We live in a world where there are millions of people who have fallen victims to social injustice, those who lost the geographical lottery and are living in impoverished conditions through no fault of their own. Great efforts have been made in the last 30 years to try and improve the fortunes of these lives and many inspirational people have dedicated themselves to helping to end social injustice.
One such person is KP Yohannan, a religious scholar who, with his organization Gospel for Asia have been working tirelessly for almost 40 years throughout Asia seeking to improve lives through its missionary work. Today we are going to take a look at the man who started it all, Dr. K.P. Yohannan.
Early Years and Education
K.P. Yohannan was born in Kerala, India, he grew up around poverty and from an early age decided that he wanted to do what he could to help. He found God when he was just 8 years of age, from this age he began reading Gospel scriptures fervently and studying Bible texts. At the age of 16 Yohannan joined Operation Mobilization, a missionary organization that works throughout the globe aiding the World’s poorest. After 8 years with Operation Mobilization, Yohannan moved to the United States to study theology at Criswell Bible Institute in Dallas, Texas. Whilst studying for his degree he began serving as Pastor of a Native American Southern Baptist church, a position he held for four years. Upon his graduation he became the college’s first international student to graduate. Yohannan left the church in 1979 to dedicate his life to missionary work.
Gospel for Asia
K.P. Yohannan set up Gospel for Asia in 1978 with the aim of creating an organization of missionaries to work in impoverished areas of Asia. In its primary years, Gospel for Asia concentrated on training missionaries and seeking funding for its efforts. The first chapter was set up in Yohannan’s home town of Kerala in 1979 and from there the organization gradually moved across India and into the rest of Asia. As things stand today, not only is Gospel for Asia the biggest Christian NGO in the World, but it also has missionaries and bible colleges in over 50 countries.
The organization focusses on the poorest and most remote areas of Asia, its programs educate children, women and people who live in slums, teaching literacy and numeracy as well as medical advice about infections and addiction and of course, the teachings of the Bible. Gospel for Asia offers free medical care, disaster relief and aims to empower the people who are living in a life of poverty so that they can take themselves out of their situation.
Other Endeavors
As well as being a keynote speaker, respected theologian and a pioneer for missionary organizations, Yohannan has also written over 200 books that have been published in India and the United States. The themes of his books range from theological debates and ideas, works on charity and the importance of missionary work.
