CÚCUTA, COLOMBIA — Cúcuta, Colombia, is a beautiful, quiet city, surrounded by mountains and lined with palm trees. Its joyful and passionate residents love their “small town” (with a population of approximately 800,000). While Cúcuta has a rich and complex history — including being recognized as the area where Colombia was born — it has…
MOZAMBIQUE – About three weeks after Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, the situation on the ground is still dire. Catastrophic flooding and high winds left historic devastation across the east African nation. Tens of thousands of people remain displaced, food is scarce, clean water is limited, and reports of cholera and other waterborne illnesses are already…
SOUTH SUDAN – Every Village’s radio network supports the work of long-term missionaries, broadcasting the gospel and community development teaching through solar-powered, hand-held radios distributed in local communities. As a result of this they are seeing remarkable community transformation across South Sudan. Christian charity Every Village is on a mission to bring transformation to every…
Integral Components of GFA’s Observance of World Health Day Include Treatment and Education. WILLS POINT, TX — Each year since 1950, April 7 has been set aside for the observance of World Health Day. The special day was introduced to commemorate the first World Health Assembly sponsored by the World Health Organization. The purpose of…
Christian Aid is appealing for donations as it assists communities affected by Cyclone Idai, which has killed hundreds and devastated communities across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. The charity is providing emergency assistance to communities affected by the cyclone but it also wants to build resilience to help them be better prepared for when the next…
CHARLOTTE, NC — Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are on-site in Dodge County, Neb., one of many areas across the Midwest that has been inundated with an historic level of flooding. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts called the disaster – which was caused by a combination of factors including a bomb cyclone, deeply frozen ground,…
A Virginia-based Christian aid group is facilitating relief to Zimbabwe following a devastating cyclone earlier this week. Cyclone Idai, which besieged southern Africa last Sunday, tore across Mozambique with over 100 miles per hour winds and struck Zimbabwe with brutal force, causing floods and landslides. The nation has declared a state of emergency. In an…
International relief organizations are responding to an increasingly devastating humanitarian crisis after a tropical storm and powerful cyclone tore across Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Current estimates confirmed by President Filipe Nyusi indicate that some 1,000 people may have been killed in Mozambique alone. “Officially, we have a record of more than 84 dead but everything…
SANAA, Yemen – We live in an age filled with “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) – an era where men speak of “‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 6:14). However, embraced by a culture steeped in self-gratification, the preference of many is to relax in comfort while multiple millions of people…
MOZAMBIQUE – After Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe were pummeled with winds up to 170 mph by Cyclone Idai in mid-March, a Red Cross worker described the damage as “massive and horrifying.” As is almost always the case following large-scale hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons, the countries are suffering massive flooding. According to Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF),…
MYITKYINA, Myanmar – Crises like floods, famine, earthquakes, and war make great headlines, followed only by stories of relief efforts. Reporters move from one crisis to the next drawing our attention with them. We tend to forget about the aftermath that usually lasts much longer than the crises themselves. The refugees running from crisis endure…
More than 3 million men, women and children in India’s capital city are homeless. They choose to sleep on the streets regardless of the weather. As I write, it is 3:45 a.m. in Delhi and the temperature is 43° F. Delhi offers shelters of various types for its homeless population. Some shelters are available in…
KABUL – On March 6th, Reuters reported that flash floods, heavy rains, and snowfall over the previous two weeks in Afghanistan had taken the lives of at least 59 people and left 5,000 homeless. An article in The Guardian expressed shock and surprise by reporters on the ground: Shock at the unprecedented consequences of the…
CARACAS – Venezuela is a country of extreme contrasts. First-time visitors flying into the capital city of Caracas are often surprised to land at the airport at sea level on the southern edge of the Caribbean only to discover that their ride into the city will take them to an elevation of 3,000 feet within…
NORTH KIVU PROVINCE – Doctors Without Borders has temporarily suspended its operations treating patients for the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following armed attacks on two of its clinics. The attacks on February 24th and 27th were described by witnesses as brazen and violent. Buildings and vehicles were set ablaze. After…
KOBANI – Open Doors’ most recent World Watch List noted that, although persecution of Christians in the country at large appeared to have diminished, there was “a spike in violence” against Christians perpetrated by ISIS-backed rebels. Expression of Christian faith are strictly prohibited in areas controlled by radical Islamic forces. Countless church buildings have been…
BRENTWOOD, TN – When we list the needs of the underserved, indigenous, and poverty-stricken people around the world, we rarely include one of their greatest yet most visible needs. Healthy teeth. Picture after picture, image after image we see these people smiling through missing teeth – probably for the sake of the camera. Yet, rarely…
FEBC plans record distribution of free radios to share the gospel in countries where poverty and political restrictions keep people from hearing about Jesus LA MIRADA, CA – Christian broadcaster FEBC (Far East Broadcasting Company) has launched a year-long initiative to distribute a record number of its free “missionary radios” to unreached people groups, most…
Due to Geopolitics and the Declining Economy, Venezuela Finds Itself in the Middle of a Hunger Crisis FOREST, Va. — Venezuela was once considered the wealthiest country in South America. Today, however, growing discontent due to power cuts, food and medicine shortages, the plunging price of oil and political upheaval, has left this nation in…
When Christians read reports from nations in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia some may wonder why missionaries have not reached out to the unreached long ago. We can easily operate on a false assumption that the current number of unreached and underserved is an indicator of the past failure of others to go and…
SANTA ANA, CA – According to its website, “For over 60 years, Open Doors has worked in the world’s most oppressive countries, empowering Christians who are persecuted for their beliefs. Open Doors equips persecuted Christians in more than 60 countries through programs like Bible & Gospel Development, Women & Children Advancement, and Christian Community Restoration.”…
WASHINGTON — The 46th annual March for Life Rally, which marks the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade abortion opinion, will be held on January 18, 2019 in Washington, D.C. This year’s March for Life theme is “Unique from Day One” and conveys the message that each life begins at conception. The…
FOREST, VA — For nearly four years, Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war that has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and famines. World Help is one of the humanitarian groups responding to this crisis. Working with local partners, the organization is providing food and emergency supplies to Yemeni families….
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the leading cause of death in the world in 2018 claimed the lives of 42 million people. That’s more than the number who died from cancer, malaria, HIV/AIDS, smoking, alcohol, and traffic accidents combined. Worldometers estimates that there was a total of 59 million deaths globally during the…
HENAN PROVINCE – On November 30, 2018, Chinese communist authorities ordered a church in Henan Province to remove its display of the first commandment of the Ten Commandments. The directive came during a regular inspection of a church affiliated with the government-approved Three-Self church movement. Freedom of religion in China has been a consistent and…
For many Americans, Christmas is the “most wonderful time of the year” — but that’s not the reality for millions of refugees living in overcrowded displacement camps across the Middle East. Vernon Brewer, founder and CEO of the Christian humanitarian organization World Help, recently traveled to refugee camps near the Jordan-Syria border to deliver aid…
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…
MOZAMBIQUE – When a young African boy saw the unguarded cell phone, he knew it might be his only chance to ever have one. It is doubtful that he even knew how to use one. Imagine his surprise when he played with the buttons and discovered that what he had taken was not a cell…
‘Forgotten Christmas’ Campaign Helps Raise Struggling Families Above Poverty Line in AsiaWILLS POINT, Texas—As holiday shopping in the United States is predicted to top $1 trillion this year, Gospel for Asia (GFA) is urging Christians in the West to make the season more Christ-centered by adding someone they don’t know to their gift list. GFA’s…
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….
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…
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…
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…
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…
The southern Indian state of Kerala was hit with severe rainstorms in August 2018, resulting in devastating floods. Thousands were driven from their homes. Hundreds lost their lives. Since the beginning, charities and NGOs have been at the forefront, running flood relief camps, donating resources, and raising money. The return to normalcy is still ongoing….
SANAA, Yemen – In yet another of the seemingly endless reports of human suffering around the globe, Mark Lowcock, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the United Nations Yemen is in imminent danger of country-wide famine. Over 14 million Yemeni people who already have barely enough food to survive are about…
World Missionary Press: Free Scripture Booklets for the WorldMissions Box News was established by Gospel for Asia (GFA) to “highlight the good works of nonprofits from around the world.” Most often we do that by reporting news “that pertains to the hardships of living in this world” to show the needs of people burdened by poverty…
FOREST, Va. — Since mid-April, Nicaragua has been embroiled in a civil conflict that has left hundreds dead, thousands wounded and countless missing. But the unrest hasn’t stopped World Help from launching relief efforts to help the people of Nicaragua. Working with local partners, the Christian humanitarian organization aims to provide food supplies and medical…
FOREST, Va. — Christian humanitarian organization World Help has activated its crisis response program to provide relief to victims of Indonesia’s deadly earthquake and tsunami. This past weekend, the Southeast Asian island nation was rocked by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which triggered a massive tsunami that swept over the city of Palu. The twin disaster has left at…
YANGON – Myanmar, formerly Burma, may best be described a line from Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” in which the king exclaims, “It’s a puzzlement.” In a recent article, we related the story of a Christian pastor in a small village in the Chin state in northwest Myanmar. The gist of the story…
ALLAHABAD – The monsoon and post-monsoon seasons are hard on the poor in India, particularly those who work in the fields. A consortium of over 400 humanitarian aid agencies has come together to help during these difficult times this year. The consortium has established grain banks in over 100 villages across northern India in expectation…
SANA, Yemen – “More than 25 percent of children (1.8 million) are malnourished; 900,000 people in the governorate are desperate for food and 90,000 pregnant women are at enormous risk. Families need everything–food, cash, health care, water, sanitation, emergency supplies, specialized support, and many need shelter. It’s heart-breaking to see so many people who need…
NEW YORK – From 2005 through 2013, it appeared that we were making progress on the global war against hunger. Today, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released its 202-page report on The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World. The results indicate that, since 2014, “the war against hunger…
BRUSSELS – Asylum is an existential goal of every refugee. A refugee is a displaced person who has left his home country in hopes of obtaining asylum in another country. The numbers of people displaced by wars in the Middle East and Africa have created a refugee crisis of unparalleled proportions. So much so that…
Desperate need inspires sacrificial giving, as GFA-supported teams work through night to assist relief efforts of government officials ready emergency supplies WILLS POINT, Texas — Gospel for Asia (GFA) has issued a “loaves and fishes” appeal for support in bringing help and hope to some of the tens of thousands devastated by historic flooding in…
KERALA, INDIA – No one can comprehend the terror of a major flood until they have been personally affected by one. This is especially true of those who lose their homes, their possessions, and their loved ones to raging waters that cannot be contained. This writer has been at the sites of four floods over…
GFA-supported workers rescue stranded, provide emergency supplies for India Flood victims. WILLS POINT, TEXAS —Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers are stepping up efforts to help with rescue and relief efforts in India’s flood-stricken Kerala state, as the death toll and number of displaced people in the worst flooding in nearly a century continue to climb. Though…
After hearing about the monsoon flooding in Kerala, India, the Mission Support Team serving at GFA’s headquarters in Wills Point, Texas, sprang to action to help spread awareness of the timely need. Many shifted their schedules to work long hours through the weekend to bring awareness to the devastation many are currently facing. After receiving…
KERALA, INDIA – India is experiencing monumental meteorological and geophysical problems that constantly threaten the potential of the country’s efforts to raise itself to a position of global leadership. As governmental agencies, private companies, and NGOs work consistently to improve education, healthcare, and alleviating poverty and disease, circumstances beyond the control of mankind take one…
Along with many heroic efforts from the armed forces, various rescue teams, fishermen and locals serving as guides to the more remote areas in Kerala, India, Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported Bridge of Hope staff members have stepped in to help families and children after the terrible monsoon flooding. Approximately 191 enrolled students in Bridge of…
