Prayer | Beyond

Early Morning Harvest

Sep 21, 2026 | South East Asia, Stories

The day starts early in Isaan villages. By 5 a.m. people are already out tending gardens, handling household chores, or simply gathering outside to talk. For Kome* and his wife, Yen*, this morning window has become their mission field.

Kome and Yen were mentored in how to share their faith, gather seekers, lead a participatory disciple-making group, and train new leaders. Though they are still relatively new disciples themselves, their obedience has never wavered. Each morning, Kome puts his sticky rice on to steam, then heads out for a prayer walk through the village. “I can’t live with myself if I don’t talk to someone about Jesus each day,” he says.

They stop to talk with neighbors along the way as the Spirit leads. When someone shows interest, Kome and Yen return for regular follow-up visits as their neighbors consider the gospel.

None of this is paid work. Kome and Yen receive no foreign salary. They simply love Jesus and take seriously their calling to pass that love on to others.

Their story is one small picture of a much larger movement: pairs of disciples heading out each week across Isaan, sharing the hope that everyone will eventually hear about Christ and that a church will take root in every sub-district.

Join us in giving thanks for Kome and Yen’s daily faithfulness. Pray that the new group Kome leads will grow in obedience and that the seekers still weighing their decision will commit their lives to the Lord. Finally, pray for the wider work across Isaan, that this daily faithfulness will multiply until every village has heard.

pseudonym*

Yom Kippur

Sep 16, 2026 | Festivals and Holidays, NAME

Yom Kippur (September 21), the Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the Jewish year. It concludes the Ten Days of Awe, which begin with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Together, these days call for honest reflection—looking back in repentance for past sins and looking ahead to a new year cleansed and renewed.

We hear of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus (16:29), underscoring its profound importance. On this day, both the high priest and the people had roles to play. The priest performed sacrifices of atonement while the people refrained from work and humbled themselves before the Lord.

Leviticus 16 outlines the high priest’s unique responsibilities. Clothed in white linen as a sign of purity, he would enter the Holy of Holies with offerings: a bull for his household and a goat for the sins of the people. A second goat—the scapegoat—was symbolically burdened with the sins of Israel and sent into the wilderness, signifying removal of guilt and cleansing of the community.

Even today, observant Jews prepare for Yom Kippur by spending the Ten Days of Awe seeking reconciliation with others. The belief is clear: one must be right with one’s neighbor in order to be right with God. This reflects the commandments to love God wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18)—commandments Jesus also affirmed again in Mark 12:30–31.

Traditions include sharing a meal before the fast begins, lighting memorial candles for deceased parents, and observing a 25-hour period of fasting and abstinence. According to Jewish law, this “self-denial” includes refraining from eating, drinking, bathing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations. These practices create space for prayer, repentance, and deep dependence on God’s mercy.

At its heart, Yom Kippur is a day of humility and hope—an invitation to turn from sin, repair relationships, and seek forgiveness from the God who cleanses His people.

HOW TO PRAY FOR DURING THIS HOLIDAY:

Pray that Jewish people observing Yom Kippur would experience God’s presence in a profound and personal way.

Pray that as they seek forgiveness and renewal, they would encounter the fullness of God’s mercy and grace.

Pray for peace and reconciliation within families and communities during this sacred season.

Pray that Jewish people seeking forgiveness and peace with God would encounter the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, our Messiah.

Pray for softened hearts to recognize God’s everlasting covenant love and His provision of redemption through Jesus.

Pray that Jewish families and communities would experience the presence of God in a personal and transformative way.

LEARN ABOUT OTHER FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAYS

VESAK
The celebration honors Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Many believe that … LEARN MORE

THE NIGHT OF POWER
…the night when Mohammed is thought to have begun receiving the … LEARN MORE

THE FESTIVAL OF COLORS
… bright, powdered pigments that are a trademark of this festival… LEARN MORE

Good News on the Move

Sep 10, 2026 | South Asia, Stories

Remember Raj*, a first-generation disciple who has faithfully started Discovery Bible Groups in multiple villages? One of those villages is home to Peter and his family, who have been listening to Bible stories.

Peter’s* father-in-law, Uziel* came to visit Peter and his wife. Noticing Peter’s growing interest in this new thing, Uziel asked what he was listening to. Peter shared joyfully, “Ever since I started hearing these stories, I’ve felt peace, joy, and happiness like never before. It’s as if light is entering my life. If you want to listen too, you can—and you’ll be blessed.”

Uziel’s heart was stirred. He asked to take an MP3 player with the stories back to his village, 28 miles away.

Once home, Uziel began listening to the stories with his family. The first two stories moved them so deeply that he couldn’t keep them to just him and his family. He immediately began sharing what he had heard with others. Within just a few days, three more families expressed a desire to know more about this unfamiliar God—Jesus.

Now, through the joyful witness of Peter and Uziel, the good news is spreading rapidly. God is opening hearts and drawing people to Himself, one village, one story, and one family at a time.

*pseudonym

Stories that Open Doors

Aug 26, 2026 | South East Asia, Stories

Partners in Southeast Asia are working to bring Bible stories into local dialects that still have little or no access to the good news.

What begins as Bible translation is becoming much more. It opens doors for people to hear and respond in their heart language.

One team in particular has embraced this work with urgency. They are translating story sets into three dialects spoken by some of the most unreached communities in their country. As the stories take shape, they are not only being written down. They are also being shared, discussed, and lived out.

Recently, a team member named Mr. T* had an opportunity to sit down with a respected teacher from the majority faith in his community. What followed was both unexpected and deeply moving.

Mr. T shared, “Last Saturday, my team and I spoke with two religious teachers. As we shared the good news, one of them, Mr. W*, chose to believe and become a disciple of Jesus. Just a few days later, he was baptized.”

Afterward, Mr. W struggled to find words for what he had experienced. Then he said something that stayed with everyone who heard it.

“I have never felt love like this before. Jesus the Messiah is like air, water, and blood in my body. I do not want to know Him only as the vine. I want to know Him all the way to the roots, so that I can be strong in my faith and bear much fruit.”

In a place where access to Scripture has been limited, God is making Himself known through faithful translation and courageous witness. Pray for Mr. W as he grows in his new faith and begins to share with others. Pray for Mr. T and his team as they continue translating and telling these stories. Ask that many more would hear, understand, and respond with the same deep hunger to truly know Jesus.

*pseudonym

BUILDING BRIDGES OF HOPE
A simple app developed by our Southeast Asia team to distribute Discovery Bible Study (DBS) story sets is transforming lives in a region ripe for harvest. 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 …

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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“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