01/18/2007: Bridge of Hope Center Impacts Entire Family
Bridge of Hope Center Impacts Entire Family
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Many of the children, like Sansita, travel long distances—up to three miles—to have the opportunity to attend school. Pastor Jobi Masih, a Gospel for Asia native missionary, started the school in 2002, before GFA began the Bridge of Hope Program, out of his own personal burden for the Dalit children. When the school began, some students walked up to nine miles each day. Now those who live farthest from the school live in a government-owned dormitory where Pastor Jobi's wife takes care of them.
Five years ago, young and illiterate, Sansita began her first day of school. Along with receiving a traditional education, Sansita learned stories from the Bible. Her interest in the Gospel increased as she attended class, and soon she also regularly attended Sunday school.
Each day after hearing the message of Christ's salvation, Sansita went home and shared these truths with her parents. Seeing the dramatic transformation in his daughter's nature, her father, Devdarsh, went to see Pastor Jobi.
"My child has changed a lot," he told the pastor, "and she is teaching us the truth that she is learning from your school."
Later, Pastor Jobi visited Devdarsh and his family in their home. He shared his testimony and invited them to church, and they attended the next worship service. As they listened to the Word of God, they felt God's peace and love filling their hearts, and Devdarsh and his whole family received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Today they regularly attend Pastor Jobi's church and are preparing for water baptism.
Sansita and her family are but one example of the tens of thousands of children and adults impacted by the GFA Bridge of Hope program that enrolls more than 42,000 boys and girls in school and after-school programs.
