GFA World Joins in Fight Against ‘Stinkiest’ Global Health Crisis

SOLVING A DEADLY STINKY PROBLEM: Texas-based humanitarian organization GFA World (www.gfa.org) is helping combat the world's "stinkiest" health emergency -- people defecating in the open. The agency just released a new report, Taking the Toilet Challenge.

WILLS POINT, TX — A global humanitarian organization is helping combat the world’s “stinkiest” health emergency — people defecating in the open — a new report reveals. Gospel for Asia (GFA World) is installing thousands of toilets in some of the world’s remotest and least developed areas — places where people typically relieve themselves in the… Continue reading GFA World Joins in Fight Against ‘Stinkiest’ Global Health Crisis

World Toilet Day Report: Open Defecation Still Practiced by Millions

WILLS POINT, TX – The United Nations has designated November 19 as the annual observation of World Toilet Day. The point of the day is to draw attention to the global sanitation crisis. Sanitation crisis? How bad is it? Some 4.2 billion people – over half of the world’s population – do not have access… Continue reading World Toilet Day Report: Open Defecation Still Practiced by Millions

When You Have No Place to Go | November 19: World Toilet Day

NEW YORK – On my first trip to a big city (several decades ago), I saw a sign in the front window of a home. The sign had two lines of large print. The first line said, “Rooms.” The second said, “to let.” In the naivety of my youth, I thought someone had either forgotten… Continue reading When You Have No Place to Go | November 19: World Toilet Day

Moving the Goal Beyond ODF

toiletNEW DELHI – The widespread practice of open defecation in the developing countries in Asia and Africa has long been a focus of Missions Box News, numerous FBOs, NGOs, and the United Nations. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030 include bringing the entire world to that status of being Open Defecation Free (ODF).… Continue reading Moving the Goal Beyond ODF

Sustainable Citywide Sanitation for All Symposium Meeting in Rajasthan

RAJASTHAN – Organized by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) in India and the School of Water and Waste, over 100 national and international leaders are meeting in Rajasthan from April 2 through April 5 to study the Sustainable Water and Sanitation Program. It is the first meeting of its kind in India during… Continue reading Sustainable Citywide Sanitation for All Symposium Meeting in Rajasthan

The Most Unusual Church in the World

Young boy sitting by sewer line in Kibera

KIBERA, KENYA – With a fluctuating population of nearly a million people, Kibera is the largest slum in Kenya and one of the largest in the world. It is home to one of the most unusual churches in the world. The Unhealthy Conditions in Kibera Most families in Kibera live in rented 12’ x 12’… Continue reading The Most Unusual Church in the World

Kumbh Mela Cafe Features Tea Potties

KUMBH MELA – The Swacch Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission was launched on October 2nd, 2014 as a major government initiative with the goal of making India ‘clean’ by the same date in 2019. When Prime Minister Modi initiated the campaign, he declared that, “A clean India would be the best tribute India could… Continue reading Kumbh Mela Cafe Features Tea Potties

Gospel for Asia: Can Smart Toilet Technology Reduce Open Defecation in Kenya?

NAIROBI – A joint report released last year by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United National Children’s Fund (UNICEF) indicated that the sub-Saharan nation of Kenya is one of the countries facing an urgent need to overcome the problem of open defecation. Nearly 30% of the people in Kenya defecate in the open,… Continue reading Gospel for Asia: Can Smart Toilet Technology Reduce Open Defecation in Kenya?

The Church’s Role in Providing Sanitation Explained by Gospel for Asia

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… Continue reading The Church’s Role in Providing Sanitation Explained by Gospel for Asia

Gospel for Asia Partners Create Awareness On World Toilet Day

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… Continue reading Gospel for Asia Partners Create Awareness On World Toilet Day

Gospel for Asia Spotlights Life-Changing Provision of Basic Facilities on World Toilet Day

Local residents applaud at the ribbon-cutting for a new community toilet provided by GFA-supported workers to help improve health, safety, and well-being.

Global focus brings attention to Gospel for Asia’s efforts to improve health and well-being by helping provide simple essentials, sanitation facilitiesWILLS POINT, Texas — Ribbon-cutting ceremonies typically mark the opening of a grand new building, but in Asia they can even celebrate a more modest, but life-changing construction—of a simple outhouse. The enthusiastically attended formal… Continue reading Gospel for Asia Spotlights Life-Changing Provision of Basic Facilities on World Toilet Day

Counting Toilets: Confusing Tasks with Completed Goals, by Gospel for Asia

Toilet in Bangalore

NEW DELHI – The Swachh Bharat Mission has been receiving kudos from media outlets for being “The world’s biggest toilet-building spree” in the UN-affiliated global effort to eliminate open defecation. There is little debate over the progress that has been made in India. More than 80 million household toilets have been constructed since 2014 as… Continue reading Counting Toilets: Confusing Tasks with Completed Goals, by Gospel for Asia

More Than Half of Women in India and Pakistan Are Anemic

JAIPUR – According to a report by IndiaSpend, “Anemia . . . impacts half of Indian women of reproductive age, increases the risk of maternal mortality, infection, preterm delivery, poor fetal and infant health, and puts children at lifelong risk of issues involving cognitive development and physical growth.” The report summarized the results of a… Continue reading More Than Half of Women in India and Pakistan Are Anemic

Obstacles to Achieving ‘Open Defecation Free’ in South Asia

MUMBAI – India Spend recently inteview Naina Lal Kidwai. Kidwai was the former head of HSBC in India, the first woman in India to become the head of a foreign bank in the country. She is the current vice-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Water. She was instrumental in founding the… Continue reading Obstacles to Achieving ‘Open Defecation Free’ in South Asia

Gospel for Asia’s Special Report Spotlights Major Health Crisis That Also Opens Door to Demonstrate the Love of Christ

A family in front of a GFA-provided local sanitation facility. Around the world, there are 2.3 billion people who don’t have access to a toilet. Open defecation produces life-threatening diseases, while simple toilets like the ones GFA-supported affiliates build in Asia are saving many lives.

  GFA (Gospel for Asia) highlights need for more toilets to cut avoidable death toll, in first of challenging series looking at major social issues. WILLS POINT, Texas—Missionary organization Gospel for Asia (GFA) is calling attention to a usually ignored, delicate subject at the heart of much of its caring work—a lack of toilets. In the… Continue reading Gospel for Asia’s Special Report Spotlights Major Health Crisis That Also Opens Door to Demonstrate the Love of Christ

India Moves Toward Sustainable ODF

NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2014 to overcome “the poor sanitation and related health concerns [that] have remained a major problem in India since the country’s independence 70 years ago.” and move India toward sustainable ODF. One of the essential and fundamental elements of the Swachh Bharat… Continue reading India Moves Toward Sustainable ODF

Gospel for Asia: Scandal of Open Defecation – Part 1

The Scandal of Entrenched Paradigms Open defecation describes the practice of people eliminate their fecal waste in on the ground or in water or at any other place than a toilet or latrine facility designed for that purpose. No one has an accurate count of people who practice open defecation, but most authoritative sources agree… Continue reading Gospel for Asia: Scandal of Open Defecation – Part 1

Taking the “Die” Out of Diarrhea

Diarrhea. Just say the word out loud and watch people cringe. It is so sickening that no one wants to hear about it, let alone have it. One of America’s most trusted healthcare websites, WebMD, says, When you have diarrhea, your bowel movements (or stools) are loose and watery. It’s very common and usually not… Continue reading Taking the “Die” Out of Diarrhea

Kenya Clearing the Way to a Cleaner Country

NAIROBI – Officials in Kenya are serious about cleaning up the country to make it a healthier place. This is especially true in the case of their campaign to become an Open Defecation Free (ODF)region. There are many ways to approach providing more sanitary conditions, but Kenya may be taking a couple of approaches that… Continue reading Kenya Clearing the Way to a Cleaner Country

20,000 Sanitation Ambassadors to Attend Champaran Satyagraha Celebration

MOTIHARI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the featured speaker at the celebration of the close of the centennial celebration of Champaran Satyagraha on April 10 in Motihari. 20,000 Sanitation Ambassadors (Swachhagrahis) are expected to attend. Half of the ambassadors will be from Bihar. The other 10,000 will come as representatives of other states.… Continue reading 20,000 Sanitation Ambassadors to Attend Champaran Satyagraha Celebration

Saving Lives at Risk from Open Defecation Using Outdoor Toilets to Improve Sanitation

Gospel for Asia (GFA World) Special Report on the Open Defecation Sanitation Crisis Written By Karen Burton Mains For much of my adult life, it has been my privilege to hang out with the “renegades” of Christian missions, that relief-and-development crowd that rushes to help during natural disasters, struggles to alleviate the suffering and abasement… Continue reading Saving Lives at Risk from Open Defecation Using Outdoor Toilets to Improve Sanitation

Special Report Spotlights Health Crisis Solution That Demonstrates God’s Love

Gospel for Asia (GFA) highlights need for more toilets to cut avoidable death toll, in the first of challenging series looking at major social issues affecting people in Asia. WILLS POINT, Texas—Missionary organization GFA (Gospel for Asia) is calling attention to a usually ignored, delicate subject at the heart of much of its caring work—a… Continue reading Special Report Spotlights Health Crisis Solution That Demonstrates God’s Love

Why We Need Matt Damon’s Clean Water Super Bowl Commercial

Matt Damon and Water.org partnering in Super Bowl commercial for water

On Super Bowl Sunday, in a commercial by an alcohol beverage company, Matt Damon promised that if people purchased a chalice, $3 of the $13 purchase would go to benefit communities in need with clean water for five years. Stella Artois is doing this in partnership with Water.org. NPR released an article on February 2… Continue reading Why We Need Matt Damon’s Clean Water Super Bowl Commercial

Gospel for Asia: NGOs Combat Lack of Toilets and Sanitation Facilities in Asia

A woman uses a GFA sponsored toilet, which eliminates the shame and stigma that comes with open defecation.

Texas-based nonprofit GFA (Gospel for Asia) constructs more than 10,000 toilets and sanitation facilities throughout Asia. Open defecation, though rarely addressed, is still a pressing issue for those living below the poverty line in Asia. According to the World Health Organization, over 650 million people in India alone do not have access to a toilet.… Continue reading Gospel for Asia: NGOs Combat Lack of Toilets and Sanitation Facilities in Asia

GFA Supports Wills Point, TX at Community Event and Brings Awareness to Missions

The 8th annual Boo On The Bricks took place on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 9 AM to 2 PM in Wills Point, Texas. There were several local organization participating with booths or tables. Gospel for Asia had a table with candy and GFA books and materials that costumed GFA staff gave out to kids large and small of all ages.

Mon Nov. 13, 2017 – Gospel for Asia Thrilled to be part of Boo on the Bricks in Wills Point, Texas, Gospel for Asia makes a good impression on the community it knows and loves. Creating a reason to enjoy the season together, community members in Wills Point, Texas gathered on Saturday, October 28th for… Continue reading GFA Supports Wills Point, TX at Community Event and Brings Awareness to Missions

105-year-old women benefits community

Kunwar Bai Yadav is 105-year-old women. She wanted to give a gift that would benefit her community after learning about the benefits of having a toilet at a local school. The BBC explains, “‘The district collector was visiting the local school to give a speech. I also went along and there he talked about building… Continue reading 105-year-old women benefits community

Cholera Outbreak Plagues Malawi in Midst of Food Shortage

With an estimated 3 million people facing starvation in Malawi following floods and droughts, the world’s poorest nation now faces an additional challenge — cholera. Not since 2006, when an estimated 1,000 people died, has Malawi faced this level of cholera threat. “People living along the lakeshore areas seem to have forgotten the dangers of the… Continue reading Cholera Outbreak Plagues Malawi in Midst of Food Shortage

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