A GFA tailoring class provided Ada (pictured) with a valuable skill to help her family overcome poverty.
Poverty had robbed Ada of a complete education. She came from a large family, and while her mother worked as a maid, her alcoholic father wasted income on drink. With nine mouths to feed, some of the children had to contribute to the family’s income. Two of Ada’s brothers worked as laborers. When Ada reached fifth grade, the family’s financial condition grew worse, and she had to drop out of school to care for the household.
As time passed, Ada’s lack of education gave her little chance for anything better in life, but deep in her heart flickered an ember of hope. Maybe someday she could do something more significant to uplift her family.
One day, Ada learned of a free tailoring class offered through GFA World’s ministries. This training would help women learn valuable skills to overcome poverty. Could this be the answer to her heart’s yearning? Ada enrolled in the class. In just six months, she gained the skills to change her life.
With new confidence, Ada started stitching clothes and earning income for her family.
“I want to thank the [program] and staff for giving me an opportunity to enroll myself in this tailoring center to achieve what I am today,” Ada said. “I pray that God will keep blessing this organization as it is working toward helping the poor and needy people and changing their lives.”
Anxiety chilled Mare’s heart. About one year after cancer took her husband, Mare noticed the same symptoms he had experienced—severe headaches and blurred vision. Mare already struggled to provide for herself and her two daughters. What would happen to her girls if she had brain cancer?
Fear Overshadowed by Faith
Mare prayed fervently to her deities, but she knew there was no cure. She was too scared to go to the doctor, and she hid her pain from her daughters for months. When she finally told them, her daughters were scared, but Pina, the older daughter, had an idea. There was a church in the village.
“People go for prayer there,” Pina said.
Desperate for healing, Mare and her daughters visited the church. GFA pastor Serek and his wife, Bande, warmly welcomed the family.
When Mare shared her concerning health symptoms, the entire church prayed earnestly for God’s healing. Mare trusted Jesus to heal her, and He didn’t disappoint. Mare sensed her pain shrinking; after two months, the Lord had completely healed her!
With strengthened faith, Mare and her daughters chose to follow Christ. Life, however, was still difficult. Mare’s job at the pencil factory provided for the family’s basic needs, but Pina had stopped school after 10th grade to reduce their financial burden and take care of the home. Would they ever have a life beyond poverty?
An Opportunity and a Gift
One day, Bande, who was an accomplished seamstress, offered to teach Pina to sew. Motivated to seize this opportunity, Pina diligently learned from Bande each day. Her skills grew, and so did her chance to help her family financially!
One obstacle remained, however. Pina didn’t own a sewing machine, and she couldn’t afford to buy one. Knowing the family’s challenges and the young woman’s diligence, Pastor Serek planned an event to help widows in the area, including Mare. Nearly 60 women received a sewing machine. Mare’s face beamed as she brought the sewing machine home, knowing the potential this tool had to change her family’s situation.
Pina began to sew clothes for the family, reducing their expenses. As she grew in her skills, she planned to one day sew clothes for others, too, so she could earn income.
For the countless women solely responsible for providing their household’s needs, a sewing machine is a tremendous help for earning a sufficient income.
Daya’s life turned upside down the day her husband, a laborer, fell off a roof and died. Daya, a stay-at-home mom, had to find work to feed her three children. Unfortunately, the job she found at a matchbox factory provided very little income. Financial hardships forced Daya’s two daughters to stop their education after 10th grade. Instead of finishing school and pursuing higher education, they helped keep the family afloat. The older daughter worked as a nursery school teacher, and the younger daughter cared for their brother and kept the household while her mother and sister were at work.
Eternal Hope, Immediate Help
Soon, Daya found an unexpected source of strength. After attending a worship service hosted by GFA pastor Sachitan, Daya felt an enormous sense of peace. She began going regularly to the worship services. Her children eventually joined her, and the entire family experienced God’s love.
Daya and her children found lasting hope when they decided to trust Christ with their lives. They also learned that He cared about their practical needs.
Pastor Sachitan noticed how hard the family worked—and how they struggled just to meet basic needs. He requested that Daya receive a gift at the next GFA Christmas gift distribution. At the event, Daya and more than 50 other widows received sewing machines! Tears filled Daya’s eyes as she kissed the smooth, dark surface of her gift. For Daya, it represented a chance for her family to thrive, not just subsist. She thanked God for providing for her family.
Embracing the Chance to Thrive
Daya already knew how to sew, so she got to work sewing clothes for her family and taking sewing jobs from people in her village. Soon, her skills earned her more jobs as people saw she charged less than the market rate.
Over time, Daya’s younger daughter learned to sew, too. While Daya worked in the factory, her daughter sewed at home. When Daya returned, she would resume the tailoring jobs.
Not only did the family save money by sewing their own clothes, but they also significantly added to their income through their growing tailoring business.
Though Daya and her family still face challenges, they know they serve a God who cares for them. Through the sewing machine He provided and their hard work, they have hope for financial stability.
Pastor Jaitra (pictured in red) joyfully presented sewing machines and other helpful gifts to the inmates of a local prison.
Pastor Jaitra prayed out loud, surrounded by a group of prisoners. Eight voices echoed Jaitra’s “amen.”
The small prayer meeting broke up. Walking out the prison doors, Jaitra held one prayer in his heart: that even more inmates would find new life.
One day, as Pastor Jaitra got ready for the prayer meeting at the prison, inspiration struck him. Not only had God provided His only Son, but He could also provide for the inmates’ practical needs!
Pastor Jaitra arranged for a gift distribution at the jail. Two sewing machines were given to the inmates: one to the men and one to the women. Inmates also gratefully received free medicine, water and New Testaments. The director of the prison expressed his thanks for the care and generosity of the church.
“We wish for the growth of [the church] constantly,” he said. “No matter what people say … do good service for the people as you are doing now.”
Millions of widows like Najma (not pictured) face a desperate struggle to provide for their families.
Today, there are around 284 million widows globally.1 Some face prejudice and are blamed for their husband’s death. Others face extreme poverty. Najma, a mother of three, joined the millions of widows in their daily struggle for survival when her husband passed away.
Trouble After Trouble
When Najma’s husband died, their family’s source of income went with him. Najma had to find small labor jobs, like cleaning houses and cooking for events, to provide for her three sons.
Najma was able to get a third, more stable job at a grocery store, but could not work there for long. At that time, her younger sons were too little to leave for long lengths of time, and thus she had to quit. When he was old enough, her eldest, Aarnav, dropped out of school to work. His labor earned additional income, but three months after Aarnav started work, his job shut down.
If that weren’t enough, Najma’s middle son, Salal, battled a serious illness that weakened his immune system and gave him constant fevers and headaches. Three times a week, Najma had to take him to a local hospital.
A Ray of Hope
GFA-supported pastor Jafet leads a fellowship in Najma’s village. While visiting homes one day, the pastor spoke with Najma and learned of the struggles she and her sons faced. Filled with compassion for this family, Pastor Jafet prayed for Najma and her sons and invited them to Sunday services.
The next Sunday, the widow and her sons found themselves walking to the church. Having never visited before, they didn’t know what to expect. When the family entered the church, the believers welcomed them with open arms. Never before had Najma experienced such love and acceptance. She felt like she had found a new family.
Pastor Jafet continued to pray for this family, and a few weeks later, the Lord answered. Salal’s health improved drastically, and thanks to a believer at the church, Aarnav found a job! Najma also got a job in a garment factory. Then the church provided her with a sewing machine, so she could start her own business.
“I did not have a way to move forward and had no hope,” Najma said. “Through Pastor Jafet’s visit to our home, our lives changed totally, and now all our problems are vanishing one by one. I am able to work with my own hands and earn a living respectfully and also look after my children. I thank the Lord Jesus for healing my younger son.”
Millions of widows like Najma (not pictured) face a desperate struggle to provide for their families.
Overcoming learning struggles through persistance, Nahar (second from left) completed a Bridge of Hope tailoring class and was given her own sewing machine so she can earn an income.
Nahar’s parents looked on as she swept the floor. Her mother worried for their 21-year-old daughter’s future. Was sweeping the family’s house all she had to look forward to?
Nahar was born prematurely. Due to resulting complications, she couldn’t keep up with her peers and struggled in her education. Her parents stopped her schooling after she reached 10th grade. Nahar’s mother, Baala, anxious for her daughter’s future, wondered what could be done.
As daily laborers, Nahar’s parents struggled with their finances. However, Nahar’s younger sister received a free education through a GFA-supported Bridge of Hope center, which also held tailoring classes. Hearing this, Baala asked if Nahar could take the lessons.
At first, Nahar struggled to keep up, but the staff took extra time to show her how to sew. Six months passed, and the young woman finished her tailoring classes!
Bridge of Hope even gave Nahar her own sewing machine, and she now stitches for her family and neighbors.
“Nahar’s life has totally changed …” Baala says. “I thank the Bridge of Hope center from the bottom of my heart.”
Gul’s desire to help her hardworking father support the family was finally realized when her GFA-supported paster, Udai, arranged for her to receive a sewing machine.
Gul’s family lived in a mud-and-brick house roofed with plastic and tin sheets. Her father worked hard as a day laborer , sweating to put food on his family’s table. Gul admired her father, who loved them and did not neglect them to drink, like so many others in poverty. She wished there were some way to help him provide for their family.
One day, Gul heard about a tailoring class. The opportunity to learn a skill that could help support her family was an answer to prayer for Gul. After completing the course, Gul went to a shop to price out a sewing machine. Her heart sank when she saw her family couldn’t possibly afford it.
Determined to find a way, Gul asked a neighbor who had a sewing machine if she could use it occasionally. The neighbor forbade her to touch it.
Finding Another Way
Gul cried out in anguish to the Lord. She asked Him to help her family. Her parents loved the Lord and taught their daughters to love Him too, faithfully teaching them God’s Word and taking them to church.
Gul put that faith to the test. She prayed earnestly that God would provide a way for her to help her parents.
One day, with a heavy heart, Gul described her family’s financial crisis to GFA-supported pastor Udai, who led her local fellowship. She shared about her failed attempts to buy or borrow a sewing machine. Filled with compassion, Pastor Udai longed to help these precious members of his flock.
Pastor Udai prayed often for the struggling family. At the same time, he arranged for a sewing machine to be given to them.
Gul’s heart filled with gratitude the day she received a sewing machine at the gift distribution arranged by Pastor Udai. The young woman thanked God for hearing her prayers, and His provision strengthened her faith.
With the new sewing machine, Gul’s tailoring business took off. As she contributed to the family income and tithed on her earnings, her faith and servant attitude brought joy and pride to her parents’ hearts.
When Reva received a sewing machine at a GFA Christmas gift distribution, her family’s financial situation was transformed!
Sometimes a single compassionate act can change the course of someone’s life—or even a family.
Reva and her husband, Saju, had four grown children. Saju worked as a laborer to provide, but he never earned enough to meet all their needs.
One day, as GFA-supported pastor Niket was visiting homes in the area, he met Reva’s family. He saw their hardships and wanted to help.
Pastor Niket submitted Reva’s name to receive a gift in the next Christmas gift distribution. When the appointed day came, Reva received the perfect gift: a sewing machine.
Reva already knew how to sew, so she quickly started a tailoring business. This new source of income changed her family’s situation.
“The Lord has blessed me with a sewing machine at the right time, and now I can manage my financial needs,” she said.
In addition to gaining a sustainable livelihood, Reva’s family gained a friendship with the pastor. Seeing God’s faithfulness through His provision and through Pastor Niket, the family found lasting hope in Christ.
Sewing machines make a huge impact in the lives of women who suffer rejection because of widowhood or leprosy. With these gifts, dignity is restored as they can earn a respectable wage and care for their children.
Vanita looked over the crowd, seeing the faces of many widows whom she loved. She knew they had been through many dark days. Most of the widows there had been widowed because of leprosy, and many had contracted the disease themselves.
As the leader of a Women’s Fellowship, Vanita arranged a gift distribution of sewing machines and pull carts to these women rejected by society.
Knowing the poverty and distress these women faced, Vanita wanted to show them God’s great love by providing them with a means of income that would restore dignity to their lives.
Gifts They Could Never Afford
Garati, a 25-year-old widow, had taken a tailoring class and graduated with success. But she was unable to afford a sewing machine, so her skills were wasted as she struggled to provide for her children. Gratitude filled her heart when she received a sewing machine.
Garati, a 25-year-old widow, had taken a tailoring class and graduated with success. But she was unable to afford a sewing machine, so her skills were wasted as she struggled to provide for her children. Gratitude filled her heart when she received a sewing machine.
“I am very much thankful to the [church] for giving me this sewing machine,” Garati said.
One woman in the crowd was 45-year-old Amolika. Her husband had passed away 25 years earlier, leaving her widowed, the mother of two and affected with leprosy at 20 years old. Over the years, Amolika earned food and shelter for her two daughters by begging in the temples.
At the gift distribution Amolika and her daughter received a sewing machine. Amolika’s daughter had taken a tailoring class, but they could not afford a sewing machine. With tears streaming down her smiling face, Amolika thanked Vanita for the treasured gift.
Navita, a widow, was in dire financial straits. The Lord provided a sewing machine for her, and now she can provide for her two children.
Debt crippled Navita’s husband. As drought destroyed their harvest, all hope of paying off their loan vanished with the crops. Collection notices mounted, and Navita’s husband could only see one way out: suicide. Now, Navita and her two fatherless children faced the bleak future alone.
Hope Appears from Outside
No one helped Navita; too many others were in the same situation. One day, however, Navita met a GFA-supported worker, Mohan, who listened with compassion to her story. His heart was moved, and he gave her food and a little money. He started a prayer meeting in her home, but many villagers opposed this and would not allow Mohan to continue.
A Compassionate Heart Leads to Practical Help
Mohan often prayed for Navita and sought how to help her. During a gift distribution, he arranged for her to receive a sewing machine.
News spread throughout the village when Navita was given this free gift. Encouraged by the care and action of the church, local government leaders arranged for a monthly stipend for Navita.
Navita is now able to provide for herself and her children through the income she receives as a seamstress and her monthly stipend. The Lord lifted her out of the crushing debt and despair left by her husband, and she now has hope for the future, for herself and her children.
“[We] are always looking to help the people in their need based on the love of Jesus,” shared the GFA-supported pastor pictured. “Thousands of people [in this region] are being benefited through the Christmas gifts provided according to the need of people. There is only one purpose behind doing a whole lot of community development projects: to develop the citizens of [this nation.] The Lord Jesus has given [us] a great burden for helping people in need.”
Many people throughout the world have the skills they need to provide for themselves, but they lack the means to purchase required tools. Without these necessary resources, many become daily laborers, depending on inconsistent income to meet their financial needs.
Simple gifts, such as sewing machines or rickshaws, can provide families with a source of income, meeting their needs in such a way to make their daily lives easier.
“The majority of the people in our society are poor and underprivileged. Some of them are not able to take care of their families,” one GFA-supported worker explains. “Some of them are weak in their physical body, and they cannot work. In this situation, community-development gifts are helping them to survive.”
Thanks to your generosity, GFA-supported Christmas gift distributions have provided invaluable gifts to hundreds of thousands of families in need. Here are just a few stories from two such distribution events.
Son Starts Own Tailoring Shop
Goral had dropped out of high school to find work and provide for his parents. He joined a tailoring shop and learned the craft of sewing clothes. Unfortunately, he was only getting a small amount of money each month.
Then Goral, now 20 years old, received a sewing machine through a GFA-supported Christmas gift distribution after his pastor found out about his need!
“I am very happy to have a sewing machine of my own,” Goral says. “So far, I was working in another shop to earn money. Now I will put a shop in my own village and stitch clothes for my village people. There is only one tailor in my village. I will have a lot of clothes to stitch, which will give me money for the expenses of my family.”
Solar Light Helps Studies
“[We] are always looking to help the people in their need based on the love of Jesus,” shared the GFA-supported pastor pictured. “Thousands of people [in this region] are being benefited through the Christmas gifts provided according to the need of people. There is only one purpose behind doing a whole lot of community development projects: to develop the citizens of [this nation.] The Lord Jesus has given [us] a great burden for helping people in need.”
Kerosene lamps were not enough for Kalpa’s siblings to see their homework in the evenings. They often struggled with studying because it was too dark to read and write.
Kerosene lamps are also expensive to maintain, which can be difficult for poor families to afford. Thankfully, the Lord provided a solar panel for Kalpa’s family!
“There is no electricity facility in my village. This solar light will be very helpful for my brother’s study,” Kalpa says, “and we, as a family, will enjoy having bright light in our house. Thank you very much for providing me such a valuable gift.”
Buffalo, the Gift of Sustenance
“[We] are always looking to help the people in their need based on the love of Jesus,” shared the GFA-supported pastor pictured. “Thousands of people [in this region] are being benefited through the Christmas gifts provided according to the need of people. There is only one purpose behind doing a whole lot of community development projects: to develop the citizens of [this nation.] The Lord Jesus has given [us] a great burden for helping people in need.”
Ravan worked as a daily laborer, and he depended on each day’s earnings to feed his four children and send them to school. But sometimes his children would go hungry.
Then he received a gift he never dreamed he would have: a buffalo.
“My children had very little chance of drinking buffalo milk,” Ravan explains. “But now my children will have enough milk to drink. I can have a lot of milk products, which will be a really good [source] of healthy food for my family. This gift is an everlasting gift for my family. I am really thankful to you all.”
A New, Steady Income
Eshan, like many in his village, was poor. He earned a meager living as a daily laborer. As he strived to provide for his wife and son, he faced frustration and discouragement because he did not earn enough money to feed his family. By the Lord’s grace, his pastor saw his struggle and advocated for him to receive a Christmas gift.
He received a rickshaw, which helped him to earn a steady income. Eshan could not control his joy upon receiving his gift!
“I am very thankful to the Church,” Eshan shares. “It is all because of their support that today I am able to care for my family and feed my family properly.”
Harshika knew how to tailor clothes, but she could not afford her own sewing machine. When she and others, such as these women pictured, receive sewing machines, they are able to significantly increase their family’s income.
When accident left Harshika’s father unable to use his hands and legs, the future of the family became uncertain. He had been their sole provider. Harshika’s mother tried to find work in people’s homes, but her income didn’t meet all of their needs.
Harshika, 22, had dropped out of school in the eighth grade. Now it seemed her younger sister Madhushri, the first of the siblings to make it to college, would have to drop out as well. But God had other plans.
Hidden Talent Helps Her Sister
When a local GFA-supported pastor named Ketan heard about the family’s dire situation, he sought a way to help. After he learned Harshika could sew and had even been trained in tailoring, he arranged for her to receive something she could not have afforded on her own: a sewing machine, one of the gifts found in GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog.
It didn’t take long for neighbors to find out about Harshika’s skill, which brought a steady stream of customers. Through the proceeds from her work, Harshika has been able to help her family and even pay for her siblings’ continued education.
Now Harshika and her sister Madhushri meet with the local congregation to hear about the God that Pastor Ketan serves. Madhushri, having witnessed Christ’s love and care for her family firsthand and hearing about His grace from her pastor, has decided to embrace the love of the One who has provided for her future, the One who inspired someone else to provide her sister with a sewing machine.
Thank you!
Even a gift as simple as a sewing machine can have a tremendous impact on a family in need. By partnering with GFA, whether you donate toward sewing machines or you support the work of national missions, you are part of transformative stories of grace like this one, which are happening every day. Thank you so much!
Murali and Tulika faced poverty every day. When they started attending a fellowship led by a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor, Tulika was able to sign up for a tailoring class at the church. Unfortunately, the only sewing machine she could find didn’t work properly. She prayed God would provide a better one, one she could actually use—a prayer God answered through friends of Gospel for Asia.
In the meantime, Murali’s father, Kaditula, became paralyzed. Kaditula couldn’t leave his bed so Murali, the family’s only breadwinner, became his full-time caretaker. At the time, Tulika had just begun sewing clothes for her family and neighbors. With her new sewing machine, she was able to make a moderate income to help sustain her family.
Over time, things improved for the family. Although Kaditula is still physically weak, he can now move his hands and sit by himself. Murali found work as a security guard in an office building.
“At present, [my wife] is not fully involved in tailoring work,” Murali said. “But by the grace of the Lord, she is helpful to the family. Now she can meet her needs.”
In every issue of Harvest, we want to help you see what you are part of through your prayers and support. We hope these short reports from the field give you quick glimpses into the lives of several men and women whom we, together, have been able to touch through Christmas gifts. Thank you for your heart to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this way!
Pig Sends Girl to School
When Firaki’s husband died, the poor widow struggled to provide for her two children. A physical handicap made walking difficult, and work was a daily struggle. But she knew the love of Jesus and looked to Him to take care of her.
One year, she received a piglet through Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift catalog. Over time, the piglet grew into a healthy adult pig, and when Firaki sold it, the profits provided enough to care for her needs and send her daughter to a training course to help her get a good job. Grateful, Firaki gave some of the profits as a thank-offering to the Lord.
Bicycle Removes Pastor’s Burden
Goral’s feet thudded on the ground under the heavy weight of a projector, generator and the other equipment he carried with
him. He was on his way to a film showing in a remote village in South Asia. Goral loved sharing the movie about Jesus’ life and ministry on earth, but carrying more than 75 pounds of equipment tired him out. Goral often prayed for a bicycle to help him in his ministry, and one day, through a donation to Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift catalog, Goral received one!
Goral uses his bike as a push-cart to carry the equipment to more than 15 villages each month, and he rides it to visit Christians in the area and pray with them.
New Roof, Softened Heart
The thatched roof on Kamana’s mud-and- bamboo hut provided little shelter from the storms outside, while every day, a different type of storm raged inside. For three years, Kamana’s husband opposed her faith in Jesus. She often prayed Jesus would change his heart. Meanwhile, Kamana’s pastor found out her roof needed some help. Thanks to a donation through Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift catalog, he was able to give her some tin sheets that would make a stronger covering.
Kamana’s husband was surprised at God’s provision and the generosity of His people. Because of this, he has stopped opposing his wife’s faith in Christ.
Gift Answers Father’s Prayer
Ruchir’s wife often fell sick, and trying to care for her and their 2-year-old daughter on less than $2 per day was a tremendous challenge for the 28-year-old carpenter.
Ruchir had met Jesus through a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor and continually prayed for a better job to care for his family. His greatest hope was to have a rickshaw.
When his pastor gave gifts to bless 20 people in Ruchir’s village, Ruchir’s prayers were answered! The rickshaw increased his income, helping ease the family’s financial burdens. Today, he joyfully contributes back to the Lord’s work because of what God has done for him.
Sewing Hope for a Widow
In Pastor Ramra’s church was a poor widow named Panini, who spent her days earning meagre wages to care for her four children. She washed other people’s dishes, swept their floors and cleaned their homes.
Then Panini, who already knew how to sew, was overjoyed when pastor Ramra was able to give her a sewing machine through Gospel for Asia’s Christmas Gift catalog. She began stitching clothes for herself, her children and others in her village. Her income quickly increased, and now she can better provide for her family.
Sarbani, 18, lived the life of a beggar. She’d watched her parents go door to door, begging for one meal a day, and now she followed in their footsteps. She didn’t think she would ever climb out of this poverty.
One day she happened to beg at the house of Gospel for Asia pastor Rajiv. He gave her some rice, but it wasn’t enough for her entire family. So she kept begging. Later, when Sarbani knocked on another door and asked for food, she saw Pastor Rajiv inside, praying with a family
from his congregation. Pastor Rajiv recognized her voice and went up to her. He wanted to know why she was still begging.
“Sir, this is my daily routine,” Sarbani replied.
When Sarbani explained that her family relied on her to beg, the pastor’s heart broke.
Finding Love, New Life
After talking more with Sarbani, Pastor Rajiv decided to visit her family one day. A wave of surprise shook Sarbani and her family when the pastor came to the tent where they lived. They weren’t used to people who didn’t beg wanting to spend time with them.
Then, one Sunday morning, Sarbani discovered Pastor Rajiv’s church. Joyful songs filled her ears as she entered. She listened eagerly, wanting to know what the Christians were singing about. When Pastor Rajiv began sharing the message, God’s Word took hold of Sarbani’s heart.
She decided to attend church on a regular basis.
As Sarbani began growing in the knowledge of Jesus, she learned God would take care of her family’s needs. She relied on Jesus more each day and soon decided to follow Him.
Sarbani wanted to stop begging, but how would she help provide for her family? Pastor Rajiv had an idea.
The Perfect Gift
Sarbani had learned to sew from a friend who owned a sewing machine, but she could never afford one herself. At Pastor Rajiv’s request, Sarbani received a sewing machine through Gospel for Asia. This gift filled her and her family with joy—Sarbani could now earn a decent income without begging!
Now she earns enough to provide for many of her family’s needs. Best of all, Sarbani and her parents know the riches of Jesus’ love, and they are serving Him faithfully.
“I was a beggar; now I am a believer,” Sarbani says.
Through your generosity in providing sewing machines, more people in Asia are finding their true wealth in Christ. Thank you!
Even though Minati was 45 years old, receiving a Christmas gift was still the highlight of her year. When Gospel for Asia presented her with a sewing machine, a very specific dream of hers finally came true.
Minati and her husband, both believers, live in a community where people once had no other source of income except working as laborers in a tea garden. Minati saw the challenges faced by her fellow villagers as they strove for their families’ survival. Her husband was a daily laborer himself, working hard to provide for their five children. Moved by compassion, Minati wanted to help her community.
With a background in tailoring, Minati gathered several neighbor women together with the hopes of teaching them to sew. The skill of sewing would represent a financial breakthrough for the women and their families, as their meager incomes could often barely provide food. If the family was in debt or someone got sick, their situation could spiral downward fast.
Unfortunately, the group could not come up with enough money to buy a sewing machine for classes.
A Miracle Revives Her Dream
Minati was disappointed, feeling there was no way she could help her neighbors.
“For some time, I thought, ‘I want to do good for people, but why isn’t God hearing my prayer?’ ” Minati remembers.
But the Lord knew Minati’s desires. Her pastor, Gunalan, had the privilege to distribute sewing machines from GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalogue—and one went to Minati.
A Hardworking Sewing Machine
Overjoyed, Minati lost no time putting her gift to work. The very next day, she went from house to house spreading the word that she would be teaching free tailoring classes. She started teaching four women, only one of whom was a Christian.
Minati passionately served her community because she knew the love of Jesus would bring transformation to their hearts and lives. She faithfully shared Gospel literature and New Testaments as she sewed for her neighbors.
When Pastor Gunalan heard that Minati was both repairing clothing for free and teaching multiple tailoring classes, he immediately made arrangements for the hardworking seamstress to receive a second sewing machine.
Minati’s goals have only grown. Her desire now is to teach 30 women each year to sew.
Gifts Bring Spiritual Fruit
Aditi is one of Minati’s students whose life has changed dramatically, thanks in part to her tailoring class.
“I am from a poor family background, and my husband is a worker in the tea garden,” says Aditi.
“Whatever he earns he spends for drinking alcohol, and I struggle to provide meals for my children. When I came to know about the free tailoring center, I was happy that I can also do something to earn money and give a good life to my children.
“Today, I am learning here because of the free teaching. Otherwise I could not afford it. I would like to put [in] a word for our teacher: She is very kind and loving and [is showing me] the true way and life of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In response to God’s grace toward her, Aditi chose to follow the Lord.
“God delights in fulfilling our desires in due time,” Minati says. “Now I can say that He has fulfilled all my desire and gives me more than what I need. The people in the village give me more respect and honor for what I am doing, and I give all the glory and honor to my Almighty God.”
Sahasra’s life as a single mother and sole breadwinner for three sons was difficult enough. Now that her tiny, one-room house had collapsed, she didn’t know what to do.
When a week-long deluge of rain overflowed the rivers and canals around Sahasra’s village, flooding wreaked havoc, destroying homes and halting transportation and communication lines for days. Sahasra’s life as a single mother and sole breadwinner for three sons was difficult enough. Now that her tiny, one-room house had collapsed, she didn’t know what to do.
After hearing from a local pastor about the plight of the flood victims, Gospel for Asia leaders in the region visited the affected villages. As they went from house to house, they found out what needs people had and comforted them, assuring them they would assist them. During this visit they met Sahasra.
“I am a daily labourer,” she told them. “I barely survive with my children. Now I have lost my house, and no one is there to help me.”
The GFA workers promised Sahasra they would help meet her needs.
Not long afterward, they hosted a Christmas gift distribution program for the flood victims, blessing 54 families with much-needed gifts like tin roofing sheets, blankets, bags of rice, goats and bicycles. They didn’t forget their promise to Sahasra: She received a blanket, a bag of rice and some tin roofing sheets.
Given More than a New Home
One month later, the local GFA pastor, Ghalib, followed up with the gift recipients, visiting them to see how they had been able to use their gifts. When he came to Sahasra’s house, he saw that she and her sons had rebuilt their house with the roofing sheets.
Sahasra opened up to Pastor Ghalib about her struggles and expressed interest in learning about Jesus.
“He came to earth and rescued sinners and the needy,” he said. “Because of Jesus’ teaching, the church has been helping society.”
Hungry for the kind of care and help Christ and His children offered, she replied, “I alone work and care for my children. The people of my community refused to help me. Because of my continuous work, I am suffering from joint pain but am unable to seek treatment.”
Pastor Ghalib consoled her with the promises of Scripture, and she asked him to pray for her. After interceding earnestly on her behalf, he invited her to attend church services. As Sahasra started coming to church, God healed her of her pain. She chose to follow Jesus and has been faithfully attending worship services, even though members of her community are trying to stop her.
Sahasra says, “In Jesus I have found an eternal shelter, which cannot be taken away.”
As a single woman of 29, Lakshmi bore a burden few young South Asian women have to shoulder: working as the sole provider for her family. Lakshmi’s family had always been poor, and when her parents grew too old to work, she had to meet the family’s financial needs by washing clothes and dishes for others. She tells her story:
“Many times my brother told me to open a tailoring shop. For the last few years, I had been thinking and planning to buy a sewing machine because I know how to sew, but I could not because of our financial crisis.
“One day, while I was going to work, I happened to meet Pastor Rochan Gavde on the way, and he shared with me about the love of Jesus Christ. For the first time, I heard the Word of God. It was difficult for me to understand the divinity of Jesus Christ, but the pastor gave me some Gospel literature. I carried it with me, thinking that if I had time, I would read it.
“Late that night, I could not sleep. I got up from my bed and started reading the New Testament and other Gospel literature. . . . The Word of God penetrated my heart, and I felt Somebody inside my heart compelling me to give my life for His glory.
“The next morning, I went to the pastor’s house and shared my experience of how God spoke to me through His holy Word, and I asked the pastor to pray for me. I also started attending prayer meetings regularly and became a strong believer. . . . As the days went by, God started blessing me in many areas of my life.
“It was one Sunday afternoon after the worship service, as I was sitting inside the church, that Pastor Rochan told me, ‘The church will give you a sewing machine.’ . . . I was filled with great joy. I ran home, knelt down, cried out and thanked God for His love and care for me. I had not told anyone about my desire to get a sewing machine. It was God who knew and opened the way for me to get it.
“After a month, I received a new sewing machine, and it was a blessed time for me. Tears flowed from my eyes as I thanked God and our pastor for their constant love for me.”
Now, Lakshmi can earn enough by sewing to provide for her family, because a generous sponsor thousands of miles away provided a sewing machine for her. Through a simple gift, God has permanently impacted her life. “I always acknowledge the goodness of Jesus in my life,” she proclaims.
He worked two jobs and was one of the most educated people in the village, but that didn’t keep Haamid and his family from the grip of poverty.
They barely had enough food to eat, and their small home was falling apart.
One year, though, Haamid’s church had a Christmas gift distribution program. And because Haamid had tailoring experience, he received a sewing machine so he could start his own business.
Previously, the nearest tailor had been more than six miles away, but when Haamid opened shop, everyone was excited to take their business to him. Soon, Haamid began earning enough money to quit his other jobs and fully focus on this new opportunity.
With his family’s needs met completely, Haamid shows his gratitude in his tithes and a desire to pass on his skills to others in the church. Words simply can’t express what God has done for his family.
![“[We] are always looking to help the people in their need based on the love of Jesus,” shared the GFA-supported pastor pictured. “Thousands of people [in this region] are being benefited through the Christmas gifts provided according to the need of people. There is only one purpose behind doing a whole lot of community development projects: to develop the citizens of [this nation.] The Lord Jesus has given [us] a great burden for helping people in need.”](https://gfamedia.org/harvest_newsletter/201801-article04-image01.jpg)
![“[We] are always looking to help the people in their need based on the love of Jesus,” shared the GFA-supported pastor pictured. “Thousands of people [in this region] are being benefited through the Christmas gifts provided according to the need of people. There is only one purpose behind doing a whole lot of community development projects: to develop the citizens of [this nation.] The Lord Jesus has given [us] a great burden for helping people in need.”](https://gfamedia.org/convertible/harvest_newsletter/201801-article04-image01-convert-83b851fc842675262262410d4833a535.webp)
