South Asia | Beyond

Arrested For Choosing Jesus

Apr 1, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

Sharan* and his family became followers of Jesus less than two years ago. Before Jesus, they worshiped idols and brought offerings to the temple, even though they were not allowed to enter it and sit with the higher caste peoples or the priest. As Nai caste (haircutter caste), they are considered a polluting people. Being Hindu was hard, but they didn’t know another way.

One Friday, as Sharan and his wife walked to the market, they heard singing. Curious, they entered the home to observe the group. They listened to a Bible story and a Discovery Bible study discussion. Sharan was deeply impacted by the prayers. They prayed for the sick and things happening in the village. Everyone was praying. Sharan wondered what kind of god allowed everyone to pray.

After attending the meetings for several weeks, Sharan and his wife said, “We, too, can invite people to our house to listen to stories and pray to this amazing God.” The neighbors who came were impressed that everyone was invited. Everyone could have chai and eat together, sing and pray together. There were no caste barriers among themselves or between themselves and God.

Sharan and his family became followers of Jesus. They never went back to the temple. “There is nothing good for me back in Hinduism,” Sharan said. And he found that as he prayed about everything, life improved. “What an amazing God!” he thought.

But when high-caste villagers noticed that Sharan didn’t go to the temple anymore, they were unwilling to tolerate his new life. They persuaded officials to keep him from his harvest and arrest him.

During Sharan’s imprisonment, God’s people provided for his family. Sharan’s father was impressed, “We are not alone. These people help us. This is not just talk.” Sharan’s family continued hosting prayer meetings and sharing about Jesus. No one walked away from Jesus.

Six weeks later, Sharan was freed from jail. Village leaders were sure he would deny Jesus to return to his old job, but Sharan had another idea. He decided to try disciple-making full-time for three months.If God would provide work for his wife and father during that time, Sharan would continue. If not, he’d go back to his old job.

Sharan gave himself to disciple-making, faithfully telling people about Jesus and passing along the trainings his mentor shared with him. In this way, he discipled 19 families. After three months, 11 families were baptized. A few months later, the remaining eight were baptized.

At the end of three months, Sharan had discipled 19 lost families to Jesus. Within the next few months, all 19 families obeyed the Lord in baptism. And God provided work for his wife and father. Through the network of churches that has now reached seven spiritual generations and the business, God is providing all their needs. Sharan’s life is a testimony to all of what God can do.

God is building His church in the places we least expect it. Praise the Lord!

*pseudonym

Obedience Unleashed: Multiplication God’s Way

Mar 25, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus shares this parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment. “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins.” — Luke 5:36–38 (NLT)

One of our teams reflected on this passage and what it means for seeing a true movement of God. They realized that if they want to witness entire regions transformed by the good news of Jesus, they must be willing to think differently about disciple-making. That means letting go of traditions or structures—old wineskins—that hinder people from coming to Christ.

It means anchoring their ministry fully in God’s Word and embracing new ways—new wineskins—that align with wholehearted obedience to Jesus. They’ve seen this paradigm shift bear incredible fruit among their teammates in South Asia. As these workers release tradition and focus on the authority of Scripture, God is doing amazing things.

Earlier this year, the team received a message from Nuh*, a faithful disciple-maker. Nuh joyfully announced the baptism of an entire family who had believed and repented. Six people were baptized that day—by Nuh himself.

During the next morning’s coaching call, the team celebrated this Kingdom breakthrough. But they also gently challenged Nuh with a question: “According to the Great Commission, who is called to baptize?”

Nuh answered, “All disciples who follow Jesus.”

They responded, “Exactly—so why is it that only pastors baptize in your context?”

Nuh admitted that it’s simply the way it’s always been done in his culture. The team encouraged him to compare this tradition with the authority Jesus gave to all His disciples. If Jesus commanded all of us to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach obedience, why limit baptism to only pastors?

They spent three hours together reading Scripture, wrestling with the tension between cultural norms and God’s Word. In the end, Nuh was convinced. But he had another question: “If I don’t baptize everyone myself, how do I pass on the authority to others?”

The team replied, “If we want to make true disciples, we must model and assist others in walking in obedience to Jesus. What do you think you should do?”

Together, they formed a simple and powerful plan: Nuh would gather the new believers, teach them what Scripture says about baptism, then model it by baptizing the first person. That person would then baptize the next, and so on—each one stepping into their God-given authority to obey and make disciples.

On the next call, Nuh shared how freeing this experience had been. No longer feeling the pressure to do everything himself, he had empowered others to obey Jesus fully. The new disciples—who had both been baptized and baptized others—felt strengthened and confident in their faith.

And the fruit? These new believers have already gone into neighboring villages and begun forming new groups among the lost.

*pseudonym

A Story of Unwavering Faith

Mar 18, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

In North India, among the Baghel and Kumhar communities, a faithful disciple-maker named Rohan lived out that truth.

Rohan* boldly shared the good news of Jesus in places where His name was barely known. He led with courage. He served with love. And then he paid the ultimate price, Rohan was martyred for his faith by local opposition.

Rohan left behind a grieving family… including his daughter, Shantha*. But grief did not have the final word. The body of Christ stepped in, surrounding Rohan’s family with prayer, care, and provision. And something unexpected began to happen.

As news of Rohan’s death spread, villagers began to ask questions. “How could someone be killed just for doing good?” As people learned he had been killed simply for serving the Lord, many responded with shock and sympathy.

Rohan’s family remained firm in their faith. Their forgiveness… their perseverance… their hope became a living testimony.

Men and women who had never heard of Jesus began attending Bible discovery groups. Some chose to follow Christ—drawn not by argument, but by a faith refined through suffering.

Slowly, people gathered to learn more—joining Bible discovery groups, encountering Jesus through the quiet witness of a family who chose faith over fear.

Today, Shantha carries her father’s legacy forward. She is a bold disciple-maker and trainer—equipping others to take the gospel even further.

What persecution meant to silence, God used to multiply.

Watch the video below.

*pseudonyms used

Vani’s Unseen Love

Jan 7, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

*Vani grew up deeply immersed in Bengali traditions, practicing idol worship and even witchcraft. After marrying, her husband became addicted to alcohol, and their home was consumed with constant fighting, bickering, and strife.

Overwhelmed with disappointment and grief, Vani left her husband and returned to her family. Yet even there, she found no relief—her days were marked by tears and despair over her broken marriage. In desperation, she cried out, “God, if You are real, please change my life.”

One day, while weeping, she suddenly heard a clear, audible voice: “I am Yeshu (Hindi for Jesus). Come close to Me.” She heard the voice again and again.

As time passed, Vani’s desire for idol worship and witchcraft completely faded—she grew to despise those practices. But she remained confused: Who is Yeshu? she wondered. When she asked others, someone finally explained, “Yeshu is the Christian God, Jesus.”

Determined to know Him, Vani began attending a traditional church service where she learned of His love. Six months ago, she placed her trust in Jesus. Since then, she has returned to Delhi to live with her husband. By God’s grace, his drinking has decreased, the fighting is less frequent, and he has found steady work.

Because the Christian community in Delhi is so small, *Jerusha, —our Indian teammate—was introduced to Vani through house church connections. Jerusha has begun discipling her, and Vani often shares that before, she knew nothing of Jesus, yet He called her with His own voice. She now calls Him her “Unseen Love”—the love she had longed for but never known, the love that has filled her life with peace and blessing.

Her faith is unwavering. She boldly declares, “Whatever happens, I will never leave Jesus.” Though she first encountered Him through a traditional church, Jerusha is excited to walk with her in learning the simple disciple-making model used in the Listening Movement—so that she, too, can share Jesus with her family.

Please pray:

For Jerusha’s boldness and wisdom as she disciples Vani.
For Vani’s faith to grow strong and remain steadfast through trials and persecution.
That Vani will boldly testify to how God called her, and that her transformed life will shine brightly as a witness to the power of the Holy Spirit.

*pseudonym

The Police Chief Demanded a Song

Dec 26, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

A BEYOND team was recently sitting with an Indian disciple-maker from the Bhojpuri network, asking questions as they measured the growth of a movement.

“How many churches have you started?” they asked.

The man—quiet, humble, almost hesitant—smiled. “Only 75.”

“And your team?”

“About 1500,” he replied. Many of those churches had already multiplied into four, five, and even more generations.

As the conversation deepened, the team learned this was not a story of polished leadership or formal training. It was a story of transformation.

Before following Jesus, the man said he had been a “dangerous robber.” As he spoke, he and the translator acted out firing a gun, a sobering reminder of the life he once lived. Fear had followed him then—wherever he went.

When he chose to follow Jesus, his community reacted with threats and pressure, demanding that he return to his former religion. Finally, he told them the truth: they did not really know what they were asking. If he went back, he warned, he would also return to being the dangerous man they once feared.

Remembering his past, they stopped pressing him so aggressively.

The opposition didn’t end there.

Not long ago, a police chief arrived at his home with several officers to arrest him for “converting” people—literally, for “changing the minds of others,” a serious crime. Calmly, the disciple-maker explained that he wasn’t converting anyone.

“I just sing songs about Jesus,” he said, “and tell stories about Jesus.”

The police chief was unconvinced. “Then sing,” he demanded.

So the disciple-maker picked up his small tambourine and sang a simple song about Jesus.

When the song ended, the police chief stood quietly for a moment. Then he said, “I feel such peace when you sing. I see no problem with what you are doing. You may continue to sing your songs and tell your stories.”

Please join us in praying that this man and the movement he helps lead will continue to multiply, starting many more generations of churches through simple obedience, courageous faith, and the quiet power of the gospel.

Arrested For Choosing Jesus

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