INDONESIA (BP) -- Nick* felt like he had no reason to live. His depression became so overwhelming that he wanted to die. One day he climbed to the top of a bridge and was about to jump. Just before he leapt, he saw something that caught his attention: a bright figure in front of him. The image intrigued him and seemed to break him from a trance. Nick didn’t jump that day. Instead, he got down from the bridge and felt drawn on a journey to discover an explanation for the figure that saved … [Read more...]
Christian chiefs break from 700 years of pagan practice in Ghana
NORTHERN GHANA – The tension can be felt across the crowd of hundreds outside the palace in Nalerigu, Ghana. They wait in silent anticipation for the Taraana, one of the Mamprusi king’s seven elders, to come out of the hall to present the man the king has selected as chief. When he does, the new chief’s supporters erupt into cheers and applause. The Taraana ceremoniously places a white smock on the chief followed by a bright red cap. Thus begins several days of celebration and ritual as the … [Read more...]
Equipping shepherds of the African church
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA – “Let me stop you right there.” The student looked confused and turned to me after I interrupted him. He was reading a passage that he thought was about financial giving in the church. “Read the verse before the one that you just read.” He read, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37 CSB). “Now reread the verse you read before.” He read, “Give, and it will be … [Read more...]
Singapore’s ‘Amazing Generation’ casts a missions partnership vision
SOUTHEAST ASIA —The scent of pine trees and roasting coffee beans permeate the Southeast Asian air. IMB worker Katelyn Summers* keeps careful track of the roasting time. Outside on the terraced hill, high school students, who have traveled from their home in Singapore, lug bags of freshly picked coffee cherries to be processed and dried. The students came to this Southeast Asian nation to serve as part of their church’s partnership with Katelyn to help introduce the gospel to the people … [Read more...]
Both sides in IMB partnership share of God’s work in Valencia, Spain
VALENCIA, Spain – When we first arrived in Valencia, Spain, we spoke with many of the local church pastors about our heart to reach the lost. One of those pastors introduced us to another couple from Valencia who had that same desire. After we met with them and prayed together, we found another Spanish couple who longed to spread the gospel among the people of Valencia. The six of us began Friday-night evangelistic Bible studies, which grew, and God blessed us tremendously by bringing … [Read more...]
‘Even if it means my son’s life’
SOUTH ASIA – Our translator asked the women to stand if they believed in Jesus. It was the second day of our evangelism training for women in South Asia, and to our surprise, one of the women who had said she was a Hindu the day before, stood on this day. The translator asked when she became a believer, and the lady responded, "Last night." She said she had never heard the story of Jesus before our first training session, but after hearing about him all day, she went home that night and … [Read more...]
They hoped the jinn would rescue them
DELHI, India – Delhi is full of worshipers. Delhi is full of people living in fear. I was recently in Delhi and prayer walked with two other Christians through a historical area of the city. As we walked into a centuries-old fort, individuals and families made their way to the far end of the compound. We followed. The top floor of the seven hundred-year-old structure has the remains of a mosque that is still in use today. The bottom floor used to be a jail and is where the jinn are … [Read more...]
‘Standing on our knees’
KHARKOV, Ukraine – It was still dark outside as I rose to go to prayer. A chill in the room told me that it was going to be a frigid mile-walk to the square. I wanted to crawl back under the covers, but resisted. “I’ve been doing this for only three days while my Ukrainian friends have done it every day for five years,” I rebuked myself. Leaving the hotel, I picked my way around frozen piles of ice and deep muddy puddles, bent my head away from the wind, wrapped my scarf a little … [Read more...]
‘I don’t want to be thirsty anymore’
CHIAPAS, Mexico – "I have been feeling such thirst, and I don't want to be thirsty anymore," Eugenio told me after our Bible study at breakfast. Eugenio and I were introduced by a local language school to help us learn each other’s language. We hit it off well and discovered that we had much in common. We were close to the same age and shared similar experiences in business. We were just two men talking about life experiences, trials, and life in general. We drank a lot of coffee, shared … [Read more...]
FIRST-PERSON: ‘As a disciple-maker, I’m not the whole story’
I first met Khalid* through an online follow-up request, a way some people seek answers for their troubled souls. We have seen our opportunities to share the gospel in our area gradually change over the past couple of years, with a new openness that has not been present for many generations. We are now increasingly having open conversations in coffee shops, malls, or while sitting on park benches, about the hope that lives within us and how that allows us to live and serve with … [Read more...]
Eastern European school community recognizes Christians by their love
EASTERN EUROPE – Natalia* is the only evangelical believer among the staff at the Eastern European school where she teaches English. She’s raised her own children in this border town populated by Muslims in a country of nominally Orthodox “Christians.” The reality is that most of the people she knows, Muslim or Orthodox, try to earn God’s favor through good behavior. For years, Natalia has taken every opportunity to share God’s love with those in her school. She remembered Jesus said … [Read more...]
All Saints Day: Celebrating the dead or fighting for the living?
KRAKOW, Poland (BP) — I had no idea what All Saints Day celebrated. Two years ago my wife and I moved to Poland, a traditionally Catholic country. As night fell on November 1, the soft glow of thousands of candles spread over nearly silent crowd walking or standing near the graves of their loved ones and ancestors. We joined a historical tour that took us to one of Kraków’s largest cemeteries. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals among the booths selling candles and flowers. … [Read more...]
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