Beggar Finds Jesus Just in Time

For a beggar, who often endures scorn and ridicule, a kind gesture means so much—especially when motivated by the love of Jesus.

Menaka learned about the love of Jesus on her last day on this earth.

The kindness shown to Menaka that day was a bright spot in her otherwise grueling existence. In a cruel act, her own son had chased her out of her home, taking her property and land by force. Having no place to turn, Menaka found shelter and a place to sleep under some trees. The need to fill her empty stomach forced her to resort to begging—but people in her village showed little interest in helping her. Some of them had very little themselves.

But Menaka received a welcome gift of kindness when pastors and believers from a number of Gospel for Asia-affiliated congregations in Andhra Pradesh, India, conducted a special day of outreach to hundreds of beggars. The food they distributed was cooked and packaged with love—and given with a heart to share the Good News of Jesus with the downtrodden.

Menaka arrived at the church at 10 a.m. She was delighted to smell the warm food and sense the love of those preparing it. Baskar, the GFA missionary who is pastor of the church, was glad to see Menaka. He told her to rest there until the food was ready. After giving Menaka something to eat, Baskar sensed the Lord clearly telling him to share the Gospel with this poverty-stricken woman.

Menaka listened intently. When Baskar had finished sharing, she expressed her desire to know Jesus. That very moment, Menaka prayed to receive Jesus as her Savior.

Meanwhile, Baskar and his church believers went through the village giving out food packets to the needy. In the evening, as Baskar was traveling, he saw a group of people clustered together. Going over to see what had happened, he discovered that someone had just been hit by an automobile. To his surprise, he saw that it was Menaka. Menaka was rushed to the hospital in the same vehicle that had hit her—but it was too late. She died that same night.

Baskar praises God for the opportunity to touch Menaka with the Gospel before she died—and that she embraced the Savior’s love while she had the chance.

By God’s grace and caring support from friends, this is what GFA Compassion Services is all about—reaching men, women and children with provisions for this life and with the Good News for the life to come.

Hundreds of beggars were blessed that day with much-needed physical provisions and the message of Christ’s hope as missionaries with GFA Compassion Services reached out in His name. Read another beggar’s story.

Read more about the work of GFA Compassion Services.

Give to GFA Compassion Services and provide people with physical provisions and the hope of the Gospel.