Long Term Missions

When God Sent Rain

Aug 19, 2026 | East Asia, Stories

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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

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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 …

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*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 …

Beaten and Shot: She Continued to Talk about Jesus

Jul 29, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

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Satish* has planted churches in several villages. A retired army colonel and his family live in one of these villages. Because of the colonel’s connections, the family has more money than many in their village. The colonel has a son about the same age as Satish, who spent much of his time working out. However, this young man became ill, and remained so. The family paid for medicine and saw doctors. They prayed to idols and offered sacrifices. They visited pilgrimage sites. But the son did not improve.

After many weeks of fruitless effort, the son told his mother, Anjali*, that a person of faith (Satish) was routinely coming to their village, meeting with others in a local home for worship. “Well,” Anjali responded, “you should go see him. Maybe he will pray for you.” The young man followed his mother’s suggestion and attended the worship service. Satish prayed for him and he was healed! He went home and joyfully shared with his mother the news of his healing. Soon afterward, Anjali became a disciple of Jesus.

Then she told her husband, the colonel. He was livid. He couldn’t believe she had become a follower of Jesus. He was so enraged that he pulled out his rifle, aimed it right at her, and pulled the trigger. He didn’t just threaten her; he actually pulled the trigger. Amazingly, he missed. The bullet flew right past her head. When the colonel saw that he’d missed, he flipped the rifle around, took hold of the barrel, and swinging it like a club, began beating his wife mercilessly. He broke one of her legs and severely injured the other.

For months, one of Anjali’s legs was in a full cast from toes to thigh, and her other leg was useless. She pulled herself along by her hands as she went about her daily household chores. Her husband continued seething, but she never stopped talking to him about Jesus. He hated it, but she was determined. Finally, she told him, “Kill me if you want, but I know Jesus is the truth.”

After a year of this, the colonel finally believed and became a disciple of Jesus. Today, this couple have turned their home into a place of worship. Each Sunday, about 90 people gather in their home to worship Jesus. Anjali now works with Satish, and has planted seven other house churches.

Thank you for helping make it possible for us to train people like Satish to go into villages that have no prior Christian presence, and see whole families changed. Please join us in praying for these families. As they change, villages change. The Kingdom of God is advancing!

*pseudonyms

READ OTHER STORIES FROM SOUTH ASIA

THE QUIET GUY DISAPPEARED
One of the participants was a man named Satish. He was a quiet person. He listened intently to the discussions but didn’t say much. read more

WHERE TWO KINGDOMS COLLIDE
Persecution has been a common trial for many, if not most, of the movement churches in north India for the past ten years, … read more

JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR SOUTH ASIA

Pray for more workers who are willing to go to South Asia to share the Good News of the gospel.

Persecuted But Not Abandoned

Jul 22, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

RJ* was a kind and obedient disciple of Jesus, one of the most fruitful church planters in his disciple-making network in North India. He shared the gospel with a quiet but bold and authentic courage.

Between ministry activities and events, he worked his farm, providing for his family with his own hands, the way men in his village have always done. His life was simple, purposeful, and full.

Then all this was nearly taken from him.

RJ was out on a routine errand, riding his motorbike, when the ambush happened. Someone struck him across the head with a pipe or a heavy stick. The blow knocked him off the bike. When he hit the ground, his attackers did not stop. They beat him mercilessly where he lay.

The injuries were devastating. Broken bones. Three surgeries. Temporary paralysis along his entire left side. For weeks, he could not lift his arm.

Suddenly RJ, as a subsistence farmer, could not provide for his family. The news of RJ’s attack reached the team in North India and traveled all the way to us in the USA. We did not know what RJ’s road to recovery would be like. But we knew he would not walk it alone.

The body of Christ moved.

A group of national and local leaders from his movement network made the journey to visit RJ at home, after his release from the hospital. One of those leaders wrote: “Praise the Lord Jesus. Today was a very important day as we met with Brother RJ’s family. RJ and his wife were very emotional, touched by our visit and the funds that we took to pay for medical costs and provide for some of the family’s daily needs. RJ was humbled and so grateful for your generosity.”

Your giving made that moment possible. The funds that traveled to RJ’s family came from your hands. The prayers that have held him through surgeries and sleepless nights came from you.

There is one Body. One Church. One Kingdom. And we are called to bear one another’s burdens, not as a metaphor, but as a practice.

You did that. Thank you.

Please continue to pray for RJ and his family as he recovers and rebuilds. Pray for the disciples in his network, that fear would not silence them, and that they would keep following Jesus with the same faithfulness their brother has shown. Pray for India. Ask God to expand His Kingdom there and fill the nation with love, joy, hope, and peace.

Almost every day we receive reports about the escalating persecution, families are forced out of their homes and villages, beaten and arrested. The most heartbreaking part is that these disciples are poor and don’t have much to begin with. If God leads you, please give toward the emergency support needed during this difficult time.

*pseudonyms

SEND HELP TO PERSECUTED DISCIPLES

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“Who Gave You the Right to Baptize?”

Jul 3, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

How many times in the New Testament did the Apostle Paul warn churches to be careful of the evil, Roman empire? Yet, time and again Paul wrote to churches warning them to beware of legalists (“Judaizers”), supposed fellow people of faith. A team in India take great comfort from those verses. They feel like the verses were written just for them. Here is an example of how modern “Judaizers” regularly attempt to disrupt the movement.

Ravi* is a simple man. He’s dark-skinned, which is looked down upon in Indian culture. He’s from a low-caste background, one of the lowest. In the last five years, Ravi became a follower of Jesus. Ravi has never been to Bible College. He has no degree at all. He cannot even read. But, Jesus has changed him and blessed his life, so Ravi shares the news of Jesus with others, making new disciples and baptizing them, and teaching them how to be the church.

One day, Ravi was at a river in north India with a group of new disciples, baptizing them. It so happens that on that particular day, a traditional, paid pastor named Chand* was visiting the same village. Chand came to the water’s edge and disrupted the proceedings. “Get out of the water! Come here. Who gave you the right to baptize? Are you a member of any official organization? You are not ordained?! You should not be doing this!” He was deeply offended that Ravi dared to baptize anyone.

Finally, Chand quieted down, so Ravi spoke, “You have been talking and talking. Now, it’s my turn. Pastor, please look at Matthew 28.” While Chand looked up the passage, Ravi quoted verses 16-20 from memory. Someone standing nearby had a Hindi Bible. That person read the passage, and then Chand confirmed the Hindi passage with his English Bible. Ravi directed Chand’s attention to the fact that Jesus didn’t suggest but actually commanded His disciples to baptize others. Then, he pointed out that Jesus never limited this command to ordained pastors, bishops, or people who are affiliated with official organizations. Then, Ravi, this illiterate, “backward,” humble farmer looked the “important,” city-dwelling, college-educated, salaried pastor in the face and said, “So, you go. You leave this place. If you stay, you will only continue speaking bad things, so you must go.”

Chand was speechless. He couldn’t believe that this illiterate villager had just taught him from the Scriptures. He was captivated. He couldn’t leave. He stuck around and watched the baptisms. When it was all done, he told Ravi, “I need to know more about this. I have to know how you know these things.” So, Ravi took Chand to meet the man, a fellow lay-leader, who had discipled him. They spent the day together. Chand was amazed at all he heard, so amazed, in fact, that he went home and resigned from his job with a traditional organization. Why? Here are Chand’s own words:

“…how many years I’ve been working with [that mission]. I came from Bible school…[yet] this illiterate guy told me more than I knew in the Bible. Watching [him] do this baptism…and…his words were so wise; I am the fool. I’ve been to Bible school, and [my leaders] still won’t let me baptise, only the bishop of our organization can baptize! [That organization] gave me a salary, but no authority [to actually do anything].”

Chand is now a fellow laborer in the movement, being trained to walk in authority as Jesus’ disciple and to give that authority to others.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). Please pray with us that God would raise up more “fools” in India who live out their authority in Jesus!

*pseudonyms

MAKING DISCIPLES DESPITE THEIR GRIEF
In January, tragedy struck a team in North India as they lost a key leader to a sudden brain hemorrhage. read more …

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