Stories | Beyond

A Church Was Born

Jul 10, 2026 | Stories

In the Tibetan Himalayas, a church was born — the first church in its district. Its members began to share the gospel with others from their own people group. This brought much fruit, resulting in the formation of several churches in neighboring villages. The first church also expressed a desire to go to different, nearby people groups, including the Tazig* people. Joel*, BEYOND’s Affinity Strategy Leader for the Tibetan Himalayas, works among the Tazig people and has kept in touch with this church for mutual encouragement.

About three years ago, a man from the church was hired as a teacher in a Tazig school and began sharing the gospel in the surrounding area. Soon thereafter, God led Joel and his team to invite a couple of the church’s missionaries to join their trek into Tazig country. These men accompanied the team on three of their month-long trips. They were able to see how the team discipled people they encountered for the first time, as well as those with whom they had already built relationships. “I have learned so much from joining you on this trip,” one man said. “I have come to this village before by myself, but I didn’t know how to talk to these people, and I didn’t know how to start a church, but by watching you, I have so many good ideas.”

Joel learned that other men from the church were actively attempting to make disciples among different people groups, often walking long distances to reach them. Seeing their obedience to Matthew 28:19-20, Joel offered to lead a DMM (Disciple Making Movement) training for these earnest men. Seven men attended, including the church’s pastor and a young man who had traveled with one of the missionaries. They were thrilled with the training! One said, “I was already committed to doing this work, but now I know how to do it.”

Two of these men have been commissioned to the Tazig people, one to a different Tibetan Buddhist group, and two more to Hindu people groups. Please pray for them as they go make disciples in these people groups.

*pseudonym

YOU CAN’T SAY YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN
He shared Scripture with them, prayed for them, and shared his life day by day. They could see the positive changes in his life. read more …

CULTURAL OUTSIDERS AND INSIDERS
In every movement documented, God has used the combined strengths of cultural outsiders and insiders to catalyze the movements. read more …

A MULE FOR THE GOSPEL
*Joel has trekked deep into the mountains to reach Tazig villages for 14 years. His team loads up horses, mules, read more …

“Who Gave You the Right to Baptize?”

Jul 3, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

How many times in the New Testament did the Apostle Paul warn churches to be careful of the evil, Roman empire? Yet, time and again Paul wrote to churches warning them to beware of legalists (“Judaizers”), supposed fellow people of faith. A team in India take great comfort from those verses. They feel like the verses were written just for them. Here is an example of how modern “Judaizers” regularly attempt to disrupt the movement.

Ravi* is a simple man. He’s dark-skinned, which is looked down upon in Indian culture. He’s from a low-caste background, one of the lowest. In the last five years, Ravi became a follower of Jesus. Ravi has never been to Bible College. He has no degree at all. He cannot even read. But, Jesus has changed him and blessed his life, so Ravi shares the news of Jesus with others, making new disciples and baptizing them, and teaching them how to be the church.

One day, Ravi was at a river in north India with a group of new disciples, baptizing them. It so happens that on that particular day, a traditional, paid pastor named Chand* was visiting the same village. Chand came to the water’s edge and disrupted the proceedings. “Get out of the water! Come here. Who gave you the right to baptize? Are you a member of any official organization? You are not ordained?! You should not be doing this!” He was deeply offended that Ravi dared to baptize anyone.

Finally, Chand quieted down, so Ravi spoke, “You have been talking and talking. Now, it’s my turn. Pastor, please look at Matthew 28.” While Chand looked up the passage, Ravi quoted verses 16-20 from memory. Someone standing nearby had a Hindi Bible. That person read the passage, and then Chand confirmed the Hindi passage with his English Bible. Ravi directed Chand’s attention to the fact that Jesus didn’t suggest but actually commanded His disciples to baptize others. Then, he pointed out that Jesus never limited this command to ordained pastors, bishops, or people who are affiliated with official organizations. Then, Ravi, this illiterate, “backward,” humble farmer looked the “important,” city-dwelling, college-educated, salaried pastor in the face and said, “So, you go. You leave this place. If you stay, you will only continue speaking bad things, so you must go.”

Chand was speechless. He couldn’t believe that this illiterate villager had just taught him from the Scriptures. He was captivated. He couldn’t leave. He stuck around and watched the baptisms. When it was all done, he told Ravi, “I need to know more about this. I have to know how you know these things.” So, Ravi took Chand to meet the man, a fellow lay-leader, who had discipled him. They spent the day together. Chand was amazed at all he heard, so amazed, in fact, that he went home and resigned from his job with a traditional organization. Why? Here are Chand’s own words:

“…how many years I’ve been working with [that mission]. I came from Bible school…[yet] this illiterate guy told me more than I knew in the Bible. Watching [him] do this baptism…and…his words were so wise; I am the fool. I’ve been to Bible school, and [my leaders] still won’t let me baptise, only the bishop of our organization can baptize! [That organization] gave me a salary, but no authority [to actually do anything].”

Chand is now a fellow laborer in the movement, being trained to walk in authority as Jesus’ disciple and to give that authority to others.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). Please pray with us that God would raise up more “fools” in India who live out their authority in Jesus!

*pseudonyms

MAKING DISCIPLES DESPITE THEIR GRIEF
In January, tragedy struck a team in North India as they lost a key leader to a sudden brain hemorrhage. read more …

OBEDIENCE, BAPTISMS AND HEALINGS
Samir* met Rohit* who lives in a nearby village. In their first meeting, Samir was filled with the Holy Spirit and began read more …

BALKING AT BAPTISM
Three thousand people believing and being baptized in one day?! It sounds too good to be true, read more …

Peace Where Fear Once Lived

Jun 23, 2026 | Austronesia, Stories

Before she found freedom in Isa Al-Masih (Jesus), Mrs. Toh’s* life was marked by fear. She grew up in a large city in Southeast Asia, where faith and tradition shape everyday life.

Without warning, something would overtake her. Rage would rise suddenly and violently. It often took several people to restrain her, and they struggled to hold her down. Witnesses said her eyes turned red and unrecognizable. Neighbors were terrified. At times, she would scream in agony, clutching her stomach as it hardened like a stone. When the episodes passed, she was left weak, ashamed, and confused.

The physical pain was intense, but the emotional weight was even heavier. Mrs. Toh felt humiliated and isolated. Although she was a Muslim and could read the Qur’an fluently, she searched everywhere for relief. She sought out shamans and spiritual healers, hoping someone could explain what was happening and make it stop. Her life became entangled in mystical practices, yet nothing brought lasting peace.

Everything began to change when she met Dee, a believer in Isa Al-Masih who was known for praying for the sick. At first, Mrs. Toh was hesitant. Their backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs were different. But Dee did not argue or pressure her. She simply showed kindness, visiting her home, caring for her family, and praying with compassion and authority in the name of Isa.

Those prayers were unlike anything Mrs. Toh had ever experienced. They were filled with peace. Over several visits, as Scripture was read and prayers were spoken over her, something shifted. The darkness that had tormented her began to lose its grip.

Dee gently explained that true freedom does not come through rituals but through faith in Isa Al-Masih, who has authority over every power. If Mrs. Toh wanted complete healing and deliverance, she needed to trust Him.

Faced with that invitation, Mrs. Toh made a courageous decision. She chose to believe. She accepted Isa Al-Masih as her Lord and Savior.

From that moment, everything changed.

The violent episodes stopped. The fear lifted. The heaviness in her body disappeared. Where many voices had once tormented her, she now had only one Spirit guiding her—the Holy Spirit. Anxiety was replaced by peace, and fear with joy. Mrs. Toh was rescued, not only from physical suffering, but from the darkness that had once controlled her life.

What has touched her most deeply is the boundless love of God revealed through Isa Al-Masih. She experienced forgiveness, healing, and freedom, not because of her efforts, but because of His mercy.

Today Mrs. Toh is healthy and whole. She now serves her community and boldly shares both her testimony and her faith. She who once lived in fear now shares hope with others who are suffering. She tells them that freedom is possible.

Her prayer is simple and bold: that Isa would give her wisdom and use her story to lead many others out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

*pseudonyms

READ RELATED STORIES

BUILDING BRIDGES OF HOPE
A simple app developed by our Southeast Asia team to distribute Discovery Bible Study (DBS) story sets is transforming lives in a region ripe for harvest. read more …

JOURNEY TO DISCIPLESHIP
Susi was interested in each of the Old Testament stories and asked, “Are these stories talking about the blood of Jesus?” read more …

GIVE UP YOUR WAY
Together the couple had sought the Lord on where they might live to be most effective in making multiplying disciples. And the Lord had answered. read more …

The Night the Beatings Stopped

Jun 17, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

DONT MISS THE VIDEO! SEE BELOW.

A lay leader and a partner in north India visited a village where they had never been. They found a family interested in hearing about the God who made the world. The two men shared a Bible story with the family. The family liked the discussion. The men didn’t preach, but simply shared the story, then asked questions about it, including the most important one, “If this story were true, how would you apply it to your life?”

The family asked the men to return another time. They did. The meetings became regular. The neighbors began to notice. They heard the songs that started the meetings. They began hanging out near the door and windows. They liked the Bible stories too.

One such neighbor, Avani*, entered the home. She sat and listened to the story. She liked the discussion and the prayer. She began attending regularly. Unfortunately, Avani’s husband didn’t like her going to these meetings. He beat her after each one. He had no job and was drunk all the time. She kept attending the meetings, though, in spite of the beatings. Finally, one day, she looked at her husband and said, “Fine. You don’t want me to go to these meetings? I won’t go. But first, you have to attend a meeting with me one time. If you don’t like it, when it’s done you can beat me again. But, at least go one time.”

So, he did. He got drunk first, but he went. He fidgeted. He glared at the leaders. He left in a huff. But, when it was all over, he didn’t beat his wife. The next week, he attended the meeting again. This time, he wasn’t drunk. When the meeting was done, he told the leaders that he wanted to follow the God of those stories. He was tired of drinking all the time. He wanted a new life. And so, this family is now changed. The husband no longer beats his wife. He’s stopped drinking. They are learning from the Bible. Their lives are new.

*pseudonym

RELATED STORIES

MAKING DISCIPLES DESPITE THEIR GRIEF
In January, tragedy struck a team in North India as they lost a key leader to a sudden brain hemorrhage. read more …

“YOUR HOME WOULD POLLUTE ME”
Raj*, a high caste Hindu man, hated that his low caste neighbors worshiped Jesus with friends in their home. read more …

SIMPLICITY VERSUS TRADITION
Lata* lives in North India. A few years ago, she was a regular church attendee, but her family did not read more …

A Simple Act, An Eternal Impact

Jun 9, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

Joel* began serving a movement in India two years ago. Every month, his team receives reports from each state, filled with prayer requests and testimonies of how God is moving in various villages. This month, they received an inspiring story about how God’s Kingdom transformed an entire family through one woman.

A year ago, Aruna* heard about Discovery Bible Study (DBS) gatherings in her village. Encouraged by a friend, she decided to join. Aruna noticed that the group always prayed for various needs, and soon, people were praying for her as well. This made a huge impact on Aruna, as she was accustomed to a religion where individuals only prayed for themselves. Struck by the group’s compassion and sense of community, she shared her experiences with her husband and children, who then also joined the Bible study.

Despite facing significant persecution from other villagers, Aruna’s entire family chose to be baptized. Today, Aruna leads a women’s group in her village, sharing vision for the ministry and training others. Though just a year ago, she and her family did not follow Jesus, they now all not only follow Christ but also lead their own Bible studies. Aruna is dedicated to helping other women reach out to their families and neighbors with the message of Christ.

As Joel read this story, he was deeply moved by how something as simple as praying for one another—so common in the church—could have such a profound impact on someone unfamiliar with a Christian community. Aruna not only heard the Word of God in those meetings but also experienced the love and care of the community, which empowered her to bring the life-giving message of the Bible to her family.

Please pray for Aruna’s family and the many others in South Asia who are exploring who Christ is and what the Word says. May they all find a loving community of disciples that cares for their needs and helps them grow in their faith

*pseudonym