Only rubble and ashes remain where homes once stood.

ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (ANS) -- Seventy thatched-roof houses burned down in a village in Andhra Pradesh, India, after a short circuit in electric wires sparked a fire on December 26. Twenty of those houses belonged to Christians, including a Gospel for Asia–supported pastor who lives in the village. Only a few people were injured, and no deaths were reported.

The villagers were out working in a paddy field a good distance away from the village when the fire happened. They returned from work to find rubble and ashes where their homes once stood. Nothing was salvageable—all that remained was the clothes they had on their backs.

When Gospel for Asia leaders heard about the dire situation, they brought food supplies for the villagers and prayed for them.
 

A group of believers stand in the ruins of their burned homes.

Currently, some believers are staying in government refugee camps. Others are staying in neighboring village homes or in small plastic-covered tents.

“They are sick, disheartened and disturbed in this time of struggle and loss,” reports a GFA field correspondent.

Joel Rao, a Gospel for Asia-supported pastor, has been working in this village for 10 years. There are about 50 believers in the church in this village. Pastor Joel lost all his household belongings and clothes along with church belongings, including the communion utensils.

GFA workers in that area are doing all they can to help the people rebuild their lives.

They ask for prayer as they deal with this situation, that they would be able to bring God’s comfort to the villagers who have lost so much. They also ask that the Lord would bless these Christians, and that they would stand firm in the Lord in spite of this unexpected misfortune.

Help build new houses for believers, like these, who have lost their homes.