AsiaStories

Faruq Jamil, a Saudi Arabian, stopped in the middle of a Southeast Asian market to listen as American teenagers worshiped outside a hostel. Before long, he began a conversation with three International World Changer students about the differences in Islam and Christianity. Soon they gave Jamil an Arabic Bible, so he could study on his own. Only two weeks prior to this meeting, missionaries had arrived with the city’s first supply of Bibles in Arabic.

When International World Changer student Haley Wathen met 10-year-old Hadi Ibrahim, her heart melted. Ibrahim lived in an orphanage with a staff that barely had time to interact with him, and therefore, he received very little affection. He also never talked. Yet, after Wathen held him and played with him, Ibrahim began to speak.

International World Changers student Jessica Newberry planned to visit Southeast Asia with her church and work with orphans. The only other Christian in the Newberry family, her mother, Jan, worked tirelessly to raise funds for her daughter’s trip. But, when Jan died in March 2011, Jessica found herself traveling to Asia without her main support system. God, however, blessed her in the midst of tragedy and used the death to begin to change the heart of her non-Christian father. Months later, she flew to Asia and let God heal her further through the grins of a disabled young woman.

Stepping outside Ashley Benson and Mandi Mapes’ apartment and onto the street brings the global evangelism map decorating their wall to life. On the map, most of Asia is lit up like a Christmas tree, indicating those who have yet to be reached with the Gospel message. On the street, the dots become the faces and names of their neighbors and friends. Doesn’t anyone want the Truth?

What do you do when someone laughs at you and walks away when you share the Gospel? These Hands On workers didn’t give up, they kept on sharing!

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.

A team of five volunteers from the University of Mobile in Mobile, Ala., minister to people in villages along the Oras River on the Filipino island of Samar. With no contacts in each village, they arrive on boats and ask to stay for several days. Relying on Filipino hospitality, the volunteers become part of the village community as they study the Bible with residents. They discover not only how welcoming villagers can be to Christ followers but also how deeply rooted they can be in their own traditional beliefs.