Unreached Peoples

The Lord said, “It is time.”

Oct 30, 2024 | South Asia, Stories

Arjun* went to visit a house church near his village. As this dedicated disciple-maker walked through the village on his way to the gathering, six young, strong men came up to him, grabbed him, and began to beat him. They then dragged him to a nearby house and locked him inside.

Miraculously, Arjun managed to escape and returned home. For three weeks, he did not go back to that village. He was so afraid. He never wanted to return!

Then, as Arjun was praying one day during his self-imposed exile, he heard the Lord say, “Go back.” He recoiled at the thought. “No, Lord!” He didn’t want to go. The Lord said, “It is time.”

So, Arjun went. He returned to the village where he’d been beaten and locked up. As he walked tentatively through the streets, he kept his eyes peeled for those young men. Would they find him again?

Finally, he safely entered the house church. The worship service had already begun. He walked to the side of the room opposite the door, and sat down. A wave of relief washed over him; he was safe.

His relief was short-lived though. To his horror and surprise, the very men who had beaten him entered the room shortly after had taken his seat. Locking eyes with Arjun, they advanced towards him.

He was so afraid. There was no escape! They were right in front of him. Then suddenly, one by one, those young men got down on their knees before Arjun. They begged for his forgiveness. They said that during the three weeks he’d been gone, they had become disciples of Jesus!

After the service, Arjun spent time with the young men. It turned out that none of them were from that village. They all lived in other villages in the area. They returned to their homes and in the following days, each young man started a church in his own household.

Arjun says: “I tell you the truth, my enemies have become my friends. They are helping me with the work. God has completely changed them. The ones who beat me now see me as their leader. Amazing work! In this way, God is helping us, and I give him all praise. Amen!”

*pseudonyms

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Meera’s Momos: Empowerment and Faith

Oct 23, 2024 | South Asia, Stories

*Meera’s story is like many others the team in India often hear. She married young to a man her parents chose for her. They now have three children. Meera’s husband has a job. But whatever money he makes goes straight to pay for alcohol.

Alcoholism is a huge problem in India. Social drinking, historically, had no place in India. Alcohol had one purpose only – to get a person drunk. Today, social drinking might be on the rise for the urban elite, but everyone else drinks to get drunk.

One Sunday, Meera began crying during the Sunday worship service. *Sanjay asked why she was crying. Through her tears, Meera shared how tired she was of getting beaten by her alcoholic husband and then, about how hungry she and her children were. Since all the money was going to buy alcohol, they had no money for food.

The church gathered around Meera and prayed for her. Sanjay asked her about ways she could make some money. What about setting up some kind of roadside food stall? Meera admitted that, yes, she was good at making momos (the Tibetan version of Chinese dumplings) but she could not afford to buy a steamer.

Sanjay gleefully explained to us how the church members all pooled their money to buy Meera a momo steamer. These church members are poor. The small building where they meet for worship only has half a roof. Most of them live in one-room homes. In fact, many of the women live in the exact same circumstances as Meera. Yet, they gladly pooled their money until they had the amount necessary ($25.00) for Meera to buy a steamer.

This happened several months ago. Today, Meera’s husband still drinks. However, Meera has set up a momo stall right outside the door of her one-room home. Her sales each day total between $6.00-$9.00.

With no coercion from anyone, but simply out of sheer gratitude, Meera is paying a tithe of her earnings back into the fellowship of people who helped her when she so desperately needed it.

God is still in the business of stepping in and making a way. Meera is one such example. Please join us in praying for the Meera’s of India. As they are liberated, whole communities will be….and then states….and then the nation!

*pseudonyms

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Women in India Fearlessly Sharing the Gospel

Oct 16, 2024 | South Asia, Stories

The Listening Movement held its first Women Leaders meeting last year where several women gathered to learn, share and encourage each other. These stories are the fruit of that meeting.

*Mahima was already a dedicated disciple-maker before attending the meetings, but something in her heart shifted afterward. She works as a government-employed bus driver, but spends her free time leading Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) with new families. She started a DBS with three women in one village, and since then she has helped establish 46 house churches, and 146 people have received baptism because of Mahima’s Bible studies. She is driven by the belief that access to God’s word and obedience to the Scriptures is what transforms lives.

Another leader, *Daya, encouraged his wife, *Shanvi, to step into the Lord’s work. At first, Shanvi was hesitant, feeling nervous about speaking in front of large groups. She shared, “When I meet with people personally and talk to them, I can work better.” This personal approach has proven to be highly effective for her. Staying within their state, Shanvi connects with women, conducts Discovery Bible Studies, and shares Bible stories. By meeting one-on-one, she shares the Word in a way that resonates deeply with those she encounters. Shanvi has connected with 97 women from nine different villages in her state, spreading the Good News. She travels to meet people and desires that everyone come to know the Lord, which is why she dedicates much time to each woman.

*Radhika works alongside her husband to spread the gospel, undeterred by the challenges they face. The couple has endured significant persecution for their ministry, having been captured two or three times by members of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a militant right-wing Hindu nationalist organization in India) and physically assaulted on at least one occasion. They’ve also received death threats warning them to cease their work. Despite these dangers, they remain steadfast in their mission.

Radhika oversees 96 house churches and collaborates with 17 women leaders, whom she trains and meets with monthly. She reaches out to those troubled by demonic oppression, struggling with addiction, and women suffering from domestic abuse. She actively seeks out such families, offering prayers and sharing the Lord’s message. Her work primarily focuses on low-caste nomadic communities, where she brings hope and the Good News of Jesus.

*Shakila was once shy and fearful, convinced that sharing the Good News of Jesus was beyond her ability. However, after attending a women’s training session and receiving encouragement from her husband, everything changed. Now, Shakila goes from home to home in her village, inviting others to listen to Bible stories and engaging them through Discovery Bible Studies. She currently oversees 28 DBS groups, and seven of the families she has discipled have been baptized.

Pray for Mahima, Shanvi, Radhika, Shakila, and others who courageously share the Good News despite the constant threat of arrest, physical assault, and even death.

*pseudonym

From Gangster to Disciple Maker

Sep 30, 2024 | Austronesia, Stories

Pastor *Wint was from a mixed Muslim-and Hindu-background area of Bali, Indonesia. One of his concerns was the unreached tribe on the mountains bordering where he lived. He knew he couldn’t reach them. He didn’t speak their language and they were suspicious of outsiders. So he prayed.

And instead of asking “What can I do?” he pondered, “What must be done?” As he prayed and sought guidance and wisdom from God, Wint felt the Holy Spirit urging him to approach a man named *Phaing.

Phaing was notorious in the community, a feared gangster with a fierce appearance marked by tattoos and piercings. Despite Phaing’s intimidating exterior, Wint courageously shared the gospel with him.

Miraculously, Phaing accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Although known for his excessive drinking, often downing a whole bottle of whiskey in one go, Phaing immediately gave up alcohol, believing God had healed him of that addiction. As his understanding of Jesus grew, so did his faith. He obeyed Scripture and was soon baptized.

As Wint continued to disciple Phaing, he began to see potential in him for a unique mission. Maybe Phaing could reach that remote and insular tribe high up in the mountains of Bali that Wint knew he couldn’t reach. They were known for speaking an ancient version of Balinese and shunning outsiders. Wint believed that if anyone could connect with this tribe, it would be the fearless Phaing.

After more prayer, Wint challenged Phaing to introduce the tribe to Jesus. Phaing knew that this task required a unique approach. He prayed for wisdom and discernment, and during his prayer, he was reminded of his large Bible with an embossed cross on the cover.

With the Bible in hand, Phaing climbed the mountain. When he met the tribespeople, he held up the Bible and asked, “What symbol do you see on the hospitals where you go for healing? What symbol is on the packages of medicine you take? Yes, it’s the cross, the same cross you see on this Bible.” He then shared his own testimony of salvation and healing, and stories from the Bible.

Moved by Phaing’s testimony, the Bible stories, and the analogy of the cross, several tribe members came to faith in Jesus. Two families were baptized, and even the tribe’s leader became a believer. Phaing is now dedicated to discipling many more in the mountains. Pray for him as he continues equipping others to read, share, and obey the Scriptures.

*pseudonyms

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Persecutor Becomes a Disciplemaker

Sep 23, 2024 | South Asia, Stories

*Manosh and his family were once staunchly opposed to the disciples of Jesus and the work of God in their community. They couldn’t understand why some of their neighbors rejected idol worship. When followers of Christ were persecuted or even killed for their faith, Manosh believed they deserved it. He himself participated in persecuting disciples in his area.

However, in March, Manosh’s perspective began to change. He was deeply moved by witnessing a family of disciples endure severe persecution. Despite being beaten, deprived of food, and ostracized by the village, their unwavering faith in the Lord left a profound impact on him. Manosh observed that even as they suffered, the name of Jesus was spreading and becoming more known in the region.

This touched Manosh’s heart, leading him to place his faith in Jesus. Inspired by the strength and resilience of those he once persecuted, he invited a man he had previously beaten for being a disciple of Jesus to his home so he could learn more about Jesus. A month later, Manosh was leading his entire family in studying God’s Word. They began sharing their newfound faith with extended family members and have since started a new Discovery Bible Study group with two other families. Though they are simple, illiterate people, the Holy Spirit is empowering them to read, understand, and apply the Bible to their lives. Now, this entire family is following Jesus.

Please pray for Manosh and his family, that they would make other disciples who make disciples.

*pseudonym