Dressing the Wounds of Lepers
August 9, 2007
Just like Jiva, GFA missionaries in many Indian states have a heart to reach leper colonies with the love of Jesus Christ.
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It all started with a man whose heart was to reach the lost at any cost. His name is Jiva—a Gospel for Asia missionary. Jiva lives in the Indian state of West Bengal, where he first began to have a burden for those with leprosy. He is described as a man who shares the Gospel with everyone he meets.
During his early days of evangelism, Jiva felt the Lord leading him to reach out to the leprosy patients he met at the hospitals he visited. Eventually he was led to visit the patients and their families in the leper colonies where they were forced to live. He listened to stories from families feeling ostracized by society, neglected and isolated, feeling resentment toward those outside their colonies, and living in confusion about the complacency of the larger society.
Jiva knew the Lord was going to use him to reach these suffering people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, yet the task appeared too immense. Then, by God's grace, Jiva was approached by a missionary named Pallav. This missionary asked Jiva how he might be of service to the lepers of West Bengal. Excitement and joy at the Lord's provision resonated in Jiva's heart-the Lord had answered his prayers!
Those with visible deformities are marked for life. Along with their families, they are subjected to a lifelong discrimination that forces them to remain in leper colonies even after recovery.
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Soon, two more missionaries—one of whom had been miraculously healed from leprosy—approached Jiva with a desire to reach leper colonies with the Gospel. Through the Lord's saving power, 40 lepers have been drawn to Him since then.
Currently Gospel for Asia is planning for Bible college students to receive training on basic treatment and first aid for those infected with leprosy. Pray the Lord will continue to develop this ministry, and that soon GFA missionaries will be able to physically help leprosy patients with medicines and dressings. Continue to pray the Lord will draw these people to Himself.
