Gospel For Asia (GFA World)

Gospel for Asia (GFA World) (formerly GFA) is a Christian NGO founded by K.P._Yohannan in 1979, which focuses on helping the poor in India and a dozen other Asian countries through the use of national missionaries. The organization, once based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex suburb of Carrollton, Texas is now located in Wills Point, Texas, USA. GFA's primary objective is to support indigenous m...

Gospel for Asia (GFA World) (formerly GFA) is a Christian NGO founded by K.P._Yohannan in 1979, which focuses on helping the poor in India and a dozen other Asian countries through the use of national missionaries. The organization, once based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex suburb of Carrollton, Texas is now located in Wills Point, Texas, USA.

GFA's primary objective is to support indigenous mission missionaries to show God's love and compassion through practical ways to help communities in which they "serve the 'least of these' in Asia".[1]

GFA is presently working in numerous countries, including India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Laos and Thailand.[2] It has also recently launched its first-ever Mission in Africa particularly in Rwanda[3].

In 1981, current president Dr. KP Yohannan formed a branch of Gospel for Asia in his native Kerala, with an Indian headquarters being set up in Tiruvalla in 1983. GFA directly administers bible colleges, whose graduates receive financial support to establish new congregations. Increasing donations made GFA "one of the most financially powerful mission undertakings in India in the 1980s."[4] GFA directly supports more than 50 Bible colleges in various countries.[4][5]

In 1993, GFA began founding its own network of churches in Asia,[6] which is the Believers Eastern Church which uses a Episcopal Polity form of governance.[7]

Scholar Michael Bergunder considers it to have been "One of the most influential new foundations in the second half of the twentieth century".[8]

42-Year Anniversary Timeline[9]

1974 - K.P. Yohannan comes to the United States, where he received his theological training and pastored a church for four years.

1979 - Gospel for Asia officially starts.

1982 - Gospel for Asia publishes its first SEND! magazine (now GFA World Magazine)

1984 - Gospel for Asia Canada Office Opens. Eventually to follow are Australia, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

1986 - GFA-supported radio records its first program. Throughout the years, the programs have been broadcast in 110 languages! Revolution in World Missions, Dr. K.P. Yohannan’s first book, is published, which has now had over 3.9 million copies in print [10].

1988 - Gospel for Asia helps send out 100 mobile film teams.

1994 - GFA begins printing its own literature for distribution.

1998 - GFA slum ministry begins in four cities, and has seen this outreach grow into nearly 900 slums across South Asia since then [11].

2000 – Gospel for Asia begins to install Jesus Wells in communities across South Asia. Since then, over 38,000 wells have been installed across multiple nations in Asia. In 2000, Brother Manja, a GFA-supported worker, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being falsely accused of murder.

2004 - Bridge of Hope, a child sponsorship program, begins. Today, more than 70,000 children are enrolled in centers across Asia. Also in 2004, young people come to Texas for the inaugural year of GFA’s U.S.-based discipleship program Road to Reality (now called School of Discipleship).

2005 - Women’s Fellowships are initiated in churches led by GFA-supported pastors. In 2019, these fellowships taught nearly 60,000 illiterate women to read and write, and they provided vocational training to more than 12,000 women needing jobs.

2006 - First Renewing Your Passion Conference

2007 - Leprosy Ministry Begins; GFA Prints First Christmas Catalog

2009 - Dr. K.P. releases his book No Longer a Slumdog, highlighting the suffering of children in Asia and the hope many are discovering through GFA’s Bridge of Hope Program. Brother Manja is released.

2010 - GFA-supported Compassion Services teams hand out thousands of emergency food packets to victims of natural disasters in Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh.

2011 - GFA helps open widow-care centers for abandoned widows.

2014 - GFA releases a feature-length documentary called “Veil of Tears,” which shares the plight of women in Asia and what God is doing for them through GFA-supported women’s ministry. GFA moves to Wills Point, Texas, USA.

2015 - Gospel for Asia responds to Nepal Earthquake

2017 - GFA-supported workers organize 1,245 medical camps.

2018 - Mission Support Team Launched; GFA responds to a massive flooding in the South Indian state of Kerala. [12] [13]

2020 - American lawsuit settled without any admission of guilt by GFA.

2020 - During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry distributes 120,000 dry ration kits to provide life-saving food, as well as distributed nearly 1 million masks, and overall helps nearly 2 million people with COVID-19 relief.

2021 - Ministry expands into Rwanda, Africa with a child sponsorship option for kids in need, and announces name change to GFA World to reflect that expansion. In this same year, 880 medical camps were conducted in remote and needy villages and communities in South Asia.

2022 - Canada lawsuit - the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, Canada dismissed a motion to certify a class-action lawsuit against Gospel for Asia, Inc. ("GFA USA") and certain current and former directors and officers [14][15]. Also in 2022, GFA World launches a new short-feature radio program entitled GFA Minute with KP Yohannan[16].

Programs

The goal of Gospel for Asia focuses on the formation of missionaries native to the nation the missionary is serving, with special emphasis on Asia. The organization has defined its primary mission field as being those people that live in the 10/40 Window, a rectangular region extending from west Africa to east Asia and between 10 and 40 degrees north longitude. By concentrating on this region GFA ministers to a dense population of largely poor communities that have had limited or no exposure to the Christian faith.[17]

Although Gospel for Asia accepts trainers for Bible translation, the ministry discourages direct missions of Western culture|Western countries. Yohannan considers that the sending of Western missionaries to areas that are inaccessible to foreign missionaries can result in a waste of resources. He also believes that the imposition of western culture and neo-colonialism should be avoided. In order to increase efficiency and achieve its goals, GFA has become a repository for donations and financial support of Asian missionaries by non-Asian cultures. GFA administers these resources to the various programs listed below within its organization.[18][19][20]

National missionaries

GFA's main focus is to train and equip national missionaries. Yohannan has stated that he does not limit "national missionaries" to formal nation-states, instead focusing on differences in culture and language to define nationalities. This approach might result in several specialized missionary groups within a single nation-state, from large cities and regions down to small tribes and villages. It says that they have over 16,000 missionaries and church planters in over 10 Asian nations[21][22][23] In 2020, GFA-supported workers serve in 1,200 slums throughout Asia. [24]

Church buildings, bibles and gospel literature

Gospel for Asia raises funds for the building of simple Christian worship centers in small villages to educate new disciples as well as provide a visible meeting place for Christians. However, they have built several large cathedral type buildings in major cities. Examples are St. Thomas Believers Church Cathedral in Thiruvalla[25] and another in upscale neighborhood Hauz Khas[26]. They claim approximately 16 churches or mission stations are created every day. Similarly, GFA states they distribute native-language bibles and evangelical Christian literature to the region in order to strengthen churches and promote proclamation of the Christian faith.[23]

Radio and television broadcasts 

Radio in Asia is a broadcast that is especially designed to reach Asian communities. Yohannan brags that Athmeeya Yathra (Spiritual Journey) radio programs "reach more than a billion people and are translated into 110 languages. He claims that his Road to Reality is aired on more than 900 radio stations across North America, Europe and Australia.[27] Athmeeya Yathra was recently expanded to include a television station and print media.[28]

Bible colleges

Gospel for Asia has over 56 bible colleges serving a whole range of cultures and dialects with the purpose of training native missionaries within their own dialects and cultures so that they will be effective ministers. [29] The program includes three years of instruction, including field instruction and experience. They claim that over 9000 native missionaries have been trained through these institutions.

Bridge of Hope (GFA World's Child Sponsorship Program) 

Bridge of Hope is a child sponsorship program for impoverished children and their families and communities in underserved communities, especially lower-caste families in Asia. The ministry was renamed in 2021 after decades in service to over 70,000 children. Child sponsorship through GFA World provides nutritious daily meals, access to medical care, school supplies and ongoing education in a loving, Christian environment. Religious conversion is not required for participation; rather, the service provides practical help and hope to the child, their family and community.[30][31] In their 2021 year in review, GFA reported they have helped 142,000 children since Bridge of Hope began in 2004. [32]

Jesus Wells and BioSand Filters and Sanitation

GFA digs wells in communities where water is scarce during parts or most of the year. These wells are built for long-term use near churches, bible colleges or Bridge of Hope centers, and each well is maintained by a local pastor. These wells provide free, clean water to individuals regardless of caste, class, social designation or religion.[33][34] In its 2019 Special Report, GFA reports 4,856 Jesus Wells drilled in communities needing clean water. [35] Since starting this outreach, more than 38 million people have received safe, pure drinking water through GFA World's clean water initiatives. More clean water FAQs from GFA can be found on GospelForAsia.org and GospelForAsia.com.

In addition, GFA is active in producing and distributing BioSand Water Filters which purify 98% of any dirty or polluted water that is poured into them. These are beneficial to families who only have access to dirty or contaminated water sources, and can then cleanse their supply into pure, clean drinking water. To date, 39 million people have received safe, pure drinking water through GFA World’s clean water initiatives according to their latest annual report.

As of 2021, GFA World has taught 60,400 families the importance of proper sanitation including the distribution of 150,000 hygiene kits.

Campus Events

Set Apart Retreat

GFA World conducts an annual 5-day Set Apart Retreat at the Willis Point Campus in Texas. This retreat is for young people ages 18 through 30. Throughout the retreat, the participants engage with the Lord through corporate or individual times of prayer, morning chapel worship service, inspiring messages from Christian leaders, workshops on spiritual practices and mission passion, times of solitude and reflection, small groups discussions, special evenings of worship, community meals and fellowships. Francis Chan and George Verwer were speakers at this retreat in 2022.

Ministry Apprenticeship

The Ministry Apprenticeship is a 6-month program open to anyone interested in a real experience of what it is like to be with behind-the-scenes missionaries who are focused on bringing Good News to unreached peoples in the 10/40 window. Participants will join the staff at GFA World in worship, prayer, work and life together.

Renew Your Passion Conference

Renew Your Passion is a weekend gathering of people who seek Christ and His heart for the lost. It is open to missionaries, church workers, mission advocates, mission-field leaders and like-minded believers. This event is often held in September each year.

Compassion Ministries

Medical Ministry

Medical camps, a major aspect of GFA's supported medical ministry, bring skilled doctors, medical staff, medication and health training to areas where people rarely have the chance to see a doctor. These camps may be organized in Bridge of Hope centers, remote villages, crowded slums—any place there is need and opportunity. One camp typically serves anywhere from 200 to 1,000 children and adults. Local medical personnel are invited to serve at the camp, providing free pediatric and general health care, and eye checkups. [36] GFA also gives critical healthcare training, literacy, and job-skills classes to women. In 2019, GFA and its partners worldwide provided 315,332 free healthcare training to women in 16 Asian nations, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. [37] During the pandemic of 2020, 400,000 women received health-care training.

GFA also gives critical healthcare training, literacy, and job-skills classes to women. In 2019, 1,267 medical camps were conducted in remote or needy communities.[37] During the 2020 pandemic, no less than 750 medical camps were conducted in remote and needy villages and communities.

Leprosy Ministry

Also called "Reaching Friends Ministry", the Leprosy Ministry[38][39] started as a small effort in 2007 to help a few people suffering with the disease. GFA-supported workers care for the patients through social and relief work, medical aid, health- and hygiene-awareness programs, and adult education and tutoring centers for children.[40]

Slum Ministry

GFA began supporting ministry in the slums in 1999. GFA-supported pastors and Sisters of Compassion who serve in slums provide prayer, healthcare, education, warm clothing, vocational training, adult literacy, water filters, toilets, income generating gifts and hope. [41] In 2019, GFA and its partners worldwide reached out to 872 slums in 16 Asian nations, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. This included the installation of 5,428 toilets, 380,000 mosquito nets distributed and 300,000 blankets given to the poor.[42]

Sewing Machine Distribution

A sewing machine can enable parents to meet the needs of their family and send their children to school, solidifying their chances for a better future and giving them an opportunity to escape poverty. Given in the name of Christ, these machines also allow families to experience His love in a very practical way. GFA World is currently raising funds for 500 sewing machines.

Community Development

Gospel for Asia is already serving in many of these poor areas, identifying specific needs in these communities and blessing families with items that help them fight the burden of poverty. This often takes the form of essential requirements, like the need for a community for safe, clean drinking water. Investing in helping these families and their neighborhoods often make community growth and development possible.[43]

Expansion to Africa

GFA's work in Africa begins with GFA World Child Sponsorship in the slums of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. This expansion will also include training national missionaries, clean water projects, medical ministry, education for the underprivileged, women’s empowerment, and community development projects. GFA plans to expand ministry to six other nations in Africa during the next few years.[44][45] [46]

Disaster Relief

Covid-19 Response

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, GFA World and its field partners entered an all-out crisis response mode to help the beggars, the daily laborers, people living on the street, and anyone else in need and at risk of starvation [47][48][49]. Around 200 Bridge of Hope child sponsorship centers became community kitchens, cooking meals for their communities. Sisters of Compassion raise awareness of the virus and its prevention and GFA workers distribute nearly 120,000 dry ration food packets, nearly 1 million masks and 125,000 hygiene kits to different villages, migrant workers, the elderly and the vulnerable. To keep pastors encouraged, GFA uses text messaging to send morning devotionals written by K.P. Yohannan which are translated into many languages. [50][51]

Nepal Earthquake

Gospel for Asia-supported field partners joined forces with the Nepal government to provide disaster relief in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015. The organization helped by providing food, water and medical supplies. Following the initial relief efforts, GFA’s founder K.P. Yohannan met with the Prime Minister of Nepal.[52]

Asian Water Crisis

One of their longest ongoing efforts to date, an effort to combat the global water crisis[53], Gospel for Asia’s Jesus Wells provide clean drinking water to Asian villages. By 2018, the organization helped construct almost 7,000 wells and BioSand water filters. The wells are typically maintained by Gospel for Asia-supported pastors or their church members, preventing the wells from breaking down and ensuring they last for up to 2 decades.[54][55][56] In 2019, 4,856 Jesus Wells were drilled in communities needing clean water and 12,243 BioSand water filters were given to families or individuals. [57]

Illiteracy and Poverty Alleviation

GFA’s Bridge of Hope after-school program assists underprivileged villages through ongoing literacy and education for their boys and girls. This education helps children and their families to overcome generational poverty and avoid the worlds of bonded labor and sex-slave trade.[58][59] As of now, there are more than 600 of these centers in existence.[60] Students at the centers receive daily education and a nutritious meal, school supplies and uniforms as well as free medical care.[61][62] GFA is using these centers as a way to alleviate the root causes of impoverishment and gender discrimination in Asian countries as well as inhumane child labor practices.[63][64]

According to reports, in 2018 GFA assisted “more than 70,000 children, free medical services in over 1,200 villages and remote communities, 4,000 wells drilled, 11,000 water filters installed, Christmas gifts for more than 200,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.”[65]

GFA World also conducts adult literacy training across Asia, and taught 25,000 women how to read and write in 2020. GFA's FAQ Pages on poverty alleviation give more details. [66][67]

Flooding Response

In 2018, flooding in Kerala left over 200,000 Indian people without homes. GFA’s primary field partner saw their Kerala headquarters suffer from severe flooding. Many Bridge of Hope centers also suffered damage. But GFA’s field-partner volunteers delivered medical supplies, clothes, food and fresh water to flooding victims throughout the area.[68] The estimated recovery time from these floods is five years and GFA-supported field partners plan to assist for as long as necessary. In 2021, GFA also responded when a deadly flash flood from a glacier in India’s Himalayan Mountains hit Uttarakhand region bordering Nepal. The flood has left at least 30 people dead and 165 others were reported missing.[69]

Sri Lanka Easter Bombing

GFA also contributed to relief efforts after the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka in April 2019. They provided victims with food and other emergency supplies. One of GFA’s supported social workers lost five family members in the bombings. In addition, two bombs were found near GFA-supported offices.[70][71]

Special Reports

Gospel for Asia has published over 35 intensive Special Reports on a wide range of topics surrounding issues that affect the poor and underprivileged. They include some of the following: Hardships of Widows [72]| Open Defecation [73]| Malaria [74]|Global Water Stress [75]|Hardships for Leprosy Patients [76]| Modern Day Slavery [77]| Fighting Poverty [78]| Tragedies of Girlhood [79]| Literacy [80]| Child Labor [81]. In addition, it has an extensive library on Poverty FAQs and Clean Water FAQs.[82][83]

See GFA's 2020 Annual Full Reports with stories from the field as a PDF [84] [85].

Affiliate Offices

GFA has 8 affiliated international entities in which they operate, including Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Finland and the Republic of Korea [89].

GFA Canada

The GFA Canada office in Ontario was established in 1986. It is registered with the Canadian government. As a charity office, GFA World Canada supports a range of projects across Asia and Africa, from providing medical camps in remote villages to disaster relief to access to safe drinking water and through GFA World’s child sponsorship program.

A Canadian class-action lawsuit, which accused the ministry of defrauding or making negligent misstatements to donors, was denied certification in May, 2022. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice found that those who accused GFA World Canada of wrongdoing failed to provide “admissible evidence beyond speculation, conjecture, and allegations of wrongdoing. [90]

Field Partners

Believers Eastern Church

Believers Eastern Church is administratively based in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. It was reorganized in 2015 into 33 dioceses. Its membership includes over 3.5 million people in 10 countries speaking a hundred languages. The Church currently has 30 Bishops, and the current Metropolitan Bishop is Athanasius Yohan I.

Is Gospel for Asia trustworthy?

While Gospel for Asia has received much positive recognition for its philanthropic efforts and contributions to the impoverished all across Asia and Africa, it has also faced some controversies and criticism in the past. In 2015, GFA faced a lawsuit in the United States from former donors who accused the organization of misusing funds. The lawsuit alleged that GFA used money intended for charitable purposes to bolster various for-profit enterprises. After years in litigation, in 2019, GFA settled the lawsuit for $37 million without admitting any wrongdoing. In the final settlement, the plaintiffs agreed that ""all donations designated for use in the field were ultimately sent to the field." After settling the lawsuit in the litigious USA, an identical lawsuit was filed against GFA in Canada by related parties but was promptly rejected and dismissed by the Canadian legal system as being without any basis or merit.

It's important to note that the outcome of the USA lawsuit does not reflect poorly on the organization's current practices or trustworthiness. GFA claims to be firmly committed to good stewardship of the funds entrusted by friends and donors and continues to support a range of projects across Asia and Africa, from training of national missionaries, to hosting medical camps in remote villages, to providing access to safe drinking water, and education of families through GFAs child sponsorship programs.