During the month of December, we released four podcasts with messages from the leaders of Harvest Bridge leading up to Christmas. Below you will find the combined transcript of all four reflections. You can listen to the leaders share these reflections by clicking on the video below, or on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. From all of us here at Harvest Bridge, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Today we want to share the wisdom of four ministry leaders in South Asia as they talk about hope, peace, joy, and love. You will hear reflections from Jandi* in Nepal, Thang* and Pan* in Myanmar, and Priya* in India. We’ll start with a word from Jandi on hope. Jandi, who is 47, is our co-country leader in Nepal, alongside her husband, Shalva. She is leading work in everything from disaster relief to medical clinics for women to saving groups that develop financial self-sufficiency in areas with tremendous poverty. Her tangible work with the most vulnerable in Nepal shows them the hope they can have in Christ. Let’s listen.
God gives me hope and His word inspires me to worship and testify what he had done in my life, and his people around the world, around my community and where I do ministry, and people they are praying for us, encouraging in times of difficulties. So, and the body of Christ around the world, who are partnering with us in the mission of God and supporting us in our ministry in many ways. So we are able to continue the ministry and deliver his counsel to the people who are in difficult situation, irrespective of caste, color, and religion. And when we do ministry among women and children in different times, in different communities, and when we see them – how they have hope to live, even though they are not knowing the Lord. And if they can know the Lord, and it will be so great, and their hope will be flourished, and they will get really eternal life in Jesus Christ, it’s really encouraging me to do his ministry.
Jandi and her team take hope to those who need it most. Her team serves as the hands and feet of Christ as they help. Among the most vulnerable in Nepal are the women in the remote communities she visits. As these women see transformation in their lives, they become a source of hope for others.
I love women and God loves everyone. It’s really…when they come there with the pain, but they have a so big smile when they get little treatment, some medicines, or some surgery. You know, it’s really, really a great thing. And every medical camp, at least one woman is saved from cancer every time, at least one woman every time. In the beginning of the medical camp, I can say, like, since I am Christian, we love you, and Jesus loves everyone. That’s why we come to your village to do some kind of ministry, or some, we want to serve you in Jesus’ name, and people just look at me. It’s like living testimony. So it’s like what we say, that we do. They are like single women, single mothers, abandoned by the family and [are] widows. After coming to Christ, they got some hope in Jesus, and they share the gospel. They share happiness through Christ, and it’s really exciting. And people find hope in these ladies’ lives.
Jandi’s ministry in the medical clinics is one of many powerful examples of women supporting women in Nepal. The ministry of these women is often unseen, but it is changing lives everyday.
These days, I’m thinking how God is using the women who are not remembered in the society. And God is using those women to glorify His name and to multiply His Kingdom. Like my mom, and there are many, many women like my mom, who shared the gospel to thousands and hundreds of people, coming to Christ through their testimony. So God is really using women in Nepal. But it’s like, something like the Samaritan woman. What is her name? I don’t know! Because there are many, many unnamed women in our country I have seen, who are testifying for the Lord and who are sharing the gospel to the community, and many people are coming to Christ. It’s really great, and this is making a great impact in His Kingdom.
Jandi’s faith comes from seeing how God has been present in her own life, especially in difficult times. Her life was changed by the faith she saw in her mom. She wants to share that hope with others.
I’m thinking how God is using women, because whenever people ask my testimony, every time I tell my mom’s testimony, at first, because I come to Christ, because of my mom. So she suffered a lot, and I somehow, somehow I saw her. She got so much persecution and suffering in her life, and still, she did not stop sharing the gospel, and she was so much courageous and she had hope. From my struggling, I can say, if I didn’t have hope in the Lord Jesus, maybe, how was my life? How would my life be, I cannot imagine. So I can request my friends and the people I meet, if they trust in Him, if they have hope in Jesus, He will never forsake them, and He will never put them in shame. What he did to me, same. He can do more, more to everyone, and he loves everyone. So people can experience the love of God, even though sometimes they may not get the love from their own people. So I have my experience that I can share with the people. I was persecuted from my young age, being a woman, being a Christian, many times, but since I trust in Him, and He never forsake me, He never put me in shame. Now I can stand in the name of Jesus still from that time to now, and it makes me so excited. And now I’m here, and God is one who makes me in this, like the time, who gave me this opportunity to do His ministry.
We asked Jandi for her favorite verse about hope, and this is what she said:
Even though it does not have the word hope [in it], but my favorite verse in the Bible is Romans, chapter 10, verse 11, it says, as scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” It means God’s love for me is so great from my childhood till now, I trust Him. I have hope in Him, as my father, as my Lord and Savior. He never leaves me at my time of sufferings, persecutions, He never let me be put to shame, so I can stand.
Next let’s hear from Pastor Thang, who is our co-country leader in Myanmar. Thang will share his reflections on peace. Before we listen to Thang’s words, we’d like to offer some context. Thang’s ministry takes place in the midst of a military coup that started in Myanmar in 2020. Since then, the junta military has held the country captive. People are fleeing their homes. Innocent lives are lost everyday. In the middle of this daily violence, here is how Pastor Thang talks about peace:
I have been trying to encourage others to accept the crisis we are facing, reminding them that nothing happens by accident. Romans chapter 8, as I say, verse 28 again, ‘As we know that God works all together things for the good of those who love God.’ People go through all this trial, you know, fleeing and losing their houses. It’s not easy to accept. So we know it might be bad, but God make us good, even he can overturn the bad into good things for those who believe in Him.
Pastor Thang teaches that peace comes from trusting in God’s purposes even when it seems like all has been lost. Pastor Thang’s life is a testament that the peace he experiences has led him to care for others. Day in and day out, he coordinates food relief for the most vulnerable. He and his wife educate young adults so they don’t lose their future opportunities. He helps people escape from violence in their villages. Peace gives him the courage to continue in the face of danger and difficulty. He knows it is not easy to trust in such a difficult time.
Of course, when you suffer, it’s not easy. I remember one of my nieces’ husband. He lost two brothers and one sister, his house near my village. And then he sends me a message, “Uncle, why don’t you encourage me, or send something, you know, to encourage, because I have been so sad and lost all my, all the houses .” It is not easy, but trusting that there is a greater purpose in our struggle can bring peace even in our uncertain time. So we believe we suffer, but there is a greater purpose than what God has planned for us. So what we need to do is to trust God and to believe in Him, because God will bring peace.
Pastor Thang says “What we need to do is to trust God and to believe in him, because God will bring peace.” When times are difficult, God sees us. God sees our struggles, and then helps us to do the impossible – put our trust in Him.
We witness suffering violence and crisis that affects so many innocent people, yet our faith calls us to trust that He sees and understands even when we cannot. So I think that is true. So we have been suffering. We do witness suffering, we do witness violence, we do witness crises, and even affect many innocent people. We have been dying yet, yet they say our faith calls us to trust. You know, sometimes when we suffer, it is not easy to accept. But you say, as the children of God, we can do it. So Philippians talk about, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me- chapter 4:13. So it’s not easy to accept that we have been going through all this trial and effort, but as a child of God, we can accept and can extend peace, being the children of God. Our God is not blind. He sees us. He sees us, our suffering, our crisis, the violence that we face, and He sees that many innocent have been lost this way. And you know, we are not alone. We have been suffering. God is with us.
Through the strength of Christ, Thang says, they can have the peace that comes from trusting in God, even in the midst of the violence in Myanmar. These are not just words for Pastor Thang. They are the trust that has determined his life. Thang could have chosen to move to the United States, where some of his family already live. He could leave the violence of the coup behind. But instead he has chosen to stay in Myanmar, trusting that God has called him there for a purpose, for such a time as this.
Thang later wrote to us: “It is undeniably difficult to trust and believe in His control when we witness suffering, violence, and the crisis that affects so many innocent people. Yet, our faith calls us to trust that He sees and understands even when we cannot. As long as we understand that God is in control of the universe and our lives, we can find peace.”
Next we will listen to Pastor Pan*, who is our co-country leader in Myanmar. As you just heard, ministry in Myanmar takes place in the middle of a violent military coup. In the middle of war and poverty, how has Pastor Pan found joy? Let’s listen as he shares this powerful word to us.
It’s my joy and privilege to share something about joy, which is found in the Bible. My favorite Bible verse is Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 10b, it says, ‘Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ Many of the times, they were sorrows, bad circumstances, and fearfulness that we have been facing in our day to day life, but even in the midst of difficulties and the hardship times, the Lord always spoke to my heart to be joyful in Him, not depending on the circumstances, because He is the source of our joy. The psalmist says in Psalm number 28 verse seven, ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my soul, I will praise Him.’ The joy we talk about – the fruit of the Spirit – is found in Galatians, chapter five, verse [twenty] two also. And it is the positive and cheerful [outlook] of a person who has been called by God and understands how beneficial it is to follow God’s way of life. It says the fruit of the Spirit is joy. Sometimes, when things look so hard, we allow the circumstances to dictate our joy. But I learn so many new things from the book of Nehemiah, chapter eight. And my unstable response to life circumstances improved significantly. And I also read the book of First Thessalonians, chapter five, verse 16: ‘Rejoice always’. Those who are stood up as a command and minister to me upon understanding that the joy is required of me as a child of God. And I became intentional about cultivating the joy, the fruit of joy in my life. Every believer in Jesus Christ is subject to the command to be full of joy. And Paul and again commanded to the saints of Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always. God wants us to serve Him with exceeding joy, not only when we worship Him in His presence, but also in our daily lives. God commanded the people of Israel to rejoice in the Lord for what He did for them according to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 26 verse 11. We have received a far greater benefit from God, His greatest gift to humanity is only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as we read in John, chapter three, verse 16. Therefore we have every little reason to serve him joyfully, because God is the source of our joy. I used to teach and preach my church and my community to be full of joy, as Paul encouraged to the believers in Philippians. [In] one part of this letter, his circumstances were very bad and so hard, and he wrote this epistle from jail. He was in prison. He was tortured very badly, and he was about to die, but he still encouraged the believers from the jail to rejoice always in the Lord. Paul rejoiced in the Lord and it resulted him to have more boldness to proclaim the Word of God. Even though we face many difficulties and hardships, they make me to teach my people to have joy in Jesus Christ. I also share with them that Jesus made possible for us to reconcile with God according to Romans, chapter five, verse 11. If you have been made right with God, you now have this divine privilege to rejoice in the Lord. The psalmist, says in Psalms, 32, verse 11:‘Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, oh righteous and shout for joy, all you upright in heart’. I am exceedingly glad that we are never told in the Bible to rejoice in our circumstances, which are constantly changing. But the Bible told us that we have to rejoice in God who never changes. That is found in Malachi, chapter three, verse [6]. And I was happy when things went my way and sad when things didn’t go well. Actually, happiness is typically a more fleeting emotion, often depending on a particular moment or event that brings a sense of excitement. But the fruit of joy, which we found in the Bible, is more than that. So the fruit of joy is beyond our circumstances and beyond our thoughts. It is found only in Jesus Christ. It doesn’t depend on any circumstances, but it is long lasting overall joy. When Jesus Christ was praying to the Father, he acknowledged that while he was on earth, he told the disciples the words so that they would be filled with His joy.The word of God we know and obey is what God uses to fill us with joy. The more we grow in our understanding of God, His plans and His purposes, the more we hold onto our joy, even in the dire situations. God commands believers to always be joyful. It is a choice that we must make every time our circumstances threaten our joy. That’s the scripture [that] has been such a blessing to me. Now anytime I notice a heaviness trying to come upon me, I quickly say to my Heavenly Father that I choose to rejoice in Him instead of my circumstances. I immediately refuse to allow my circumstances because I know God causes the righteous to live by faith and to work with joy in Jesus Christ. God is so faithful every time. I experience faith in His word, He always fills me with His joy, and my faith is strengthened every day in the midst of trials and hardships. Let us develop the habits of rejoicing always in the Lord. We should follow the example of the prophet Habakkuk, who made up his mind to rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in the God of his salvation despite the impending doom the people of Judah were going to face at the hands of Nebucanezer and his army. We can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials, for we know that Jesus is the source of joy. During the pandemic, we know that many people have lost their loved ones to COVID 19. Knowing that when Christ comes, they will be reunited again with their loved ones, and that can be a source of joy amid great mourning. And also when the coup took place in the country, we know that many people have lost their loved ones to fighting and bombardments, but we are sure that when Christ comes, they will be reunited again with their loved ones, it can be a source of joy amidst great mourning. For my conclusion, I want to read the book of Habakkuk, chapter three, verse, verses 17 and 18. ‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, though the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy, I will joy in the God of my salvation.’So today, actually, what I want to make very clear is that happiness is depending on our circumstances. That depends on our emotion, our feeling, but the joy that we found in the Bible never depends on the circumstances. Never depends on our emotion, our feelings, because God is the source of our joy. That’s why Paul encourages us to be joyful in the Lord, even though they are trials, and there are trials, hardships, and difficulties. So thank you so much for this message that God has given to me, and I will conclude my message here, and may the Lord bless every one of you. And thank you so much.”
Toward the end of our call with Pastor Pan, he mentioned that reflecting on joy gave him a message not only to share with Harvest Bridge, but with his church in Myanmar.
You also give me a very important and very particular topic that I really need to share. Actually, this, this, what I prepare, this very short message, it gives me lots of lots of information, even to encourage my people more and more. It gives me more information. And the Word of God spoke, the Lord spoke to my heart, and He gives me more information. And especially now, we are in a very difficult situation and circumstances in the midst of all this kind of thing, the need, that the neediest thing that we should have is the joy in, to rejoice in Christ, to have a joy in Christ. So the topic also really encouraged, you really encouraged my life through this topic.
Finally we will hear from Priya, who leads the GATE ministry in India. GATE stands for Gypsy and Tribal Empowerment. Priya is not from the gypsy and tribal communities, but she has responded to God’s call to care for them and to fight the injustices they face. For someone who works alongside those who are below the lowest caste in the country, those who are considered untouchable, how has love been a guiding force for her ministry? Let’s listen.
What I am saying, because of the love, I went to, to see the gypsies, you know? I was in a totally different family. I was walking in a different style of way. But who touched my heart – God touched me inside to go and work for gypsies because of the love. Change the lifestyle and change the people – they are in not, they are not in a good position, not in a good shape. When God’s love goes into the hearts, the shape will change. Miracles, like amazing. Now they have a God love in their hearts. Now they are acting, and they are giving voice of me, and they are talking boldly. Before the gypsies were afraid. John 3:16, God gave His only one son for us to love. He loves the world. So that’s why He sent Christ to us, Jesus to us, to I don’t know how to say . . . it’s like the love, it’s a big love. You know, God love is a very big love. He loves us. That’s why He sent His Son to solve all the problems and break the sin. I am showing that God is in me, like the gypsies. You know about the gypsies, the gypsies are treated like animals in outside, and they are untouchable, also. No one can move with the people, but I am very close, and I’m, I’m hugging the people, and I am kissing the children. So it just shows that other people, how she’s doing, why she’s doing like this, because of God’s love in me. So it accepts everything. They are not taking bath very good. They smell it. The people are complaining like the people [say]; “gypsies are not clean” like that. But in my sight, it’s not like that. So God covered everything. God’s love, God’s love covered everything. That is my thing to show to the public, to be closer to God, closer to the people.
God’s love sent Priya to the GATE community. It is changing the lives of the people there and the people who see the love in her ministry. You will hear Priya share an example of this.
I had an experience one time when I was taking these people in a bus. The bus driver stopped the bus because he said that he cannot take the gypsies to the other, to sit with other community people. Then I was saying ‘I am sitting with the people because of the love, so you can join with me’. Then it slowly happens, like I teach them, like the public also, I am teaching that you can love others. That’s a good role – things for the people to not irritate them or not making them sad. Like I teach them many times like, be sure to love, don’t treat them like badly in the public. So the public asks – second question – you are a Christian? Because they know the Hindus never show the love to this type of people. So the public, also many public ask me, “you are a Christian? Oh, that’s why you are showing the love.’ So that is a good role – thing for my life – to teach others to love the people, gypsy people.
In the same way that God’s love for us came at a cost, Priya’s love for the GATE community has cost her as well.
I know, like, I was cursed by many people. When I started this ministry, my friends left, and even my family left me. That time, God’s love only protected me and for my sons, for my two boys. And for, that’s like, I know God loves more than the world loves, but [in] that time, God only teach me how to be calm and everything. But I am not… I don’t know how to express this, but it was like a very sad time, I was crying. Then God spoke to me inside my heart that ‘you have to be very calm and quiet, not to curse anyone, not to shout at anyone, not to show your anger to anyone.’ So, like that. So God is teaching me every time.
Priya speaks about how she extends love to her enemies:
Because God already teaches us to love everyone, like neighbors and everyone, enemies also. He teaches us to love the enemies. That’s so important. I was in a colony. The [citizenship] certificate was planning to issue. So I went and talked to the deputy collector [who] was there. So I was talking to the deputy collector. Then the media came inside, then the media wants to make a shoot about the citizenship certificate – how the woman is doing in Chennai, like for the certificate, but she is not from the same communities, like that. That time the political people came, and he was asking, ‘Who arranged this meeting? Who arranged this meeting? Then I was saying, ‘I am.’ Then he was talking to me for five minutes. Then he asked me ‘where you went, like, how, you know the highest collector and how you met these people, how the government order, I won’t want to give permission very immediately.’ So he wants to know about the whole story about of my work. Then I explained everything, and he told me, ‘I received a call from the government office that the political people are angry on me because you are in a local political- you are not doing anything, but she is from outside. She is doing everything for the gypsies.’ Then he was talking to me, immediately he was punching. I said, ‘why I want to inform to the political people. I am not doing – working – for the political people’. He was punching on me like this. Then I was like, shocked. I was shocked, and I was like, not, my mind was not good at the moment. I was blocked on my mind. Then I was crying, and all the gypsies gathered in that group. Gypsies gathered in a one group, like 100 people, was like a gathered in a group, drive the man out. This is a God’s love.
But the love God has put in Priya cannot be stopped. This love is, as she says, harvesting souls for heaven.
This is the God love, and I am introducing God to every houses, every houses, door to door, to bring them closer to God, because the God love is very powerful for them to protect their life. God love is harvesting the souls for heaven. Love is like, unconditional. It covers everything. If you show the love, love will protect you. Love will, love is kindness. It will be like, love covers everything. That’s all I know. If you do a wrong thing also, love covers. But our God’s love is very pure, so He covers everything, sin and everything. So it’s unconditional love. I see the unconditional love in all the gypsies now, because God is living in their hearts.
Thank you for joining us as we find hope, peace, joy and love in the ministry happening throughout South Asia as the leaders of Harvest Bridge do much, with little.