Long Term Missions

From Fear to Freedom

May 15, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

*Sanjay and his brother recently traveled to Haryana to meet with some key leaders, gathering at *Laksha’s home. Laksha, who is from a high caste, has been an active disciple-maker within the movement for about six years. She and her team are witnessing remarkable growth, particularly among high caste individuals and women. In her district, there are around 36 house churches.

During the meeting, Laksha shared that it’s easy to assume that people from high castes are proud and resistant to the gospel. However, when she encounters those who have become disciples of Jesus, she sees how deeply God has transformed their lives. Before knowing Jesus, their lives were difficult, marked by fear and uncertainty. Laksha and her team invested months of effort, often visiting these homes for eight or nine months, continually sharing the gospel, casting vision, and leading Discovery Bible Studies.

Now, these new believers have found truth and peace in God’s Word. Laksha shared how she encouraged them to disciple others, and now they are spreading the gospel themselves.

Laksha also told the story of Suresh, a man from a nearby village. His family had been tormented by a demon, causing great strife in their home. Laksha prayed over the family multiple times in the name of Jesus, and eventually, they were delivered. Despite the villagers’ skepticism, with some even saying, “What can Jesus do? He can’t help or heal this man,” Jesus answered Laksha’s prayers. The demon left, and Suresh and his family were restored. Since then, seven new house churches have emerged in that village, with many of the former skeptics being baptized.

*pseudonyms

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One Man’s Prayer, Two Dead Rats, and a Saved Harvest

May 6, 2025 | Stories

It was close to harvest season, and the corn was ripening in the fields. *Asam, a former Muslim who follows Jesus and lives out his faith in his Muslim community, cared for a lot of corn in the middle of the other villagers’ fields.

The community had problems with rats eating all the corn the closer it got to harvest time. They physically guarded the crops to ward off the rats — an impossible task given the determined resourcefulness of these creatures. The day before the harvest, Asam walked around his area and prayed to Isa al Masih (Jesus the Messiah), asking Him to protect his crops for the next day’s harvest.

When the neighborhood woke up the following morning, they found that the rats had beaten them to the harvest. Every field except for Asam’s had been devoured. Asam’s lot was untouched, and two rats were found dead in his field!

Jesus had answered Asam’s prayers and saved his crops. His obedience to do what Jesus told him to do deepened his faith. It also made Asam stand out as a God-fearing witness and a true follower of Isa al Masih in his community.

Pray for the many Muslim background disciples of Jesus who are bravely living out their faith. Pray that Jesus will show Himself to their precious families, friends, and communities through Bible stories, miracles, and dreams!

*pseudonym

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Adile is a conservative Muslim woman who has been part of a group doing Discovery Bible Study (DBS) with Raleigh. And she had seen Jesus in a vision! read more …

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Poisoned for Making Impact

Apr 24, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

Nadal served in Rishikesh alongside a local leader and comes from the saphera (snake charmer) caste. A few years before, he struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs, but through Jesus, he found freedom and transformation.

Since then, Nadal had become a remarkable leader. He established over 150 house churches. His ministry led many in his community to Christ, breaking free from addictions and destructive lifestyles.

However, Nadal’s life-changing impact had drawn opposition. A local drug dealer, angry about the growing number of transformed lives, lured Nadal to his home under false pretenses. He pretended to congratulate him for his changed life. Instead, the dealer served Nadal poisoned food, leaving him hospitalized in critical condition for many weeks before Nadal passed away. This brings the number of martyrs in India up to 12 for 2024.

Please pray for strength and peace for Nadal’s family. Pray that they would remain steadfast in their faith. Please also pray for the Timothys and house churches Nadal has mentored, that they would continue to stand bold and unshaken in their mission. Finally, let’s lift up his persecutor in prayer, that just as Saul became Paul, this man too would encounter the living Jesus and be transformed into a powerful witness for the Kingdom.

As Paul once wrote in the face of persecution: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

*pseudonyms

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WHEN PERSECUTION BECOMES CELEBRATION
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Finding Jesus in the Ordinary

Mar 14, 2025 | Austronesia, Stories

As our ministry teams share Jesus with those he brings into their path, they discover that Jesus is found in the ordinary. He gives hope to those who need it and comfort to others who call on His name.

Hope in Jesus
Yul often visited the cemetery where his beloved wife was laid to rest. It was part of his journey through grief, yet each visit was infused with a quiet hope.

During one of these visits, he encountered the man who had dug his wife’s grave. As they spoke, Yul shared his heart: “I come here to grieve, but not without hope. My wife was a follower of Jesus Christ, and I believe she is now in heaven with Him. I also believe that when I die, I’ll be reunited with her there. This is the hope I have in Jesus.”

The grave digger looked surprised. “I’ve never heard that before,” he admitted.

“I’d love to meet with you and share more from the Scriptures about this hope,” Yul offered. “Would you be interested?”

The man nodded. “Yes.”

Since then, not only the grave digger, but five other cemetery workers have joined Yul for nine Bible study sessions, learning about the prophets and Jesus. Pray that through Yul’s testimony and truth of Scripture, the Holy Spirit would draw each of them into a saving relationship with Christ and make obedient disciples of all of them.

The Sleepiness Vanished
In Southeast Asia, our follow-up team encourages new disciples to go through Steps to Freedom in Christ, a book designed to help them navigate the spiritual battles they often face after baptism. Many new disciples in this region experience intense demonic attacks, and this resource equips them to understand their identity in Christ, renounce any surrendered ground, and reclaim those areas through the power of Jesus.

As Fit prayed through the material, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness suddenly washed over her. Sensing a spiritual attack, her teammate Nini urged her to pray. Fit closed her eyes, lifted her hands, and began to pray. Instantly, the sleepiness vanished.

When she opened her eyes, she turned to Nini and thanked her for holding her hand. But Nini shook her head. “I didn’t hold your hand. I didn’t even touch you,” she said. “That must have been Jesus.”

Now, more than ever, Fit knows that Jesus is always with her.

Pray that she continues to experience His presence in deeper and more powerful ways, and shares his love with others.

*pseudonyms

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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