GFA World Newsletter

December 2023, Vol. 20, No. 7

For congregations that have been waiting for a permanent place to meet, the gift of a church building offers a more stable, safe environment for worship services—and it brings a smile to believers’ faces.

Fifty people crammed into Cai’s house. As he worshiped God alongside them, he knew his dream for his community was being realized. More people in his village were finding Christ’s love—the same love that had changed his own life. He hoped even more people would experience transformation and spiritual growth as they gathered regularly. But space in Cai’s house was running out. How would more people join them without a proper place to meet?

A Question Leads to New Life

Twenty years ago, Cai couldn’t have imagined this would one day be his dream. He had grown up in a high social class and had once envisioned becoming a priest in his traditional religion.

But one question lingered in Cai’s mind: Who is the only true God? His search for the answer intensified after his wife became suddenly sick with dizziness, swelling and headaches. Though priests performed rituals for her healing, her health didn’t improve.

Then one day, someone handed him a Christian pamphlet, and later, a pastor offered him a Bible. Hungry to learn more, Cai finished reading God’s Word in 14 months. Through Scripture, a seed of faith germinated in Cai’s heart. Then he met GFA pastor Burle, who offered clarity on the question that had haunted Cai’s mind. He also prayed for the healing of Cai’s wife. Cai and his family soon placed their trust in Christ.

A Passion for Growth

A new passion consumed Cai. He and his family opened their home for Pastor Burle to use for gatherings. He eagerly told friends and co-workers about the hope Christ had given him. Cai spent most of his free time serving the church and sharing Christ’s love with people. Gradually, his home fellowship grew. After several years, he became ordained as a deacon to lead the gathering of believers.

Meanwhile, as their numbers grew, it became more and more difficult to gather in Cai’s home, especially for special meetings or weddings. And the community didn’t fully recognize the congregation as a church. In Cai’s culture, many people do not respect a religious faith if its followers don’t worship in a set-apart building.

“Without a church building, I feel like we are coming to attend a cottage prayer meeting,” one believer explained. “The place is very congested for regular gathering. It is my prayer that we will have our own church building as soon as possible.”

So Cai and the believers prayed for God to provide a church building. But prayer wasn’t enough for Cai. His dream of seeing the congregation thrive led him to make a significant sacrifice: Even though he relied on farming for income, he donated part of his own land for the future church building. Then, earlier this year, God answered the congregation’s prayers, and construction finally began.

“I always prayed for a church building, and the Lord heard our prayers on time,” Cai said.
“Now we are very happy to begin the construction work of the church building. I am thankful to the Almighty God.”

Cai (pictured far left) and other believers pray to consecrate the land he donated for their new church building. Cai rejoiced to be able to donate his own property to bless his congregation.

Cai and his congregation look forward to having a more visible presence in their community so people can find a place of hope, a place to learn about Christ. Even as the building remains under construction, more people are joining the church.

Cai rejoices that he had the opportunity to give his own land to bless his congregation with their own building. As the church grows, so does the scope of Cai’s vision. He not only ministers to people in his own village but also travels to share God’s love in surrounding communities. One day, perhaps even more church buildings will be needed!

Gabrie (pictured in middle) struggled just to feed her brothers and her two children. GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program offered a lifeline by enrolling one of her children, removing a financial burden through assistance such as school supplies, clothing, nutritious food and health care.

Gabrie was born in Rwanda just four years after the genocide. Among the ashes of war, her parents struggled to eke out a living as poor farmers. They toiled for survival, dreaming of a good life for Gabrie and their two younger sons. Though extremely poor, they worked hard to send Gabrie to school.

But Gabrie, at the age of 16, grew tired of living in extreme poverty. Against her parents’ will, Gabrie ran away from home and moved in with a man, hoping for a better future. She gave birth to two children before the man left her for another woman. At the age of 20, Gabrie was shattered and alone, without a job to provide for her two children.

“I did not know what to do and where to go,” Gabrie tearfully recalled.

With no other option, Gabrie returned to her parents, children in tow. Though they accepted her, Gabrie’s father was unhappy about extra mouths to feed, which led to constant disputes and disunity. Eventually, her father left without a word.

In his absence, Gabrie and her mother worked as laborers to take care of the family’s needs. Their combined earnings brought some hope to the family’s survival, but that hope shattered when Gabrie’s mother died in 2019. Hit by more tragedy and heartache, Gabrie now had to care for her young children and brothers alone. Many times, they went to bed hungry. Gabrie pleaded for help from nearby relatives, but none helped.

Support for Single Mother

Then a local staff member from GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program heard of Gabrie’s predicament. Soon, one of Gabrie’s children joined the program, which offered critical assistance. The health care, school supplies, clothes and nutritious food Gabrie’s child received through the program greatly aided the family. While Gabrie still works hard to provide for her family, a huge load has been lifted with the support she receives from the sponsorship program.

“Thank you … for your supportive hands in the time of great need,” Gabrie says.

Saadet and her family (pictured) fled their village to escape a mountain of debt. Though they suffered much hardship adjusting to a new, makeshift home and working in a brick factory, they found new life—and a way to clear their debts.

Saadet and her family fled from their home village. It was no longer safe for them there. Her husband, Seok, had accumulated debt feeding his drinking problem. Angry lenders had come knocking on their door, looking for their money but finding none. To escape, the family of seven boarded a random train, not knowing its destination. Would they be able to escape their debt? Would Seok be able to overcome his alcoholism? Would he even try?

Plummeting into Drink and Debt

There had been a time Seok could support his family with his daily-wage job. Then he began spending all his earnings on liquor. He often came home drunk and rarely bothered purchasing food. Saadet obtained work as a domestic helper so she could buy food for the family, but she rarely made enough to meet all their needs.

Meanwhile, Seok’s drinking habit exceeded his paycheck, so he began borrowing large sums of money from others to buy alcohol. Mounds of debt accumulated, and lenders came calling. Every day, a different lender came to their home, yelling and demanding repayment. Neighbors mocked them in their pitiful situation. Saadet and her children felt unsafe in their own home.

Seeing no other solution, the family left in the dark of night. They emerged from the train three days later, desperate for a solution to their calamity.

While exiting the railway station, they met the manager of a brick factory. Saadet confided in him their problems and requested help. The man hired Saadet and Seok to work in his factory, giving them a chance to earn a living. But the couple didn’t earn enough to rent a house, so they made a makeshift tent to put some sort of roof over their children’s heads.

Determined to repay their debts, Saadet endured their makeshift living conditions and persisted in her diligence to earn sufficient income. But would they ever make enough to do so when they could barely meet their daily needs? Deeply distressed, Saadet wondered how they would ever overcome their plight. Seok, however, continued his drinking, failing to realize his mistakes.

Seeking a Miracle

One day, GFA pastor Abner happened to visit their family. After the pastor shared about Jesus, Saadet asked him to pray for her husband to overcome his alcoholism. Pastor Abner encouraged Saadet from God’s Word and invited her family to church. Inspired, Saadet began attending church, praying and believing that Jesus would somehow save her family.

In response to her faith, God began to work. Seok gradually stopped drinking and became responsible toward his family. As Saadet watched the miracle unfolding before her eyes, she put her full trust in Jesus. She began praying daily and attending prayer meetings faithfully. Then she brought Seok and their children with her to church. They, too, began following Christ as Savior.

God continued to work in and for Saadet’s family. Pastor Abner diligently prayed along with Saadet and her family for God to help them clear their seemingly insurmountable debt. God had worked a miracle regarding Seok’s alcoholism; now, the family believed for another one. He blessed Saadet and Seok’s labor work, and little by little, the couple cleared their debt in just eight months. Without God’s blessing, this would have been impossible!

Saadet testified of the Lord’s deliverance from their huge debts. It was another miracle for their family, one that strengthened their faith in Him. They continue to grow under the faithful guidance of Pastor Abner, who introduced them to the miracle-working Savior.

Amidst financial hardships, Palani and his family (pictured) trusted God to provide for them. Through their church, the Lord generously supplied them with a new tin roof!

Every rainy season, Palani and his family suffered greatly. The walls of his house were composed of mud and raw bricks. His roof was pieced together with broken concrete tiles, bamboo and other materials. Instead of keeping the family dry, the roof leaked with every rain.

Palani wanted to repair the roof, to keep his family safe from the elements and the misery they caused, but he simply didn’t have the funds.

Seeking Provision

A blacksmith by profession, Palani worked hard repairing and making iron pots and tools. He sought to provide for his family by the sweat of his brow, but it wasn’t enough. Palani’s son dropped out of college to get a job and earn money. Still, the two incomes were barely enough to meet the family’s daily needs. They had no extra funds for roof repairs, so the family continued to suffer with every rainfall.

Still, Palani and his family regularly attended the local church led by GFA pastor Penda. They had put their faith in God, the ultimate provider. He cared for every sparrow that fell to the ground; surely, He also cared about the raindrops that fell on their heads.

Pastor Penda (pictured center) and some youth from his church helped rebuild Palani’s roof.

Then, God proved Himself faithful once more! He provided shelter for Palani’s family through a GFA gift distribution. Pastor Penda knew of the family’s need and had requested they receive tin sheets and a truss roof. The pastor himself, along with some youth and an outside worker, helped Palani rebuild his roof. Now, Palani and his family can sleep peacefully, even in rainy seasons.

“I have never imagined that my church … will help me in this way,” Palani said. “I am so grateful to the Lord and to all my leaders for helping me.”

Now Palani and his family have shelter from the rain and the suffering it once caused. God has demonstrated His faithful provision to these believers through the partnership of people like you!

K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan)

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways …
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” —Luke 1:76, 79

In the Church calendar, Advent, is the beginning of the Christian’s new year. Advent is all about asking these questions: Why are we here? What do we do? Why do we do what we do?

In history, you can trace calamities and crises and poverty to moments when people surrendered their lives to the powers of darkness. Jesus said that Satan came “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). But Christ came to give life, life abundant. Christ’s coming is the greatest event in all history, and history changed because of it—nothing remained the same.

If Christ had not come, where would we be? Again and again, I come to the same conclusion that convicted my heart years ago: There is nothing you can do to change the world except through the Gospel, through proclaiming and living the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. It changes everything. It changes people’s behavior, their lives and their homes.

I thank the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—the Holy Trinity—for His incredible grace and mercy, for rescuing each one of us and giving us the understanding of Jesus Christ our Lord. The Gospel must be preached to the whole world, to people who sit in darkness, and that is what we are doing, by God’s grace. There is a not a week that goes by when I do not hear stories of some new place where GFA missionaries are starting ministry.

This month, let’s thank God we have the privilege to be partakers of His divine nature, and with everything in us, let’s take the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. As we celebrate with our Advent wreaths and star decorations and other symbols reminding us of Christ, let’s point everything to Him.

Rejoice!

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