Missions Box, go here.
Sources: Gospel for Asia, Official Website
Image Source: Gospel for Asia, Photo of the Day