Stories | Beyond

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

Faith Over Fear

Oct 22, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

*Veer, a 12th-grade Hindu student in India, struggled academically. He felt mentally overwhelmed and had trouble remembering answers during exams. The pressure became so intense that he grew anxious and even began avoiding school. Fear of being called on in class and not knowing the answers eroded his confidence, affecting both his studies and his mental health.

While Veer was caught in this cycle of stress and discouragement, he noticed something different about a few of his classmates. Impressed by their progress, he asked them the key to their success.

To his surprise, they shared that they too had once struggled—but everything changed when they began praying to Jesus. “It is only by His grace,” they told him, “that we are now able to pass with good marks. Our Heavenly Father is faithful.” They shared James 1:5 with him: “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.”

Veer was moved by their testimony and asked them to pray for him. Soon after, he experienced a shift—his mind felt clearer, he could focus better, and a deep sense of peace filled him. He began to feel God’s presence and strength in a way he never had before.

With new confidence and determination, Veer not only improved in his studies but also opened his heart to Jesus. He accepted Christ as Lord and became a faithful follower. That year, he passed his 12th-grade exams with good marks. Today, Veer is preparing for India’s National Eligibility Test (similar to the MCAT in the U.S.), with hopes of continuing his education in the medical field.

Veer is grateful for the friends who pointed him to Jesus. Now, he shares his testimony with the other students in his household, encouraging them to seek wisdom and help from the Lord as well.

Please pray for Veer:

Pray for courage and boldness as he shares his new faith with his family and friends.
Pray for his continued spiritual growth.
Pray for success in his upcoming National Eligibility Test.

*pseudonyms

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From Rebellion to Redemption

Oct 15, 2025 | Austronesia, Stories

*Ron was born into a Christian family in Indonesia, but faith in his family’s home was shallow and hollow. As a young man, he rebelled hard. By his twenties, he was demanding his father sell family land to fund his lifestyle—partying, drinking, and other reckless behaviors.

When his father refused, Ron lashed out angrily. In a fit of rage, he burned the boat his father had been building. And then spiraled out of control.

While rummaging through some old boxes, Ron found his grandfather’s notes on black magic. Intrigued, he began experimenting with mystical powers. Soon, he was tormented by dark spiritual forces that fueled his pride, aggression, and self-destruction.

Amid this confusion, he fell in love with a Muslim woman and converted to Islam—not out of belief, but out of rebellion and spiritual chaos.

But even in Ron’s darkest moments, God was working.

One day, Ron was invited by a pastor to attend a church service. He went, drunk and defiant, not to seek truth, but to challenge God.

Yet when the simple hymn “I Surrender All…” filled that little church, the Holy Spirit moved mightily. Ron wept and fell to his knees. While on his knees, he had a vision of Jesus on the cross, His blood flowing to cover Ron’s sins. In that moment everything changed.

The very next day—despite a fierce storm—he was baptized. Afterward, Ron rode his motorbike six kilometers home, drenched but singing songs of thanksgiving all the way. His new life had begun.

Ron was discipled by an Indonesian missionary (serving cross-culturally within his own nation) who taught him how to share Christ’s love in a simple but profound way.

Eventually, Ron quit his job. He told his boss, “I’m resigning because I want to live out Matthew 28:19–20.”

Today, Ron serves as a full-time missionary—six days a week, eight hours a day. There is no salary, no retirement plan, no worldly perks—only the joy of obedience and a heart on fire for the gospel.

He says plainly: “I’m willing to die for the gospel, because life in Jesus is far more meaningful than life in sin.”

Pray for Ron’s faithful witness to all those around him and that he would make multiplying disciples wherever he goes.

*pseudonym

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From Curiosity to Faith Amidst Persecution

Sep 29, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

Disciples in India are facing an escalation of persecution. Stories have emerged of believers being expelled from their villages. To date there have been over 30 brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the gospel.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs both nationally and in many states, remains staunchly opposed to Christian activities, including the work of disciple-makers.

In Uttar Pradesh, the anti-converation laws have been frequently enacted, mandating life imprisonment for anyone caught converting others. Yet, despite these formidable challenges, the Kingdom of God continues to grow.

One such story of growth comes from the Listening Movement in India. In a community among the Banjara people—nomadic and of a low caste—women have begun experiencing the transformative power of the gospel. The Banjara, most of whom are illiterate, often find work in labor and transportation. For some time, these women observed Christians from a distance, their curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar way they prayed.

That curiosity deepened when they encountered female disciple-makers who prayed in ways that felt relatable. Seeing women like themselves gathered in prayer encouraged them to draw near. The disciple-makers shared Bible stories, welcoming and accepting them and gently opening the Banjara women’s hearts to the word of God.

Westerners commonly speak up and share their thoughts, but Indians, especially lower-caste women, find this far more difficult.

However, through the patient and persistent efforts of the disciple-makers, these women began to engage in prayer and discussion. Just two months later, they now meet regularly to study God’s word and pray.

Praise God for this group of women who long to know more about Jesus and obey His teachings. We thank God for the brave disciple-makers who faithfully shared their stories and testimonies, bringing the light of the gospel in the midst of persecution.

Please pray for the families of those who have surrendered their lives for the sake of the gospel.

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Mourning Into Mission, Grief Into Grace

Sep 25, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

*Rohan was a devoted and courageous disciple-maker among the Baghel and Kumhar communities in North India. A faithful leader, he labored with passion to share the good news of Jesus in areas where few had ever heard the Lord’s name. In 2020, Rohan was martyred for his faith by local opposition in the region he served.

He left behind a grieving family, including his daughter Shantha. But they were not alone. Fellow disciple-makers from the broader movement rallied around them, offering spiritual, emotional, practical, and financial support.

At the time of Rohan’s death, few in the surrounding villages knew much about Jesus. But news of his martyrdom spread quickly. As people learned he had been killed simply for serving the Lord, many responded with shock and sympathy. “How could someone be killed just for doing good?” they asked.

In the midst of tragedy, Rohan’s family stood firm. They continued following Jesus with unwavering faith. Their witness deeply impacted those around them. Slowly, villagers who had once been indifferent or unaware began to ask questions. They attended trainings, engaged in Bible discovery groups, and some chose to follow Christ themselves—drawn by the powerful testimony of a family who had suffered greatly yet remained faithful.

*Shantha, Rohan’s daughter, has now taken up her father’s mantle. She is a bold disciple-maker and trainer, equipping others to carry the gospel forward. Her life is a living testimony of grace, courage, and the unstoppable love of God.

Many who have watched this family rise from sorrow are now compelled to know more about the God who gave them such strength. Who is this Jesus, they wonder, who turns mourning into mission and grief into grace?

Please pray for the villagers of this region—that more hearts would be stirred by the testimony of this family. Pray that Rohan’s legacy would continue to inspire boldness, and that their lives would remain a fragrant offering among those who are still far from Christ.

*pseudonym