Reaching the Unreached

Seedlings

Jan 25, 2019 | Stories

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself, the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” ~ Mark 4:26-19

The Himalayan village of Sky Cliff is both physically and spiritually remote. The nearest Christ follower or church is a two day hike away. And those believers speak a different language from that of Sky Cliff! These precious people, however, are on God’s heart.

In the spring of 2018, Beyond missionaries made the trek into Sky Cliff in order to share the good news of Christ. While there, Beyonders gave two young men a Bible and taught them the principles of Discovery Bible Study (DBS). When they returned in the fall they were pleased, but not surprised, to meet two others from that village who wanted to know more about Jesus.

That’s part of the beauty of DBS – reproducibility. Right from the start seekers are taught to obey and to share what they have learned from scripture.

For remote villages like Sky Cliff there is further good news. DBS acknowledges that the Holy Spirit is the teacher. This is key when there is no regular contact with a Christian. Further discipling, coaching or leadership will likely be needed, but the spiritually hungry need not wait to be fed by “qualified” teachers. The Holy Spirit teaches them as they immerse themselves in scripture.

Praise God with us for the way God is moving in remote villages. Pray that a movement of disciple making would sweep through these mountainous regions calling all hearts home to God.

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NEW SEEDS OF FAITH
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WE CAN PLANT SEEDS …
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Matt lives and works as a movement catalyst in a remote region. He wanted some of his local read more …

The Haji’s Gift

Dec 20, 2018 | Stories

It was the *Woodhouse family’s second year serving in Indonesia, and their first Christmas living in the house they would rent for the next 18 years. Everything was going really well. They had found a home to rent in a mostly Muslim neighborhood and were on good terms with their landlord, Mr. Haji, who lived right next door. Everyone called him “Mr. Haji” because he had made the pilgrimage to Mecca. He considered the Woodhouses to be part of his own family. In fact, he had instructed all the neighborhood kids to be nice to the whole family or else they would answer to him!

The neighborhood was the kind where everyone knew everyone else’s business. Having settled in, the Woodhouses employed some local help to work in their home. This assured that many details of their lives became part of the neighborhood’s interesting news. The Woodhouse family had already shared that they were followers of Jesus, but soon it was known that they did not own any dogs or eat bacon, pork, or ham, things considered “haram” (forbidden) to Muslims.

These considerations were very intentional on the part of the Woodhouses. They did not want to cause any offense or relational distance with their Muslim neighbors. Knowing Indonesians already believed Christianity to be a “Westerners” religion, the Woodhouse family desired that everything they did and said point to Christ and not merely to religious trappings.

During the Christmas season this meant no Christmas tree in the Woodhouse home. The four Woodhouse children were perfectly fine with this because they had never had a Christmas tree. As Mr. Woodhouse put it, “I never found a tree helpful for pointing myself or anyone else toward thoughts of the incarnation.”

The absence of a tree had been noticed, however. And one December morning a knock at the door revealed Mr. Haji bearing a gift. “I saw you didn’t have a Christmas tree, so I wanted to bring you one.” The Woodhouse family graciously accepted the little, potted evergreen and set it in a place of honor in their front room where neighborhood visitors could admire it. To this day, the now-grown Woodhouse children enjoy the irony that their first Christmas tree came from an Indonesian Haji!

*pseudonym

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As Priscilla and the other Tazig believers were making plans for their Christmas celebration, her sister, Amrita,* asked, read more …

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Making Inroads . . .

Nov 19, 2018 | Austronesia, Stories

A worker in Austronesia tells of how the disciple making process is changing lives.

Chad has been enjoying getting to know “D” through their mutual work for the last several months. Diving into the Word together using Discovery Bible Studies(DBS), the men discuss how they need to be focused on lining their vision up with God’s Kingdom and his purposes for the surrounding areas and people. So when “D” shared that he planned to use his Discovery Bible Study tools when he spent some vacation days in an area his family is originally from, Chad helped him select several studies so he’d be prepared.

The first night D spoke with a man, Aziz, a broker, about the parable of the sower and the seeds. Feeling uneasy because of the powerful message, Aziz suddenly began sharing that he often “played with the numbers” to earn more in sales from his customers. Through D, God’s word brought about a conviction that made Aziz feel uneasy about his dishonest ways.

D also shared the gospel story of the Pharisee and the tax collector in the temple (Luke 18:9-14) with Panuta while in this village. Panuta is a coffee farmer in his 60’s who was struck by God’s acceptance of the humble tax collector. Crying, Panuta confessed that, though married, he had been involved in many affairs. Wanting to distance himself from these women and his sinful actions, Panuta burned items of clothing he had collected from the various encounters.

Encouraged by seeing God’s powerful word at work and wanting to continue the growth of these two men, Chad and D are now looking for reasons to keep returning to this village. A business connected to the coffee trade would be most likely. When you drink your morning cup of coffee or drive past a coffee shop will you be praying with Chad and D for the right inroad into this village and the hearts of those who live there?

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Giving Thanks Amid the Rubble

Nov 18, 2018 | Stories

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we want to share some stories from the earthquake-ravaged region of Austronesia. If you recall, several strong earthquakes hit the island of Indonesia over the summer. They brought devastation, but also opened doors for workers to bring aid, comfort and hope.

Another team reports of the medical help, temporary housing, toilets and physical needs they were able to provide, but, of much greater importance, the trauma counseling, prayers for healing in the name of Isa Al Masih (Jesus the Messiah) and the Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) they were able to hold with hurting people needing a touch from God. They now report that there are over 30 continuing DBS groups with some already starting a second generation!

Mrs. Harum was caught inside her house when the earthquake hit. Her family was with her but able to run out and away from the house. Roofing, beams and walls crashed onto her.

The next day her neighbors found her alive, but paralyzed. Sadly, most of her family were killed. One of our national partners counseled her, her daughter and one granddaughter who survived. After sharing how Isa Al Masih healed the paralyzed man in Mark 2:1-12, Mrs. Harum said, “I believe that story.” She then welcomed prayer for the healing of her leg. After praying in the name of Isa Al Masih, Mrs. H stood up and was able to move her leg! Crying, she embraced the team, amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit. Since then, Mrs. Harum has participated in her second Discovery Bible Study and all of her neighbors have come to her tent to hear the Good News!

This Thursday, as you gather with your family, give thanks with us for the work God is doing in Indonesia and pray that many more Discovery Bible Studies will take place creating a disciple making movement among this people group that God loves so much.

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Hope in the Midst of Disaster

Oct 7, 2018 | Austronesia, Stories

A Kairos moment- a Sovereign God-ordained opportune moment for a window of time which provides crossroads moments for His glory to be demonstrated and declared among the peoples.

Between July 29th and August 12th, our workers in Indonesia walked through earthquakes of 6.4, 7.0, 6.2, 7.0 magnitude.

Unprecedented? Yes.

Unexpected? Not when we have prayed and labored for Disciple Making Movements in this part of the world since the early 1990’s. A Kairos moment? In the hours and days since the earthquake struck, our teams have reported walking through many Kairos moments, here are a few:

“Mrs. Reina, you and your husband have been coming to visit our family for many years. And yet, this time, as you bring medical clinics, trauma counseling, and material supplies, we see something different. Others have come to help our flattened homes in the village. They look, shake their heads, and say, ‘Too bad.’ But you and your friends come, and it is like you bring hope which shows that you feel what we feel and you suffer this with us.”
“Do you remember me?” one of the villagers asked. “I was the little preemie whom you prayed for healing in Jesus’ name 17 years ago.” (Our team on the field is facilitating a Discovery Bible Study with her household and friends as she discovers the reality of the God who rescued her.)
Sri and her husband have lived in their tarp evacuation home since the first 7.0 magnitude crushed their home. After having walked their family through the trauma debrief process, our team offered to pray for them in Isa Al Masih’s name. The next day, God answered that prayer…Sa’ul had been hired. There would be a source of income, for now. Sri reflected, “We feel so cared for by you both. Why would you even take time to spend time with us?”
A team of mural artists was drawing murals of their cities rising up from the ruin of the earthquakes. When asked by one of our team members what the paintings represented. “Hope,” they said. “It is our cry for a source of hope.” Pray that the Lord continues to work in the hearts of those who have lost so much . . .

People here continue to build their lives despite the ruins that surround them. They are hungry for hope. Pray that we don’t miss the opportunities to guide and direct them to the one who gives us eternal Hope.

For the next few months, as our team helps with medical care and lessons on how to cope with trauma, please pray that Jesus would be the focus and that people would experience the joy of loving and knowing Him in the midst of their suffering.