They Burned Their Amulets

They Burned Their Amulets

Oct 13, 2021 | Stories

Disciple-makers Rafi* and Nabila* regularly travel by motorbike through thick jungle to the home of an elderly Muslim couple. They first met Iqbal* and Tasya* while passing out food supplies at the start of the pandemic.

Since then, Rafi and Nabila have made the two-hour trek several times to visit the welcoming couple. Though they speak different dialects, they share who Jesus is through Bible stories of His power over nature, sin, and death. Then the couples discuss what is revealed about God in the Word.

During their latest visit, Rafi and Nabila shared stories from the Gospel of Mark about Jesus’ ability to heal, and His power and authority over demons. As a result, Iqbal and Tasya said they believed that Jesus had the power to protect them from evil spirits. Furthermore, they wanted to let go of the amulets they had trusted in for protection.

So they burned the amulets, and Iqbal and Tasya prayed on their own with their beginners’ understanding  — huge steps toward becoming disciples of Jesus!

Pray that our team can find a translation of the Bible in this couple’s heart language. And join us as we pray: “May the God of hope fill [Iqbal and Tasya] with all joy and peace as [they] trust in him, so that [they] may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

*pseudonym

 

Give Up Your Way: A Key Component of Disciple-Making

Give Up Your Way: A Key Component of Disciple-Making

Oct 6, 2021 | Stories

Joyo and Anita, national partners of James and Sharon, were ready to move. 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.

They felt led to move to a new area and start a ministry that would open the region to the gospel for the first time. By seeking the Lord themselves, the couple was honored and able to “own” the discovery that the Holy Spirit had given them. 

Through persons of peace, Anita has since started four groups that are using the Discovery Bible Study method. And a second generation of seekers has already been formed!

This is a key component of disciple-making movements: Only when leaders like James and Sharon humble themselves, trust the Father, and fully release younger disciples to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit can we see the plan and the fruit the Father has in mind. 

As Jesus taught in Matthew 16:24, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” James and Sharon have seen it first-hand, “Death to self and submission to life in Christ is always a great idea.” 

*pseudonym

Lessons from a Movement Leader from South Asia

Lessons from a Movement Leader from South Asia

Oct 1, 2021 | Stories

by Andy Walker
Sam* is the national leader of a large six-year-old Church Planting Movement in South Asia. He shared a summary of lessons they have learned and applied in their ministry. Here are highlights of this movement’s leadership principles.

  1. Be very clear about money matters. Be honest and transparent with leadership. It’s important.
  2. All leaders must love one another, no matter how much or little fruit they are seeing. Don’t compare results. Celebrate everyone’s successes, primarily led and modeled by top leadership.
  3. When leadership meets, ask about challenges. If a leader is not sharing their troubles, they are confused about what success is. Sharing both successes and challenges shows trustworthiness.
  4. When the ministry grows, distribute responsibility. Not distributing responsibility is a hindrance to multiplication. It shows too high a view of oneself and too low a view of others.
  5. We have learned to do three-to-five-hour trainings in smaller groups. People go home the same day. Small groups that don’t stay overnight receive much less attention. This helps with security concerns and allows connection to the deeper generational leaders.
  6. When we start something new, we think about the end vision. It keeps us on track. As Paul wrote, “Run in such a way as to get the prize…. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly.” (See 1 Cor. 9:24-26)
  7. Changes will be needed; flexibility is required. We don’t change movement principles, but we adjust applications along the way. We must listen to what the Father is saying and follow it as Jesus did. (John 5:19; 17:4; 20:21) The Lord will guide us through needed changes.
  8. We don’t always need to find good people. Sometimes we need to connect with bad people too. Each leader will be different from me. It’s my responsibility to help them mature as a disciple-maker. It’s not essential that every believer be a good leader.If we spend time with them, they can become good people in the Lord. As Paul wrote, “Even though I was once a blasphemer . . . the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly.” (See 1 Tim. 1:13-16)
  9. A mentor should believe in his disciple. Trust them. We see this in the ministries of Jesus (Luke 10:1; John 4:2; Luke 22:31-32), Barnabas (Acts 9:2628), and Paul (1 Tim. 1:18, 2 Tim. 2:2, 1 Cor. 4:17). This is part of leading lovingly: to always protect, trust, hope, and persevere. (1 Cor. 13:7)
  10. If I have a bad experience with someone, I need to get out of the situation and let it go. Leave that place and say to that person, “I am trusting you to Jesus.” Pray for them, but know when it’s time to move on. Both Jesus (Matt.10:14) and Paul (Titus 3:10-11) warn us not to get stuck in unfruitful relationships.
  11. I can’t let my disciple lean on me too much; instead, I help him lean on Jesus. Jesus has the answers and is the only rock on which we build. I must build only God’s kingdom. This is not about me. I aim to make disciples of Jesus (Matt 28:19), not disciples of myself.
  12. Every mentor should teach the Bible, not personal ideas about the Bible (as the Pharisees did—Matt. 15:1-9). Scripture is the tool God uses. (Heb. 4:12) It is useful to thoroughly equip God’s servants for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) Paul modeled this in 1 Tim. 4: 1-16.
  13. God chose us for this work, so we must hear from Him about doing this work. (Eph. 2:10) I must listen to Him and obey Him. I must apply before I share with others. (James 1:22-25)
  14. Don’t try to be part of a crowd. The crowd is not important. Never try to win a crowd; try to win one family or one house church. They will become a crowd one day by reaching other families. In Genesis, God established the pattern of reaching many through one family. (Gen. 12:1-3, 28:14) Jesus modeled knowing when to prioritize a small group over a crowd. (Mark 7:16-18)
  15. Time is important; invest it wisely. The psalmist calls us to “number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Ps. 90:12) Jesus says we must work while there is daylight. (John 9:4) And Paul commands, “Be very careful, then, how you live— not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16)
  16. A movement must touch every group. If we are not reaching a people group in our sphere of influence, we must ask what God wants us to do. He will give a way to reach them. He cares for all peoples, for example in Ps. 22:27; 47:1; 72:11; Matt. 24:14; 28:19; 1 Cor. 9:19-23; 1 Tim. 2:1-6 and Rev. 15:4.
  17. God’s strategy cannot be stopped. Use the wisdom He gives and follow His commands. (Josh. 1:7-9; Ps. 37:4-6; Prov. 3:5-6; 14:12, John 5:19-20; James 1:5)
  18. Sometimes we get proud. Pride is dangerous. Leaders must remain humble and teachable. (Prov. 13:10; John 15:5; 13:3-17; 1 Cor. 3:5-8; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil 2:3-11; James 4:6-16)
  19. Respect yourself, your family, and others. When leaders only focus on ministry but not their family, they will get stopped along the way and will not be healthy. Personal and family health are very important for succeeding in ministry. (See Deut. 6:4-7; 1 Tim. 5:8; Titus 1:6-7; 1 Tim. 3:4-5).

This article was first published in Mission Frontiers and was edited with permission.

“Why Do You Look So Heavy Hearted?”

“Why Do You Look So Heavy Hearted?”

Oct 1, 2021 | Stories

“Why do you look so heavy-hearted?” Ryan asked. He was meeting with his friend, Vin, a new disciple, hungry to grow in God. He had just led him through a process of turning from old sin into the deeper identity Christ gives His followers.  

Vin contemplated what the Holy Spirit had just revealed to him. “I’m realizing for the first time how terrible I actually am… my real self,” Vin answered.

“That is actually a good thing to know,” Ryan encouraged. “It helps us know how big God’s grace really is.” Ryan didn’t think Vin was convinced, but he knew the Holy Spirit would continue working in Vin’s heart. He moved to end their time in prayer.  
“No,” Vin stopped him. “I’ll pray first, then you.”
   
Vin then prayed a clear proclamation of the gospel over his own life. He expressed deep sorrow for his sin and overwhelming thanks for Christ’s ability to cover it, and the Father’s rich love. 

Ryan was in tears. “Seeing the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit to break and reshape a heart is this life’s greatest joy.”  
Pray as God shapes Vin to be the kind of person that He uses for His purposes! And pray for more workers! For how can people like Vin call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe if they have never heard? And how can they hear unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? (Romans 10:14-15a)

*pseudonyms

Ask, Apply, Obey

Ask, Apply, Obey

Sep 24, 2021 | Stories

A few years ago, Joel* and his team of local disciple-makers entered a Himalayan village. They looked for people with whom they could pray prayers of blessing, and perhaps find someone interested in hearing a story or two from the Bible.

Soon a young man named Gaden* approached them. “Are you guys Christians?” 

“Okay,” Joel thought, “This could be really great, or we could get asked to leave.” 

“I had a friend who was a Christian teacher here,” Gaden continued. “He told me some things, and I have a lot of questions.” 

The team listened to his questions. They answered some, but quickly said, “Can we just tell you a story? We’d love for you to hear directly from Scripture what it means to be a follower of Christ.”

Gaden was excited to hear the Scripture in his own language, not just in the national language. He gathered two other young couples together to study the Bible.

Since this village is a multi-day trek into the mountains, Joel and his team can’t visit often. So they gave the group a Bible app preloaded with Bible stories. After listening to a Scripture passage, the group would answer questions to help them apply the Scripture and obey what they learned. 

Since that first visit, the team has been back multiple times. Some challenges have arisen, but we can be assured God will use this study. He declares that His word “always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

*pseudonym