Gospel for Asia ministers in 'land of paradox'

[Soldier4Christ]

Gospel for Asia ministers in 'land of paradox'

A ministry that plants churches throughout India and Asia is also bringing the Gospel to a place many call a land of paradox.

Gospel for Asia (GFA) has ministered for several years in Goa, a tourist spot located on the west coast of India. The tiny state also attracts pedophile tourists and is known for prostitution rings and child trafficking. Despite this fact, GFA missionaries have planted churches and mission stations in villages throughout Goa.

GFA president K.P. Yohannan says missionaries experience much resistance, but are also seeing supernatural results.

"It is one of the hardest mission fields. There is a very, very large, significant number of Catholics and unfortunately, sometimes opposition for the gospel comes from some of those people also as much as from other religious groups," he states.

On its website, GFA shares that because of the historic Portuguese influence in the area, nearly one-third of Goans are Roman Catholic. But because of the pervasive Hindu influence (almost two-thirds), the Catholic faith has to some extent "absorbed" Hindu beliefs and customs. The remaining faith groups in Goa are Muslim (4 percent) and just a few hundred Protestants, says GFA.

Despite those demographics, according to Yohannan there is an opening "like never before" to preach the gospel among the people of Goa. GFA has opened a Bible school aimed at training missionaries to work in Goa and in its neighboring communities. As of now, more than 200 small group GFA fellowships gather weekly throughout the state.

[Ariellamb]

Hi Roger again today,another subject this time.

Do we have a GFA thread on this Site?
This is a mission very close to my heart.

[Soldier4Christ]

I am not aware of any thread that is solely for the purpose of any specific mission such as GFA. Our threads here are meant to be a mission for God as a whole and not to promote just one such mission.

[Gaurav]

I have not heard of this ministry until today but I am incredibly encouraged to read this thread. The entire republic is a land of Paradox - it is a land that desperately needs the truth of the gospel.

I have been to India before, and the gospel preached is often interspersed with previous beliefs; this is why I pray that India recieves the full and true and living word of the gospel.


God Bless
Gaurav