GHANA — While many rural pastors in remote villages across Ghana have no access to training resources, many also face the challenges of not being able to read and write. In response Theovision International has partnered with the Moody Bible Institute to provide a unique oral Bible training school. During their latest graduation many of… Continue reading Rural Pastors Equipped to Impact Ghana’s Most Remote Communities
Tag: Illiterate
Illiterate
To mark International Literacy Day, Sunday, Sept. 8, the humanitarian organization located in Texas announced it was publishing a new report titled “Literacy: One of the Great Miracle Cures.”
“Across Asia today, hundreds of millions of people — especially girls and women – live in extreme poverty with the humiliation of not being able to write their own name,” said GFA founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan. “We aim to change that — and give girls and women the gift of literacy in the love of Christ.”
Across Asia, GFA-supported national workers are teaching thousands of girls and women to read and write, holding classes in cities and villages.
“Every day, our workers witness the power of literacy education to bring change, hope and a better future to individuals and to communities,” Yohannan said. “Literacy is truly a miracle cure.”
Expanding Opportunities
Literacy has a “tremendous power,” Yohannan said, “enabling people to participate fully in society and improve their livelihoods. By God’s grace, we are reducing poverty, improving families’ health and nutrition, and expanding their opportunities.”
Kaavya, a woman suffering from leprosy, fulfilled a lifelong dream when she learned to read at the age of 64. GFA-supported workers visited Kaavya in the leprosy colony and invited her to a literacy class.
“I learned not only reading and writing, but also good habits,” she said. “I will not lose heart because now I can read.”
Women make up more than two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people, reports UN Women, a United Nations agency. And, according to World Population Review, there are 7.7 billion people in the world today — meaning one in every 10 people cannot read or write.
Somewhere Under the Rainbow in Nicaragua
SPRINGFIELD, MO – Rainbows. They draw our attention to the glory of God and of His loving promise to never destroy sinful humanity with a worldwide flood as He did in Noah’s day. We can be thankful for that promise every day, but we are especially so when we gaze in awe and wonder at… Continue reading Somewhere Under the Rainbow in Nicaragua
Introducing Twelve21 Global
GARLAND, TX – Odds are that you have never heard of Twelve21 Global. That’s because it was founded by Yusuph Emmanuel only two years ago in 2018. Yusuph knows first-hand what life on the streets is like in a developing country. He grew up as a street kid in the African country of Tanzania. Life… Continue reading Introducing Twelve21 Global
Helping Refugees in Raleigh, NC
RALEIGH, NC – Refugee Hope Partners’ (RHP) name pretty well explains why the organization exists. RHP is a relatively small ministry, but its services are a big deal for refugees from around the globe who have settled in Raleigh, North Carolina. More than 60 million people have been displaced worldwide. Unfortunately, these people often become… Continue reading Helping Refugees in Raleigh, NC
Where there is Illiteracy, there is Poverty
“Literacy Teaching and Learning in the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond” was the theme for this years’ International Literacy Day on September 8, 2020. UNICEF introduced the initiative in 1996 to encourage governments, businesses, and non-governmental agencies to promote and participate in programs to advance literacy for men, women, and children around the world. The gap… Continue reading Where there is Illiteracy, there is Poverty
Pioneer Bible Translators – Bridging the Bible Literacy Gap
DALLAS, TX – International Literacy Day is September 8, 2020. Pioneer Bible Translators’ approach to reducing illiteracy is unique. Their name implies that their work is limited to Bible translation. While Bible translation is a key component of their work, Pioneer Bible Translators’ mission and vision are much broader. The PBT team includes translators who… Continue reading Pioneer Bible Translators – Bridging the Bible Literacy Gap
TeachBeyond Offers Transformational Education
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA – TeachBeyond is all about transformation. In the early years following World War 2, Youth for Christ invited the Janz Brother Quartet to travel from their homes in Manitoba to participate in crusades in Germany. Those crusades envisioned sharing the hope found in Jesus Christ to transform a languishing, war-weary nation. In 1954,… Continue reading TeachBeyond Offers Transformational Education
Literacy & Evangelism International
TULSA, OK – Gospel for Asia released a special report written by Karen Burton Mains in September 2019. “Literacy: One of the Great Miracle Cures” discussed resolving the limitations that illiteracy places on the human spirit.Mrs. Mains explained that because we read and write, we “often take for granted the treacherous limitations illiteracy places on… Continue reading Literacy & Evangelism International
What Happens When People Cannot Read
Some of us are old enough to remember grandparents, aunts and uncles who could not read or write. Yes, right here in the United States. Those we may recall were the children of parents who had been prevented from learning these essential skills because their survival was existential. Their progenitors had to work the family… Continue reading What Happens When People Cannot Read
New Gospel for Asia Special Report Cites Consequences of Illiteracy
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA) has released a new special report entitled “Literacy: One of the Great Miracle Cures.” Subtitled, “Resolving the Limitations Illiteracy Places on the Human Spirit,” noted author Karen Mains explains that illiteracy is a multi-faceted . . . problem that results in [fewer] job opportunities and low income,… Continue reading New Gospel for Asia Special Report Cites Consequences of Illiteracy
Literacy is ‘Miracle Cure’ to Absolute Poverty for Women Says Gospel for Asia
WILLS POINT, TX — With more than 250 million women in Asia unable to read or write, faith-based mission agency Gospel for Asia (GFA) cites literacy as a “miracle cure” to release women from generational poverty. To mark International Literacy Day, Sunday, Sept. 8, the humanitarian organization located in Texas announced it was publishing a… Continue reading Literacy is ‘Miracle Cure’ to Absolute Poverty for Women Says Gospel for Asia
The Spiritual Battle for Literacy
PARIS – Just days ago, UNESCO revealed that the world is “off track” in reaching yet another of the 2030 deadlines for sustainable development. With 2020 less than six months away, we are nearly one-third of the way on the timeline to meet those goals. On July 7, UNESCO admitted that the education goal (SDG… Continue reading The Spiritual Battle for Literacy
FEBC Radio Ministry Now Broadcasting Gospel in 124 Languages
LA MIRADA, CA — Radio broadcaster FEBC (Far East Broadcasting Company) has opened up the airwaves for millions of people in unreached regions to hear the gospel in their own language for the first time – now broadcasting in 124 languages, with more than 2.2 million individuals responding annually to the “good news.” “In many… Continue reading FEBC Radio Ministry Now Broadcasting Gospel in 124 Languages
Feed the Stomach, Feed the Mind
My 2-year-old nephew, Emerson, loves books … and he can’t even read yet. He’ll tote around his favorite board books, flip through them upside-down, and jabber a story he’s making up in his head. You can tell he can’t wait to read on his own. He already knows his alphabet!The brains of children his age… Continue reading Feed the Stomach, Feed the Mind
The Devil Doesn’t Want People to Read
“The devil doesn’t want people to read because God wrote a book.” TULSA – You may never have heard of Literacy & Evangelism International, but the calling and vision the Lord gave to Dr. Robert F. Rice over 50 years ago are still prospering today. During several years of service ministering in South Korea, Bob… Continue reading The Devil Doesn’t Want People to Read
Remember Radio?
Contrary to popular belief among many Americans, radio is not a relic of the past. Once again, we are victims of our own isolation and our preoccupation with the ever-emerging technologies that seem to have relegated radio to the recollection of retirees. Then, there is the virtual demise of the once ubiquitous Radio Shack. The… Continue reading Remember Radio?
More Important Than Bread Yet Scarcer
It has been said that Americans think everyone in the world has access to a copy of the Bible. It would be nice if everyone did. The truth is that millions of people have no access to Bibles—the most important thing they need. One of the first lessons that the Lord taught the children of… Continue reading More Important Than Bread Yet Scarcer
London Mayor: “Learn Kindness from Christians”
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… Continue reading London Mayor: “Learn Kindness from Christians”
Biblica Partners With Streetlights Team for Innovative Spanish-Language Bible Translation
Nueva Version International translation in partnership with Streetlights to feature in creative presentation of God’s Word for contemporary audience COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Biblica, the International Bible Society (www.biblica.com), is partnering with a multi-media urban ministry team to share the Bible’s unchanging, relevant truth in an innovative way. Biblica is pleased to bring its Spanish-language… Continue reading Biblica Partners With Streetlights Team for Innovative Spanish-Language Bible Translation
Literacy Will Change Their Worlds
INDIA – September 8th was International Literacy Day. With so many days set aside to draw attention to causes, we rarely take a look back to recognize what we have done to meet the needs of the cause beyond memorializing the day. Illiteracy is a significant issue in South Asia and other areas of the… Continue reading Literacy Will Change Their Worlds
Literacy Training—the Life-transforming Tool That Is Impacting Communities
International Literacy Day underscores how, in helping people learn to read, GFA brings practical help and spiritual hope to many on the fringes of society WILLS POINT, Texas — In many parts of the world, being unable to read isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a potentially deadly handicap that Gospel for Asia (GFA) is working hard to… Continue reading Literacy Training—the Life-transforming Tool That Is Impacting Communities
Bibles For The World Campaign Tackles Disturbing Slide Toward U.S. Bible Illiteracy
‘Learn the Bible in a Year’ radio program offers response to Barna Group study showing downward trend in Bible literacy COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Bibles For The World (BFTW), a global ministry focused on reaching unreached peoples with the gospel in developing countries, is tackling a disturbing and growing trend — Bible illiteracy in the… Continue reading Bibles For The World Campaign Tackles Disturbing Slide Toward U.S. Bible Illiteracy
A Million Bibles for Cuba
HAVANA – Reports indicate that people are coming to Christ in Cuba in numbers rarely seen before. Lest we think that this is happening because of improved relationships between Cuba and the United States, we must remember that ministries from other countries have been working in Cuba for many years. The awakening that is happening… Continue reading A Million Bibles for Cuba
Gospel for Asia Literacy Program Opens Doors for Asia’s Impoverished Families
One of thousands of women taught to read and write tells how GFA-supported initiative ‘made my dream come true’ WILLS POINT, Texas—It was a dream come true for a 50-year-old woman living in a village in northern India when she wrote her own name for the first time—a milestone made possible by GFA (Gospel for Asia)… Continue reading Gospel for Asia Literacy Program Opens Doors for Asia’s Impoverished Families
DOOR International to Hold Sign Language Scripture Celebration in Kenya
KENYA – DOOR International and its partners will hold a Sign Language Scripture Celebration on June 9th to commemorate the rendering of Bible passages into four different African national sign languages This is not the first celebration of this kind that DOOR has been able to hold. In 2014, DOOR partners and pastors gathered to… Continue reading DOOR International to Hold Sign Language Scripture Celebration in Kenya
ASM Smartphone App Coming to India Soon
HOLLAND, Michigan – Audio Scripture Ministries (ASM) records and distributes audio Bibles to indigenous people in oral cultures. Because many of these people don’t or can’t read, ASM records the Scriptures in their native languages so they may hear the message of God’s love. In India alone, where 60 percent of the 1.2 billion people… Continue reading ASM Smartphone App Coming to India Soon
Mission India Celebrates 40th Anniversary
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – A visit to India in 1971 led John DeVries to pray, “God, I will serve you anywhere you want. Just, please, don’t send me back here again.” At the time, DeVries did not realize that what he was seeing was the Lord’s way of opening John’s eyes and heart to the… Continue reading Mission India Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Thai King Endorses 20th Constitution
Photo by archer10 (Dennis) The new Thai King endorsed the 20th Constitution of Thailand in early April. Per Fox News, “King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun endorsed the document in an elaborate ceremony at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall attended by senior members of the country’s military government as well as foreign diplomats.” The military had seized control… Continue reading Thai King Endorses 20th Constitution
Privatization seeks to boost Uganda’s failing education system
KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda’s ministry of education is looking toward low-cost private schools to counter the failure of the public school system caused by teacher absenteeism, poor facilities and high dropout rates. According to the BBC, 68 percent of Ugandan students do not complete elementary school. Teachers are ill-prepared for their careers, with 78 percent… Continue reading Privatization seeks to boost Uganda’s failing education system
Gospel for Asia’s Bridge of Hope Program Unveils New Center in Mumbai
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia’s Bridge of Hope Program has opened a new center in Mumbai, where sponsored children receive education, school supplies, a daily meal, medical checkups and more. “Many families often struggle to earn enough money to provide food for their table each day, let alone earn enough to send their… Continue reading Gospel for Asia’s Bridge of Hope Program Unveils New Center in Mumbai
Indian Teen Dies After Rape and Being Set Afire
The recent violent death of a 16-year-old rape victim again brings focus to India’s crisis of sexual assault against women. The assailant, who also set the teenager aflame before fleeing, was allegedly her 20-year-old boyfriend. Cultural norms in India make the reporting of sexual assault taboo. However, more rape victims are reporting their assaults and… Continue reading Indian Teen Dies After Rape and Being Set Afire
Mary Slessor
“O God! Old and feeble and unworthy as I am, help me to win them.” – Mary Slessor Early Life Mary Slessor was born in Scotland in 1848. Her mother was a Christian. She knew God worked through prayer, so she spent hours praying. Mary’s mother was praying her son, Robert would become a missionary.… Continue reading Mary Slessor