Disciple-Making

Kingdom Opposites: Choosing What God Said Instead

Aug 12, 2026 | Austronesia, Stories

Juni* remembered the accident in fragments. One moment she was driving her motorbike down the road, and the next she was lying injured on the roadside. The world around her was blurred and unsteady. She could feel arms around her shoulders. An elderly Muslim woman was holding her and quietly weeping. Nearby, voices called out as people rushed to move her motorbike from the road. Other women gathered close, their faces filled with concern.

Then, almost instantly, two of her local disciple-making teammates were beside her. They gently cleaned her wounds and checked her injuries, bringing calm into the chaos.

Hours later, Juni was back home, resting. Her jaw ached, her leg was badly injured, and her shoulder throbbed with pain. When Reina*, a disciple-maker, visited, Juni was able to sit up for a while.

Together, they slowly talked through the events of the day, not just to remember what had happened, but to listen for what God might be saying in the midst of it.

As Juni reflected, something deeper began to surface. The accident itself was not the only thing weighing on her. Old thoughts, once healed but not fully silenced, began to rise again:

“You are a burden.”
“You are not capable.”
“You should give up and go home.”
“You are letting others down.”

These were not new voices. They were familiar accusations that had taken root during earlier wounds in her life. In Juni’s moment of vulnerability, they tried to reclaim their place.

With gentle guidance, Reina invited Juni to name the thoughts and feelings she was carrying. Then she asked her to bring those honestly before the Lord. One by one, Juni chose to turn away from the lies she had believed and to reject their hold on her heart.

Next came a different question. What was God saying instead?

Juni began to search for truth in her Bible. She wrote down words from Scripture that spoke of God’s care, His presence, and His faithfulness. Where there had been accusations, she now spoke truth. Where there had been doubt, she chose trust.

Reina also asked her to remember where she had seen God at work, even in the midst of the accident. And as Juni reflected, she saw it clearly. In the arms of a stranger who cared for her. In the quick response of her teammates. In the protection that spared her life. In the presence of God that never left her.

This simple process helped Juni walk through four intentional steps. She recognized the thoughts that questioned God’s goodness. She repented of the ways she had agreed with them. She renounced the lies that had shaped her thinking. And she reclaimed those places with the truth of God’s Word.

Juni chose to do the hard work of healing. She leaned into the Lord, not only to continue serving, but to be transformed. In the midst of pain, she encountered a far deeper freedom.

For those longing to see multiplying movements of new disciples, this kind of inner transformation matters. As we walk in dependence on the Holy Spirit, God shapes us even as He works through us. And through lives marked by humility, honesty, and obedience, others begin to see what it looks like to follow Jesus in a real and lasting way.

*pseudonym

PRAYING KINGDOM OPPOSITES
From a field worker in Austronesia: “Yanti* called, desperate to line up a second DMM training. She described renewed enthusiasm and attested read more …

FEAR LESS, LOVE MORE
On the last morning of her stay at a quaint hotel, Sharon* noticed a simple but profound message: “Fear Less, Love More.” One of the staff members had written read more …

“I DON’T HAVE AN OIKOS”
*Frida seemed hungry for Jesus, yet insistent that no one else around her would want to join in discovering God’s heart through the Discovery Bible Study (DBS) read more …

When Tradition Meets Jesus

Jun 3, 2026 | South East Asia, Stories

Each April, communities across Thailand welcome the Thai New Year, widely known as Songkran, a Sanskrit word meaning “passage of the sun.” It is traditionally a time of renewal. Homes are cleaned, Buddha images are gently washed, and young people offer respect to elders by pouring scented water over their hands while speaking words of blessing.

In recent years, the celebration has taken a more playful tone, with joyful splashing of water filling the streets. While festive, these moments can also carry dangerous risks, especially for those traveling on busy roads.

This year, one local leader chose to honor the heart of the celebration while pointing his community toward a deeper meaning. Alex*, a Thai disciple who has quietly invested years in learning disciple-making and house church leadership, has been faithfully serving in his province. Last year, he partnered with a Lao team for a weekend outreach in his region. Several families chose to follow Jesus, and a new village house church was formed. Since then, Alex has been walking closely with its leaders, helping them grow in both faith and practice.

During this year’s Thai New Year gathering, Alex invited the church into a powerful expression of humility inspired by the Gospel of John, chapter 13. He knelt and gently washed the feet of each person present, speaking a blessing over them.

In Thai culture, feet are considered the lowest part of the body, both physically and symbolically. Touching another adult’s feet, especially as a leader, is highly unusual. Yet Alex chose to follow the example of Jesus, embracing humility in a way that spoke deeply to those watching. The room grew still as each person received this act of service. What could have felt uncomfortable instead became a moment of quiet transformation. Through this simple but profound act of love, Alex demonstrated a different kind of leadership, one shaped by humility and obedience.

Join us as we give thanks for Alex and for the growing church he is nurturing. Pray that those who witnessed this moment will carry its meaning into their daily lives, sharing their faith with others with love and humility. Pray that this young church would multiply in the coming year, planting another community of believers marked by the same humility and devotion. Lift up in prayer all the village house churches across the Thai network, that they would reflect this spirit in ways that resonate meaningfully within their own communities.

pseudonym*

Baby Steps

Sep 4, 2024 | Stories, Turkic World

“How can I pray for you?” *Verda asked *Sue, moments after Sue had finished praying for Verda and her family. Despite having only spent time in intercession together twice before, Verda had already prayed extensively for Sue. Admitting that she had never prayed aloud in front of anyone before, Verda’s courage deeply touched Sue, who felt honored.

Earlier that evening, they had gathered around the kitchen table to read verses about the Spirit in the book of Acts. Verda, her friend *Anna, her younger brother *Sammy, and Sue each took turns sharing their insights from the passages. As Sue looked around the table at the 19-year-old Verda, Anna, and 10-year-old Sammy, she felt a wave of gratitude. Sitting there, Sue silently offered a prayer of thanks, feeling blessed to be part of this intimate gathering of friends and family, united in their faith. It was a beautiful example of disciples making disciples, and it felt precious.

This sweet fellowship reminded Sue of a quote by Olivia Smith that she had recently read: “I always love it when people say ‘baby steps!’ to imply they’re being tentative, when actually baby steps are a great unbalanced, wholehearted, enthusiastic lurch into the unknown.” Sue thought this perfectly encapsulated the beginnings of their journey.

Each moment of growth and each minute spent in prayer felt like an important baby step forward. While Sue admitted she still felt somewhat timid herself, she also felt a growing excitement about the direction she and Verda were headed in their ministry together. Although they were uncertain about exactly how to achieve their vision of multiplying disciples among unreached people in their area, these tentative steps into the unknown felt like a wonderful place to start.

Pray for Sue, Verda, Anna and Sammy as they take these baby steps toward making more disciples among the unreached where they live.

*pseudonyms

A Modern Day Luke 10 Story

Aug 7, 2024 | Stories

Though they didn’t know where they would spend the night, Natalie* and her friends followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit and traveled to a new town in the large Muslim nation where they live. They were there to intercede for its people and see who the Father wanted them to meet.

Discovering a small cafe run by a local Muslim woman named Miriam*, the ladies entered the fragrant cafe and ordered a bite to eat. They were glad when they had the opportunity to pray with Miriam, asking God to bless her business with many customers.

As they sat eating the delicious food, Miriam, her husband, and their little girl stopped by their table. “You guys asked God for me to have many customers,” Miriam declared, “and I’ve had non-stop business this afternoon!” Natalie shared that they pray for people as a way of loving their neighbors as they love themselves.

The women were then able to share a Bible story while Miriam and her husband listened eagerly. Miriam insisted that Natalie and her friends stay the night at their home before more customers took the family back to their work.

Later that evening, these young Christian women were able to meet many of the family’s relatives and neighbors at Miriam’s home. They stayed up late into the night chatting with their new friends.

Pray that the Lord would open up opportunities to study, discuss, and obey the Word together with Miriam and her community.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 that God “uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.”

*pseudonyms used

EARNEST PILGRIMS
Many of the women waiting in line with Natalie* held young children. As they approached the entrance to the holy cave, they removed their shoes read more …

THEY HAD PLANS BUT …
Natalie* and Sue hosted an online prayer time with local believers. Amil and Zara, a husband and wife, joined read more …

WHO IS STRONGER? JESUS OR BLACK MAGIC?
“I’m tired,” wept Sunil* as he explained to Gia* and Samir* all the things he had done to appease the evil spirits read more …

When 3+2=27+300

Dec 6, 2023 | South Asia, Stories

Three years ago, the caste leaders of a village attacked a visiting disciple of Jesus named Roman. They wanted Roman to stop telling “their” people about Jesus. They beat him up, destroyed his motorcycle, and threatened to do worse if he didn’t leave immediately. Roman was terrified. He fled the village and spent the next few days hiding in the jungle. Disciples of Jesus from other villages brought him food and other essentials. After a few days, Roman stopped hiding. He first went home, then, amazingly, he returned to the village he’d fled.

The caste leaders were unhappy. “We beat you. Now, you’re back!?”

“You must hear me,” Roman said. “I have good words for you.”

Intent on stopping Roman for good, the village leaders “reported” him to local Hindu radicals. They came and threatened Roman. He responded by boldly proclaiming the Good News about Jesus. Eventually, the group left, but later, two returned to speak with Roman privately. Roman asked two other movement leaders to join him in the village. Once all were together, the Hindu men exclaimed, “What kind of strength do you have to endure these things [beatings and threats]!?!” The five men talked for days and visited a local house church.

As soon as the two Hindu men returned to their own community, they started a Discovery Bible Study. Four months later, 27 people in their village, most of whom had also been radical Hindus, were baptized as disciples of Jesus. Of the 27, three pairs of workers emerged who have influenced 300 villages for Jesus so far. Recently, 60 people from those villages gathered to learn how they also can make more followers within the disciple-making movement and see new churches birthed in other unreached villages.

Being a disciple of Jesus does not erase suffering or eliminate trouble. However, when struggles come, we, like Roman, can listen to the Spirit and obediently go where He leads. We serve a God who performs wonders – Sauls become Pauls, Simons turn into Peters, and Sons of Thunder change to loving servants!