November 2024 • Article
What had happened to Shmuel? He had been a healthy boy, but that suddenly changed when, at age 11, he fell seriously ill. Headaches and fevers became constant in his life. It seemed that nothing—no hospital, medical doctor or witch doctor—could heal him. His condition grew even worse following injections from a local hospital. Shmuel grew skinnier and weaker.
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December 2024 • Article
In the hills of Nepal, where the main sources of income are farming and animal husbandry, Gideon owned no land and no animals. The husband and father, a daily wage laborer, worked in others’ paddy fields for the income he and his family needed to survive. It was hard, grueling work—when he could find it. Daily wage labor wasn’t reliable employment. Sometimes, he couldn’t find anyone in need of extra hands. On those days, Gideon had nothing to bring home for his wife and two sons.
Keep ReadingNovember 2024 • Article
Who was this Jesus the pamphlet talked about? Rivka had carefully read the Gospel tract she had received, poring over the pages, but she still had so many questions. There was no church nearby, though. Would Rivka ever be able to learn more about Jesus?
Keep ReadingNovember 2024 • Article
A chill slowly settled and night skies lingered longer over the steep Himalayan foothills where Samzun lived. The changing season meant he and his family had work to do. At winter’s advent, while most of us prepare for the holidays, they would have to focus on survival, on getting through each day. To prepare, they needed to chop firewood, gather hay for their animals and, if they needed any supplies, hike a few hours to the market.
Keep ReadingNovember 2024 • Article
What was Beula to do? She, a widow, had worked as a domestic helper for many years, but now with her health declining, she couldn’t continue with the same number of hours. How could she take care of herself and her only son? As life’s burdens continually increased, would Beula ever find rest?
Keep ReadingNovember 2024 • Article
You’ll start seeing a new name for our Sisters of Compassion: Sisters of the Cross. As their number and reach expands, this change will more immediately identify them as ministers of the Gospel in service of Jesus Christ. Thank you for helping them in their important mission!
Keep ReadingNovember 2024 • Article
Kai and his wife, Eira, had lived well in their village for many years. Kai worked as a farmer, while Eira took care of their home and the five children they had been blessed with, four sons and a daughter. But their life was eventually disrupted by their youngest son’s drinking and the introduction of a new neighbor: Pastor Iwan.
Keep ReadingNovember 2024 • Article
Like many GFA missionaries, Pastor Rahn experiences challenges in his ministry. Although more than 20 people attend weekly worship services at the church he pastors, the town he serves in is very opposed to his work. People in the town hold fast to a traditional religion and typically reject any other teaching.
Keep ReadingOctober 2024 • Article
“I felt grieved that I came to know such Great Love so belatedly,” GFA woman missionary Alina shared. She had spent her entire life practicing her family’s traditional religion, seeking favor and peace through its rituals. But when her father died unexpectedly, the shock threw Alina and her family into depression. There was no peace.
Keep ReadingSeptember 2024 • Article
“Ministry doesn’t exist without people,” shares Mike, GFA staff member of 15 years. Mike is just one of the dedicated people who makes the ministry of GFA World possible. Serving as behind-the-scenes missionaries, Mike and other members of GFA’s Mission Support Team (MST) link partners here and national missionaries on the field so that more people can hear Jesus’s name for the first time.
Keep ReadingJuly 2024 • Article
Radko wandered through his house, looking for anything he could sell. The table, chairs, stove and electric kettle were already gone, sold for a couple of dollars to buy alcohol. Maybe the pictures on the wall were worth something. Supporting a family of six was difficult under the best circumstances, and he was usually too hungover to go to work. Half the time, he couldn’t even remember who he was. And his wife … what was her name? Margret? Maija? Maude? No—Magali. Her name was Magali. Since his nervous breakdown, he had trouble recognizing his wife and kids.
Keep ReadingJune 2024 • Article
This was not the future his parents had imagined for him. The scenery, all too familiar, rolled by as Jonathan rode the bus home from work. If he was honest, this probably wasn’t the future he’d dreamed of for himself, either. The 19-year-old had received medals and awards for athletics, he’d played in the school band, and when the time had come to take his final exams for 12th grade, he had passed with flying colors. He’d done so well, in fact, that he had received the coveted invitation to continue with higher studies.
Keep ReadingMay 2024 • Article
Loneliness. Abandonment. Rejection. These had been frequent milestones on the trail of Pima’s life, even though she was only 29 years old. Now, she had a daughter to raise with little support from her husband. How could Pima help her daughter navigate life when she herself felt alone and abandoned?
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