Gospel for Asia

Surya Bandi knew exactly where to find the most unloved people in his community. They all lived in the same place—a small slum area outside the main city. Their homes are shacks cobbled together from whatever bits and pieces of wood, paper and plastic they can find. Their clothes are ragged, and most don't have shoes to wear. They can't work, and all they have to survive on is whatever some sympathetic person brings them.

They live in a place where very few are willing to show them simple acts of love. Such is the life of leprosy patients of South Asia.

Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Surya Bandi recently led a women's fellowship team into two leprosy colonies near his church. The pastor and the believers wanted to get to know the people and hear about their needs.

What they learned was staggering and hard to comprehend. There are about 42 families—roughly 2,500 people—who live in the two settlements.

When the white patches began appearing on Jonjin Dola's skin, he didn't worry too much. He thought it was just a rash that would heal up. Jonjin continued about his daily life unaware that he had leprosy.

For most of the Western world, leprosy is a disease that no one really thinks about anymore. The disease, which attacks the skin and peripheral nerves, is rarely seen in the West. When a case does crop up, it is treated with a simple, inexpensive drug therapy, which clears everything up in a matter of months.

In South Asia, however, leprosy is much more common. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 100,000 cases of leprosy are reported in South Asia each year. There are more than 1,000 colonies set aside for leprosy patients. When someone, like Jonjin, is diagnosed with the disease, the social stigma is nearly as bad as the physical suffering. Leprosy patients are shunned by society; many are kicked out of their homes and live the rest of their lives in one of these colonies—even if the disease is cured. Despite the best efforts of groups like WHO, not all those who contract leprosy receive treatment in time to avoid devastating disfigurement.

What started as a prank in preparation for a local religious festival in Assam, India, turned violent this month, resulting in the destruction of property at a Gospel for Asia-supported Bible College and a death threat against one of its faculty members.

In preparation for the harvest festival, young people in this northeastern Indian state have a tradition of holding all-night bonfires, punctuated with singing and dancing—along with stealing chickens, vegetables and firewood from the local villages.

They also go door-to-door collecting money for the festival.

Taking a Stand
Because the festival celebrates a traditional god worshiped in that village, the Bible college leaders politely declined to donate any money when the young people came to the school.

With escalating anger, the young locals began demanding money then turned to violence when none was forthcoming.

In one South Asian state, Christians in two different villages have been harassed and intimidated by anti-Christian extremists who are using their religious festivals as opportunities to humiliate the believers.

Local Goddess Worshipers
Problems started for Pastor Jakson Kinar when people in his village erected a statue of a local goddess directly in front of the place where his little congregation meets.

"The followers of the goddess would start worshiping and singing loudly in front of the idol to disturb our services," the Gospel for Asia-supported missionary explained.

Yatharth's family was very worried about her. The once healthy and vibrant girl was now out of control. Her erratic behavior suggested she might be having a serious mental breakdown. But the truth was much more frightening.

Yatharth was born into a tribal group in a remote area of Asia. Her family was diligent in worship of the traditional gods and goddesses of their tribe. They performed the rituals and recited the prayers to appease these gods. So when Yatharth's strange behavior started, the first thing they did was offer sacrifices and lift up prayers on her behalf.

But their gods were silent. The young girl's bizzare behavior worsened. They could tell she was under some kind of attack, but didn't really understand what was happening to her.

After their gods and goddesses remained silent, Yatharth's family scraped together what little money they had and traveled a great distance to find medical treatment for her. The doctors failed in their efforts to heal Yatharth as well.

With no more money and nowhere else to turn, Yatharth's parents came back to their village totally defeated.

After nearly seven years in prison, Pastor Samuel may be close to freedom—if a final hearing scheduled for January 24 results in a favorable verdict.

After years of waiting, his wife and children—sustained by the prayers of believers around the world—still have faith the Lord will bring him home soon.

Last Thursday, Pastor Samuel's attorney convincingly presented the innocence of the Gospel for Asia-supported national missionary.

It is, hopefully, the last chapter in a frustrating story of hearings being repeatedly postponed—first for one reason, then for another.