Rejoice!

Pastor Braiden and his wife, Phebe, have been serving the Lord for more than 10 years in the same place. Ministry was difficult at first, but God was faithful. Within a short amount of time, two families joined the pastor and his wife for worship services. After a few more years, the congregation grew to 48 believers.

The blossoming church worshipped in the home of a believer. As they sang from their hearts toward heaven, neighbours—disturbed by the noise they were making—interrupted to chide and scold Pastor Braiden. Discouraged by the angry interlopers, he longed for a place where they could worship in peace.

Many Had Tried Before and Failed

Pastor Braiden and Phebe often prayed with their burgeoning congregation for a building where they could gather to worship the Lord. There was not a single worship place in their village. Many others had tried to build one in the past, but none had succeeded. Often, construction for worship buildings may be blocked by local officials who refuse to grant the necessary permits. Other times, unreasonable requests from community members stalled land purchases and construction. For whatever the reasons, a church building had never materialized in this village. It was a prayer of faith for Pastor Braiden and Phebe, and they believed God could do such a thing.

Pastor Braiden and his growing congregation celebrated the opening of their brand new church building—the very first in their village!

A church building represented so many possibilities for the believers. It would allow them to worship in peace and be a blessing to their neighbours. It would give them room to grow. It would provide them a space to do ministry such as literacy classes, youth gatherings and VBS. But more important, a place of worship would declare this is a God who stays; He is permanent; He is faithful; He provides.

The Lord Makes a Way

Then, one day, things began to move forward. One of the believers donated land on which to construct a church building. Now there were permits to acquire, materials to purchase and a construction crew to hire. As the group of believers prayed and trusted God, each piece fell into place. The construction started and then finished. Pastor Braiden and Phebe stood in awe of the Lord who made a way where there had only been obstacles before. A great celebration took place at the dedication of the new church building. Many distinguished guests attended the ceremony. After the dedication, the congregation and guests enjoyed a feast, their joy evident on their beaming faces.

The believers in Pastor Braiden’s church are now free to worship as loudly as they please, with plenty of space.

“We have faced many problems and difficulties without a church building of our own,” shares a member of the congregation. “We, as believers, used to pray, and God answered our prayers. I thank God for providing us this beautiful church building.”

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.

Aahlaad enjoys playing cricket, but it no longer trumps going to school. Until a few years ago, however, it seemed Aahlaad wouldn’t even make it through school. Like many children in his community, Aahlaad didn’t value his education—and he was on a path that could have ended in poverty, criminal activity or worse.

Cricket and other games once seemed to be Aahlaad’s only interests in life. Now, through Bridge of Hope, he is motivated to learn and pursue a brighter future!

Apathy Follows Hardship

The green fields and trees backdropping Aahlaad’s community contrast the dearth of financial opportunity. For most families, the struggle to earn a living means both husband and wife work as daily wage labourers. Many husbands in the community drink heavily and fight with their wives. Illiterate themselves, these parents don’t instill in their children a desire to learn and excel in education.

Because of the lack of parental guidance, children often roam about town with their friends instead of going to school. Their childhoods are exposed to fighting, tobacco, alcohol and theft. Sometimes, to earn money, children end up working in factories, hotels or shops.

Boy Skips School, Fails Fifth Grade

Aahlaad was one of these wandering children. Burdened by their own struggles, Aahlaad’s parents didn’t notice how their son was spending his days. Aahlaad’s mother tirelessly cared for her family, preparing food, cleaning dishes and washing clothes, while Aahlaad’s father worked as a taxi driver. Many days, Aahlaad’s father would come home drunk after a long day’s work and fight with his wife, sometimes beating her.

This traumatic home atmosphere juxtaposed the carefree way in which Aahlaad spent his days. He would lie to his parents, saying he was going to school when he was actually going to play cricket, soccer or other games with his friends. Sometimes they played all day, and Aahlaad came home pretending he’d been at school.

Aahlaad not only played hooky but also took advantage of his parents by stealing from his mother’s purse to buy sweets and treats.

“I used to be very naughty,” he admits.

Not surprisingly, Aahlaad’s negligence brought consequences: He failed the fifth grade.

Care Motivates Character Change

When a group of GFA-supported Sisters of Compassion moved to the area, they noticed the lack of good education and parental guidance surrounding them. They asked for a Bridge of Hope centre to be established in the area, and before long, Aahlaad and his older sister were enrolled.

More than 100 children attended the Bridge of Hope centre along with Aahlaad and his sister. Six days a week, the kids benefited from in-depth teaching and a nutritious meal, things they wouldn’t have otherwise received. Aahlaad especially appreciated the extra help in math and science. In addition, the children received needed items, such as school uniforms, book bags, toothpaste, hair oil, plates and blankets.

“When I get things like this, it encourages me,” Aahlaad says, “because my parents are not able to buy all these supplies ... so when I get these things from Bridge of Hope, from our teacher and our staff, I feel so encouraged and so happy.”

The care and respect Aahlaad experienced in the Bridge of Hope centre has made a profound impact on his life. He has learned important life values, received practical gifts for his well-being, benefited from crucial tutoring for difficult school subjects—and much more!

Gradually, the Lord began to work in Aahlaad’s heart. During the assembly time each morning at the centre, Bridge of Hope staff shared about moral values and good hygiene. Aahlaad heard why it was important to keep clean and to not steal, lie or quarrel with other people. But more than just receiving knowledge from the staff members, Aahlaad was impacted by their care and concern.

“I love coming to the project centre because here we get a lot of good teaching,” he says. “All our sirs and teachers here in the project centre are very loving. They love us, care for us and they respect us.”

As Aahlaad learned from the staff and experienced Christ’s love in them, his behaviour changed. Now he takes his education seriously. He doesn’t skip school anymore or steal from his parents, and he spends time studying. He still plays outside but stops when it’s time to go to Bridge of Hope. In contrast, some of Aahlaad’s former playmates still roam the streets. When they call out to him to play with them, he tells them he has to go to school.

Although Aahlaad no longer prioritizes play over school, he finds plenty of fun at Bridge of Hope. Aahlaad enjoys the knowledge quizzes and singing and dancing competitions held at Bridge of Hope. He also looks forward to the annual field trip Bridge of Hope organizes, during which the students have a picnic and visit an educational site.

Helping Children Dream Big

Aahlaad knows his parents would not have been able to afford the opportunities he’s receiving at Bridge of Hope, and he’s grateful for those who are investing in his life.

“If I had not come to the project centre, I would not have been able to study seriously because of lack of finances,” Aahlaad remarks.

Aahlaad’s childhood mischief could have led him down a deeper, darker spiral of troublemaking or even into child labour. Because of Bridge of Hope staff members who’ve shown God’s love through their compassion and teaching skills, Aahlaad now values his education, holding the high aspiration of becoming an engineer. This once-truant boy’s future gleams bright with promise.

Thank you for helping children like Aahlaad to receive an education that will help them understand their value and purpose in life! Through you, many children are now able to dream big.

Through reading her Bible, Jenya gained a steadfast faith that Jesus could heal her crippled father—and her faith became sight.

Jenya watched as her mother rushed out of their hut to deliver the breakfast foods she had made that morning. She knew her mother, Parivita, would have another busy day of cooking and selling food to small shops. Parivita was the sole breadwinner because her husband, Himank, was too sick to get out of bed.

Life had not always been like that. Everything had started to go downhill when Himank suffered spinal damage after years of hard labour. The doctors said he would never recover. Jenya watched in sorrow as her hardworking father grew old quickly, and his heavy load was placed on her mother’s shoulders.

A Life-changing Visit

One day, Jenya and her brothers visited their aunt Sajili. Sajili, a believer, attended a GFA-supported church nearby. Whenever they visited her, they would attend church together. Jenya, though not brought up in a Christian home, told GFA-supported pastor Diyan about her father’s condition and their family’s poverty. The pastor prayed for them and went with Jenya and her siblings to their home to encourage Himank and Parivita in the Lord.

Jenya believed Jesus was big enough to solve her family’s problems. When she accepted the love God had offered her freely, Jenya’s heart filled with faith and joy. After that moment, Jenya began to read God’s Word and taste and see that He was good in her life.

Faith continued to grow in her heart as she turned through the pages of her Bible. God blessed her in many ways; she even started to improve in her grades at school.

Jenya believed the God of the Bible was the One who answers prayers, so she prayed earnestly for her father to become well again.

Faith Becoming Sight

One day Jenya’s deepest prayers were answered as she found her father sitting up in bed.

“My Jesus answered my prayer,” Jenya exclaimed.

This miracle deepened the faith of her brothers, and they also have experienced the love of Christ. Soon after that miracle, her father began walking to church every now and then.

Jenya’s faith deepened over time as she continued to seek the Lord and read His Word. Abundant hope fuels her prayers for her family members to know Jesus as she does.

Thank you for giving powerful gifts, like Bibles, that nurture opportunities for faith to grow!

Arman attended Christian worship services, but did not yet trust the Lord. When he watched a film on the life of Jesus, he understood Christ’s sacrifice and chose to embrace Him.

Sushil’s heart ached as he looked upon his grandmother for the last time. Her time to embrace Jesus had passed. He mourned for her, who had not only rejected Jesus’ love but also slandered him for his faith.

Sushil was the only believer in his family. When he began following Jesus in college, his parents were not concerned. But his grandmother was deeply offended. She constantly pressured her son, Sushil’s father, to turn her grandson away from this new God.

Then, just like that, she passed away. Sushil felt the urgency of sharing Jesus’ love with his family; he didn’t want what happened to his grandmother to happen to them.

Sushil encouraged them through God’s Word, and soon his father, Arman, began attending worship services with him.

Burden Grows to Include Village

As Sushil prayed for his family, the Lord enlarged the burden of his heart to include his village. But how could so many people hear about Jesus all at once? Sushil was only one person.

Sushil continued to faithfully pray for his family and his village, asking God to open a way for them to know the hope that brought him so much peace. Then Sushil had the idea to ask if the church could arrange a film show in his village. Excitement filled his heart at the prospect of everyone hearing the amazing story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

God answered Sushil’s prayers when a GFA-supported film team came to his village.

Together in Eternity

On the day of the film show, many people from the village gathered to watch, including Arman. After the film, Arman was deeply convicted in his heart.

“I have lived my life refusing to believe in the Word of God, but now I have seen with my eyes the agony and suffering of Christ for a sinful person like me,” he confessed. “I do believe in the Word of God.”

The Lord answered Sushil’s prayers that day: His village heard of Jesus’ love and his father embraced Christ. Now, Sushil had the joy of knowing that in life he may say goodbye to his father, but it will not be goodbye forever. They will meet again in eternity, basking in the love of Jesus, side by side, never to be parted again.

My future is not my concern; it is His. That’s a message you get very clear from the Apostle Paul when he talks about the beatings and persecution he endured for the sake of Christ.

“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me ...” (Acts 20:22–24a).

If you, like Paul, can honestly come to the place and say, “My future, my children’s future, my health, where I end up, whatever happens to me, it is not my concern; it is His,” then I think that will give us plenty of courage to walk with the Lord. Once we start making our futures our concern, then our minds will start making plans that may not line up with His.

Paul surrendered his life to Christ, and he did not deny the fact that he was going to get persecuted. He basically said, “I know this to be true.” But he was not focused on that; instead, he shared, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29).

Sushil, whom you read about on page 7, understood this. He was the object of derision to his grandmother because of his faith in Christ. But he did not give up his love for the Lord. Instead, he felt a greater urge for his family to know the love he knew.

So when you and I are in the battle, when the headaches don’t leave, the backache doesn’t go away, the eye trouble doesn’t vanish, and it seems that you didn’t used to have half of the troubles you have now until you started serving the Lord, say, “My focus is not on the stuff that I am dealing with, for I know my future is His concern.”