Healing for a Broken Home
A Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org) News Release – For Immediate Release
WILLS POINT, TX (ANS – January 10, 2017)
-- Shouts disrupted the worship service. The neighbors were at it
again. It seemed the married couple was always fighting. Peace looked
like a complete stranger to the household, and joy a forgotten virtue.
GFA-supported woman missionary Sabita didn’t see this as an annoyance to
the meetings she helped conduct, however. She saw it as an opportunity
to share the peace of Jesus, the One who could restore and heal.
Missionary Visits Broken Home
Hoping
to help, Sabita visited Hema and shared with her the compassion of God.
Hema was a little suspicious of Sabita at first, but she didn't turn
her away. She even took some literature that Sabita offered. Sabita
could tell Hema needed encouragement and hope because of this, and she
felt compelled by God to invest in Hema's forlorn and sorrowful life.
Sabita
continued to visit Hema, believing her time spent in sharing God's
precious promises would lighten Hema’s struggling, heavy heart. As they
got to know each other, Hemas suspicions of the missionary melted, and
she opened up. She told Sabita about their constant quarreling, her
husband, Talat's, drunkenness and how he would often beat her if he felt
angry. She was worried about their children, as they too were being led
by this constant example.
Finding Strength in God’s Word
Through
her visits, Sabita faithfully brought words of comfort to Hema's
love-longing heart, and when she was especially discouraged, Sabita
prayed for her. Whenever Sabita prayed, Hema felt at ease and happy.
As
Hema continued to see the love of God through Sabita, she was filled
with faith to trust Jesus as the One who brings peace and hope, the One
who could answer prayer, even for her drunken husband. But she was
afraid to tell her husband about the hope she found, so she kept silent.
Through Her Quiet Spirit
Continuing
to be a constant and true friend to Hema as she shared her fears,
Sabita had some advice to give her from God's Word. Taking Sabita’s
advice, Hema began to pray for Talat to stop his destructive habit of
drinking. She cried out to the Lord and sometimes spent time fasting for
her husband. Many times, Hema thought it would be impossible for Talat
to ever be released from the grasp of his strong addiction, but Hema
continued to pray in her weakness, asking the Lord to give her strength
to believe and press on.
Meanwhile,
there was a change in Hema’s life. When Talat did things she didn't
like, Hema didn't flare back as she once had. The fighting ceased and
peace started to make its home among the chaos that once held its
ground. Instead of acting out in anger or returning evil for evil, Hema
responded in love and kindness as God gave her strength to tolerate the
harsh things done to her. God was changing her through His Word and
working through her prayers. Although Hema wasn't aware, God was moving
in Talat's heart through her gentle spirit.
Drastic Change Not Unseen
One
day, Talat asked Hema what had happened. She had become loving and kind
towards him, and he wanted to know how and why. Since he was in a good
mood, Hema jumped at the opportunity to speak words of truth and love to
her husband.
She
told him how his drinking had hurt their family and was a bad influence
on their children. She shared how happy she would be to have a husband
who took good care of her and the children. Her words, spoken with love
and kindness, won Talat's heart over. Little by little, through Hema’s
prayers, love, encouragement and the power of God, Talat quit drinking.
During
one of Sabita's visits, Talat heard God's Word and was moved. As time
went on, he began to realize for himself that Jesus is the One who had
changed his wife so drastically. He wanted this same transformation in
his own life.
Today
Hema and Talat no longer fight during worship services but attend them
joyfully. Hema loves to tell her story, how nothing is impossible with
God . . . not even a drunken husband.
Send a Voice of Hope
A
woman missionary can bring hope to hopeless women, like Sabita did. She
can speak into a woman’s life and sympathize with her emotions and
needs well. You can be part of touching lives of women in Asia, too!
Prayerfully
consider supporting the work of a GFA-supported women missionaries
today, and make an impact that lasts into eternity!
Sponsor a Woman Missionary by going to
Note: Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org)
has – for more than 30 years -- provided humanitarian assistance and
spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially among those who have
yet to hear the Good News. Last year, this included more than 75,000
sponsored children, free medical services for more than 180,000 people,
6,000 wells drilled, 11,000 water filters installed, Christmas presents
for more than 400,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available
in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.
To schedule an interview with a Gospel for Asia representative, please contact pressrelations@gfa.org.
Photo
captions: 1) Hema’s (pictured) life was full of strife. Her husband,
who was often intoxicated, beat her, and they quarreled often. During
prayer meetings, which were held nearby, people could hear their
constant fighting. (GFA) 2) Over time, a friendship between the two
women bloomed. Sabita continued to visit Hema at her home to encourage
her through God’s Word, like these women are doing. (GFA). 3) Hema’s
life had changed, and her husband, (pictured), Talat saw the changing
power of Jesus. Because of her example, he too found for himself the
hope of God and stopped drinking. (GFA). 4) Women missionaries are
dedicated to sharing the hope of Jesus's love with women in need and
want of love. (GFA).
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