Church Planting Movements

Beyond the Beads

Jul 30, 2025 | Stories, Turkic World

Asif* was raised in a strict conservative Muslim home in an Asian country. From a young age, he followed every rule of his faith with deep devotion. He wore traditional attire, grew his beard, avoided anything considered impure, and prayed faithfully five times a day facing his religion’s holiest site. He never missed a prayer—fearing that for every one he missed, he would suffer seventy years in hell.

In his heart, Asif believed he was seeking God. But despite all his religious effort, he felt an aching emptiness inside. Desperate for hope, he increased his devotion. Each night, before falling asleep, he would repeat his prayer beads 21,000 times—longing for peace, for connection, for something more.

Years passed, but the truth he longed for felt further away than ever. His soul grew weary under the weight of endless rituals and rules. Disillusioned and heartbroken, Asif came to the conclusion that perhaps God didn’t exist after all. He abandoned his faith, cast off his religious clothing, and left his hometown in search of a fresh start.

But even as Asif tried to walk away from God, God never stopped pursuing him.

Years later, something shifted. Asif began to notice the world around him with fresh eyes. The intricate beauty of nature—the skies, the trees, the design of it all—sparked a question deep within: Could all of this really exist without a Creator? The thought stirred something long dormant in his heart.

Determined to seek the truth, Asif began searching again—but this time with a different posture. By God’s providence, he came across a copy of the Bible in his own language. Though he had never met a single follower of Jesus, he began to read.

As he turned the pages, something incredible happened. The Spirit of God began to open his heart. For the first time, Asif saw the truth he had longed for: the reality of his sin, the kindness of God, the need for a Savior—and the living hope found in Jesus.

Asif surrendered his life to Christ.

Today, Asif is a bold disciple-maker. His journey is far from over, and there is much more to share. But for now, please join us in lifting up Asif and his family in prayer. They are truly like sheep among wolves. Ask the Father to bring lasting fruit from Asif’s ministry and to raise up more local workers to join him in the harvest.

*pseudonyms

We Walked as He Parted the Waters

Jul 23, 2025 | Stories

Having recently visited three villages, Charlie* and Sarah* were excited to hear that nearby areas had enthusiastically received the new Jesus Film in their language.

“We knew we needed to join what God was doing by taking the Jesus Film to the people we had visited and beginning to look for persons of peace,” Charlie said. So they gathered a team and got permission to camp on the village beach for just one night.

On the way, they visited a spiritual landmark commemorating the arrival of Islam exactly 400 years prior. They also learned about a strange phenomenon where a strip of land forms during low tide, allowing passage across the ocean on dry sand to reach their destination.

“We sensed God telling us to walk across the sand as He parted the waters,” Charlie says. “Just as God delivered the Israelites from 400 years of slavery, we knew He wanted to deliver the people from 400 years of bondage to Islam. We prayed Exodus 14 and 15 as we walked over the dry sand, then we watched the waters cover the sand as we arrived on the other side.”

A young village chief and his father, the local mosque’s imam, were the first to see the video. As it began, the chief’s jaw dropped, and his eyes widened. “That’s our local language!” he exclaimed. A few hours later, a counselor at a neighboring village school had a similar reaction. “That video was amazing!”

During their visit, the team collected many phone numbers, left copies of the Jesus Film to be shared, and found out about other villages to visit for future ministry. They praise God for the opportunity to proclaim His name in places that have never before heard the name of Jesus.

*pseudonym

A STORM, KOMODO DRAGONS …
One of the stories *Charlie and *Sarah love to share with their neighbors on the island where they live, is the story of read more …

GANGS, KNIVES, AND A MOTORCYCLE GANG
Charlie and Sarah met with Ali, who has shown great hunger for reading stories from the Bible about Jesus. read more …

JESUS HEALS AS IS WRITTEN …
“This was the same lady, Ibu Muli, in whose home we now sat. She told us that immediately after the prayer, her back had been healed, read more …

Obedience, Reunion, and Revival

Jul 16, 2025 | South East Asia, Stories

After prayer walking with a local partner, sowing gospel seeds with whoever was receptive, Scott* asked the Lord what he should do with the time before his afternoon appointment.

Scott felt that he should accompany his friend who was going to a church on the other side of town from his afternoon appointment, so he did. When they arrived, they found Kamnan* and Tida*, a couple Scott had not seen for 20 years.

That morning the Lord had told the couple to find Scott, so they had traveled to the church to inquire after his whereabouts. Their surprisingly immediate reunion with Scott was warm, and they readily accepted his invitation to a disciple-making training he was giving the following week.

Despite several scheduling conflicts, Kamnan and Tida came. They later said it was a complete revival of their spiritual well-being and reignited a passion they had not felt since becoming new believers.

Full of faith, they went out to do what they had learned in the training. Through their obedience, God has performed a few miracles, including a demonic exorcism, and several people have become followers of Jesus.

In reflection, Scott realizes how easily he could have missed out on God’s plan. Had he enacted his own efficient planning that day and not submitted his schedule to the Lord, he would have missed Kamnan and Tida. Their ministry would not have started, and Scott would not have seen what he trusts is an answer to his prayer for new apostolically gifted workers.

*pseudonyms

READ OTHER STORIES FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA

VILLAGE REVIVAL
*Malai grew up in a small village in Isaan, Eastern Thailand, but later moved to the larger city of Chiang Mai, read more …

FLAT TIRE—DIVINE APPOINTMENT
*Mulamdon and *Maht had been thriving as disciples under the guidance of *Chai and *Nong for several months read more …

“I, TOO WILL FOLLOW JESUS”
Lotus flowers dotted the beautiful pond – the perfect setting for a simple baptism in eastern Thailand. read more …

A High-Caste Heart Won for Jesus

Jul 9, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

Sharma* was a devout high-caste Hindu, deeply offended that a lower-caste couple in his village hosted gatherings to worship Jesus in their home. Determined to stop them, he rallied the entire neighborhood to oppose them. Despite the pressure and hostility, the couple and their friends continued to meet faithfully.

One day, the couple approached Sharma and gently asked, “Why are you so opposed to us?”

“I’m a high-caste Hindu,” Sharma replied coldly. “I don’t want you or your religion in my village.”

“You haven’t even gotten to know us,” the wife said. “If you see how we live and what we do, then you can judge for yourself.”

“I can’t enter a lower-caste home—it would defile me,” he retorted.

“Then sit outside,” they offered kindly. “We’ll give you a chair by the door so you can observe.”

Reluctantly, Sharma accepted. He watched from the doorway. But when the gathering ended, something had shifted in his heart. The anger was gone—replaced by curiosity and unexpected respect.

The following week, Sharma returned, this time with his wife. Again, they sat just outside the door. During the meeting, his wife mentioned pain in her knee and asked for prayer. The group prayed—and her pain disappeared. Later, the story of Jesus’ crucifixion was shared. Sharma and his wife had never heard of a God who would suffer and die for His people.

After everyone else had left, they stayed behind, eager to learn more.

Six weeks later, Sharma and his wife were baptized, along with seven other families they had brought with them—107 people in total!

Reflecting on his journey, Sharma says, “I used to treat the disciples so badly, but they always responded with grace. Now I will share the Word with others, just like they shared with me.”

*pseudonym

POISONED FOR MAKING IMPACT
Nadal served in Rishikesh alongside a local leader and comes from the saphera (snake charmer) caste. …. read more

WHEN PERSECUTION BECOMES CELEBRATION
In the 2001 persecution, one group of believers received threats that they would be forced to reconvert … read more

BREAKING BARRIERS WITH THE GOSPEL
Sharitha* was the house helper of movement catalysts Ethan* and Nicole* while they lived in India. …read more

One Miracle Sparks Third Generation Growth

Jun 30, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

Raj*, a facilitator of a Discovery Bible Study group, was deeply concerned when his 12-year-old son, Adi*, became gravely ill. Desperate for help, Raj asked Nuh, a disciple-maker, to pray for Adi’s healing. Adi miraculously recovered. Encouraged by this, Nuh told Raj that he too could pray—with confidence—for his own children and others in need.

About a month later, Raj visited his brother-in-law, Adhesh*, in a nearby village. There, he encountered a woman named Dhani*, who had suffered for 25 years from a debilitating illness and was tormented by a demon. The demon often threw her into the fires she used for cooking, leaving painful burn marks on her hands and feet.

Moved with compassion and strengthened in faith, Raj prayed for Dhani. God miraculously healed her and delivered her from the demon! This powerful experience deepened Raj’s faith and gave him greater confidence to walk in the authority Jesus had given him, as Nuh had explained to him.

Dhani’s husband was overwhelmed with gratitude and said, “Because Jesus healed my wife, we want to live our lives at His feet. We want to learn more about Him and hear more stories of Jesus.” As a result, God’s name was honored in that village.

This miracle opened the door for Raj to begin Discovery Bible Study groups with 17 families in Dhani’s village. These families are now listening to Bible stories—from Creation to Christ—and learning what it means to be true followers of Jesus.

The ripple effect didn’t stop there. Inspired by what God had done, other families from Dhani’s village visited a nearby village to share the testimony. That visit sparked the start of six more Discovery groups—third-generation growth! When ordinary people step into the authority Jesus gives (Matthew 10:1), they feel empowered to obey all of His commands.

Please pray for Raj, for Dhani’s village, and for the neighboring families who are hearing this good news. May the story of Dhani’s healing spread with the same power and urgency as the Samaritan woman’s testimony about the Messiah she met at the well.

*pseudonym

Beyond the Beads

RELATED STORIES

We Walked as He Parted the Waters

Obedience, Reunion, and Revival

A High-Caste Heart Won for Jesus

One Miracle Sparks Third Generation Growth

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