“What Kind of God Allows Everyone to Pray?”

“What Kind of God Allows Everyone to Pray?”

Jul 6, 2023 | South Asia

Sharan* and his family became followers of Jesus less than two years ago. Before Jesus, they worshiped idols and brought offerings to the temple, even though they were not allowed to enter it and sit with the higher caste peoples or the priest. As Nai caste (haircutter caste), they are considered a polluting people. Being Hindu was hard, but they didn’t know another way.

One Friday, as Sharan and his wife walked to the market, they heard singing. Curious, they entered the home to observe the group. They listened to a Bible story and a Discovery Bible study discussion. Sharan was deeply impacted by the prayers. They prayed for the sick and things happening in the village. Everyone was praying. Sharan wondered what kind of god allowed everyone to pray. 

After attending the meetings for several weeks, Sharan and his wife said, “We, too, can invite people to our house to listen to stories and pray to this amazing God.” The neighbors who came were impressed that everyone was invited. Everyone could have chai and eat together, sing and pray together. There were no caste barriers among themselves or between themselves and God.

Sharan and his family became followers of Jesus. They never went back to the temple. “There is nothing good for me back in Hinduism,” Sharan said. And he found that as he prayed about everything, life improved. “What an amazing God!” he thought.

But when high-caste villagers noticed that Sharan didn’t go to the temple anymore, they were unwilling to tolerate his new life. They persuaded officials to keep him from his harvest and arrest him. 

During Sharan’s imprisonment, God’s people provided for his family. Sharan’s father was impressed, “We are not alone. These people help us. This is not just talk.” Sharan’s family continued hosting prayer meetings and sharing about Jesus. No one walked away from Jesus.

Six weeks later, Sharan was freed from jail. Village leaders were sure he would deny Jesus to return to his old job, but Sharan had another idea. He decided to try disciple-making full-time for three months. If God would provide work for his wife and father during that time, Sharan would continue. If not, he’d go back to his old job.

Sharan gave himself to disciple-making, faithfully telling people about Jesus and passing along the trainings his mentor shared with him. In this way, he discipled 19 families. After three months, 11 families were baptized. A few months later, the remaining eight were baptized.

At the end of three months, Sharan had discipled 19 lost families to Jesus. Within the next few months, all 19 families obeyed the Lord in baptism. And God provided work for his wife and father. Through the network of churches that has now reached seven spiritual generations and the business, God is providing all their needs. Sharan’s life is a testimony to all of what God can do.

God is building His church in the places we least expect it. Praise the Lord! 

*pseudonym

 

GOD STORIES CHANGING LIVES IN INDIA
Life was not peaceful. I was a cruel person. Even my children did not want a relationship with me. read more …

FROM BRICKMAKERS TO DISCIPLEMAKERS
Lakshmi poured some of their precious water over John’s feet and wiped them with her hands. John wept unashamedly.  read more …

ONE ILLNESS, 63 HOUSE CHURCHES
One day, in the midst of this desperate sadness, they had the opportunity to attend a nearby house church read more …

All In for All Peoples

All In for All Peoples

Jun 20, 2023 | Longer Reads

by R. Nyman

A few years ago, the VP of Global Strategies for BEYOND turned to me and stated, “We are observing a challenge to see women, as well as men, come to initial trainings in CPM (Church Planting Movements) globally. If we are serious about the fulfillment of the Great Commission, then we need to figure out a way to make sure both men and women are equipped/coached in making reproducing disciples for the launch of CPMs among all UPGs (Unreached People Groups).”

My husband and I also had observed many cases among other organizations where the commitment to equip/coach women, as well as men, for the making of reproducing disciple-makers in a CPM process was not emphasized.

When it comes to whether the global body of Christ truly yearns to be the “final lap”¹ generation of the fulfillment of the Great Commission, for Jesus’ fame and renown, there is what I like to call the No Child of God left behind policy of Jesus. All disciples of Jesus in for all peoples. Not some for all peoples, not all for some peoples, but ALL disciples for ALL peoples. (See Hab. 2:14; Rev. 5:9–14; Matt. 28:16–20; Rev. 7:9–12; Matt. 24:14; 2 Peter 3:9).

No Caveats in the Kingdom of God
In a recent conversation with an ex-pat CPM Outside Catalyst² who visited a movement in the Middle East, she relayed the following. When she listened to their all-male leadership share amazing stories, she asked them what they do to help equip and coach their women in the multiple house churches to reproduce as disciple-makers. The movement leader was puzzled and answered, “We have no plan. The women have to take care of the men and the children. How could they be involved?”

Another movement leader, when asked what their plan was for the equipping of both men and women to implement making reproducing disciples, looked a bit puzzled and then responded, “The women in our movements must take care of the children, as well as work in order to bring in support of the male CPM catalysts.”

Another movement leader was facilitating a CPM training for the week. He assumed that the women who were gathered in the room next to him were there in order to pray for his training. In reality, the women were meeting to be trained in CPM. This common assumption that women’s sole role in movements is to support the men as they lead movements overlooks the rich resource women are and can be in seeing the Great Commission fulfilled.

I assert that we can raise the bar to see both men and women become more effective as a global mission effort to establish a movement mindset norm of ALL in for ALL peoples.

Vision Anemia
At least 50% of most UPGs are female, and in many cultures, it is not appropriate for men to interact with women. Often, especially among Muslim UPGs, women see themselves as the gatekeepers³ for their households. In other words, why wouldn’t we trust the Holy Spirit to leverage women as CPM catalysts in these UPGs? Who, if not women laborers, will seek out  Women of Peace to open their oikos to the Gospel? And as new CPMs emerge, who will help to equip the multiple generations of local women leaders?

The intent of this article is to encourage those who have yet to make sure both men and women are equipped as disciples who understand how to make reproducing disciple-makers. But it’s important to pause and reflect on the various seasons of life in which women may find themselves that may impact how they engage in disciple-making.

Whether they are single, married without children, married with children, single again, young or old,  they all have been called by Jesus’ command to make disciples who make disciples of the ethne. This great work was given to all people (male and female) in every generation. While the call is the same, the implementation may vary significantly depending on their season of life. However, what is true in any season is that women are hugely gifted in relational acumen. That gift provides avenues into communities that might otherwise have been inaccessible.

A Bit of History
The Jan/Feb 2016 issue of Mission Frontiers⁴ was a huge piece in laying a foundation toward the normalization of women, as well as men, as Jesus’ disciples who make reproducing disciples in CPM efforts. When I had the opportunity to put that issue of Mission Frontiers together, it was mostly outside catalysts who were sharing CPM implementation stories and experiences.

Now, six years past that groundbreaking MF issue, we are seeing the multiplication of near-neighbor and focus UPG women who are sharing their stories, giving their insights as they implement to see the launch of CPMs. Finally, we are seeing ALL for ALL, not outsiders only for ALL peoples, not men only for ALL peoples. Not near-neighbor/indigenous UPG laborers only for ALL peoples, but ALL ethne to ALL ethne. Both men and women for the baseline making of reproducing disciples who love, hear, and obey Jesus.

What must be done to see women flourish as CPM practitioners
Potential actionable steps for more intentional equipping/coaching of women for CPM-focused efforts could include the following:

  1. Listen to and learn from the movement leaders and their stories. Discuss with listening ears how they train/coach women in their movements. The purpose is to be diagnostic in gaps in the CPMs to this end.
  2. Discern gaps in present movements in order to serve their gaps of seeing ALL (male and female) of their potential laborers equipped and coached more intentionally.
  3. Create avenues for women within CPMs to tell the story of how they partner with men in training/coaching others to reproduce disciple-makers.
  4. A weekly CPM coaching circle of men and women can be a most effective way to equip others. Use 7 DMM High-Value Activities⁵ to be woven into the coaching times. These CPM coaching times are suggested to be an ongoing coaching piece. The coaching circle can be most effective with four to six CPM implementers when held for 90 minutes divided into 1/3 member health, 1/3 CPM vision strengthening, 1/3 CPM actionable steps through listening prayer in mutual accountability.

All of us (men and women) are to delight in and declare God’s glory, developing intimacy with God. Out of the overflow of this intimacy, we are to “be” and “do” in Christ and seek to reproduce Jesus in others. For all who follow Jesus, making reproducing disciples is a privilege as well as a command.

I urge the Body of Christ to consider how to best support, inspire, and equip women to thrive and bear multiplying fruit to the glory of God. As co-laborers with God in His mission to reconcile the world to Himself, women have a place and a role to play, and it is right beside their brothers in the faith who are committed to the same call.

This article was first published in Mission Frontiers: Women in Mission, Mar/April  2023 , pages 41-43. It was used here with permission.

About the Author: R. Nyman and her husband have served with BEYOND (http://www.beyond.org) in SEAsia among Muslim UPGs since 1991 and train/coach and personally implement Disciple Making Movements. R. serves as Austronesian Affinity Bloc Strategy Leader for BEYOND.

Remember Susi, the Seeker?

Remember Susi, the Seeker?

Jun 14, 2023 | Stories

Since the beginning of the year, Jane* and her local partner have been studying the Bible with Susi*, a spiritually hungry Muslim woman. When we last updated you, Susi knew she was a sinner and was seeking the truth about Isa al Masih (Jesus the Messiah).

One night after they had studied the death and resurrection of Jesus, Susi said, “I’m starting to believe that Isa is God and He is the only way.” Jane was delighted! What an answer to prayer! 

Since Susi’s husband and extended family do not believe, she remained cautious about fully committing herself to follow Jesus. Knowing there will be challenges, Jane advised Susi to consider the cost of following Jesus while continuing to pray that God would reveal himself to her husband in a powerful way. 

At the end of that meeting, Susi asked if there were any printed BIbles in her language. (They had been studying together using a phone app.) Jane happily gave her a Bible, and Susi began studying the book of Matthew on her own!

In April, Susi prayed a heartfelt prayer to Jesus, confessing her sin, committing her life to follow God, and thanking him for his “amazing” sacrifice on the cross. She feels the peace of eternal salvation, and her life is filled with the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. 

The next week, Jane and Susi studied baptism. After a week of thinking and praying, Susi said, “What we’ve learned about baptism is God’s Word, and I desire to follow wholeheartedly.”  

Pray for Susi as she has ongoing conversations with her husband about her new faith in Jesus. She wants to share her testimony with him and see him become Isa’s follower too. Pray that her husband will give his blessing and be present at her baptism.  

*pseudonym

SUSI IS STILL SEARCHING
She wanted something to hold on to wholeheartedly. She even told her mom that she was searching outside Islam for truth. 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 …

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
WORK IN THIS AREA

Develop and Implement a Contextual Prayer Strategy

Develop and Implement a Contextual Prayer Strategy

Jun 7, 2023 | Longer Reads

by Jean Coles

Why develop a prayer strategy?

While my family served in Asia, my husband and I visited a team on an island a short flight away. They had experienced many setbacks to sharing Jesus with those around them. Their children often had nightmares, as did those who slept in the guest room of their house. The team leader’s wife struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts, which she had never experienced before moving to that location. Kingdom work and the team limped along. A prayer calendar had been developed by the team, but it encountered multiple setbacks and delays before it was finally printed. When the team investigated the spiritual history of that area, they discovered (among other things) that human sacrifice had been practiced there until the early 1900s.

When the prayer calendar was finally printed, that area was featured in the Global Prayer Digest also, which mobilized even more prayer. Prayer always precedes breakthrough. And, initial breakthroughs came, and the work continues to this day. So also do the challenges and the need for more focused prayer.

As Walter Wink wrote:
Intercessory prayer is spiritual defiance of what is in the name of what God has promised. Intercession visualizes an alternative future to the one apparently fated by the momentum of current forces. Prayer infuses the air of a time yet to be into the suffocating atmosphere of the present. … History belongs to the intercessors who believe the future into being. … Even a small number of people, firmly committed to the new inevitability on which they have fixed their imaginations, can decisively affect the shape the future takes.

Scripture teaches much about the importance of prayer. It highlights praying effectively and fervently, in holiness: The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16b). It teaches us to pray together in agreement with others: Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in heaven (Matt. 18:19). And it encourages us to pray always with rejoicing and thanksgiving: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Much more could be said about Scripture’s teaching on prayer.

How can we pray more effectively?

Our God invites us into deep relationship with himself and prayer is a very important part of that relationship. It involves asking, listening, resting, abiding, seeking, and more. It’s not meant to be part of a checklist. Praying is about communicating with the Heavenly Father. Praying more effectively is about growing in connection with our Lord, aligning with His heart and purposes, seeking Him above all, and living in holiness. As we spend time with our King, we grow in faith and joy, and in recognizing that He is good and delights in hearing our prayers and answering them.

One way to grow in praying more effectively is to learn from prayer strategies in Scripture. To mention only a couple of many, in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 we learn that we have been given divine power to tear down1 strongholds. John 14:12-14 teaches us to believe and ask in Jesus’ name. Esther mobilized backup prayer and fasting before asking the king for help (Esther 4:12-17).

Looking at the following two passages gives insight into the prayer strategy of identifying strongholds, hindrances to the advance of God’s kingdom in a location, situation, or group of people (2 Cor. 10:3-6), and kingdom opposites, what it might look like for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in that place (Matt. 6:9-13).

Strongholds in a people or place can affect lost people, disciples, and gospel messengers. Negative effects can include nightmares, suicidal thoughts, division, intrusive thoughts, anger, infighting, fear, intimidation, sexual sin, unfaithfulness, miscommunication, sickness, and more. All too often these challenges debilitate God’s people. Yet God’s good plan is to give His people victory over the stronghold, then have them bring this victory to the lost, setting captives free. In this process, strongholds are demolished, God’s kingdom expands, and He gets all the glory.

When we first moved to Asia, a huge stronghold in my life was fear. It was also a stronghold among the Unreached People Group we sought to serve. As God set me free from fear, He led me to deeper faith and hope. Then I was more able to pray this same victory for those around me. God gave me significant insights about that road, which I was able to pass along to others. One fruit of this was the birth of Wholeness Prayer (www. freemin.org), which God has since used to set many spiritual and emotional captives free, as He speaks to the roots of the issues involved.

Another place my husband and I lived in Asia suffered from a stronghold of division. A kingdom opposite to that is unity. A related key Scripture is John 17. Many of the churches in that city regularly join together to pray for unity. They also hold multi-denominational events and seek to speak well of one another.

Once strongholds are identified, they can be integrated into a broader prayer strategy. For example, if the strongholds are nightmares, intimidation, and intrusive thoughts, a prayer strategy might include putting on the armor of God, rejoicing in the power of God, and developing a month-long prayer campaign.

Develop an effective prayer strategy

A first step is to identify key strongholds hindering kingdom advance in a group or location. This can be done through prayerful observation, asking key questions to cultural insiders, researching the history of the location or group, and spending time in prayer (as a group and individually) asking God to reveal whatever we need to know about strongholds affecting that location or group.

Follow-up steps include prayerfully seeking to identify kingdom opposites for each of these strongholds, identifying key Scriptures that connect with these, then using those Scriptures as the basis for effective prayer. Once you’ve created and implemented your prayer strategy, you’ll want to periodically evaluate it, then update it as needed.

Real Strongholds, Real Strategies

After moving to a new location in Asia, I noticed that I was more inclined to be irritated with my husband. I would hear a voice in my head saying, “Find something to get irritated at him about.” Since that’s not a common issue for us, I started asking other workers in that area if they were also experiencing this. They were! So, a group of us began to pray together about this stronghold we’d identified. Once this stronghold was brought into the light, its power decreased.

In that situation, one potential kingdom opposite we could have focused on is thankfulness. A related verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

A prayer strategy we might have chosen would be for this group to pray weekly about this issue, and invite others to do the same, and ask God to birth thankfulness in His people and in that location. An additional step could be to see how we could practice and model thankfulness and hold each other accountable to do so.

Think about your context (or the one for which you are interceding). What strongholds are there? Then, consider:

  1. When do you plan to pray (rhythms of prayer)?
  2. What are you planning to pray (prayer strategy)?
  3. Who will you share your prayer initiative with?
  4. Who will you pray with?
  5.  What are the next steps?

What does it mean to multiply prayer?

It’s often helpful for many people to join together in agreement about a hindrance to kingdom advance. There is kingdom power when one person prays. And there is power where two or more are gathered in his name, agreeing together about what they are asking God to accomplish.

Key ways to multiply prayer include: (1) more and more people praying, (2) praying longer or more frequently, (3) praying more strategically (e.g., using strategies from Scripture), (4) praying more fervently or from a place of increased desperation, (5) praying from a place of deeper connection with God, and (6) praying from a place of greater purity or deeper surrender.

Extraordinary prayer has preceded every Church Planting Movement we know of. It goes beyond the ordinary in commitment, desperation, frequency, and/or quality, with the goal of engaging with God at a deeper level. The following are extraordinary prayer strategies organized by the acronym PRAY2:

Prepare the way for the coming of His kingdom: prayer as strategy; listening prayer; prayer mobilization, training and team building and prayer shield teams and prayer research-which is Spirit- guided research into the supernatural underpinnings of reality to help produce more informed, effective intercession and outreach.

Restore God’s rightful rule: prayer worship warfare, i.e. raising the waterline of God’s manifest presence through worship, engaging with God, proclaiming His will, and exercising His delegated authority through supplication and obedience; prayer as member health; prayer as representational repentance and reconciliation; prayer and crisis response; and prayer and suffering.

Advance of His kingdom for His glory: prayer walking-when we carry His presence as we move prayer out of the church building or home and into the community; prayer power evangelism; prayer as spiritual warfare, i.e. taking authority over spiritual powers and strongholds hindering the advance of God’s kingdom; prayer and fasting for breakthroughs; and prayer presence.

Yearn for the now-but-not-yet kingdom to come: prayer yearning for maturity; prayer yearning for the full harvest-pressing forward with urgency to reap the white harvest that the Lamb who was slain receive His full reward; prayer yearning for kingdom transformation; and prayer yearning for our Bridegroom.

Consider which of these extraordinary prayer strategies you might want to include in your personal prayer strategy.

Length of prayer strategies

Prayer strategies may span short, medium, or long-term timelines. They may involve just a few people or even millions, praying individually and together. One shorter prayer initiative I pursued was fervent prayer for one of our sons while he was hospitalized with dengue fever. In God’s graciousness, He granted complete healing in a relatively short period of time.

In “Gaining Church Planting Momentum During COVID-19,” Aila Tasse described their responses to numerous challenges COVID-19 brought to their ministry in 2020:

Our first response was prayer. In mid-March we called for prayer among all our team members: our core team and our country leaders, representing all the countries where we work. We all started praying at the same time, using WhatsApp to distribute the prayers. We prayed that God would sustain the movement, because we realized that leaders and families were suddenly losing all their sources of income. Prayer was very key for us to keep the momentum. We all started praying, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We called for fasting on Wednesdays. It was a whole day of fasting every week, which still continues today.

He later described God’s provision in response to their prayers:

I looked at what has happened in the last 15 years of our movement in East Africa, and 2020 was the peak. We saw 1,300 churches planted in just that one year. This was amazing because earlier in the year, we had scaled down our goals by 30%; we said we’ll trust God for 600 to 800 new churches. But God took us way beyond that, as only He can do. I could hardly believe it, as all the teams presented their data for the year. I had to see the graphs and look for myself at people group by people group.4

A lifelong prayer that I, and many others, are committed to pursue is for John 17 unity and shalom wholeness in the global Church. Whatever the length of the prayer strategy, and however you update it over time, keep praying and persevering in faith. As my brother, JFK Mensah, so aptly described,

We must believe in the weapons of our warfare. Over time there is no curse that can’t be broken. To believe otherwise is to believe a lie. Have courage! You are seated with Christ in heavenly places. You are tiny, but the weapons are mighty.5

Whatever God calls you to pray for, don’t stop. Align with His vision and promises and pray them into being. His victory is certain. He is bigger and more powerful than any problem, and all problems combined. Rejoice in Him, worship with joy, and give thanks in all circumstances. As He answers your prayers, give appropriate testimony (consistent with confidentiality). And give Him all the praise and glory.

Steps to develop a prayer strategy

Here are some steps for developing and implementing a prayer strategy in response to an ongoing situation.

  •   Develop the prayer strategy (as a group).
  •   What strongholds/hindrances are factors in this situation?
  •  How are they affecting the lost, the church, individuals, families, groups, and/or field workers?
  •  What are the historical roots of these strongholds or hindrances?
  •   What kingdom opposites do you sense God wants to bring in their place?
  •  What verses connect with each of these kingdom opposites?
  •  What initial prayer strategy will you pursue? i.e., Who, when, how, where, and resources, rhythms, or other activities.
  •  What prayer materials will you create?
  •  What rhythms of prayer will you pursue?
  •  How will this multiply prayer?
  •  Implement the prayer strategy.
  •  Periodically evaluate and update the prayer strategy.
  •  What progress has been made?
  •  In what ways is the situation unchanged?
  •  How have the challenges and opportunities changed?
  •  Based on the above, how will you update your prayer strategy?
  •  Repeat as new situations arise.

About the Author: Jean and her husband Dave served in Indonesia for 24 years, is founder of Freedom for the Captives Ministries (freemin.org), and author of Becoming Whole a prayer resource. She serves as Beyond’s (beyond.org) Director of Prayer Strategies and Associate to the VP of Team Development.

This article was first published in Mission Frontiers: Mar/April 2023 Edition pages 16-20. It was used here with permission.

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Wife-Beating Drunk Meets Jesus

Wife-Beating Drunk Meets Jesus

Jun 7, 2023 | Stories, Turkic World

After she became Jesus’ disciple, Gia* began to share her testimony with others in her village. Her testimony and the power of God’s word brought many, including Elif*, to faith in Jesus. 

Elif’s husband, Rahj*, became angry and threatened to harm Gia. He was known throughout the village as an alcoholic who beat his wife regularly and had even threatened to kill her. Gia decided to leave town for a little while. 

Meanwhile, Elif prayed for her husband. “If Gia’s Jesus truly is real,” she reasoned, “then he will change my husband’s heart.” One day, while Elif was praying, Rahj found some pages from a New Testament and read them. God opened his eyes, and Rahj decided to follow Jesus. From that point on, he was changed. He stopped drinking and beating his wife. God answered Elif’s prayers. After Rahj came to faith, Gia returned to the village. 

Before long, Gia and Rahj decided to have a prayer and testimony night in their village. Rahj wanted to provide food for those who came — his way of showing that he had changed. Around 150 people showed up, roughly 35 households. These families were both Muslims and Hindus. 

Gia and Rahj shared their testimonies, led a prayer time, worshiped Jesus through songs, and shared how Jesus changes people and frees them from demonic powers. Many of the families wanted to start listening to gospel stories. 

They began listening to the Bible from mp3 speakers, obeying what they learned, and sharing the stories with others. More than 50 new families have requested to have Jesus’ stories to bring to their communities. And recently, six new people obeyed God by being baptized!  

*pseudonyms

IN SPITE OF THE BEATINGS
Unfortunately, her husband didn’t like her going to these meetings. He beat her after each one. He had no job… read more 

IT MUST BE JESUS WHO DID THIS
*Uhn was the town drunk and the senior patriarch of his large extended family. Over a year ago, a movement catalyst,… read more

THE DETERMINED NEW DISCIPLE
I don’t want you to tell my people about Jesus. It is my duty to tell them, and I passionately want to, but I, … read more