South East Asia

Three Women, Fierce Persecution, Unstoppable Faith

Oct 31, 2025 | South East Asia, Stories

Outcast But Chosen
Not long after *Asha chose to follow Jesus, tragedy struck. Her husband suddenly passed away. The people in her little village in North India were quick to blame her new faith. “Your God killed your husband,” they accused.

Fear and anger swept through the community. A village council was called, and the verdict was harsh—Asha was to be banished. Her neighbors threw her out of her home. They denied her food and water. They forbade her children from going to school. Every attempt was made to break her faith and force her to return to her old ways.

But Asha stood firm. Through tears and trials, she held onto Jesus. And God turned her suffering into strength.

Today, Asha leads 27 house churches and mentors 13 leaders who are multiplying disciples across her region. Once rejected by her village, she is now a pillar of faith—shining the light of Christ where darkness once ruled.

Pray that Asha will continue to stand strong and that the Lord will expand her influence to reach many more with His love.

Planting Churches Under Pressure
When *Riya began a Discovery Bible Study in a small village, she met regularly with a woman named *Sita. Life had been difficult for Sita. Her family was plagued by sickness, financial struggles, and constant worry. Though she fervently worshiped idols, peace always seemed out of reach.

As Riya shared Bible stories and prayed with her, Sita encountered the love of Jesus. Hope replaced fear, and slowly her family started to heal. Sita’s heart was transformed, and she chose to follow Christ.

But her new faith came at a high cost. When the villagers learned she had become a Jesus follower, they tied her son to a tree and beat him. They falsely accused him of a heinous crime and handed him over to the police. Still, Sita and her family refused to abandon their faith.

Despite ongoing persecution, especially from extremist groups like the RSS, (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh—an Indian right-wing Hindutva volunteer paramilitary organization) Sita has planted two house churches and continues to baptize and disciple new believers..

We praise God for how He has sustained this family through suffering and used them to spread His light. Pray that Sita, her son, and their growing community will remain steadfast as they boldly proclaim the name of Jesus. Pray that they would continue to be the city on a hill, a light that cannot be hidden.

Healed, Bold, and Unstoppable
*Javeria, a Muslim background woman, met Jesus through a Discovery Bible Study (DBS). Disciples from the movement visited her village, and through their witness, she encountered the life-changing truth of Christ.

At that time, her son, *Abbas was gravely ill. She had taken him to countless doctors, yet no one could heal him. When she began attending the DBS group, the women gathered around her prayed fervently for Abbas. God answered and Abbas was healed—completely and miraculously.

This miracle transformed Javeria’s family. She shared the gospel with all her children, and they too are coming to faith. But her strong faith has brought opposition. Many in the village treat her harshly, and local Muslim leaders repeatedly demand she abandon Jesus. Yet Javeria stands firm, serving the Lord with unwavering courage and boldness.

Despite being uneducated, she has planted seven house churches and is mentoring three new leaders. Today, her ministry spans three generations of disciples actively walking with the Lord and multiplying His kingdom.

Join us in praying for Javeria—for her protection, for boldness, and that God will continue to use her to raise even more disciples who make disciples.

Pray that God will continue to raise strong, fearless women throughout India who will not be ashamed of the gospel and will proclaim the Good News to those around them despite possible persecution.

*pseudonym

Obedience, Reunion, and Revival

Jul 16, 2025 | South East Asia, Stories

After prayer walking with a local partner, sowing gospel seeds with whoever was receptive, Scott* asked the Lord what he should do with the time before his afternoon appointment.

Scott felt that he should accompany his friend who was going to a church on the other side of town from his afternoon appointment, so he did. When they arrived, they found Kamnan* and Tida*, a couple Scott had not seen for 20 years.

That morning the Lord had told the couple to find Scott, so they had traveled to the church to inquire after his whereabouts. Their surprisingly immediate reunion with Scott was warm, and they readily accepted his invitation to a disciple-making training he was giving the following week.

Despite several scheduling conflicts, Kamnan and Tida came. They later said it was a complete revival of their spiritual well-being and reignited a passion they had not felt since becoming new believers.

Full of faith, they went out to do what they had learned in the training. Through their obedience, God has performed a few miracles, including a demonic exorcism, and several people have become followers of Jesus.

In reflection, Scott realizes how easily he could have missed out on God’s plan. Had he enacted his own efficient planning that day and not submitted his schedule to the Lord, he would have missed Kamnan and Tida. Their ministry would not have started, and Scott would not have seen what he trusts is an answer to his prayer for new apostolically gifted workers.

*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 …

A 24 Year Answer to Prayer

Jun 4, 2025 | South East Asia, Stories

This inspiring story began 24 years ago, at the turn of the century, when *Scott, a mission catalyst, and his wife *Saeng, began training Southeast Asian leaders at 3-5 day border events in Thailand.

During one of these events, Scott met Pastor Som, a humble and deeply committed believer from a small district north of the capital city. Though uneducated, *Pastor Som embraced everything he learned and applied it with determination. In the following years, he planted several churches across his province, and for a time, church multiplication was thriving.

However, when the national church took control of these leadership trainings, the growth halted. The churches remained, but the rapid multiplication ceased.

More than a decade later, a leader named *Anuson from Southeast Asia was being trained by the national church. Recognizing his potential, the national leaders sent him to a Bible college in the Philippines. While Anuson grew personally from the experience, the principles he learned about church leadership in an open society did not translate well to his home context.

Upon his return, he attempted to apply his training, but the large gatherings he led drew unwanted attention. Eventually, he was arrested and put in prison for over a year.

Meanwhile, the national church leaders heard of a successful church multiplication model being used in Central Southeast Asia. Scott and his team introduced this model to the national leaders. During that pivotal meeting, the head of the national church declared, “From now on, all our leaders across the country will follow this model.” His commitment was firm, and Scott, along with a team of co-workers, was invited to train leaders from all over the country. This shift occurred seven years ago.

After Anuson’s release from prison, he connected with Pastor Som, who had resumed following the church multiplication model with the full support of the central church. Anuson learned this new approach from Som and returned to Southeast Asia, eager to put it into practice. Knowing Anuson’s passion for the model, Scott invited him to a training in Thailand, held in a village of the Bru people—the same ethnic background as Anuson.

The training deepened Anuson’s understanding of the multiplication strategy. Anuson and his team have now started 48 new discipleship groups, 13 of which have become fully functioning churches. At a training session, Scott spoke highly of Anuson, saying, “He’s a man known for his love for others and his strong life of prayer.” Meanwhile, Pastor Som has now seen the Christian population in his province grow from 1,000 to 2,000 believers.

We thank God that the national church embraced this new way of working, allowing many more people in Southeast Asia to hear the message of Jesus and choose to follow Him.

Join us in celebrating this 24-year answer to prayer: Pastor Som’s faithful multiplication of churches and leaders, and Anuson’s success in adapting the model to his unique setting, resulting in 48 new groups.

Please continue to pray for pastors Anuson and Som, that they would experience God’s favor and continue to train up new leaders. May every village in their provinces be home to a community of obedient disciples.

*pseudonym

Names in Heaven

Apr 9, 2025 | South East Asia, Stories

After hearing a Christian broadcast, Mr. Kim was stirred with curiosity. He listened more and eventually obtained a rare copy of the North Korean Bible. For months, he studied it diligently, and as understanding dawned, so did overwhelming joy. Unable to keep the truth to himself, he quietly began sharing the gospel with family and friends.

One by one, lives were transformed.

Over a hundred people in his town embraced Christ—fully aware of the grave risk they faced. In North Korea, being caught as a believer often means public execution. Yet, their faith grew.

Their underground fellowship, however, was eventually infiltrated by a special security agent. A total of 102 people were arrested and confined in the town’s security compound. They faced relentless interrogation and brutal treatment. But when the noontime siren sounded each day, their voices rose in unison, boldly praying the Lord’s Prayer. No beatings could silence them.

Even their guards stood in astonishment at their unwavering courage.

Around 40 of them were secretly executed. The rest were condemned to a notorious prison camp, vanishing into the darkness of North Korea’s brutal system.

We have no further updates on their fate, but we know that God has not abandoned them. He is with them in their suffering, and He treasures each one.

The world may not know their names, but the Lord does.

How You Can Pray

Pray for the continued spread of gospel broadcasts across North Korea, overcoming every barrier.
Pray that those hungry for truth will be able to find printed or digital copies of the Bible
Pray for the ones who persecute believers—pray that their hearts would be softened and their eyes opened to the truth as they witness the unshakable faith of Christ’s followers.
Wherever you are in the world, commit to joining in prayer at noontime, standing in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters.

*pseudonyms

READ OTHER STORIES FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA

BUDDHIST WOMAN HEALED OF CANCER
*Somchai lived in the bustling city of Bangkok. Life for the 26-year-old seemed to be crumbling around her. read more

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
Ami found herself wasting away due to her struggles with alcohol abuse. Her days were consumed by card games, read more

A TRIUMPH OVER BLACK MAGIC
*Narong and *Junta were deeply immersed in the occult practices and folk Buddhism of Thailand when they encountered read more

The Woman Who Died—And Lived Again

Mar 31, 2025 | South East Asia, Stories

Six Lao believers and twelve Isaan believers went out to share their faith in unchurched villages.

Over and over, they heard the same response:

“*Nangta? Everyone knows her, but she died last year.”

But Nangta didn’t die.

She was once a well-known spirit medium, sought after by villagers for deliverance from demons, physical healing, and blessings in times of trouble. People came from across the district to seek her help, paying for rituals in hopes of securing favor from the spirit world. Yet, like many spirit priests and mediums, Nangta suffered from persistent illness. The spirits she served demanded much. Their toll on her body was heavy and she became gravely ill.

Believing she was nearing death, Nangta had an unexpected encounter. Believers from a house church—one started by our co-worker, *Pastor Mee—visited her village. Rather than inviting people to a distant church building, these Christians engaged in spiritual conversations right where people lived and worked. Nangta heard the gospel in her own home. That day, she made a life-changing decision—she accepted Jesus, renounced her ties to the spirit world, and was miraculously healed. Soon after, a church was planted in her home.

When Nangta heard that Lao believers would be visiting in January, she eagerly opened her doors to host them during the three-day outreach. Mats were laid out, and everyone camped in her home. As pairs of believers ventured into nearby villages searching for “persons of peace,” they repeatedly asked, “Have you heard of a spirit medium named Nangta?”

Each time, the response was the same: “Of course! But she’s dead.”

It made sense. Nangta had been widely known, and when she stopped performing spirit rituals, everyone assumed she had passed away. But during the outreach, her testimony of healing and deliverance spread from house to house, leaving villagers amazed.

At the end of the first day, as the teams debriefed, Nangta laughed.

“They’re right—I did die! I died to myself, and now I live for Jesus.”

Her face radiated with the joy of the Lord.

By the end of the outreach, 172 people had engaged in conversations about Jesus, and 33 expressed a desire to follow Him. Follow-up visits are now underway, and time will reveal who is truly committed. But one man, *Mr. Tongdee, stood out.

The very night he was first contacted, he attended a house church meeting at Nangta’s home. During worship, he listened intently, and at one point, tears streamed down his face. Just days later, he reached out to local believers—asking for help to destroy his Buddhist and spiritist paraphernalia.

A new chapter has begun in these villages. And it all started with a woman whom everyone thought was dead—yet is more alive than ever in Christ.

Here are some ways we can pray for the people in this village:

Pray many people will come to Nangta’s home asking to hear more about how she left her old life and found new life in Jesus.

Pray that believers who meet in Nangta’s home will grow in grace and obedience to Jesus. Pray for the follow-up with the 33 new contacts and that at least one new house church will be birthed.

Pray Tongdee and others in his village will be obedient to the Lord as they go through lessons for new disciples. Ask that Tongdee’s entire household will come to love and serve Jesus.

*pseudonym

Three Women, Fierce Persecution, Unstoppable Faith

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