Gifty Dhanapal

Gifty became a Christian while at school.

“I could not hold back the joy of having Jesus in my heart. My friends at school noticed my joy and smile and asked if I had fallen in love with someone. I said ‘Yes, and his name is Jesus.’”

Gifty shared her new love of Jesus with all her Hindu friends. Within a week, five had become Christians, and started praying together in the school chapel. Over the next two years they all grew stronger in their faith despite persecution from some of their families. This is how Gifty’s missionary journey started.

“If every Christian can take the great commission seriously, every single person on earth will hear the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Gifty is Missionary Team Leader in Wandsworth and Lambeth, supporting churches to share the gospel with the people around them. She specialises doing this cross-culturally. This includes helping Christians build relationships with local residents, whether that’s on their doorstep, or on their high street.

Much of Gifty’s work centres around Tooting, home to communities from all over the world, especially from south Asia. “Many churches are mono-cultured, but they have great potential to reach out to people from other cultures and welcome then in.”

“My vision is to see more local Asians in the churches worshiping God in their own languages and to see multicultural churches that can cater for the needs of everyone, especially the immediate community.”

Gifty lives with her husband and daughter; a small family with a heart to do God’s Mission in the world.