Turkic World | Beyond

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

READ OTHER STORIES AND MORE …

WHY HAD JESUS APPEARED TO HER?
She often prays this prayer for Muslims in general and for her friends in particular, so this notion was not out of the ordinary for her read more …

I’M BAPTIZED!
Knowing that it’s generally better to baptize someone together with their closest community, the women pondered whether to wait for Havva’s husband to read more …

OUR WORK AMONG TURKIC PEOPLES
The Turkic peoples are part of old and proud civilizations that have spanned continents and learn more …

Wife-Beating Drunk Meets Jesus

Jun 7, 2023 | Stories, Turkic World

After she became Jesus’ disciple, Gia* began to share her testimony with others in her village. Her testimony and the power of God’s word brought many, including Elif*, to faith in Jesus.

Elif’s husband, Rahj*, became angry and threatened to harm Gia. He was known throughout the village as an alcoholic who beat his wife regularly and had even threatened to kill her. Gia decided to leave town for a little while.

Meanwhile, Elif prayed for her husband. “If Gia’s Jesus truly is real,” she reasoned, “then he will change my husband’s heart.” One day, while Elif was praying, Rahj found some pages from a New Testament and read them. God opened his eyes, and Rahj decided to follow Jesus. From that point on, he was changed. He stopped drinking and beating his wife. God answered Elif’s prayers. After Rahj came to faith, Gia returned to the village.

Before long, Gia and Rahj decided to have a prayer and testimony night in their village. Rahj wanted to provide food for those who came — his way of showing that he had changed. Around 150 people showed up, roughly 35 households. These families were both Muslims and Hindus.

Gia and Rahj shared their testimonies, led a prayer time, worshiped Jesus through songs, and shared how Jesus changes people and frees them from demonic powers. Many of the families wanted to start listening to gospel stories.

They began listening to the Bible from mp3 speakers, obeying what they learned, and sharing the stories with others. More than 50 new families have requested to have Jesus’ stories to bring to their communities. And recently, six new people obeyed God by being baptized!

*pseudonyms

IN SPITE OF THE BEATINGS
Unfortunately, her husband didn’t like her going to these meetings. He beat her after each one. He had no job… read more

IT MUST BE JESUS WHO DID THIS
*Uhn was the town drunk and the senior patriarch of his large extended family. Over a year ago, a movement catalyst,… read more

THE DETERMINED NEW DISCIPLE
I don’t want you to tell my people about Jesus. It is my duty to tell them, and I passionately want to, but I, … read more

Can Christians Mess Up the Plan?

Mar 22, 2023 | Stories, Turkic World

After Bahar became a disciple, he, Samir*, and Frank* planned to do additional flood relief in Azville,* Bahar’s old village. Most people in Azville are Hindu, but some Muslims live there also. Before the plan was put into action, however, another group of Christians and church leaders arrived in Azville. They went door-to-door, passing out Bibles in foreign languages and offering free meals worth far more than what people in the village could afford. They didn’t know the local culture, local practices, or the local language. Although they most likely had good intentions, their visits caused much division. Eventually, this group was run out of town, and people became very antagonistic toward the Good News and other Christians.

Because of this, Bahar feared returning to his old village, and Samir and his team decided to wait and not go as they had planned. Instead, they committed to pray for Azville. After some time had passed, Frank became discouraged, fearing that the opportunity was lost. He became quite frustrated with the group of Christians who messed up “the plan.”

But God was still working in Azville. Unbeknownst to them, Gia*, a cousin of Bahar and the village chief, heard how Jesus had rescued Bahar from slavery, and she started to pray in the name of Jesus for her sick husband to be healed. Miraculously, he received healing! Gia and her family decided to follow Jesus. Immediately, the entire family felt the presence and love of the Father, and Gia knew that her entire village also needed Jesus.

Gia remembered the group of Christians who had come to her village, “They didn’t know us, our language, or our culture. They gave us expensive food, but not true spiritual food. They wanted to be the leaders and have us rely on them. They wanted to preach at us, not train us. And they caused disunity in our village.” So, without the influence of a Bible, a church, or other Christians, Gia decided through the Spirit’s leading that she should be the one to reach her village for Jesus.

Though she was filled with passion, Gia didn’t know where to start, what to say, or what to do. She had heard, however, about a young man named Samir who trained people on how to be a disciple who makes other disciples who multiply. So, knowing only the name of the city where Samir lives, Gia, along with two cousins and her young son, set out in search of him. Eventually, by the Holy Spirit’s leading and asking people along the way, they arrived at Samir’s house.

*pseudonym

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THROWN INTO SLAVERY
Bahar and his paternal uncle, Navi, traveled to a faraway province in their South Asian country in search of work. read more …

ONCE FROM PRISON …
Not long after his miraculous escape from slavery, Bahar moved his family to a new town. But catastrophic flooding read more …

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