Tag Archives: India

November 8, 2013 · 4:12 pm

The Picture That Still Bothers Me

The above picture of the little Dalit girl going through garbage has bothered me more than any other one I’ve ever used on my blog. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you’ll discover the background is probably her home. The bamboo posts most likely hold up a plastic or canvas cover, which shelters her family.

If this photo bothers me, what do you think it does to my heavenly Father?

Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope ministry reaches children like this with the love of Christ. So far, more than 60,000 children have been helped and thousands of families have found faith in Christ as a result.

If you’re interested, it only takes $35 a month to give a child everything they need—school supplies, a daily meal, medical checkups and more. You can check it out here.

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November 1, 2013 · 7:53 am

Feel Like Praying?

The children of South Asia are among the most vulnerable in the world. The United Nations estimates that 1 million Asian children are traded every single day. In India alone, 45,000 children are reported missing each year. Thousands more are missing, but their families have not reported their absence to authorities.

The majority of these missing children come from Dalit (“Untouchable”) families, from tribal areas or from families that live in extreme poverty.

Children in South Asia go missing for many reasons. Some are abducted by strangers and put into forced labor. Others are trafficked or exploited in the sex trade or sold to other families to work as domestic help. Some missing children have simply run away from home or were forced to leave home because of difficult circumstances, such as the death of a parent or the introduction of a stepparent into the household.

India has the largest population of poor and vulnerable children of any country in the world. Nearly 44 million children live on the street as beggars. Millions are orphans. Others may be the children of migrant workers, commercial sex workers or prisoners. Thousands are also child soldiers who have been forced into armed conflict.

Sadly, there are many waiting to exploit these vulnerable children. One of the most common ways children are misused is by being forced into the adult workforce. India has some 13 million children younger than 15 in its workforce—more than any other country in the world. Some estimate that the real number of child laborers is close to 100 million. That’s about five times the population of the state of New York.

How to Pray for Them
Even though these children’s parents may not know where they are, their Heavenly Father knows them and cares for them. The following list describes some of their prayer needs:

Pray for the children to be rescued, reunited and accepted back into their families.
Pray for Gospel For Asia-supported missionaries and workers who reach out specifically to the runaway children, especially those who try to rescue the thousands of street children in Delhi.
Pray for the physical needs of the children. Most do not get enough to eat, and the physical labor they are forced to do can cripple their young bodies. Pray for the Lord to provide for them and protect them from harm.
Pray for the girls—and boys—forced to work in the sex trade. Ask the Lord to bring the brothel owners’ and customers’ misdeeds into the spotlight and for the love of Jesus to permeate those dark places.
Pray for a radical attitude shift in South Asian society so that citizens of these countries will demand an end to the exploitation of children.
Pray for more sponsors of Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope Program.

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October 25, 2013 · 3:50 pm

Update on Cyclone Phailin

Rains continue to batter the countryside of India in the aftermath of Cyclone Phailin, as hundreds of thousands of families find themselves displaced and without electricity. Recently, a Gospel For Asia Compassion Services team was able to travel to one of the districts in Odisha that was the most affected by the cyclone. They provided relief materials to 440 families.

Pleaser pray for these people who have suffered so much and if you can, pray about helping them with financial offerings. You can check it out at Gospel For Asia Cyclone Phailin.

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October 18, 2013 · 11:41 am

Prayer for the Persecuted Church

“My life in prison was not in vain,” said Pastor Samuel who was imprisoned for eight years for preaching the gospel in India. Could you or I say the same after such a long separation from our families? We may never find out, but the persecuted church suffers such tragedies everyday.

On November 3 (or any Sunday in November), join churches across the nation in lifting up the persecuted through unified prayer.

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October 14, 2013 · 1:06 pm

Cyclone Phailin Wreaks Havoc in India

If you have time, check out the above less than three minute video or go here to read the facts about destruction caused by Cyclone Phailin. The storm has affected 9 million people. They need our prayers now…and if you can, please consider giving a financial offering, of which 100% will be used for the people who have suffered in this storm.

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October 11, 2013 · 10:02 am

What are the Three Deadliest Words in the World?

The UN estimates there are 200 million missing females in the world because of gendercide carried out through abortions, infanticides, murders, and the abandoning of female children. One of the nations with the worst record on the gendercide issue is the world’s largest democracy, India, which comprises almost a third of the total population of Asia.

In India, 50,000 females are aborted each month just for having XX chromosomes. The reason is simple: it’s a family business decision. For a poor family, children are a major drain on family income. What was barely enough money for a husband and wife to live on becomes strained even more when a child arrives. A baby boy has the potential of providing future income to the family, but baby girls have little potential of helping the family. Thus, baby girls are aborted to save the costs of feeding and raising them.

Almost 10 million girls, between the ages of 4 and 11 years old are abandoned by parents on the streets of India. Over a million of these end up in prostitution rings. Others are coerced into being a part of the 50 million children from ages 4 and up who labor from morning until night to survive. Many beg. Many steal. Many die.

Question: What are the three deadliest words in the world?

Answer: It’s a girl.

Gospel for Asia’s Bridge of Hope turns these situations around for good. Children are educated and nurtured. Families experience Christ’s love. More than 60,000 children have been helped so far and thousands of families have found faith in Christ as a result.

If you’re interested in learning more about Bridge of Hope, click here.

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October 4, 2013 · 8:02 am

Veil of Tears

veiloftearsmovie.com

This gripping new documentary film 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. However, despite the centuries of oppression, there are those who are reaching out and trying to change the culture towards women, from the inside out.

These are the faces of true survivors. Those who have withstood a lifetime of adversity in the face of a culture stacked against them. Take a heartfelt journey through the eyes of these women, and others, who unveil their personal stories of persecution, rejection, abandonment, tragedy and even triumph. Get a glimpse of the true resilience of the human spirit and the hope that has changed the lives of millions like these and is helping change millions more.

Narrated by Grammy-Nominated Recording Artist Natalie Grant, this film was shot on-location across the stunning nation of India, in some of the most remote tribal villages in the world today, this is a journey where few outsiders have gone before.

Gospel For Asia is partnering on this documentary with the Saylor Brothers with all proceeds being donated to Gospel For Asia. Although the documentary will be released in 2014, you can see the 2 minutes and 38 seconds of trailer here.

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September 27, 2013 · 11:01 am

Do The Two Most Important Ones First

(Actual letters from children)

Not too long ago, I found myself with three writing projects and wondered where I should start. As I sat there, a gentle voice whispered to my heart, “Do the two most important ones first.”

“What?” I said, not knowing which two were the most important.

“Write replies to the two letters you just received.”

I pushed aside the three writing projects and reread the two letters, sitting on a to-do pile next to the computer. One letter was from an 8-year old girl named Joshni, who lives in Tamil Nadu, India, and the other from a 5-year old boy named Anupam, who lives in West Bengal, India. Both are Dalit children who attend Bridge of Hope schools and are sponsored by Carol and me.

I wrote letters to both and included three pictures in each envelope. The pictures reveal life in California and my family to them.

I’m a small potato in the writing world, but to these children, I’m probably the big enchilada. You see, my letters are most likely the only ones they will ever receive. A few words can make a difference in their lives.

And the Lord seems to agree with me.

If you are interested in knowing more about sponsoring a child in Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program, check it out here.

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September 20, 2013 · 8:56 am

How Not to be Vulnerable

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping your heart intact you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries, avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safely in the casket of your selfishness. And in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will not change, it will not be broken. It will become unbreakable, impenetrable and irredeemable. The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from the dangers of love is hell. (C.S.Lewis)

Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope offers love and hope to the most vulnerable humans in the world − children − through sponsors like you and me. If you’re interested, check it out here.

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September 13, 2013 · 9:54 am

God Does Nothing But…

“God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” (John Wesley)

When Americans hear about needy children, we think about doing one thing: giving money. Then, our minds run through all the options. Can we afford to do so? What financial obligations do we have right now? Are there other priorities for our money right now? What if I don’t give? Will I feel guilty? And so forth. And so forth.

Relax. Take it easy today.

You see, I understand that not all Christians can or will sponsor a child for $35 a month through Gospel For Asia’s Bridge of Hope program. There are many other avenues to help build the Kingdom of God and it’s up to each person to decide for himself.

Yet, we can all pray, right?

So, take a moment and agree with me on the following simple prayer: