WILLS POINT, Texas – Gospel for Asia (GFA) joins with the international humanitarian community in commemorating today’s International Women’s Day. Gospel for Asia (GFA) partners will be offering special assistance to women in the areas where it serves in South Asia, celebrating the success of women and underscoring the wide gaps in gender equality that persist in our world.

In many regions around the world, women face consistent hardships from gender-based abortions to child marriage, forced prostitution, and modern day slavery. Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers will be visiting nursing homes, jails and medical facilities to distribute food and other necessities to hundreds of women today.

Around the world:

• More than 1.6 million girl babies annually are targeted for abortion.
• An estimated 39,000 girls are forced into marriage every day.
• An estimated 4.5 million people, 98 percent of them women and children, are victims of sexual slavery.

“International Women’s Day reminds us of the many women throughout the world who face extremely difficult challenges in their lives,” said K.P. Yohannan, founder and international director of Gospel for Asia (GFA). “Through our efforts, we can provide both spiritual hope and physical help to ease their everyday burdens.”

Last year, Gospel for Asia (GFA) worked with Believers Church to organize dozens of special events across South Asia to commemorate International Women’s Day, giving away food, mosquito nets and clothing to hundreds of disadvantaged mothers and widows.

One region hosted a gathering where 100 people heard the local pastor praise the role of women in society, telling the crowd about God’s love for each individual, and one woman noted, “I want to thank Believers Church for conducting this kind of program and for providing me with a mosquito net. I am very poor and not able to buy it. This gift is very helpful for my family.”

At another event, a participant said, “I am very glad and privileged to be part of the International Women’s Day program. I have heard about this International Women’s Day, but I did not know what that means. But today . . . I understand about the importance of the day, and I feel special to be a woman.”

This year, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers are expanding their efforts. In addition to events, they are opening tailoring centers to provide employment opportunities for women, distributing more than 4,500 food packets, blankets and mosquito nets to endangered women, organizing medical camps, and providing clothing and school items for children. They will be visiting homes for the elderly, jails and medical facilities to provide comfort and other assistance in the name of Jesus.

“Christ’s compassion is meant to be shared with the entire world,” said Yohannan. “We begin by praying for those suffering, but then continue by meeting their physical needs.”

Gospel for Asia (GFA) offers a variety of ways to become involved in easing the physical plight of South Asian women, while providing them with the Good News of the love of Jesus Christ. To find out more, go to www.gfa.org.

For more information on International Women’s Day, go to www.internationalwomensday.com.

Gospel for Asia (GFA) has – for more than 30 years – provided humanitarian assistance and spiritual hope to millions across South Asia, especially among those who have yet to hear the Good News. Last year, this included more than 75,000 sponsored children, free medical services for more than 180,000 people, 6,000 wells drilled, 11,000 water filters installed, Christmas presents for more than 400,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.