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Seizures Drive High-Caste Woman to Feet of Jesus

Gospel for Asia
For Immediate Release

March 2010

Sahira Suman should have been the envy of everyone in her village. An orthodox follower of her family's traditional religion, she was also born into greater privilege than many-she was high caste.

Sahira lives in a part of Asia where one's caste determines their life path. She was proud of her caste and adhered to its traditions of not allowing people of low-caste into their homes or even associating with them. When she went out, she would only eat at places owned by people who were part of her caste group.

Despite the status Sahira valued so highly, her life was full of pain: She suffered from seizures, which left her in despair. And even with her high standing in society, she could do nothing to rid herself of the seizures . she felt so helpless.

Then one day Sahira encountered Jival Chavan, a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor ministering in her village. And as he shared the Good News with this weary woman, the Lord began to work in her heart. She poured out her struggles to the pastor.

Jival listened and then spoke to Sahira about the power of Jesus' blood to deliver people from sin and sickness. After hearing the Good News, Sahira told the pastor she was ready to put her trust in Christ if she was healed of her illness.

Jaival began lifting Sahira in prayer regularly. And after a few days, Sahira found that the Lord had healed her completely. She put her trust in Jesus and became actively engaged in Jaival's church. She now worships freely with people whom she once refused to even talk to-the people from low-caste backgrounds. Sahira learned that Jesus loves everyone regardless of their standing in society.

Unfortunately, not everyone is happy about Sahira's new faith in Jesus. Some of her family members are opposing her. Many in Sahira's country view Christianity as a religion strictly for the low-caste people, and they don't understand why Sahira would choose to become a Christian. She asks for prayer that they would come to know the Savior who has set her free.

Gospel for Asia is a mission organization involved in evangelism and church planting in Asia's unreached regions. Currently Gospel for Asia supports more than 16,000 church planters in 10 countries My Dear Friend, In our busy lives, it is easy to be so preoccupied with our own dreams and pursuits that we lose our eternal perspective. Both the joys of heaven and the crying needs of a lost world can seem unreal and far away. But the harsh reality is that 2.7 billion people of our generation are still unreached with the Gospel. What answers are we prepared to give to the living God when He asks about the blood of these multitudes on our hands? Today, we have the great privilege of helping them come to know Jesus. If we will commit to live for what is eternal, this generation can be reached with the Gospel. I pray that Gospel for Asia will become like a bridge, giving you the opportunity to walk away from your own preoccupations to the harvest fields of Asia—and see the perishing multitudes through the eyes of Jesus. May you allow God to use your life to change the destiny of millions through your prayers and partnership with our native brothers and sisters. A hundred years from now, you will be glad you did! Yours for the lost multitudes of Asia, Dr. K.P. Yohannan