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
A Light in the Slum Through Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope Center

A Light in the Slum Through Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope Center

Last updated on: April 5, 2022 at 10:48 am by GFA Staff Writer

A Light in the Slum Through Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope Center 2022-04-05T10:48:47+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.

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing the children and their families in abject poverty, and the Gospel for Asia (GFA) Bridge of Hope center that help give the children of Asia the light of a brighter future.

As the Bridge of Hope administrative staff walked through the area, they saw many crude shanties lining dirty streets where hungry children roamed. They talked to poor mothers and sick fathers, people who expressed their needs and hopes for themselves and their children. Wanting to start a new Bridge of Hope center, the staff had asked a local official for his suggestion.

“If you can bring goodness to this area,” he told them, “the children will have a future.”

Sometime later, with the lighting of a lamp and the cutting of a ribbon, a new Bridge of Hope center opened its doors for 100 boys and girls in this community of downtrodden slum dwellers.

Vela 2013

A Girl Without a Mother

Among those 100 faces was 9-year-old Vela. Vela’s mother had abandoned the family some time before, fleeing the abuse of her alcoholic husband. A few days after his wife left, he fell ill and couldn’t leave his bed. So Vela’s grandmother, Paramita, became the family’s sole provider.

Despite their abject poverty, Paramita wanted her grandchildren to get an education—and through Bridge of Hope, Vela had a chance.

Tamal 2013

A Boy Acting as a Father

Elsewhere in the crowd sat 9-year-old Tamal, a boy with a heavy burden. While his parents worked, Tamal ran the home and cared for his younger siblings, including a 1-year-old. After feeding them breakfast, Tamal would leave the children in a room so he could go to school for a few hours. Returning at noon, he would feed them again. When he could, Tamal collected glass and plastic bottles from the roadside to sell.

“Thank you so much for the special care toward me from Bridge of Hope,” he shared on opening day. “This will really be a hope to my life.”

Tamal 2016

A Light Through Three Years of Challenges

Three years since opening, Bridge of Hope has been one of the few consistent things in Tamal’s life. In 2014, Tamal’s father divorced his mother. She moved the family out of the slum, only to return some months later, at which point Tamal reenrolled in Bridge of Hope. Since then, he continues to receive steady love and care through the Bridge of Hope staff.

Through the staff’s tutoring, Tamal’s grades are improving in school, and he is receiving a meal every day.

Vela 2016

Vela’s life has not come without challenges either. Her dad often needed to be taken to the hospital for medical treatments, so she wasn’t always able to go to school or to the center. But in the midst of this, God showed His grace through the prayers of the Bridge of Hope staff.

As is customary with all Bridge of Hope students, the staff regularly visited Vela’s home to encourage her family, talk about her education and even pray for the family’s needs. Vela saw God’s power and love when He answered the prayers of the Bridge of Hope staff and restored her father to full health. Vela’s grandmother wants to know more about the Jesus who healed her son.

Through the Love of the Bridge of Hope Center Staff

From early on, Vela and Tamal’s lives have been full of responsibility as caregivers for their families. Even so, the staff at their Bridge of Hope center has helped them succeed through tutoring, prayer and encouragement.

Vela continues to attend Bridge of Hope to this day, and now that her father is better, she is able to come consistently. She is in 8th grade, where she enjoys studying her native language and has developed a special talent for public speaking.

“I never thought that there are people who really think about life in the slums, but now I understand Christians have caring and compassionate hearts,” Vela’s grandmother shared. “There are many children who were wandering around without meaning in this slum, and now we will see a bright future in their lives. I am really thankful to all those [who] are supportive of this center.”

That gratitude is for you. No matter what ministries of Gospel for Asia (GFA) you pray for and support. God is using you to make a difference in the lives of boys and girls like Tamal and Vela and their families. Thank you for working with us to help give the children of Asia a brighter future.

Learn more about the Gospel for Asia Bridge of Hope program and how you can make an incredible difference in the lives of children, bringing hope to their lives and their families, transforming communities.

*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are Gospel for Asia stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.

Source: Gospel for Asia Field Report, A Light in the Slum

Learn more about the Discarded, Abandoned and Abused Children, and how, through partnership with Gospel for Asia you can help them and be a part of changing their lives forever.

Learn more by reading the Gospel for Asia Special Report on Child Labor: Not Gone, but Forgotten – Millions of Children Trapped between Extreme Poverty and the Profits of Others

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

Notable News about Gospel for Asia: FoxNews, ChristianPost, NYPost, MissionsBox

Absolute Poverty Definition

Asian Missionaries

Asian Missionary

Below Poverty Line in India

Bridge of Hope

Causes of Poverty in India

Children and Women

Children Aound the World

Children Around the World

Children in Poverty

Cycle of Poverty

Define Absolute Poverty

Define Extreme Poverty

Definition Absolute Poverty

Definition of Destitute

Definition of Extreme Poverty

Effects of Poverty in India

Extreme Poverty

Extreme Poverty Definition

Extreme Poverty in the World

Extreme Poverty Statistics

Facts About Poverty

Generational Poverty

Generational Poverty Definition

GFA-Supported Bridge of Hope

GFA-Supported Children's Ministry

GFA-Supported Missionaries

GFA-supported Pastors

GFA-Supported Workers

Gospel for Asia's Bridge of Hope Program

How to Reduce Poverty

Images of Poverty in India

India Poverty Line

Local Missionaries

National Missionaries

National Missionary

Pictures of Poverty in India

Poor Children

Population Below Poverty Line in India

Poverty

Poverty Alleviation

Poverty Alleviation Program

Poverty in India Articles

Poverty in India Facts

Poverty in India Statistics

Poverty Issues

Poverty Level in India

Poverty Line in India

Poverty Percentage in India

Poverty Rate in India

Poverty Reduction

Poverty Reduction in India

What is Absolute Poverty

What is Extreme Poverty

What Is Generational Poverty

What Is Poverty Line in India

What Is the Poverty Line in India

World Missions

Previous Post

August 11, 2020

Gospel for Asia-supplied Mosquito Net Helps Free Man from Addiction

Next Post

August 13, 2020 GFA Medical Camp Witnesses Move from Danger to Good Health

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 interpreted the handwriting on the wall?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Daniel Paul Joseph Peter