South Asia | Beyond

More Than Conquerors?

Feb 5, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

In a letter to his friends in Rome, Paul declared that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love—nothing at all. In every trial, he wrote, “we are more than conquerors” (Romans 8:35-39).

More than conquerors? In trials? In chains for Christ’s name?

Oswald Chambers put it this way: “The ‘things’ Paul speaks of here aren’t imaginary; they’re intensely real. Yet, in the thick of our hardships, Paul calls us ‘super-victors’—not because of our intelligence or strength, but because nothing can sever our relationship with God in Jesus Christ.” Chambers added, “I am sorry for Christians who have nothing difficult in their circumstances…” (My Utmost for His Highest, May 19).

These verses—and Chambers’ words—remind us of Brother Sagren, a faithful servant in North India who has found that nothing can separate him from Jesus’ love.

Sagren serves the Lord in North India, an increasingly hostile area where Hindu nationalist groups like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintain offices. Hundreds of house churches are part of Sagren’s network, and he has been arrested three times. With police assistance, one nationalist group managed to intimidate at least 300 families into turning away from Jesus. Officials searched the homes of new disciples for Bibles, and any family found with one faced severe beatings. Many were denied jobs and government-supplied essentials, such as rice, flour, and oil. Local leaders even threatened to cut off access to basic utilities unless families renounced their faith.

Despite these obstacles, Sagren has stood firm, continuing to encourage local believers to obey Jesus’ command to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Risking arrest, beatings, and more, he courageously ministered to the 300 families who had turned back. Within six months, he saw 134 of those families and their house churches re-established. He baptized 643 new believers and trained 39 new “Timothys”—house church leaders who are now carrying the gospel forward.

Sagren is a victor, not because he’s the most educated or boldest, nor because he has financial security or health insurance, but because he has taken Paul at his word, “In Christ we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS!

Join us in praying for Brother Sagren and these disciples, that they, like Paul, would know nothing can separate them from God’s love. Nothing! May they continue to share it boldly.

For those of us blessed with education, security, and opportunity, we have much to learn from these faithful disciples.

*pseudonyms

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Vignettes From a Thriving Church in North India

Dec 31, 2024 | South Asia, Stories

Even amidst intense hardship, persecution, and resistance, the church in North India continues to thrive.

Proclaiming the Name of Jesus Despite Persecution
*Kay Devi hails from a village in Uttar Pradesh, where she has repeatedly encountered hostility from Hindu radicals. Six months ago, her family embraced Christianity, which has sparked tension in their village. Recently, Kay started a conversation about her newfound faith with some villagers, who took offense. Since then, she has faced persecution from the community, her family, and her husband. Despite this, Kay remains steadfast in her faith, sharing the gospel with those willing to listen. She has planted three house churches, even as she remains a target of the RSS, a fundamentalist Hindu group.

Three Generations Deep: A House Church Movement
*Poonam, a resident of Bihar, experienced intimidation from local police who discovered her house church meetings six weeks ago. Her husband was detained, and their family threatened. Yet, Poonam stood firm, declaring that no one could harm her because she knows the truth. Despite continued oppression and limited income, she persists in hosting gatherings in her home. She now oversees 18 house churches, some reaching three generations deep.

Nineteen House Churches Born from One Woman’s Obedience
In Haryana, a disciple maker encountered a couple who were believers but not actively making disciples. Encouraged by her husband to take on this role, the wife began leading two Discovery Bible Study (DBS) groups, which eventually grew into churches. When questioned about her role as a woman in this ministry, she explains that her husband supports her and that they work together. Her unwavering commitment has resulted in the formation of 19 house churches, with seven women serving as co-leaders. She asks for prayers for the ongoing work and the disciples.

A Request for Prayer for a Resistant Village
*Rebekah resides in a village where most people oppose the two house churches that have formed there. The villagers criticize the churches for transforming their members, noting that Rebekah’s husband no longer drinks or behaves as he once did. Despite the resistance, especially from the village women, Rebekah continues her outreach efforts. She requests prayers for strength for the house churches and for the growth of the Lord’s work in the community.

Join us in praying Ephesians 3:16-18 over these faithful brothers and sisters as they count the cost of loving and serving a faithful God. Pray for an increase in provision, favor, stamina, and perseverance as they face persecution and suffering.

*pseudonyms

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A Father’s Faith, A Son’s Impact

Dec 4, 2024 | South Asia, Stories

*Samir’s father, *Nuh, has been faithfully pastoring several churches for over 20 years. After witnessing his son Samir’s success in rapidly multiplying healthy disciples, Nuh was eager to incorporate Disciple Making Movement principles into his own churches.

Nuh began by teaching his congregations how to conduct Discovery Bible Studies. He then divided them into smaller house churches, encouraging each group to obey God’s Word. As they embraced this approach, group members shared, “This is the first time we feel we are truly learning and obeying Scripture.” Since all the members of these groups were already followers of Jesus, they are referred to as Generation Zero groups.

This month, Nuh gathered the Gen Zero leaders for further training in Disciple Making Movement (DMM) principles. As these leaders apply what they have learned and reach out to start new groups among the lost, these new groups will be known as Generation One groups. Praise God for Nuh’s willingness to relinquish control, empower others, and implement simple, reproducible, and multiplicative principles. Pray that the newly trained leaders will equip their groups to establish Generation One groups in neighboring Muslim and Hindu villages.

*pseudonym

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The Lord said, “It is time.”

Oct 30, 2024 | South Asia, Stories

Arjun* went to visit a house church near his village. As this dedicated disciple-maker walked through the village on his way to the gathering, six young, strong men came up to him, grabbed him, and began to beat him. They then dragged him to a nearby house and locked him inside.

Miraculously, Arjun managed to escape and returned home. For three weeks, he did not go back to that village. He was so afraid. He never wanted to return!

Then, as Arjun was praying one day during his self-imposed exile, he heard the Lord say, “Go back.” He recoiled at the thought. “No, Lord!” He didn’t want to go. The Lord said, “It is time.”

So, Arjun went. He returned to the village where he’d been beaten and locked up. As he walked tentatively through the streets, he kept his eyes peeled for those young men. Would they find him again?

Finally, he safely entered the house church. The worship service had already begun. He walked to the side of the room opposite the door, and sat down. A wave of relief washed over him; he was safe.

His relief was short-lived though. To his horror and surprise, the very men who had beaten him entered the room shortly after had taken his seat. Locking eyes with Arjun, they advanced towards him.

He was so afraid. There was no escape! They were right in front of him. Then suddenly, one by one, those young men got down on their knees before Arjun. They begged for his forgiveness. They said that during the three weeks he’d been gone, they had become disciples of Jesus!

After the service, Arjun spent time with the young men. It turned out that none of them were from that village. They all lived in other villages in the area. They returned to their homes and in the following days, each young man started a church in his own household.

Arjun says: “I tell you the truth, my enemies have become my friends. They are helping me with the work. God has completely changed them. The ones who beat me now see me as their leader. Amazing work! In this way, God is helping us, and I give him all praise. Amen!”

*pseudonyms

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Meera’s Momos: Empowerment and Faith

Oct 23, 2024 | South Asia, Stories

*Meera’s story is like many others the team in India often hear. She married young to a man her parents chose for her. They now have three children. Meera’s husband has a job. But whatever money he makes goes straight to pay for alcohol.

Alcoholism is a huge problem in India. Social drinking, historically, had no place in India. Alcohol had one purpose only – to get a person drunk. Today, social drinking might be on the rise for the urban elite, but everyone else drinks to get drunk.

One Sunday, Meera began crying during the Sunday worship service. *Sanjay asked why she was crying. Through her tears, Meera shared how tired she was of getting beaten by her alcoholic husband and then, about how hungry she and her children were. Since all the money was going to buy alcohol, they had no money for food.

The church gathered around Meera and prayed for her. Sanjay asked her about ways she could make some money. What about setting up some kind of roadside food stall? Meera admitted that, yes, she was good at making momos (the Tibetan version of Chinese dumplings) but she could not afford to buy a steamer.

Sanjay gleefully explained to us how the church members all pooled their money to buy Meera a momo steamer. These church members are poor. The small building where they meet for worship only has half a roof. Most of them live in one-room homes. In fact, many of the women live in the exact same circumstances as Meera. Yet, they gladly pooled their money until they had the amount necessary ($25.00) for Meera to buy a steamer.

This happened several months ago. Today, Meera’s husband still drinks. However, Meera has set up a momo stall right outside the door of her one-room home. Her sales each day total between $6.00-$9.00.

With no coercion from anyone, but simply out of sheer gratitude, Meera is paying a tithe of her earnings back into the fellowship of people who helped her when she so desperately needed it.

God is still in the business of stepping in and making a way. Meera is one such example. Please join us in praying for the Meera’s of India. As they are liberated, whole communities will be….and then states….and then the nation!

*pseudonyms

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