South East Asia

When Tradition Meets Jesus

Jun 3, 2026 | South East Asia, Stories

Each April, communities across Thailand welcome the Thai New Year, widely known as Songkran, a Sanskrit word meaning “passage of the sun.” It is traditionally a time of renewal. Homes are cleaned, Buddha images are gently washed, and young people offer respect to elders by pouring scented water over their hands while speaking words of blessing.

In recent years, the celebration has taken a more playful tone, with joyful splashing of water filling the streets. While festive, these moments can also carry dangerous risks, especially for those traveling on busy roads.

This year, one local leader chose to honor the heart of the celebration while pointing his community toward a deeper meaning. Alex*, a Thai disciple who has quietly invested years in learning disciple-making and house church leadership, has been faithfully serving in his province. Last year, he partnered with a Lao team for a weekend outreach in his region. Several families chose to follow Jesus, and a new village house church was formed. Since then, Alex has been walking closely with its leaders, helping them grow in both faith and practice.

During this year’s Thai New Year gathering, Alex invited the church into a powerful expression of humility inspired by the Gospel of John, chapter 13. He knelt and gently washed the feet of each person present, speaking a blessing over them.

In Thai culture, feet are considered the lowest part of the body, both physically and symbolically. Touching another adult’s feet, especially as a leader, is highly unusual. Yet Alex chose to follow the example of Jesus, embracing humility in a way that spoke deeply to those watching. The room grew still as each person received this act of service. What could have felt uncomfortable instead became a moment of quiet transformation. Through this simple but profound act of love, Alex demonstrated a different kind of leadership, one shaped by humility and obedience.

Join us as we give thanks for Alex and for the growing church he is nurturing. Pray that those who witnessed this moment will carry its meaning into their daily lives, sharing their faith with others with love and humility. Pray that this young church would multiply in the coming year, planting another community of believers marked by the same humility and devotion. Lift up in prayer all the village house churches across the Thai network, that they would reflect this spirit in ways that resonate meaningfully within their own communities.

pseudonym*

The Impossible Meeting

May 27, 2026 | South East Asia, Stories

We often ask you to pray for Muslims to have dreams and visions of Jesus and then encounter a disciple of Jesus to interpret those dreams. Your prayers are being answered.

Joe* and Ray* went past a mosque in SE Asia, then into an adjoining neighborhood. They shared their testimonies about learning to follow Isa (Jesus), and they prayed for each home.

While they shared with an elderly, illiterate woman, her son left, showing no interest at all. The woman kept listening. They talked about Isa, sin and repentance. The woman realized she had many sins, and she repented. She decided to follow Isa and was baptized immediately.

After her baptism, she said, “This morning at 3 am, a very bright being in a white robe appeared to me in my home.” He said, ‘Follow Me. That is enough.’ I trembled with fear at the sight.”

Later that same day, around 3 pm, Joe and Ray suddenly appeared at her house, and she decided to follow Isa.

God sovereignly arranged the meeting and he prepared the heart of the elderly woman. The team in this area were amazed at this work of the Lord. As Joe commented, “Humanly speaking, that seems impossible; that area has so many homes.” Thank You, Lord Jesus!

And thank you for continuing to pray with us for more encounters with Jesus.

*pseudonyms

READ OTHER STORIES FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA

VILLAGE REVIVAL
*Malai grew up in a small village in Isaan, Eastern Thailand, but later moved to the larger city of Chiang Mai, read more …

FLAT TIRE—DIVINE APPOINTMENT
*Mulamdon and *Maht had been thriving as disciples under the guidance of *Chai and *Nong for several months read more …

“I, TOO WILL FOLLOW JESUS”
Lotus flowers dotted the beautiful pond – the perfect setting for a simple baptism in eastern Thailand. read more …

One Miracle, An Entire Family’s Salvation

Feb 11, 2026 | South East Asia, Stories

Ajarn is a well-known Christian pastor in Thailand. Like many Thais, he views life through the lens of a large, interconnected family rather than as an isolated individual. When asked about his journey to becoming a disciple of Jesus, Ajarn shares the remarkable story of how his entire family came to faith.

Ajarn’s grandparents lived in a northern Thai village, struggling to provide for their family of nine, which included seven children. Despite their hard work, they never seemed to have enough. Like others in their village, they identified as Buddhists but turned to the local shaman for help with their real-life issues.

One day, their eldest child fell gravely ill. The shaman demanded a water buffalo as a sacrifice to save the child. The family reluctantly parted with one of their precious working animals, only to watch in despair as their beloved child died.

Not long after, their second child also became dangerously ill. This time, the shaman required a large pig. The family scraped together the money to buy the animal, made the sacrifice, but tragically lost their second child as well. This heartbreaking pattern continued with their third and fourth children. Each time, despite the immense cost, they provided the sacrificial animal, valuing nothing more than their children’s lives.

When their fifth child fell ill, the family was desperate and nearly hopeless. At this critical moment, a disciple of Jesus with the intention of making more disciples arrived in their village. He asked if anyone needed prayer, and the villagers directed him to Ajarn’s grandparents. Hearing their tragic story and seeing their dire situation, he offered to pray for their sick child without requiring any sacrifice.

The disciple-maker explained that the disciples of Jesus received freely and were sent out to give freely. Skeptical but desperate, the family allowed him to pray over their child in the name of Jesus. Miraculously, they witnessed their child’s recovery right before their eyes! Moved by this experience, the entire family – father, mother, and remaining children – embraced Christ as their savior, experiencing salvation from both physical and spiritual death.

Now, in the grandchildren’s generation, many, including Ajarn, serve as full-time pastors or missionaries. Those who do not serve full-time remain steadfast in their faith, grateful that Jesus saved their whole family without cost and empowered them to go out among the lost and share this gift freely.

*pseudonym

Miracles and Healings

Feb 1, 2026 | South East Asia, Stories

God often uses healings to capture attention and hearts, opening the door to start a movement. These two stories bear testimony to that.

God Heals a Hand Tremor
Nan, a disciple of Jesus, led Yun to faith. When Nan prayed over Yun’s severe hand tremor, her hands stopped shaking, and she has enjoyed several weeks of calm hands. Yun’s two sons changed their attitude. Instead of forbidding their mother from pursuing faith in Jesus, they began asking to follow Jesus themselves.

Yun is part of a discipleship group. She reports that she has effectively shared with other relatives who are now considering the life change of becoming Jesus’ disciples.

We praise the Lord for His healing and His glory in this situation, showing others who He is! Join us in prayer for Yun’s family—for the Lord to continue glorifying Himself among the family, and in their region and beyond.

Mr. Nong’s Infection Healed
A group of Lao believers joined forces with Isaan church planters for a weekend outreach. As they went out in pairs to share their testimonies, they encountered a man named Mr. Nong, who was in severe pain. Years earlier, he had suffered from shingles, but a secondary infection had developed, ravaging the skin on his neck and shoulders. Despite visiting numerous medical doctors and spirit doctors, nothing had brought relief.

The disciples prayed for Mr. Nong’s healing and shared the gospel with him. He was deeply moved and eager to follow Jesus, choosing to begin his journey of faith right then and there.

In the days that followed, Mr. Nong began to experience healing. Though it was not instant, the infection started to clear up—something no treatment had been able to accomplish. When Stewart, a movement catalyst, met him for the first time, Mr. Nong testified that God had clearly touched his body and brought healing.

Today, Mr. Nong is a committed member of a local house church, growing in faith and walking with the Lord.

Jeremiah 30:17 says, “‘I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD.” What a powerful reminder that the Lord is not only aware of our pain but is actively working to bring restoration. Whether the wounds are physical, emotional, or spiritual, the Lord declares His intent to heal. His restoration goes beyond just relief—it brings renewal, hope, and wholeness.

*pseudonym

A Story of Faith, Courage, and Unseen Impact

Jan 14, 2026 | South East Asia, Stories

*Scott and *Saeng report that this year has been the most fruitful in their 30 years of ministry in Southeast Asia.

For years, they have prayed for Lao believers to join the harvest in Thailand. Last month, their prayers were answered when two Lao women in their 50s visited *Tai (a ministry partner) and his wife. Every day, these women went out with local team members, sharing their faith in nearby villages. The Isaan people responded positively, with many expressing interest in Jesus daily.

As the month went on, Scott encouraged Tai to invite local women to a spontaneous training led by these two Lao women. The event drew about 20 participants. Each morning, they studied Scripture together; each afternoon, they shared the gospel and each evening, they debriefed over dinner.

One Isaan woman, *Hom, was particularly moved during the training. Since becoming a disciple of Jesus in 2019, she had been vocal about her faith in her village. However, her husband, who did not believe, eventually stopped the Bible study meetings in their home, causing Hom to cease sharing her faith.

During the weekend training, Hom was inspired by the testimonies of the two Lao women. Both had faced opposition from their husbands, yet one husband had since become a disciple of Jesus. The other husband, though not a disciple, had accepted his wife’s faith and no longer opposed her sharing her faith. Encouraged by their stories, Hom has begun sharing her faith again in her village.

Please pray for Hom’s husband, that he will soon become a disciple of Jesus, and for follow-up with the many Isaan people who heard about Jesus this past month through the testimony of these Lao workers.

*pseudonym

When Tradition Meets Jesus

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The Impossible Meeting

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Miracles and Healings

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