Austronesia | Beyond

Muslim Zealot Becomes Disciple of Jesus

Nov 6, 2025 | Austronesia, Stories

*Kuram was a devout Muslim, so zealous in his faith that community leaders sent him to another part of Southeast Asia to convert nominal Christians to Islam. Through his efforts, more than 100 people turned from Christianity to Islam.

When Kuram returned home, he was struck by personal tragedy. Instead of supporting him, his community judged and abandoned him. Disillusioned and broken, Kuram began to question everything he once believed.

In the midst of his crisis, he came across an ad from a media outreach ministry. He responded. A local disciple visited him, offering comfort and hope. Together, they walked through his pain. This disciple of Jesus helped Kuram release his bitterness toward those who had turned their backs on him. He also helped Kuram break free from a lifetime of occult ties.

Kuram made a bold decision: he decided to follow Jesus. Soon after, he was baptized.

Overwhelmed with joy, Kuram shared his newfound faith with two old friends. Both came to believe! Now they, too, are praying for their families to follow Christ.

Just three years ago, church planters described Kuram’s region as “too hard to reach.” But one movement leader believed differently. “No, it’s not,” he said. “There is always a door God can open. These three families will become the foundation for house churches.”

Today, that vision has become reality. In Kuram’s area, disciple-making fellowships have multiplied to the fourth generation! Praise God, for he is able to make the impossible possible. Pray for Kuram and these three families; pray that they will continue to make disciples who make disciples.

*pseudonym

THREE MAJOR HINDRANCES
Hanli* helped her husband track data describing their region’s largest family of church planting movements. After reading all the descriptions of transformed read more …

JOURNEY TO DISCIPLESHIP
Susi was interested in each of the Old Testament stories and asked, “Are these stories talking about the blood of Jesus?” read more …

GIVE UP YOUR WAY
Together the couple had sought the Lord on where they might live to be most effective in making multiplying disciples. And the Lord had answered. read more …

From Rebellion to Redemption

Oct 15, 2025 | Austronesia, Stories

*Ron was born into a Christian family in Indonesia, but faith in his family’s home was shallow and hollow. As a young man, he rebelled hard. By his twenties, he was demanding his father sell family land to fund his lifestyle—partying, drinking, and other reckless behaviors.

When his father refused, Ron lashed out angrily. In a fit of rage, he burned the boat his father had been building. And then spiraled out of control.

While rummaging through some old boxes, Ron found his grandfather’s notes on black magic. Intrigued, he began experimenting with mystical powers. Soon, he was tormented by dark spiritual forces that fueled his pride, aggression, and self-destruction.

Amid this confusion, he fell in love with a Muslim woman and converted to Islam—not out of belief, but out of rebellion and spiritual chaos.

But even in Ron’s darkest moments, God was working.

One day, Ron was invited by a pastor to attend a church service. He went, drunk and defiant, not to seek truth, but to challenge God.

Yet when the simple hymn “I Surrender All…” filled that little church, the Holy Spirit moved mightily. Ron wept and fell to his knees. While on his knees, he had a vision of Jesus on the cross, His blood flowing to cover Ron’s sins. In that moment everything changed.

The very next day—despite a fierce storm—he was baptized. Afterward, Ron rode his motorbike six kilometers home, drenched but singing songs of thanksgiving all the way. His new life had begun.

Ron was discipled by an Indonesian missionary (serving cross-culturally within his own nation) who taught him how to share Christ’s love in a simple but profound way.

Eventually, Ron quit his job. He told his boss, “I’m resigning because I want to live out Matthew 28:19–20.”

Today, Ron serves as a full-time missionary—six days a week, eight hours a day. There is no salary, no retirement plan, no worldly perks—only the joy of obedience and a heart on fire for the gospel.

He says plainly: “I’m willing to die for the gospel, because life in Jesus is far more meaningful than life in sin.”

Pray for Ron’s faithful witness to all those around him and that he would make multiplying disciples wherever he goes.

*pseudonym

FROM GANGSTER TO DISCIPLE MAKER
Pastor *Wint was from a mixed Muslim-and Hindu-background area of Bali, Indonesia. One of his concerns was the unreached tribe on the mountains bordering where he lived. read more …

DID GOD ANSWER THIS PRAYER?
Recently, Brian and Allison*, Beyond mission catalysts in Austronesia, learned of answers to prayers they and their partners began praying back in 2004! read more …

LACK OF HARVESTERS …
Recently Reina*, a BEYOND field worker, was approached by a foreign worker from another organization. “I want you to let me know if you have any local workers in your network read more …

Bold Faith, New Life

Aug 7, 2025 | Austronesia, Stories

*Jawaria’s soul was weighed down by unanswered prayers and spiritual uncertainty. She was a devoted SaSumBi woman, a faithful follower of Islam and had spent years striving to please Allah.

That is, until the day she met someone entirely unexpected: another SaSumBi woman—yet strikingly different. This woman, *Ati, also came from a Muslim background, but her life radiated peace and joy. She claimed to follow Isa Al Masih (Jesus Christ). Ibu Jawaria was stunned. “How could that possibly be?” she wondered. Could one come from a world like hers and still follow Isa?

Intrigued and compelled by the difference in Ati, Ibu Jawaria began meeting with Ati, who introduced her to Discovery Bible Stories—starting with the lives of the Old Testament prophets. Ati not only read the stories with her but also trained her to lead these simple yet powerful story-based discussions within her own household.

Each story session included four key questions:

What does this teach us about the character of God?
What does it teach us about people?
How will you personally obey what God is revealing? When will you begin?
Who will you share this story with so that they, too, may know God?

As the weeks passed, something deep began to shift within Ibu Jawaria. With each story, she encountered glimpses of a God whose heart was tender, just, and full of grace. Tears flowed freely—tears of release and awakening.

Though she had long sought to live righteously under Islam, Ibu Jawaria came to realize that all her efforts—outward rituals and ceremonial cleansings—could not erase the guilt she carried in her heart. She saw clearly her own capacity to harm others, despite her best intentions. A painful truth settled in: there was a chasm between her and the holy God she so desperately wanted to know.

As she and her family continued their Discovery Bible Study journey, they eventually reached the stories of the New Testament. It was then that the truth pierced their hearts with clarity: only through Isa Al Masih could true forgiveness, peace, and eternal life be found.

That day, the entire household bowed their hearts before Isa. They turned from their own ways and prayed a simple prayer of surrender, placing their trust in the One who alone could bridge the great divide—Isa Al Masih.

Finally, Ibu Jawaria was at peace. She had found the Way. And more than that, she had found the truth and the life.

Later, her husband remarked, “You’re really bold in telling others about Isa Al Masih.”

She smiled and replied, “Of course I am bold—this is the truth!”

Today, Ibu Jawaria shares openly, passionately, and boldly the Good News of Isa.

She told Ati of her desire to be like the Apostle Paul—unshaken, unafraid, and completely surrendered, even unto death. She and her husband now lead a vibrant, reproducing house church with their extended household, continuing to discover and proclaim the transforming power of Isa Al Masih.

*pseudonym

GIVE UP YOUR WAY: A KEY DISCIPLE-MAKING COMPONENT
They felt led to move to a new area and start a ministry that would open the region to the gospel for the first time. By seeking the Lord themselves, read more …

10 CHARACTERISTICS OF A BOOK OF ACTS CHURCH
A group covenants to follow Jesus together. They are baptized and study and obey God’s word together. They fellowship together and care for one another … read more …

LACK OF HARVESTERS …
Recently Reina*, a BEYOND field worker, was approached by a foreign worker from another organization. “I want you to let me know if you have any local workers in your network read more …

Finding Jesus in the Ordinary

Mar 14, 2025 | Austronesia, Stories

As our ministry teams share Jesus with those he brings into their path, they discover that Jesus is found in the ordinary. He gives hope to those who need it and comfort to others who call on His name.

Hope in Jesus
Yul often visited the cemetery where his beloved wife was laid to rest. It was part of his journey through grief, yet each visit was infused with a quiet hope.

During one of these visits, he encountered the man who had dug his wife’s grave. As they spoke, Yul shared his heart: “I come here to grieve, but not without hope. My wife was a follower of Jesus Christ, and I believe she is now in heaven with Him. I also believe that when I die, I’ll be reunited with her there. This is the hope I have in Jesus.”

The grave digger looked surprised. “I’ve never heard that before,” he admitted.

“I’d love to meet with you and share more from the Scriptures about this hope,” Yul offered. “Would you be interested?”

The man nodded. “Yes.”

Since then, not only the grave digger, but five other cemetery workers have joined Yul for nine Bible study sessions, learning about the prophets and Jesus. Pray that through Yul’s testimony and truth of Scripture, the Holy Spirit would draw each of them into a saving relationship with Christ and make obedient disciples of all of them.

The Sleepiness Vanished
In Southeast Asia, our follow-up team encourages new disciples to go through Steps to Freedom in Christ, a book designed to help them navigate the spiritual battles they often face after baptism. Many new disciples in this region experience intense demonic attacks, and this resource equips them to understand their identity in Christ, renounce any surrendered ground, and reclaim those areas through the power of Jesus.

As Fit prayed through the material, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness suddenly washed over her. Sensing a spiritual attack, her teammate Nini urged her to pray. Fit closed her eyes, lifted her hands, and began to pray. Instantly, the sleepiness vanished.

When she opened her eyes, she turned to Nini and thanked her for holding her hand. But Nini shook her head. “I didn’t hold your hand. I didn’t even touch you,” she said. “That must have been Jesus.”

Now, more than ever, Fit knows that Jesus is always with her.

Pray that she continues to experience His presence in deeper and more powerful ways, and shares his love with others.

*pseudonyms

READ RELATED STORIES

LACK OF HARVESTERS ….
“Many times the fruit goes rotten for lack of harvesters among unreached people groups (UPGs). In Western cultures, read more …

JESUS HEALS AS IS WRITTEN IN THE QUR’AN
“This was the same lady, Ibu Muli, in whose home we now sat. She told us that immediately after read more …

LEARN ABOUT OUR WORK IN AUSTRONESIA

A Storm, Komodo Dragons, and the Jesus Film

Nov 29, 2024 | Austronesia, Stories

One of the stories *Charlie and *Sarah love to share with their neighbors on the island where they live, is the story of Jesus calming the storm. A vibrant batik painting of this scene hangs prominently in their living room, serving as both a piece of art and a conversation starter.

But sometimes, God doesn’t calm the storm. In fact, sometimes He sends one. In Acts 28, God used a storm to redirect Paul to the island of Malta, where Paul survived a snake bite and healed many people. We don’t know if any churches were planted or if people believed in Jesus and were baptized. But we do know that Paul’s detour to Malta was part of God’s plan. Once there, Paul continued his mission, sharing the Good News of Jesus through his words and actions.

Recently, Charlie and Sarah experienced their own divinely orchestrated storm while on a small wooden boat at sea. They were traveling with family and friends on a 30-meter Phinisi, a handmade wooden boat, perfect for island hopping. Their destination was Komodo Island, but rough seas changed their plans. With 15-20 foot waves battering the boat, the captain advised everyone to put on life jackets and cautiously navigated the rest of the trip. They weathered the storm but ended up on a small, unknown island instead.

On this unexpected island, Charlie met *Fadhlan, a Bajo man. During their friendly conversation, Charlie expressed his desire to visit a Bajo village, and Fadhlan eagerly invited them to his. A few days later, Charlie and Sarah traveled on a rented motorcycle to meet Fadhlan and his cousin, who took them by boat to their village on a small island shared with 1,500 Komodo Dragons. Though they didn’t see any dragons, they had a spiritual conversation about how God had used the storm to bring them together.

Sarah shared the story of Jesus calming the storm, which resonated deeply with the sea-faring villagers.

Charlie then showed them part of the Jesus film in the Bajo language on his phone. The villagers had never seen it before, and they eagerly copied it onto their cell phones. Soon, the film spread throughout the village, gaining a “fan base.”

Charlie and Sarah had no idea that this little village existed and would never have visited it if not for the storm. But God knew, and through this divine detour, the villagers heard about Jesus for the first time.

Pray for Fadhlan and all who heard the Good News that day.

Pray that God will continue the work He started in that village and that the Jesus film will be shared over and over again as it is copied from phone to phone.

*pseudonyms

READ OTHER STORIES FROM CHARLIE AND SARAH BELOW

GUNS, KNIVES, AND A MOTORCYCLE GANG
Charlie and Sarah met with Ali, who has shown great hunger for reading stories from the Bible about Jesus. Charlie and Sarah wanted to establish him in the pattern of reading read more …

JESUS HEALS AS IS WRITTEN IN THE QUR’AN
“This was the same lady, Ibu Muli, in whose home we now sat. She told us that immediately after the prayer, her back had been healed, and read more …

SMALL BUSINESS OPENS DOORS TO THE UNREACHED
*Charlie and *Sarah participated in a retreat with local church planting teams focused on reaching unreached people groups, in their province in Southeast Asia. read more …