Stories | Beyond

What is the Role of a Pastor in Disciple-Making Movements?

Sep 13, 2023 | South Asia, Stories

Brian* and Ellie’s* local partner, Hom,* felt pretty discouraged after visiting a friend who is the pastor of a local church. As they talked about the early church, as seen in the Book of Acts, Hom pointed out how leadership roles were different from what modern, traditional churches often have.The pastor was fearful that Hom was teaching heresy and told him to be careful.

Brian recalls following up with Hom, “I could tell he was confused. He asked me, ‘Brother, what is the role of the pastor in a disciple-making movement?'”

“We first discussed the priesthood of ALL believers, and that ALL disciples have authority given to us by Jesus to baptize, and to make disciples (Matthew 28:16-20). We also talked about how Paul and Barnabas appointed elders at each church in Acts 14:23, house churches included. We discussed the qualifications for an elder and the spiritual gifts, specifically the gift of teaching. He was encouraged to know that each house church in the early church had leaders. There is a role for the gift of teaching in disciple-making movements (DMM). There is a place for every spiritual gift.”

Hom has come to a critical decision point. Does he continue to share these DMM paradigm shifts with other local leaders? He knows they might reject him if he continues.

Brian concluded, “When Jesus talked to the disciples in John 6:58-66 about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, many walked away. Jesus did not chase after them. I have not yet had to “dust my feet off” from long-time friends who I care about, but this is something Hom might have to face. Pray for him as he considers these things.“

*pseudonyms

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Division Produces Multiplication

Sep 6, 2023 | South East Asia, Stories

For years, three Muslim-background followers of Jesus lived and ministered together in the same Muslim community. The three friends would gather large groups and share Bible stories, but they never had any fruit.

Then, about three years ago, God told them to separate. They obeyed, and each man gathered a smaller group in which they were the only follower of Jesus. It wasn’t long before they all began to see fruit.

The three friends realized that they used to spend a lot of time discussing what each knew about the Bible and what they had learned at some Christian conference or retreat. But when they separated, the new groups’ discussions became centered around what God was doing. The Lord began to use His Word and His Spirit to speak to and guide the Muslim seekers.

These groups have now become over 175 baptized followers in more than 29 house churches. The groups recently came together twice to baptize over 60 new followers, as their Muslim community watched from boats and the shore. These events have led to many conversations and some tensions within the community. Still, the disciples see this as an excellent opportunity to share their testimonies about what it means to follow Jesus with their friends and neighbors.

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Breakfast Surprises

Aug 29, 2023 | Stories, Turkic World

One day as Sue* and her friend sat down at a freshly laid food table, their West Asian host asked, “Will you pray for our breakfast?”

“My friend and I were surprised,” says Sue, “because generally, Muslims give thanks after a meal, not before. Besides, she knows we are followers of Jesus Christ. How is it that she wants us to pray? I was caught off guard but happily obliged her request, awkwardly stumbling over my prayer in the local language due to my lingering shock.

Earlier that morning, Sue had been praying for this woman, her family, and the visit they were about to have. Sue asked God for a specific story to share from the Word, and He brought to mind the story of the woman caught in adultery. When she told the story, the host’s sister recognized it, even filling in a part of the story. The sister said she had heard the story in school, but when Sue asked another local friend about it, she was pretty sure no stories about Jesus were ever taught in the religion classes at school. “Could the sister have done some reading on her own?” Sue wondered.

Attempting to ascertain how spiritually hungry the two sisters might be, Sue led them in a mini-Discovery Bible study to draw out lessons learned from the story and ways to apply them.

“We had a good conversation about the story,” Sue says, “but the real joy was hearing a few days later that our host had remembered and liked the story enough to share it with another foreign friend.”

Before leaving, Sue and her friend offered to pray for healing for one of the sister’s kidneys. “As soon as we laid hands on her, without even uttering a word of prayer, she startled and broke out in goosebumps. She had been impacted by the power of the Spirit! After the prayer she not only felt at peace but our host pointed out that she really perked up and had much more energy. Praise the Father for touching her and showing up in power!

Please join us in praying for a miracle of healing and that she and their whole family might start doing Discovery Bible studies together, obeying and sharing as they learn.”

*pseudonym

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Part Two: Are You Like Your Name?

Aug 23, 2023 | Austronesia, Stories

Part Two:

Last week we shared about a Holy Spirit-led conversation between a small group of disciples and Putra*. Read Part One if you missed it!

About a month after their initial visit, Charlie*, Sarah*, and some fellow disciples of Jesus went back to visit Putra.

When they arrived, Putra was restless and distracted; he and his friend Anis* had just returned from their local Friday mosque service. Putra invited the disciples to talk with them both because Anis wanted to be an imam and was more knowledgeable about religious matters.

After talking for a while, Anis showed interest in reading the Scriptures with other disciples. Before leaving, Sarah gave Putra a comic book telling the life of Jesus, Anis took great interest in the booklet.

A few days later, Anis called Charlie and Sarah multiple times, urgently wanting to talk. When Charlie and Sarah answered, he said he had read the comic book and saw that Jesus could redeem sins. He wants to know more about Jesus and search the Bible to see for himself.

Additionally, the lady they prayed for who had coughed up blood for several weeks has not done so again! Oh, how Jesus loves and heals!

Since this meeting, a local teammate has met up with Anis. He believes in Jesus as Savior but not as God. Pray that he reads the Holy Book further and discovers Jesus as God too! Pray for Putra to want to read the Scriptures with his friend.

*pseudonyms

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Part One: Are You Like Your Name?

Aug 16, 2023 | Austronesia, Stories

Part One: Charlie*, Sarah*, and four friends were resting at a gazebo after a hike when they met Putra* and his family. As they all exchanged names, Charlie and Sarah could sense the Holy Spirit’s strong presence and were guided in the following conversation.

The Holy Spirit prompted Sarah to ask, “What does the name ‘Putra’ mean?”

Putra answered, “It has good meaning and bad.”

“Are you like your name?”

“Yes, I am like my name. I sometimes do good and sometimes bad. I lie and cheat. When I buy a chicken for Rp 20,000, I tell people I bought it for Rp 30,000.”

The Holy Spirit said to ask him, “Isn’t that sin?”

“Yes, it is sin.” Putra admits.

“Can you redeem or atone for your sins?”

“No, I cannot.” Putra says.

The Spirit said to ask, “If we know of a way to redeem you from your sins, would you like to know?”

“Yes, tell me!”

Then one of the disciples told the whole story of our sinless Jesus, who was crucified as a perfect sacrifice to be an atonement for our sins.

At that moment, a lady arrived, returning from a visit to the clinic.

“What is wrong with her?” the disciples ask.

“She has been coughing blood for the last three weeks.”

The small band of disciples moved to where the lady sat down with some friends and shared the story of Jesus healing the lady who had bled for 12 years. They asked if they could pray for her, explaining it was Jesus who would heal her, not themselves.

As Charlie and Sarah’s group turned to leave, Putra cried out, “How do I have access to Jesus?”

“Through prayers.”

“How do you pray?” Putra called out, then chanted a few Arabic prayers he had memorized.

“No, you pray directly to Jesus,” the disciples explained.

With that, Charlie and Sarah’s group left, determined to visit Putra later.

Next week, we’ll share the follow-up visit they had with Putra!

*pseudonyms

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