“How do You Express Your Faith in America?”

“How do You Express Your Faith in America?”

GOD USES A THIEF TO ANSWER PRAYER

*Thui was a Thai Buddhist when he got his job at an international school in Thailand. He began participating in a Bible study, and soon some believers told him he should remove all the idols from his house. He knew he should do it, but he was afraid of angering the spirits. Together they prayed, and Thui asked for God’s help. Not long after, thieves broke into Thui’s house, and, among other stuff, they stole the idols!! Thui feels that God helped him by answering their prayer in this unusual way.

QUESTIONS THAT OPEN DOORS TO SHEMA STATEMENTS

Once a week *Elena meets for English club at the local mosque. Sitting on the porch’s cool tile steps, the participants discuss current events in small groups. One day the discussion topic was about religion. Someone asked a perfect, door-opening question of Elena, “How do you express your faith in America?” Immediately, she thought of her ongoing Disciple Making Movement training where she had learned to use the great commandment as a “shema statement.” Elena responded, “Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is how we should all express our faith, and, of course, we must love our neighbor as we love ourselves.”

After further discussion on the topic, Elena invited them to study the Word of God for themselves. Two Muslim men, *Ardin and *Rukmat, showed interest in reading stories about the prophets, so Elena is handing them off to Gerald, a teammate she is coaching in Disciple Making Movements. Rather than challenging Ardin and Rukmat to believe as they do, Elena and Gerald are trusting the Holy Spirit to lead them into truth through their examination of the Word. Pray for lasting fruit from their studies.

AN ANGEL COMES TO THE AID OF A BIKER

*Khampan had lived a dissolute life using drugs in dirty places. He grew sick and lay for months, pale and unable to get up. Everyone thought he had AIDS. One day, however, Christians came to his neighborhood and told him Jesus could heal him. He believed and prayed with them. Immediately, Khampan knew he would get better. It took several months, but now he is fully healed, working full-time, and supporting himself and his mom. Recently he was riding his motorbike on a broad, high-speed road. A pickup forced him off the road into sharp rocks. He panicked and instinctively wanted to brake, but a voice said, “No! Give it gas!” He did. His front tire found a deep rut that launched him up and over the rocks. He landed on flat ground, both he and the motorbike unharmed! Khampan believes that, as God’s child, an angel protected him.

*pseudonyms used

ORDINARY PEOPLE MAKING DISCIPLES OF JESUS
Achara, a shy woman with a fourth-grade education, embraced Christianity two decades ago. Despite faithfully attending ,  
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“DO PEOPLE TURN INTO DEMONS WHEN THEY DIE?”
Heather quickly responded that she wanted them to gain a new understanding about two of their former Buddhist practices and, ultimately, to turn read more …

LEARN ABOUT OUT WORK IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
There are 235 million people in Southeast Asia. The region is complex, with numerous languages, ethnicities, and variations on religion … learn more

“Do People Turn into Demons When They Die?”

“Do People Turn into Demons When They Die?”

Thankful to be riding an air-conditioned bus on what was proving to be a scorching day, Charis* and her teammate, Heather, were on their way to meet with some new believers in another village. Turning to Heather, Charis asked, “What are you hoping to see the Holy Spirit do in their lives this month?”

Heather quickly responded that she wanted them to gain a new understanding about two of their former Buddhist practices and, ultimately, to turn away from them. First, she wanted them to no longer “feed their parents’ spirit” and second, she hoped they would come to understand that people do not become demons when they die. The two women prayed together and proceeded to review the Bible stories they had prepared to speak into these essential issues.

On the second day, after reading the prepared passages (Acts 19, Hebrews 9), one older woman’s eyes suddenly grew wide with horror and she exclaimed, “If we don’t become demons when we die, and the spirit that comes to enjoy the offerings is a real demon, then we are just like the people in the Bible who worshipped God and worshipped demons! We have been doing that four times a year! We must stop and take everything down, how do we do that?” Heather and Charis noted that the other believers also showed signs of repentance and a willingness to follow the older woman’s declaration.

Later, Charis and Heather were able to model for the new believers how to take down their idols, and then to help them do it themselves. After seeing it modeled, the villagers expressed confidence in their ability to do it for new believers in the future.

Heather was clearly touched by the Holy Spirit’s prompt answer to prayer and in the villagers’ evident growth in the month since she had last seen them. Together Charis and Heather rejoice at the beauty of seeing how the Spirit works and grows His people in the way they need!

*pseudonyms

FINDING GOD’S PREPARED PEOPLE
Disciples in SE Asia have seen many people come to Christ in the past few years and have helped establish many new village house churches. A BEYOND worker who relates 
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LIVING OUT LOUD
Grace* had recently returned to Southeast Asia when she was flagged down by a familiar face: Her house helper’s husband ran across a busy street to greet her. He insisted that read more …

LEARN ABOUT OUT WORK IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
There are 235 million people in Southeast Asia. The region is complex, with numerous languages, ethnicities, and variations on religion … learn more

Jesus’ Jihad

Jesus’ Jihad

This story comes from one of our workers in the field: Malik is an Isa (Jesus) follower first and foremost—but he is also known in his community as an Ustad, a Muslim teacher.

He is often asked to teach at the Mosque on Fridays in the surrounding villages. He teaches by using stories from the Kitab (the Bible), and then asks questions so his fellow Muslims in the Mosques can learn for themselves what Allah’s (God’s) plans are for them.

Recently, Malik decided to ask if he could come and speak to the military generals of their people. Understanding the violence and war that has been a part of his people’s history for centuries, He spoke of Isa’s (Jesus’) life.

His message stated, “Isa’s jihad (holy war) is His life’s ministry of bringing PEACE. We must follow Isa’s jihad!”

Pray for the many Muslim Jesus followers around this world who are proclaiming the PEACE that only Jesus can bring. And as Muslims around the world continue to celebrate the end of Ramadan this weekend pray that many will have visions of Isa (Jesus) and be curious about who is and seek after Him.

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ONE MAN’S PRAYER
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