Three Women, Fierce Persecution, Unstoppable Faith

Three Women, Fierce Persecution, Unstoppable Faith

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

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BEATEN AND SHOT …
*Satish has planted churches in several villages. A retired army colonel and his family live in one of these villages.
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WHERE TWO KINGDOMS COLLIDE
Persecution has been a common trial for many, if not most, of the movement churches in north India for the past ten years read more …

WHEN PERSECUTION BECOMES CELEBRATION
Persecution is a common component of becoming a follower of Jesus in India.  read more …

Mourning Into Mission, Grief Into Grace

Mourning Into Mission, Grief Into Grace

*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

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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. 
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WOMEN IN INDIA FEARLESSLY SHARING THE GOSPEL
The Listening Movement held its first Women Leaders meeting last year where several women gathered to , read more …

FAITH ON WHEELS
*Mina, a woman from Delhi, works as a school bus driver. She is completely illiterate and comes from a low caste, yet her faith  read more …

He Didn’t Fight Back, He Prayed

He Didn’t Fight Back, He Prayed

Kush received Discovery Bible Study (DBS) training through one of our local teams. He began practicing DBS in his own home. The Scriptures came alive for him, transforming his heart and mind. Soon, Kush began boldly sharing what he was learning, both in his village and wherever he traveled. Eventually, he surrendered his life fully to Jesus.

But following Jesus came at a great cost for Kush. His decision sparked intense opposition and persecution. His brother-in-law, villagers, and even close family members turned against him. Yet Kush didn’t respond with anger or bitterness. Instead, he chose patience, love, and persistent prayer. He didn’t argue or retaliate. He simply showed them the love of Christ.

Today, Kush testifies that God has been his guide and strength through it all. Amazingly, many of the same people who once rejected him—who wouldn’t even sit beside him—now walk with him in love and fellowship. As he continues to share the good news of Jesus, lives are being changed. Some who hear his testimony are experiencing healing and miracles, and many are turning to faith.

Kush’s home has become a vibrant house church. Together, they rejoice in the Lord, their hearts full of joy and praise. As Kush puts it, “Truly, joy and gladness are found in the Lord—there is no one else.”

Pray for Kush, that he would keep pressing on and that the humble house church that began in his home will grow into a cascading movement.

*pseudonym

RELATED STORIES 

FROM BONDAGE TO BLESSING
Our teammate in South Asia, shared this testimony of new disciple, Rishika*: “Since I began listening to read more

GOD’S WORD CROSSING BORDERS
*Bilal shared with his friend *Rohan how God’s Word was transforming his life. Rohan was so moved that he… read more

A JOURNEY DARKNESS TO LIGHT
*Chakir and his family met *Nuh, who is serving in South Asia, when he visited their village. During his visit,  read more

From Bondage to Blessings

From Bondage to Blessings

Nuh*, our teammate in South Asia, shared this testimony of new disciple, Rishika*:

“Since I began listening to the Word of God on the mp3 player, my life has changed in ways I never imagined. I was once trapped in drug addiction. My days were marked by quarrels and anger, and my home was filled with tension and unrest.

But when I began hearing the Bible stories, something shifted in my heart. The power of God’s Word touched me deeply. I stopped using drugs. I stopped quarreling. Peace, security, and calm entered my home. God’s presence has brought blessings into my family life.

I am so grateful to the Lord, whose Word is transforming me day by day. I now encourage my friends and loved ones to listen as well, so they too can be blessed and receive eternal life.

Today my heart is full of joy. I thank God for His mercy. Through His precious Word, He is strengthening my faith, filling my home with happiness, and showering us with blessing!”

Praise God for the powerful work He is doing in Rishika’s life! Please pray for her as she continues to follow Jesus—that her faith would remain strong, and that her testimony would spark many new *Discovery Bible Study groups to form, leading more people into God’s kingdom.

*pseudonym

*Discovery Bible study is a simple, reproducible method for studying the Bible that focuses on asking questions to discover what a passage says about God, people, and how to obey it right away.

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I AM READY
“I have some great news to tell you,” Job shared with Frank over the phone. “I’m ready to follow Jesus!” Thrilled to hear this good news, Frank invited Job and his wife Sarah over for dinner  read more …

GOD’S WORD CROSSING PROVINCIAL LINES
*Bilal shared with his friend *Rohan how God’s Word was transforming his life. Rohan was so moved that he  read more …

A JOURNEY DARKNESS TO LIGHT
*Chakir and his family met *Nuh, who is serving in South Asia, when he visited their village. During his visit, Nuh shared the good news of Jesus and invited Chakir  read more

Translating Hope

Translating Hope

A dedicated team of local disciples worked tirelessly over the last year to translate portions of the Bible into a language spoken in Northwest India. They successfully completed 53 Discovery Bible Study lessons, translating a total of 853 verses from the Old and New Testaments. However, just as they neared completion, their efforts were discovered by members of their unbelieving community. Tragically, all their materials were confiscated and burned by an angry mob.

Due to security risks in their area, the team chose a paper-and-pen approach instead of using electronic devices. Carrying laptops or tablets would have drawn unwanted attention—three ordinary men (who were doing the translation) suddenly handling such equipment would have raised suspicion. Printing physical copies posed its own dangers; taking their drafts to a photocopy shop could have led to immediate confiscation and even physical harm.

Looking back, the team acknowledges that they should have taken photos and clearly labeled each as first draft, second draft, and so on. But at the time, they believed their efforts were discreet enough to go unnoticed.

They were wrong.

That experience has transformed how they now operate—not only in high-risk areas but also where the threat level seems lower.

Undeterred, the team began the painstaking process of starting over. They were under intense scrutiny from some in their community. By God’s grace, they have completed the drafting and testing phases of their work. 

*Joel, a movement catalyst, has securely stored the translation in multiple places—including his computer, the cloud, and an external hard drive—to ensure it is never lost again.

Join us as we celebrate the completion of this translation! It is available in the Discovery Bible Study South Asia Bible app. We pray Isaiah 55:11 over it, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Pray that these newly translated Scriptures will reach thousands of South Asians, leading them into God’s Kingdom.

Thank you for partnering with us in prayer to see this project through to completion.

*pseudonyms

 

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, or dzos (a yak-cow hybrid) with tents
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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 …

NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
As Joel* worked to edit the next portion of the Bible translation, he was struck by the words from the book of James  read more …