28
Mar '23
March 2023: A Glimpse of Asia’s Persecuted Christians
28
Mar '23
We at Message Ministries feel blessed to play a role in God’s master plan of global evangelism. God perfectly knows the world’s harvest fields and strategically places His people where He needs them most. Often, He even unites Christians on opposite ends of the Earth to fulfill His plans! With your partnership, we’re thrilled to obey God’s call to support missions pioneers worldwide, many in nations rife with persecution. Here are a few inspiring reports about them to challenge your faith and inform your prayers!
Pastor Kh_:
Boldness Despite Imprisonment
As Western Christians, we struggle to conceive of genuine persecution. Sure, we all face criticism for following Jesus, but few of us worry that our witness could land us in jail. Meanwhile, believers in many unreached nations must face the imminent danger of persecution every day.
Consider our Laotian partner, Pastor Kh_. He’s been a faithful witness in Laotian villages for years, and the Lord uses him wonderfully. Last year, when he visited a new village, several locals grew angry that their loved ones had encountered God and surrendered to Jesus. Seeking to extinguish this move of God, the villagers called the authorities to throw Kh_in prison for his bold faith. The Laotian authorities incarcerated him for several months, then released him with a warning. The message was clear: “Keep preaching, and we’ll see you again in jail!”
Thank God, Pastor Kh_ refused to surrender to fear and intimidation. This servant of God is once again preaching the gospel to the unreached, planting churches, and discipling believers openly—despite the possibility of returning behind bars. Jesus has liberated his soul, and while he roams free, he longs to tell as many as possible of God’s saving power!
Brothers and sisters, believers like Pastor Kh_ are modern-day heroes of the faith. They’ve counted the cost and surrendered all to God’s call despite earthly consequences. We must all ask ourselves: “Have I done the same? Why should I let earthly fears stop me from following Jesus with all of my heart?”
As Jim Elliot declared, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Please take a few moments to pray for Kh_ and everyone he reaches. Let’s also praise God that the Holy Spirit is using Pastor Kh_ to draw many out of Buddhism and ethnic religions to follow Jesus Christ in this communist country!
Pastor J: Training Young Leaders
for Harvest in Shan State
MM partner Pastor J. has devoted His life to reaching Myanmar’s unreached masses. Through the years, God has often used Him in miraculous ways to win the lost, heal the sick, make disciples, and plant thriving biblical churches in unreached villages. And thank God, J. doesn’t hoard the lessons he’s learned through so many fruitful years. Like Paul, he’s resolved to train “faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV).
Pastor J. could use your prayers for an important new discipleship endeavor. He and his team will spend the next three months preparing eighteen young people to become church planters in Shan State. The Bible students will gather daily to seek the Lord and study Pastor J’s Bible curriculum. Then, when prepared, they’ll join their leaders for hands-on evangelism training in Shan villages. Those who complete the discipleship process positively will be assigned to villages to evangelize and plant churches. This training truly has wonderful potential for harvest!
Partner David S. believes this is a crucial season for Shan state. “Shan is open to the gospel,” he told us, “but we’re not sure how long it’ll stay that way. We need to take this opportunity to reach them!” David and Pastor J. hope this training will produce ten or more church plants in the state. Praise God! Let’s agree in prayer for God to move in power!
Finally, thanks so much to our partners for your prayers and support. Without you, we couldn’t stand behind these precious ambassadors!
Interested in sponsoring missionaries and projects like these? Please learn how you can SHARE GOD’S HOPE by clicking the button below.
