What's Up with the Shorts and GFA?

If you've been wondering what the latest is with the Shorts and working at GFA . . . wonder no more! Below you will find updates from our latest newsletter to our supporters. I wanted to just link the PDF, but I don't know how to do that. (By, the way, Casey is the "I" in this letter.)

Dear Friends,
We've now been at Gospel for Asia for over six months! Each month, we continue to learn more and more about the expanse of the ministry’s operations in the field.

For example, I knew that GFA had an interest in medical missions, but I didn’t know what was already in place. I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that Gospel for Asia currently operates a five-story hospital in India.

The hospital has over 100 staff and 11 full-time doctors. Every month, mobile clinics treat hundreds of sick and injured people. Each visit is an opportunity to share the gospel and touch the lives of men and women in Asia with Christ’s love.

On the Mission Field - 12 Years of Bondage Broken
The room was loud, filled with voices of prayer. All the Christians in Gospel for Asia missionary Kijor’s church surrounded Amil who had been unconscious for 20 minutes.

For 12 years, Amil, a Dalit or “Untouchable,” had been attacked by demons. Yet when Amil woke up in Kijor’s church, he knew something was different.

“I’m healed!” he exclaimed. Then he told the gathered believers how, for over a decade, he felt like he was carrying a huge load on his back. He had been in bondage to demonic attacks, but now had found freedom. “I feel all my burdens lifted,” Amil said.

As God took away the fear of further spiritual attacks, Amil also felt a new peace and assurance in Christ. Pastor Kijor told Amil that Jesus did not consider him inferior, as his old religion taught. In fact, he was infinitely valuable to the Lord.

Amil gave his life to Christ that day and continues to follow Him today. He asks for prayer that his wife and two sons will also discover God’s love for them.

On the Home Front
Summer is now writing and editing for Gospel for Asia from home. In January, she received her first assignments from the Communication and Education department. She completed her first draft of an article on GFA Radio for the ministry’s SEND! magazine. Her other project is creating personalized books with country descriptions and pictures of native missionaries for GFA ministry partners.

In baby news, Colton is 9 months old and full of energy! He now says “Mama,” crawls, waves and claps.


A Special Wedding, A Gracious God
In January, Casey hopped in the car and headed to Oklahoma to serve as a groomsmen in his friend Naotoshi’s wedding. When Casey and Summer met Naotoshi, he’d just arrived in the U.S. and had no idea who Jesus was.

Not long after our introduction, Summer and I had the opportunity to give Naotoshi his first Bible. After a few years of discipleship from many believers and the Holy Spirit’s touch, Naotoshi accepted Christ and became a baptized believer.

At his wedding, he joined his life with a fellow believer. Praise God for bringing a young Japanese man halfway around the world to learn about his son Jesus!

Prayer Requests
• That we will be teachable and “soft” to the Lord’s leading
• That we would make the most of all God’s resources – time, talents, treasures
• For good health

Thank You For Your Support
Your prayers and financial support are invaluable to the work we do here. We praise God that each of you are linking your lives with ours and with the native missionaries in Asia. God is opening doors that have never been opened before! Together we can help fulfill the Great Commission and reach the nearly two billion people who’ve never heard the name of our Savior. May God bless you and your families.

In Christ,
Casey and Summer Short