A Gospel for Asia Bible college was severely damaged Saturday morning by a major earthquake that rocked the region of far northwestern India and northern Pakistan, killing thousands.

The 32 students who attend were warned not to return to the building since more aftershocks and tremors are expected. One wall in the Bible college, which is located in the Jammu region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, was cracked, and the building was deemed unsafe.

Other buildings in this same area collapsed from the force of the quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, and at least 400 houses were destroyed.

The most seriously affected area in India, Kashmir, is about a day’s journey from the Jammu Bible college. As of noon (Central Time) Saturday, India reported 230 people dead and 850 injured. All outgoing calls from India-administered Kashmir were down, which has cut off remote interior villages from the rest of the country.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India with a Muslim majority (64 percent). The state includes two distinct regions: Kashmir in the north, with a strong Islamic presence dating to the 14th century; and Jammu in the south, where the Hindu minority is clustered. Kashmir became part of India at partition in 1947, but Pakistan quickly invaded and today controls the northern part of the territory.

So far, no relief organizations have been allowed to enter India-administered Kashmir, which is controlled by the military.

“As soon as there is an opening into these hardest-hit areas, we will be ready to send a couple hundred people to do relief work, ” said Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan. “In the meantime, we will do what we can in Jammu. ”

Dr. Yohannan was in North India at the time of the quake, and was able to reach Bible college leaders in Jammu to determine the extent of the damage to the region.

“Gospel for Asia has missionaries scattered throughout this area,” he explained. “As far as we can tell, all of them are safe, for which we praise God.”

In addition to GFA’s missionary presence and Bible college in the state, the Gospel is also being proclaimed across both Indian and Pakistani territories through radio broadcasts in Urdu and Kashmiri.

“This is a great opportunity for the Body of Christ to demonstrate His love to the suffering and needy, ” said K.P. Yohannan, “and that’s what we are choosing to do.”

Please Pray:

  • Pray for the continued safety of Gospel for Asia missionaries and Bible college students in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Pray for the Lord to provide a structurally sound building where the Jammu Bible college can relocate.
  • Pray for relief to quickly come to the Kashmir region, where it is so desperately needed.
  • Pray for an increasing openness to the Gospel in this area.
  • Pray that those who are now suffering so tragically will find hope and comfort in the message of Jesus’ love.

Click here to read more about the state of Jammu and Kashmir.