Long Term Missions

New Seeds of Faith in Unreached Areas

Mar 3, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

Frank and his team have been praying for their friend, Job. Through many conversations and a personal experience with Jesus, Job decided to follow Jesus last summer (read about Job’s conversion story here). Job has slowly been sharing his faith with his family and friends, including Samuel. At the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Samuel downloaded a Bible app in his language and expressed interest in hosting a discovery group with Job in his bookstore. They are currently looking for a third and fourth person to join them.

In another village where Frank works, Kartik and his wife, Pari, invited Samir and his father, Nuh, to visit a friend who lives in a distant village where there hasn’t been any gospel work. (Read that story here.) While in the village, Kartik and Pari shared their testimony about their recent journey to faith in Jesus. They explained how they put their faith in Jesus after their young daughter was miraculously freed from demons. This was the first time the village chief and the villagers had heard about Jesus. They were amazed and wanted to know more.

Later, Nuh visited Ramzi’s village. Ramzi had severe high blood pressure, irregular blood sugar levels, and intense shaking. His neighbor told him that Nuh could pray for him. Interested in receiving prayer, Ramzi invited Nuh to his home. With Ramzi’s whole family as an audience, Nuh prayed for him in Jesus’ name. Immediately and miraculously, Ramzi’s symptoms improved. Now, Ramzi and his family are eager to listen to stories about Jesus together.

Soon after Ramzi’s healing, he told his friend Adil, who also had health issues, about what happened. Adil asked Ramzi if Nuh could come pray for him too. Nuh visited and prayed for Adil, who also received healing. Praise God!

How you can pray for these new disciples:

Pray for Job and Samuel’s friends and family to become interested in discovering more about God, and join the new discovery group.
Pray that discovery groups will start in this new village where Kartik and Pari shared their testimony. Pray that their family will continue to grow in their faith.
Please pray for discovery groups to start in both Ramzi’s and Adil’s homes.

*pseudonym

The Festival of Colors

Mar 3, 2025 | Stories

Holi, the Indian festival marking the beginning of spring, falls on March 14 this year. Holi is also known as the “Festival of Colors” due to the bright, powdered pigments that are a trademark of the celebrations.

We invite you to join us in praying these colorful Bible passages over the Hindu world as Holi approaches.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” -Isaiah 1:18

Father, we pray for you to prepare the hearts of Hindus everywhere for your freeing gospel. We pray for a holy discontent with Hinduism and their own sin to fall on them so that they would be ready to accept the Good News. May their sins turn from scarlet to white as snow through acceptance of the Lordship of Christ Jesus.

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. – Acts 16:14

Lord, we ask you to open the hearts of Hindus to pay attention to the good news of the gospel when your followers speak to them. May many thousands of Hindus come to be called worshipers of the one true God.

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. -Jeremiah 17:8

Having received Jesus as Lord and having become your True Followers, we pray, Father, that you would cause them to thrive in you. May Hindu background believers, old and new, not be bothered by “drought times,” but may they stay ever green in you, continually producing the fruit of disciples who make disciples.

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. -Revelation 7:9

Thank you, Almighty God! Thank you for your promise that members from every Hindu believing people group would be counted among those standing before your throne at the end of days.

OTHER HINDU HOLIDAYS

SHARING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WITH HINDUS
All over the world Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Newar Buddhists will light oil lamps and place them in their homes and businesses to invite the Goddess of Prosperity, read more …

DUSSEHRA
Different parts of India celebrate Dussehra in different ways. Scenes from Rama’s life might be enacted, grand processions may take place or effigies of Ravana burned. read more …

RAKHSHA BANDHAN
Rakhsha Bandhan is an annual Hindu festival celebrating the special bond between brothers and sisters or unrelated persons with a similar familial bond. read more …

Heal the Sick and Proclaim the Nearness of God’s Kingdom

Feb 19, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

In Luke 10, Jesus gave His disciples a strategy for reaching the lost. In verse 9, He instructed them, “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near to you.'” In South Asia, we witness disciples of Jesus fulfilling this command as they reach out to the lost, heal the sick, and proclaim the nearness of God’s Kingdom.

From Hating God to Loving Him
*Richard, a disciple-maker, shared how three generations of discovery groups began among Muslim families. “It all started with one family, *James and *Elizabeth. I befriended them and prayed for Elizabeth, who was ill. I invited them to learn more about Jesus. Initially, James wasn’t interested; in fact, he said he hated God. However, when Elizabeth was healed, she told her husband, ‘See, I was healed, so now we should give this a chance.’ After witnessing his wife’s recovery, James decided to start listening to the stories of Jesus. Both James and Elizabeth were amazed by these stories and noticed a real transformation within their family.

They then decided to share what they were learning. James and Elizabeth spoke to a distant relative about the changes in their family and shared some stories of Jesus. This relative was also captivated by the stories and experienced their own miracles, eventually passing the stories on to a neighboring family. Now, we have three generations of Muslim families studying the word of God and experiencing Jesus for themselves.”

A Baby is Healed
One effective way to enter a new village and share the good news is by meeting a need. In *Highland Village,access to clean water is crucial. While disciple-makers *Gia and *Paul were in Highland Village discussing water filters with families, they met *Raj and his parents. Raj, an eight-month-old baby, had been ill for a long time. Gia and Paul prayed over Raj and assured his parents, “Your child will be healed tomorrow,” promising to return the next day.

When Gia and Paul visited Raj’s home the following day, they found a happy and healthy baby who had been healed by God. This miracle has sparked interest among Raj’s family and many others in the village, who are now eagerly awaiting devices with recordings that tell the stories of Jesus in their native language. Through this miraculous healing, God is opening doors for the people of Highland Village to know Jesus for the first time.

After Being Sick for Years, *Alta is Healed
Disciple-maker *Paul shared another inspiring story about a woman named Alta who had been suffering from frequent bleeding for many years. Despite consulting local doctors, Alta found no relief. Paul shared the message of Jesus with her, and she believed. He prayed for her and she was healed—the bleeding stopped completely! Now Alta, along with her family, is eagerly awaiting a device with recorded Bible stories to help them grow in their new faith.

*pseudonym

Turkish Coffee, the Story of Job, and Listening Prayer

Feb 11, 2025 | Stories, Turkic World

A few days before Sue was set to leave her Middle Eastern home, she was walking back from the grocery store when she felt an unexpected nudge to stop by a nearby pharmacy. It was a place she often visited, where she’d formed a friendship with two employees. That evening, Aida, one of those employees, was on shift and greeted Sue warmly. She invited her to sit behind the counter, and together they shared Turkish coffee during the final half-hour before closing.

As customers came and went, their conversation turned to Sue’s work—helping people find healing from trauma through the story of Job. Curious, Aida mentioned verses about Job from the Qur’an and then asked, “What does the Bible say about him?”

Sue began sharing Job’s story. Partway through, the other young women who worked at the pharmacy joined in. Aida, eager to involve her colleagues, summarized what Sue had shared so far before letting her continue. This thrilled Sue, knowing that Aida’s retelling would help her remember the story better.

Although Job’s story isn’t the one Sue typically starts with when introducing spiritual truths, it resonated deeply with Aida. She even helped Sue explain parts of it more clearly in Turkish, which enriched the conversation.

As their discussion wound down, the women grew curious about Sue’s life. “How did you end up living here?” they asked.

Sue explained how she had prayed for direction before applying to various opportunities overseas. Then she turned the question back to them: “Have you ever prayed to make a decision?”

Aida nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, prayer is what led me to this neighborhood.”

“Me too!” Sue exclaimed, then shared how “listening prayer” had guided her to her current apartment. (Listening prayer involves inviting God to speak to a person or group, often about a specific question or topic, as they wait silently in His presence. Anything heard is tested to be sure it’s consistent with Scripture.)

Intrigued, Aida leaned closer. “Can you teach me how to do listening prayer?”

“Of course,” Sue replied with a smile. “When would you like to practice?”

Before they could plan, it was time to close the pharmacy. Aida offered Sue a ride home on her moped, since they lived near each other. As they turned onto Sue’s street, Aida gasped at the scenic view from Sue’s apartment.

“Now you really need to teach me listening prayer!” she said, marveling at the beauty. As they waved goodbye, Sue quietly prayed that she would get the opportunity to meet with Aida again. Join us in prayer for Sue and her plans to return to her Middle-Eastern home in the months to come. Pray for Aida, that the Holy Spirit will prepare her heart to hear what Sue has to say when she returns.

*pseudonyms

Thaipusam Observed

Feb 5, 2025 | Festivals and Holidays, South East Asia

Thaipusam is an Indian festival originating from southern India, celebrated exclusively by the Tamil people. This year it will be observed on February 8.

Within minutes of Frank and his team mates witnessing the event, it became undeniably clear that those who consider themselves devoted followers of these Hindu gods are wholly committed—body, mind, and soul.

This festival demands extreme acts of devotion. Participants pierce their bodies with needles, hooks, or even small jugs of milk, while others carry enormous burdens—such as intricately decorated chariots or gallon-sized containers of milk—on a grueling two-mile trek uphill. This particular Thaipusum journey started at a Hindu temple at the base of a mountain to another at the summit, where offerings were made to specific idols. All this took place in the midst of the sweltering Southeast Asian heat and the throngs of thousands making the ascent together.

Frank and his teammates arrived in the midst of it all, determined to witness the spectacle firsthand and pray for every soul they encountered. The oppressive heat bore down on them, leaving them drenched in sweat and eventually with sunburns that lingered for days. After two exhausting hours, they finally reached the temple at the top.

Inside, the air pulsed with the sound of lively Indian music, yet the atmosphere was oppressive. People offered their life savings to the idols, while those who had pierced their bodies as acts of sacrifice stood motionless while the objects were carefully removed. Hundreds—perhaps thousands—of gallons of milk were poured over the golden and bronze statues, a sacred offering, given the holiness of cows in Hindu tradition.

Despite the intensity of the rituals, something was strikingly absent—joy. No one smiled. No one looked fulfilled. Instead, a heavy darkness seemed to overshadow everything, an unsettling oppressive presence. Amidst all the devotion, pain, and sacrifice, Frank and his teammates saw no peace or sense of hope. It all seemed tragically empty.

Yet, as Frank observed, he couldn’t ignore one undeniable truth: These worshippers, while far from knowing the one true God, willingly sacrificed everything in their desperate search for divine connection. Their faith—though misplaced—was real to them, shaping their actions and defining their lives.

Many participate in Thaipusam out of deep religious obligation, ancestral ties, or fear of displeasing the gods. Pray that Jesus would break any spiritual chains holding them back from experiencing freedom in Jesus. Pray that those participating in this festival would come to understand that Jesus has already made the ultimate sacrifice for them, and they do not need to endure suffering to earn divine favor.

OTHER HINDU HOLIDAYS

SHARING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WITH HINDUS
All over the world Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Newar Buddhists will light oil lamps and place them in their homes and businesses to invite the Goddess of Prosperity, read more …

DUSSEHRA
Different parts of India celebrate Dussehra in different ways. Scenes from Rama’s life might be enacted, grand processions may take place or effigies of Ravana burned. read more …

RAKHSHA BANDHAN
Rakhsha Bandhan is an annual Hindu festival celebrating the special bond between brothers and sisters or unrelated persons with a similar familial bond. read more …

New Seeds of Faith in Unreached Areas

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The Festival of Colors

Heal the Sick and Proclaim the Nearness of God’s Kingdom

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Turkish Coffee, the Story of Job, and Listening Prayer

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Thaipusam Observed

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