Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
About GFA
Ministries
Free Resources
Social Media
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Pinterest
- Twitter
- Youtube
Archives
FREE NEWSLETTER

Home
Evangelical
Hope for Every Hurt, Even Through Disease, Leprosy and Rejection

Hope for Every Hurt, Even Through Disease, Leprosy and Rejection

Last updated on: October 21, 2022 at 7:25 pm by GFA Staff Writer

Hope for Every Hurt, Even Through Disease, Leprosy and Rejection 2022-10-21T19:25:21+00:00 GFA Staff Writer

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Prina was a living a double-portion of a nightmare… After contracting leprosy, her husband was murdered in a land dispute, leaving Prina a quarantined widow. As the physical symptoms of Prina’s leprosy spread, so did the news of her disease among her relatives and other villagers. People, including her family, kept their distance and stopped interacting with her out of fear of contracting the disease. Although leprosy is one of the least infectious diseases, the lack of education about it in communities like Prina’s leads to fear and shunning—adding emotional distress to those already suffering.

Prina was banished to one room of her son’s house, where no one dared to enter. The only interaction she had with her family was when someone came to her door to deliver her daily meal.

Prina was a living a double-portion of a nightmare... After contracting leprosy, her husband was murdered in a land dispute, leaving Prina a quarantined widow. As the physical symptoms of Prina's leprosy spread, so did the news of her disease among her relatives and other villagers.

Hope Visits

One day, while Prina lay outside, she met Soma, the wife of a local Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported pastor who had a church in the village.

When Soma and some women from the local Women’s Fellowship saw Prina, they stopped to offer prayer and comfort. Soma’s heart went out to this mother who had been abandoned to the shame of leprosy. Soma tried to talk to Prina, but fear and disgust mingled in Prina’s eyes, and she refused to engage with Soma and the other ladies.

Being a devoted follower of her religion, Prina despised Christians, just as the villagers despised her. Compounding her aversion was fear of even more ostracization by the villagers if she talked with Christians.

As the ladies silently prayed for Prina and made a move to leave, something in Prina shifted.

“No one likes me because I am a leprosy patient,” mourned Prina.

“Even my own relatives and children hate me—they don’t come near to me. For whom should I live now? I do not want to live and want to end my life.”

Soma felt Prina’s desperate anguish as the hurting woman shared her experience of rejection. The pastor’s wife encouraged Prina from the Word of God.

“If no one loves you, there is one God, who loves you more than anyone, and He wants to heal you from your disease. Do you want to know who that person is? That is our Lord Jesus.”

Hope dawned in Prina’s heart. She wanted to know more about this Lord Jesus who loved her. The desire for love and acceptance opened doors to Prina’s heart that were previously fastened shut. Soma shared more with Prina and invited her to join them for worship services.

Pursuing the God of Healing

Prina shyly stepped through the threshold of the house of worship. Although she rarely went in public for fear of insults and abuse, the hope that had sprouted from Soma’s encouraging words gave Prina the boldness she needed to enter the building.

The women at the church showered love on Prina. After service, the congregation gathered around her to pray for healing. Later that week, at a Women’s Fellowship gathering, Prina once again experienced acceptance and fervent prayers for healing.

Prina felt so much joy, and her faith in the Lord began to increase. Slowly, Prina noticed changes, not only in her heart and mind but in her body as well. The pain in her extremities began to subside. Gradually, the marks of her disease faded. After a few months of steadfast prayer, the Lord touched Prina’s body and brought complete healing. She was filled with joy, and praises flowed from her heart to her lips.

Prina’s family was shocked at the miracle in her life. They did not know that Jesus had such power and soon joined her at church to praise the God who does the impossible. Mother, son and the entire household are now actively engaged in the local church.

“I am so thankful to Sister Soma who came and visited me when I was alone and prayed for me,” Prina says.

“I am extremely thankful to God, who has healed me from this dangerous disease. I had no hope for my life, but God made the impossible possible. I will follow Him the remaining days of my life. Thank you, God.”

Prina’s house was completely transformed. No longer a place of seclusion and pain, her home is filled with love and joy, rooted in God’s goodness. Her healing has astonished the entire village, which witnessed her transformation.

Loving Those Affected with Leprosy Disease All Across Asia

All across Asia, many who have been shunned because of leprosy—like Prina—have experienced the love of Jesus through Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported workers. These servants of God accept the despised and rejected with open arms.

“What an opportunity we have to serve these people,” expresses Dr. Daniel Johnson, the coordinator for Gospel for Asia (GFA)-supported medical ministry on the field.

“The ones who are unwelcome, out of sight and thought to be cursed—we have a chance to welcome them, bring them to the light and bless them, all because of the love of Christ.”

Join GFA in ministering with loving hands to those rejected because of the marks of leprosy. Together, we can bring hope and belonging to the outcast and forgotten.

Source: Gospel for Asia Features, The Curse of Leprosy Cured

Learn more about the GFA-supported leprosy ministry, or the Reaching Friends Ministry, helping remind people affected by leprosy that they have dignity and are valued by God.

Read more in Gospel for Asia’s Special Report: Leprosy—Misunderstandings and Stigma Keep it Alive – Although It’s a Curable Worldwide Problem.

Click here, to read more blogs on Patheos from Gospel for Asia.

Humanitarian Services

National Missions

GFA

GFA-Supported Leprosy Ministry

GFA-Supported Workers

Gospel for Asia

Images of Leprosy

Is Leprosy Contagious

National Missionaries

Pics of Lepers

Pics of Leprosy

Pictures of Leprosy

Sisters of Compassion

Widows

Previous Post

June 14, 2019

'More of a Lifestyle, Less of a Job'

Next Post

June 19, 2019 Waiting for the Sun to Rise

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Gospel for Asia Bishop Daniel Children's Education Clean Water Daniel Yohannan Disaster Relief GFA World Guest Writer Humanitarian Services Inspiration Leprosy Medical Ministry Mission Support Team Modern Slavery National Missions Poverty Alleviation Powerful Prayer School of Discipleship Special Report Spiritual Growth Uncategorized Women's Issues

Select a Month April 2026 March 2026 December 2025 September 2025 June 2025 May 2025 March 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

John Peter James Paul