God uses cycle rickshaws to bring joy and freedom to hard-working people like Vijay.
Sewing machines can bless women like Rajika, Binal and Nitima, allowing them to provide for their families and bless others too. |
Christmas gifts provide only momentary, fleeting happiness for many people. In fact, the chore of buying them often outweighs any joy that comes from the annual yuletide gift exchange.
But for many people in South Asia, where celebrating Christ’s birth rarely happens, God has used simple Christmas gifts to drastically change lives. Through GFA’s Christmas Gift Catalog, God has blessed hundreds of impoverished people with practical Christmas gifts. Now, thousands more can provide for their families—and rejoice in the Savior who came to earth for them!
A Daughter Becomes a Provider
Rajika’s father died years ago, leaving her, her mother, her two brothers and three sisters in a desperate financial situation. But Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Kripal Nair made sure Rajika received a sewing machine from the Christmas gift program. As a result of that one gift, this young woman started sewing clothes for her family so they didn’t have to pay others to do it for them. She can also sew for others to earn a decent income. A grateful Rajika participates in worship services and prayer meetings at Pastor Kripal’s church.
Provoking Interest in Christ
In another village, Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Danvir Rao was not seeing much fruit from his ministry—until his wife, Binal, received a sewing machine.
The villagers, mostly high-caste people, opposed his preaching of the Good News. Binal spoke to women in the village, inviting them to a ladies’ prayer meeting, but none responded. In a three-year span, only 12 villagers chose to follow Jesus.
But when Binal received a sewing machine through the Christmas gift program, things began to change. She established a tailoring center to teach women how to sew. Three women from the village joined this group, and as a result, Binal had the opportunity to start a prayer meeting with them. Those who were once opposed to the message of God’s love are now eager to hear about it!
Making Ends Meet—Literally
Nitima, like Rajika and Binal, also experienced God’s love and care through a simple sewing machine. She and her husband, a poor farmer, could not provide enough food for their family. Gospel for Asia-supported pastors decided to give her a sewing machine from the Christmas gifts that had been donated. Because of this gift, Nitima was able to start a tailoring center. Seven women began coming to her home to learn how to sew! Because she wants to help women like her—women who struggle just to make ends meet—she charges them a very small fee for the teaching. She would like to see many tailoring centers open, with the seamstresses sewing clothes and sowing seeds of faith.
Cycling for His Children
Vijay, a rickshaw puller, had to spend his precious earnings to rent a rickshaw each day. He did not earn enough money to pay the rental and to care for his family. As a result, they lived below poverty line, and his two children could not receive a good education.
However, a Gospel for Asia-supported congregation gave Vijay a rickshaw as part of their Christmas gift distribution. Now he has his own rickshaw! Because he does not have to pay the daily rent, he can afford to send his children to a better school. Grateful to God, Vijay also tithes to the church every month.
Keeping Warm and Thanking God
Wamil, a widow, also received a very necessary Christmas gift for her family: a set of warm clothes for her and her three small children.
“This winter I was really worried because we did not have enough warm clothes,” she recalls.
About those involved in the Christmas gift distribution, she says, “I am really touched by their good work and noble desire to help the needy. It is really a blessing for poor people like us. I really thank God for this ministry, and my prayer is that this ministry will bear more fruit in the future also.”
When people buy gifts from the GFA Christmas Gift Catalog, the Lord uses their generosity to touch lives like Rajika’s, Nitima’s, Vijay’s and thousands of others. They, in turn, can use their gifts to bless other needy people and praise the Messiah born that very first Christmas.