Muslim Zealot Becomes Disciple of Jesus

Muslim Zealot Becomes Disciple of Jesus

Nov 6, 2025 | Austronesia, Stories

*Kuram was a devout Muslim, so zealous in his faith that community leaders sent him to another part of Southeast Asia to convert nominal Christians to Islam. Through his efforts, more than 100 people turned from Christianity to Islam.

When Kuram returned home, he was struck by personal tragedy. Instead of supporting him, his community judged and abandoned him. Disillusioned and broken, Kuram began to question everything he once believed.

In the midst of his crisis, he came across an ad from a media outreach ministry. He responded. A local disciple visited him, offering comfort and hope. Together, they walked through his pain. This disciple of Jesus helped Kuram release his bitterness toward those who had turned their backs on him. He also helped Kuram break free from a lifetime of occult ties.

Kuram made a bold decision: he decided to follow Jesus. Soon after, he was baptized.

Overwhelmed with joy, Kuram shared his newfound faith with two old friends. Both came to believe! Now they, too, are praying for their families to follow Christ.

Just three years ago, church planters described Kuram’s region as “too hard to reach.” But one movement leader believed differently. “No, it’s not,” he said. “There is always a door God can open. These three families will become the foundation for house churches.”

Today, that vision has become reality. In Kuram’s area, disciple-making fellowships have multiplied to the fourth generation! Praise God, for he is able to make the impossible possible. Pray for Kuram and these three families; pray that they will continue to make disciples who make disciples.

*pseudonym

THREE MAJOR HINDRANCES
Hanli* helped her husband track data describing their region’s largest family of church planting movements. After reading all the descriptions of transformed read more …

JOURNEY TO DISCIPLESHIP
Susi was interested in each of the Old Testament stories and asked, “Are these stories talking about the blood of Jesus?” read more …

GIVE UP YOUR WAY
Together the couple had sought the Lord on where they might live to be most effective in making multiplying disciples. And the Lord had answered. read more …

From Curiosity to Faith Amidst Persecution

From Curiosity to Faith Amidst Persecution

Sep 29, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

Disciples in India are facing an escalation of persecution. Stories have emerged of believers being expelled from their villages. To date there have been over 30 brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the gospel.  

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs both nationally and in many states, remains staunchly opposed to Christian activities, including the work of disciple-makers.

In Uttar Pradesh, the anti-converation laws have been frequently enacted, mandating life imprisonment for anyone caught converting others. Yet, despite these formidable challenges, the Kingdom of God continues to grow.

One such story of growth comes from the Listening Movement in India. In a community among the Banjara people—nomadic and of a low caste—women have begun experiencing the transformative power of the gospel. The Banjara, most of whom are illiterate, often find work in labor and transportation. For some time, these women observed Christians from a distance, their curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar way they prayed.

That curiosity deepened when they encountered female disciple-makers who prayed in ways that felt relatable. Seeing women like themselves gathered in prayer encouraged them to draw near. The disciple-makers shared Bible stories, welcoming and accepting them and gently opening the Banjara women’s hearts to the word of God.

Westerners commonly speak up and share their thoughts, but Indians, especially lower-caste women, find this far more difficult. 

However, through the patient and persistent efforts of the disciple-makers, these women began to engage in prayer and discussion. Just two months later, they now meet regularly to study God’s word and pray.

Praise God for this group of women who long to know more about Jesus and obey His teachings. We thank God for the brave disciple-makers who faithfully shared their stories and testimonies, bringing the light of the gospel in the midst of persecution.

Please pray for the families of those who have surrendered their lives for the sake of the gospel.

 

GIVE TO HELP THE PERSECUTED

FAITH UNDER FIRE
Twenty-year-old *Ragbir was deeply passionate about spreading the gospel. He often preached in villages far from his own, despite opposition. read more

POISONED FOR MAKING IMPACT
Nadal’s life-changing impact had drawn opposition. A local drug dealer, angry about the growing number of transformed lives, … read more

WHEN 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, but it has significantly …read more

Mourning Into Mission, Grief Into Grace

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

RELATED STORIES

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 …

WOMEN IN INDIA FEARLESSLY SHARING THE GOSPEL
The Listening Movement held its first Women Leaders meeting last year where several women gathered to , read more …

FAITH ON WHEELS
*Mina, a woman from Delhi, works as a school bus driver. She is completely illiterate and comes from a low caste, yet her faith  read more …

From Bondage to Blessings

From Bondage to Blessings

Sep 10, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

Nuh*, our teammate in South Asia, shared this testimony of new disciple, Rishika*:

“Since I began listening to the Word of God on the mp3 player, my life has changed in ways I never imagined. I was once trapped in drug addiction. My days were marked by quarrels and anger, and my home was filled with tension and unrest.

But when I began hearing the Bible stories, something shifted in my heart. The power of God’s Word touched me deeply. I stopped using drugs. I stopped quarreling. Peace, security, and calm entered my home. God’s presence has brought blessings into my family life.

I am so grateful to the Lord, whose Word is transforming me day by day. I now encourage my friends and loved ones to listen as well, so they too can be blessed and receive eternal life.

Today my heart is full of joy. I thank God for His mercy. Through His precious Word, He is strengthening my faith, filling my home with happiness, and showering us with blessing!”

Praise God for the powerful work He is doing in Rishika’s life! Please pray for her as she continues to follow Jesus—that her faith would remain strong, and that her testimony would spark many new *Discovery Bible Study groups to form, leading more people into God’s kingdom.

*pseudonym

*Discovery Bible study is a simple, reproducible method for studying the Bible that focuses on asking questions to discover what a passage says about God, people, and how to obey it right away.

RELATED STORIES 

I AM READY
“I have some great news to tell you,” Job shared with Frank over the phone. “I’m ready to follow Jesus!” Thrilled to hear this good news, Frank invited Job and his wife Sarah over for dinner  read more …

GOD’S WORD CROSSING PROVINCIAL LINES
*Bilal shared with his friend *Rohan how God’s Word was transforming his life. Rohan was so moved that he  read more …

A JOURNEY DARKNESS TO LIGHT
*Chakir and his family met *Nuh, who is serving in South Asia, when he visited their village. During his visit, Nuh shared the good news of Jesus and invited Chakir  read more

Translating Hope

Translating Hope

Sep 3, 2025 | South Asia, Stories

A dedicated team of local disciples worked tirelessly over the last year to translate portions of the Bible into a language spoken in Northwest India. They successfully completed 53 Discovery Bible Study lessons, translating a total of 853 verses from the Old and New Testaments. However, just as they neared completion, their efforts were discovered by members of their unbelieving community. Tragically, all their materials were confiscated and burned by an angry mob.

Due to security risks in their area, the team chose a paper-and-pen approach instead of using electronic devices. Carrying laptops or tablets would have drawn unwanted attention—three ordinary men (who were doing the translation) suddenly handling such equipment would have raised suspicion. Printing physical copies posed its own dangers; taking their drafts to a photocopy shop could have led to immediate confiscation and even physical harm.

Looking back, the team acknowledges that they should have taken photos and clearly labeled each as first draft, second draft, and so on. But at the time, they believed their efforts were discreet enough to go unnoticed.

They were wrong.

That experience has transformed how they now operate—not only in high-risk areas but also where the threat level seems lower.

Undeterred, the team began the painstaking process of starting over. They were under intense scrutiny from some in their community. By God’s grace, they have completed the drafting and testing phases of their work. 

*Joel, a movement catalyst, has securely stored the translation in multiple places—including his computer, the cloud, and an external hard drive—to ensure it is never lost again.

Join us as we celebrate the completion of this translation! It is available in the Discovery Bible Study South Asia Bible app. We pray Isaiah 55:11 over it, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Pray that these newly translated Scriptures will reach thousands of South Asians, leading them into God’s Kingdom.

Thank you for partnering with us in prayer to see this project through to completion.

*pseudonyms

 

A MULE FOR THE GOSPEL
*Joel has trekked deep into the mountains to reach Tazig villages for 14 years. His team loads up horses, mules, or dzos (a yak-cow hybrid) with tents read more …

CULTURAL OUTSIDERS AND INSIDERS
In every movement documented, God has used the combined strengths of cultural outsiders and insiders to catalyze the movements. read more …

NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
As Joel* worked to edit the next portion of the Bible translation, he was struck by the words from the book of James  read more …