Gospel to Asia

House Parties Building Kingdom Relationships

Feb 20, 2021 | Stories

*Gabriella lives in Central Asia and is the only known follower of Jesus in the city where she lives. For a while, she didn’t really share stories from the Bible with those around her. She was afraid.

*Frank and *Helen, Beyond movement catalysts, have been praying for Gabriella to have Jesus’ heart for the lost, especially for her own unreached people group. They were delighted to hear that she now hosts weekly dinner parties in her apartment. Delicious food, fellowship, and conversations around stories from the Bible are all on the menu! Every week several people gather, including a young man named Mahir.

Mahir began doing Bible studies with Frank a little over a year ago, and in a recent conversation, Mahir told him of the parties he was attending in Gabriella’s home. Mahir has not stopped studying the Bible! Instead, he has found a place for his interest to continue to grow, all because Gabriella stepped out in faith.

Please pray for Mahir and all who attend Gabriella’s parties to understand and obey the truth they read in the Bible. Pray they would share it with those they meet, that the Good News would spread through this unreached people group.

And thanks to Beyond donors who support Kingdom relationships like these.

*pseudonyms

Spiritual Conversations Over Tea

Feb 11, 2021 | South Asia, Stories

“That song sounds nice, and it’s wonderful to hear new songs in the Tibetan language and style . . . but who is this Savior Jesus that you are singing about?”

In the Himalayas, all good conversations happen over tea – sometimes in the home around a warm fire and sometimes in the warmth of the sun. Recently during these tea times, our Tibetan team members have begun sharing new worship songs they’ve written. They do this to spark a spiritual conversation with those around them.

Often an older family member will comment on the traditional Tibetan style of the song and inquire about the Jesus mentioned in the songs. The team then tells those gathered about Jesus and why they are his disciples. When the household or group of friends show further interest, the team leads them in a Bible study. A Bible app with sets of stories about Jesus and instructions on how to keep having discovery Bible studies is given to the group.

Historically, Tibetans have been slow in walking the path toward following Christ, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Beyond donors, you’ve been part of bringing the gospel to this unreached region. For that, we thank you. Please pray that interest in Christ would grow and that seekers would begin studying the Bible together.

Getting to the Harvest is Doable

Feb 6, 2021 | Stories

Charlie and Sarah hadn’t planned on the pandemic. They began 2020 with plans to move to Southeast Asia in July, to join one of Beyond’s movement catalyst teams.

Though they had already left their jobs and were making preparations, the move was halted when their destination country closed to visitors. They hit their knees in prayer and sought God’s direction.

God directed them to continue investing in a small team of intercessors who would stand in the gap for them and their ministry. They also learned that a medical issue was more complicated than they had initially thought, thus more easily addressed in the US.

After weeks of praying, God opened a door. Charlie and Sarah obtained a visa to enter their country of service. They arrived 10 weeks later than planned. “But,” they declare, “it wasn’t 10 weeks later than God had planned! God’s timing is perfect!”
Getting to the field is doable! God made a way through the obstacles, and Charlie and Sarah are stronger for it.

*pseudonym

We Are Becoming Like You!

Jan 23, 2021 | Stories

Our Himalayan team treks for days to share the Good News with mountain-dwelling peoples. In our last story from the region, we shared that the team felt it prudent to leave one village early because some there were afraid of outsiders during this time of Coronavirus.

Leaving early gave them time to visit a small village of 18 homes where a teammate had been discipling a family towards Christ. At the outbreak of the pandemic, Dalha, a follower of Jesus, moved back to this remote village where she had been raised. Many others did likewise, opening opportunities for followers of Jesus to share their faith with unreached family and friends whom they rarely see.

At Dalha’s invitation, the team stayed overnight with her family. They led the family and a few others from the village in a Discovery Bible Study and prayed over them. The next morning, as the team turned to leave, one man stepped forward and said, “Pray for us because we are becoming like you.”

Glory to God! This man recognizes that he and his family are turning toward belief in Christ and away from their traditional religion. Pray for this family as they are being discipled toward Christ.

*pseudonym

Answered Prayers, Opened Doors

Jan 2, 2021 | Stories

BEYOND’s Himalayan team treks out to meet and build relationships with families and disciple them toward Jesus. One family they met had relationship problems and asked for prayer. A team member prayed aloud for God to intervene in specific ways.

On the following trip, the family greeted them enthusiastically. “Everything you prayed for happened just like you asked!” One answered prayer had been the marriage of their daughter.

The answered prayers allowed the team to share more about Jesus and becoming his follower.

Before the team left, the family shared that the daughter had miscarried, and the baby had been deformed. They believed they were cursed. Again the team prayed, asking for a healthy baby and blessing on the family.

This year the team found that a beautiful baby had been added to the family. God had answered their prayers again.
A few hours after arriving, however, some villagers told them to leave. Outsiders were not allowed during the pandemic.The family’s grandmother stepped forward: “These are our visitors, and they will stay in our home. If you are worried, don’t come around our family or house for two weeks after they leave.”

The team only stayed one night but are thankful for that time of discipleship.