I first heard about Gospel Outreach during a special feature at our church in Burlington, Wash. I was impressed with the concept of teaching locals to minister in their communities, in their own culture and in their language. There are a lot of places vying for our money, but I believe the Bible tells us God wants us to be wise with the money He gives us and use it to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of others. We are at the end of Earth’s history. It can’t be long … [Read more...]
Live in Christ or die in the world
Meet Larry Policano, whose story brings to mind Rip Van Winkle, the fictional character in the Washington Irving story who fell asleep one day and didn’t wake up for 20 years. “I was spiritually asleep for 40 years,” he says. “I was in sales. I worked strictly on commission. If I didn’t sell, I didn’t get paid. The more I made, the more I wanted. I was never satisfied. I kept everything I made and gave God very little. I had what the world had to offer, but something was … [Read more...]
General Conference president highlights importance of 10/40 Window
Ted Wilson, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists president, recently commented on the mission of Gospel Outreach in the 10/40 Window. “Matthew 24:14 explicitly states that the gospel will be preached in all the world before Jesus returns,” he explains. However, an estimated 2.84 billion people living in the world today haven’t had a chance to hear the story of Jesus, and 97 percent of these live in the 10/40 Window, Wilson says. The Great Commission given to us by Jesus is to … [Read more...]
Learning to trust again
KADUKAKADU VILLAGE, India—Amutha had been completely abandoned by her husband. She struggled to take care of her two daughters and had become discouraged. A Gospel Outreach worker comforted her with God’s loving promises and the good news of Jesus, His sacrifice and the cross of Calvary. He read stories from the Bible, praying earnestly for divine intervention for Amutha. Slowly Amutha began trusting God and learning Bible promises. She has been baptized and attends church regularly. … [Read more...]
A ministry of comfort
ELAIKADI VIDHUTHI, India—Gospel Outreach worker Francis met a retired man named Subbaiah, who had cancer. Francis visited Subbaiah every day in the hospital, praying for his recovery and comforting his worried family. Two members of Subbaiah’s family have accepted Jesus Christ and have been baptized. Two others will be baptized soon. … [Read more...]
God’s healing power
GANTHARVAKOTTAI, India—Itchy, pimple-like sores from a skin allergy covered Armutha’s body. A Gospel Outreach worker gave the 21-year-old college student some books and an issue of Nalwazhi, a monthly magazine. As Armutha read, she asked the worker to pray for God’s healing power. In two weeks God healed her and helped her to learn about Jesus. Now she is baptized and attends church. … [Read more...]
Earnest prayers answered
SATYAMANGALAM, India—Gospel Outreach worker Sasikumar visited Rebecca, who was interested in the Sabbath truth. Rebecca had agreed to give some land near her house to another pastor so he could build a small Sunday church. The construction materials had been delivered, but then Rebecca accepted the Sabbath truth. She and the other local believers prayed earnestly to God to relieve them of the earlier agreement. The other pastor suddenly came and moved the materials to another village. Since … [Read more...]
The Aroma of Christ
What do more than 2,000 Gospel Outreach-sponsored workers and our 17 regional directors have in common? As I volunteer to support their efforts, one thing has been impressed upon my mind: They live their faith in “real time.” I am struck as I read their testimonies that they go to their labor with no earthly idea what will happen. Sometimes they come to a home that is under a curse. Often they encounter severe depression, addiction, financial devastation, hunger, hostility, illness and … [Read more...]
The blind missionary
Beautiful little Suvarthamma was only 7 when smallpox broke out in her village. Though she survived, the disease left her blind. Suddenly, this active, eager student was in constant darkness. She could only tell night from day by the sounds she heard, and she had to feel her way with a stick. When Suvarthamma was about 20, she developed a hemorrhage that wouldn’t stop. She prayed to her gods, but they didn’t help. She went to see doctors, but her condition worsened. Finally she met a … [Read more...]
Cleanliness and godliness
ORISSA, India—Soudagar Chouhan, a Gospel Outreach volunteer, has been sent into an area of the Indian state of Orissa. Here, in a dozen tribal villages near the Mahanadi River, people don’t wash their hands—that would make them “holy,” so they must wash themselves and their clothing only in very dirty water. These villagers take pleasure in rolling in the dust. Toilets are considered unnatural, and children leave little piles right on the roads. Not surprisingly, these people rarely … [Read more...]