Gospel to Asia

The Police Chief Demanded a Song

Dec 26, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

A BEYOND team was recently sitting with an Indian disciple-maker from the Bhojpuri network, asking questions as they measured the growth of a movement.

“How many churches have you started?” they asked.

The man—quiet, humble, almost hesitant—smiled. “Only 75.”

“And your team?”

“About 1500,” he replied. Many of those churches had already multiplied into four, five, and even more generations.

As the conversation deepened, the team learned this was not a story of polished leadership or formal training. It was a story of transformation.

Before following Jesus, the man said he had been a “dangerous robber.” As he spoke, he and the translator acted out firing a gun, a sobering reminder of the life he once lived. Fear had followed him then—wherever he went.

When he chose to follow Jesus, his community reacted with threats and pressure, demanding that he return to his former religion. Finally, he told them the truth: they did not really know what they were asking. If he went back, he warned, he would also return to being the dangerous man they once feared.

Remembering his past, they stopped pressing him so aggressively.

The opposition didn’t end there.

Not long ago, a police chief arrived at his home with several officers to arrest him for “converting” people—literally, for “changing the minds of others,” a serious crime. Calmly, the disciple-maker explained that he wasn’t converting anyone.

“I just sing songs about Jesus,” he said, “and tell stories about Jesus.”

The police chief was unconvinced. “Then sing,” he demanded.

So the disciple-maker picked up his small tambourine and sang a simple song about Jesus.

When the song ended, the police chief stood quietly for a moment. Then he said, “I feel such peace when you sing. I see no problem with what you are doing. You may continue to sing your songs and tell your stories.”

Please join us in praying that this man and the movement he helps lead will continue to multiply, starting many more generations of churches through simple obedience, courageous faith, and the quiet power of the gospel.

When God Sent Rain

Dec 1, 2025 | East Asia, Stories

It was late and dark when *Luke and his team arrived at the village mission house in Northeast Asia.

With the first light of morning, they noticed the forest above the village—dry, diseased, and dying. For three years, the region had endured severe drought. The land was so parched that deep cracks split the ground. Luke hadn’t realized, when planning this trip to plant trees, that the village had been suffering under such conditions.

Some young herders told him that the local shaman had even impaled five pig heads on stakes in an attempt to summon rain, but nothing changed. The heavens remained silent.

During the first week, *Strongwell, a disciplemaker, led a house church gathering where the Spirit of God brought deep conviction. Luke himself confessed and renounced his fear of losing a future visa platform and resolved to boldly proclaim Jesus, whatever the cost. Their national partner, *Eternal Treasure, admitted that he too had let intimidation silence his witness for Christ. The team gathered around him, prayed, and encouraged him to stand firm. That very afternoon, the local stamp governor met Luke and the team at the village well house and openly declared that the people were free to choose Jesus.

A few days later, Luke sat with the vice governor. Curious about their presence, she asked why they had chosen her village. Luke told her the Holy Spirit had led them there to demonstrate God’s love. Addressing rumors that he was prospecting for gold, Luke replied, “I don’t want your gold. I’ve already found the greatest treasure in Jesus.”

When she mentioned the new road to their village, Luke used the opportunity to explain: “Broad is the road that leads to destruction, but narrow is the path that leads to life. Jesus is the only way, the truth, and the life.” When she lamented the dying forest, Luke spoke candidly: “Repentance is necessary for the curse to be broken. I will pray for rain and wait for God’s answer.” Impressed by his boldness, the vice governor awarded Luke and his team a medal for their service to the community.

The next morning, the Spirit led Luke up the mountain above the village. There, in plain sight of the people, he prayed for rain—rain of mercy and grace, knowing it is God’s kindness that leads to repentance. That same morning, a villager who had clung tightly to his idols the day before publicly burned them. By afternoon, God answered Luke’s prayer with a downpour of heavy rain. Luke immediately lifted his voice in thanksgiving, praising God openly for the gift of rain.

The team also renovated the village water well. They dismantled the old tank, installed a new one, insulated the well house with Styrofoam, reinforced the walls with sheet metal, and cemented the roof. While the automatic dispensing system was offline, Luke and his team joyfully served water by hand. As each villager came to draw water, Luke reminded them who had truly provided it. When they thanked him for praying, he responded, “Give thanks to God.” Together, the villagers lifted their eyes to heaven and said, “Thank you, God!”

Luke and his team planted 40 trees during this trip. Pray that those trees would take root and grow strong—standing as a living testimony to God’s faithfulness. Ask God to bless Luke and his team as they plant not only trees but also seeds of His love in this remote mountain village. Pray that through their relationships, many villagers would choose to follow Jesus and become disciples who make disciples. Finally, pray for wisdom and discernment for Luke as he engages with government officials—that he would be granted the same kind of favor Daniel found with King Darius.

*pseudonym

RELATED STORIES

“JESUS KNOWS MY NAME!”
Geriel*, an old Mongolian woman, had talked about Christ with her dear friend, Khulan*, many times, but Khulan was never interested in hearing more. read more …

WHEN THE WHEELS CAME OFF
As Luke* drove back home after visiting a remote village high in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia, the front right wheel came off his vehicle. read more …

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WORK IN EAST ASIA

God Chose the Lowly

Nov 6, 2025 | Longer Reads, South Asia, Stories

by R.Rekedal Smith

God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are. 1 Corinthians 1:27-28

In the early days of our ministry, we went to the town of D and did three or four days of training in the DMM (disciple-making movement) model of ministry. The roughly 20 attendees included people from a wide variety of backgrounds, ranging from well-educated and well-dressed to much less educated and humbly clothed.

A few weeks later, we returned to do a follow-up training with these believers. During the first two days of the second training, we noted a pattern of self-selection in the trainees’ seating. The educated and traditionally-trained pastors sat in the front, nicely-dressed and interactive, raising their hands in response to our questions. Another distinct group, less well-dressed, always sat quietly in the back and never raised their hands to respond to questions. We recognized them as low caste people and later learned that these trainees picked through trash for their livelihood.

We didn’t sense any animosity or negative feelings between the groups. Their self-selection and behavior matched the norms in this caste-oriented society. Those in each group knew their assumed place and played their expected role.

However, as we began asking trainees to tell us what God was doing in their ministry, we noticed a pattern in the stories. Both in one-on-one conversations and when we asked from the front for any ministry testimony from previous weeks, we saw a stark contrast. We recognized
that the poorly dressed trainees in back were the only ones reporting ministry fruit that reflected application of the DMM principles we had taught.

The nicely-dressed ones in the front, who had been very interactive and answered our questions, didn’t have any stories to share that actually showed they had applied the DMM pattern for making disciples. Meanwhile, the group of trash pickers had some exciting stories to share.

On the third day, my husband said, “We need to honor them; we need to bring them out of the back row to the front.” We brought them up to the front and he and I, along with many of the Indians in the room, washed their feet. It was a very precious moment.

So, the cultural norms were suddenly turned on their heads, based on the Kingdom value of fruitful obedience. The illiterate trash-pickers felt honored—both as fellow-members of God’s family and as God’s servants faithfully bearing witness to the gospel and seeing God work
through them. The Indians who had been seated in the front row also honored them, acknowledging that these brothers had the most notable fruit in ministry. That event had a huge impact on all of us—touching social, cultural, political, and religious values with a stunning
Kingdom perspective.

A 12-minute documentary, “Ordinary People,” describes the early growth of this movement and features some of these “ordinary” people. These low-caste, illiterate trash pickers became more fruitful than any of the most educated people in the room. These folks obeyed and experienced multiplying fruit—lots of fruit. God loves to use anyone who obeys, even those we might consider the least. Over time, they also learned how to read. The Lord taught them how to read, and improved their lives physically, even as they have continued to grow in Christ and serve him fruitfully.

R. Rekedal Smith and her family serve with BEYOND (beyond.org). Their application of DMM strategies in India has resulted in over 1 million house churches birthed from Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh background peoples.

Mourning Into Mission, Grief Into Grace

Sep 25, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

*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

A Divine Detour

Aug 20, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

While riding in a remote mountain village, *Samaarth noticed that his bicycle had a flat tire. With no way to continue, he walked to a nearby home hoping someone might be able to help.

The family welcomed him warmly, offering him water and tea—a customary act of hospitality. As they talked, Samaarth couldn’t help but notice that the woman of the house, *Padma appeared to be in visible discomfort. Concerned, he gently asked what was wrong.

Her family explained that Padma had been suffering from a chronic illness for many years. They had tried everything—medical treatments, traditional remedies, and religious rituals—but nothing had brought healing.

Moved with compassion, Samaarth asked if he could pray for her. Cautiously, the family responded, “What kind of prayer will you pray?”

Samaarth sat with them and began to share a story from the Bible (Luke 8:43–48)—about a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. He told them how this woman was healed the moment she reached out in faith and touched Jesus’ cloak.

The family listened intently. Then, to Samaarth’s surprise, they agreed to let him pray. As he prayed in the name of Jesus, Padma suddenly felt immediate relief in her body.

Since that day, Samaarth has continued visiting the family, sharing more stories about Jesus. He is praying earnestly that Padma and her entire household will come to know and follow Him. Padma’s husband, though deeply rooted in his own faith, is curious and full of questions.

Please pray for Samaarth as he continues to share the Good News with this family. Pray especially for Padma’s husband—that the Holy Spirit would soften his heart and open his mind to the truth. And pray that, like the household in Joshua 24, this family would turn from all other gods and serve the one true God—Jesus Christ.

*pseudonym