09/03/2008: Cleanliness Leads to Godliness
Cleanliness Leads to Godliness
A GFA team sweeps a bus stop on India's Independence Day in 2007. |
For India's 62nd Independence Day, Gospel for Asia staff and students decided to honor their country by serving their communities. All across the nation, their projects led to much interest in the Gospel.
Ninety GFA workers in the state of Kerala, India, began the day by hoisting the Indian flag in a special ceremony. Then the group went to a local hospital to visit with patients and hand out reading materials.
In West Bengal, a team of 60 Bible college students and 25 staff members spent the holiday on what they called a "cleaning journey" at a local hospital. It was not a small job as the medical facility was spread over a large ground, but the rewards were great.
"As we began cleaning, many people watched us with cheerful eyes," one team member wrote. "They asked who we were, and some of our students took this opportunity to share the Gospel. And the people listened with much interest."
"As we began cleaning, many people watched us with cheerful eyes," one team member wrote.In Rajasthan, GFA staff and students in several areas sought out the best way to show their love for the people. Their contributions included cleaning a bus stop and other common areas, giving blood at a hospital and holding a cultural program.
After a group of students and missionaries spent the day cleaning a bus station, local authorities asked the GFA team to permanently adopt the garden plot of land in front of the station. The authorities were so pleased that they asked the GFA team to put up a sign about who they were. Local media even covered the team's efforts favorably. This was momentous in a state where the legislature passed an anti-conversion bill earlier this year.
That evening, the local GFA Women's Fellowship held a cultural ceremony to honor the holiday. After receiving valuable hygienic help, people in the community were grateful and excited to hear from the women's team.
In Maharashtra, GFA missionaries and local believers spent the day cleaning the area police station. The police officials were extremely thankful for the humble acts of service. Then, to the believers' surprise, the officers even joined in on the cleaning.
Once the police station was cleaned, the GFA group went out to distribute Gospel tracts and share the love of Christ. Because of their sacrificial work in the community, many people were interested to hear about the reason behind their service—Jesus.
"These activities brought so much awareness of the Christians' presence in the community," GFA's correspondent wrote. "This brought much appreciation from our communities."
