AsiaStories

From Music City, USA, musician and songwriter Jeff Bourque made his way to India to share the basics of songwriting for a congregation with Indian believers. The mission was to write songs that would speak to the uniquely diverse culture of India. Bourque’s fellow songwriters came up with four original songs. Hear these songs and read about their efforts learning to write.

I’m the sound guy … you know, the guy hidden in the balcony or some random spot in the auditorium surrounded by a bunch of buttons and levers … or at least I was “that guy” until my wife and I left to serve in South Asia. It’s amazing to think that God uses everyone’s gifts to serve him.

Claiming Christianity in India’s Orissa State means persecution and brutal beatings. Kanhar and Kata, in jail for proselytizing, have the scars to prove it. Kata remembers his own fervent prayer that started their journey together six years ago.

Jesus weeps for the masses without hope, the persecuted, the helpless, the hungry, the exploited and the downtrodden. He sacrificed for them. Will you do the same? Give 10 Days of Sacrifice.

Tennessee church sacrifices for 10 days for South Asia. The exercise led the church to a group of South Asians living down the street from them. Who knew you could impact the nations from your own neighborhood?

Kathleen Jones* visits India’s brothels five days a week to share Christ’s love with the women working here. She is 69 years old and has been working in the red light districts of India for over three years. With four children, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren at home in the United States, coming to India was not an easy decision, but Jones says she knew it was what God called her to do.

The neighbor shook her finger at the pastor and I and verbally abused us and told how I tried to convert the kids by giving them biscuits. She went on and on, but shut up when it was pointed out that she feeds the dogs the same biscuits I feed the poor children. She never thought to give biscuits to the kids.

Twenty-eight adults stood for Christ that day as we shared the story of Christmas. Some of these, the pastor and I had already been sharing with and answering questions.

Fletcher Lonsdale’s vision is to use theater to change the way people see the world and ultimately God. For him, theater is not just a play. It’s worship. Theater helps Lonsdale share the Good News with South Asians who may not otherwise listen.

Delhi is a sprawling, energetic intersection of old and new, wealth and poverty, religion and science. People from all over South Asia come for jobs, education, and asylum. Some come willingly while others are forced here.Even though I’ve lived and worked in South Asia for years, I am easily overwhelmed by the city and want to know it better. Join me on a prayerwalk though the Delhi.

Najia Khatun* knows what her life would be like without the Light of Hope Center. She knows she would be hungry. She knows she would be uneducated. She knows she would be working long hours at a garment factory. Najia knows — and she is grateful.

This area is known for terrorist activity. Even though Saachi Sarkar* can’t see the men with guns and bombs, she knows they are watching. Not many outsiders venture this far into the jungle. The terrorist group allows her entry because she has something useful to teach – farming and nutrition.

Feng Tan pastors a Southeast Asian church full of believers of Chinese descent. Along with his wife and five members of his congregation, he travels to South Asia to conduct discipleship training among former Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus. In each meeting, the Chinese believers teach the basics of Christian conduct, but more importantly, they hope their presence will encourage South Asians that God can mature Asian Christians into believers with effective and powerful ministries as He has done for them.

Ten college students and two short-term volunteers from Crosspoint Church, Clemson, S.C., came to India as part of a six-week missions and discipleship program. They came to partner with a local house church and IMB representatives through the six-week summer program called, Laborers Impacting Nations for the Kingdom (LINK). This is Crosspoint’s second year to serve in India. The students, who attend or attended Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., spent many of their days in shopping malls — sharing the Good News with anyone who’d listen.

Notes of a sacred hymn fade as Dorji Sangay* reads a passage from his Bible. The small congregation follows along in their New Testaments and then discusses the verses. From where Sangay sits cross-legged on the floor, he can look out the window and see the jagged Himalayan Mountains of his home country, Bhutan. His [...]

Bhutan still needs your prayers. Doors are just starting to open for the Gospel to spread and for religious freedoms. Join in prayer through a 30-Day prayer guide and a virtual prayerwalk.

There’s not a day that goes by that Kencho Kinle* isn’t going door to door, sharing the Gospel. Everyone in the city knows him; some even run when he approaches. His testimony is hard to forget, because it is written in blood − in Jesus’ and his family’s.

In the story, Zeke visits Everest in Bhutan. They watch an archery tournament where Zeke notices the teams wearing and doing some very crazy things. Everest and Zeke discuss superstitions and Zeke remembers a Bible verse that talks about Jesus having authority over every superstition. At the end, Zeke is able to share what the Bible says to the other archers and many people believe in Jesus.

When Micah Watson came to India for the first time, he never thought he’d be back, let alone recording a music video with his band here one year later.

The daunting task of sharing Jesus with 22 million people in one city haunted him so much so that for an entire year after his trip, all he could do was talk about it. He shared with his family … his friends … and even his audiences attending Micah Watson Band concerts.

Ajanta Gupta* turned to prostitution to feed her children. Now, she depends on God to meet her needs and share His Word.

Volunteers offer free medical clinics to prostitutes and their children. Want to see each person as “Jesus sees them” — beautiful and whole.