Whereas 2020 seemed to turn the world upside down, 2021 began to open it back up. ‘Normal’ life has been re-shaped and transformed in every country across the globe, and each one has adjusted based on global realities. Each country has had its own unique responses. God has given us the truly amazing privilege of helping local missionaries navigate the changes and stay engaged in the advancement of Christ’s kingdom. This impact report is a testimony of how the Lord is using these saints for the sake of His name!
During the onset of Covid in 2020, many East Asian churches canvassed their neighbors to discover how local communities were dealing with the pandemic. They learned that distributing aid and resources during lockdowns would offer them access to closed communities. So, they reached out with assistance items, placing contact cards in each resource packages to give the recipients phone numbers of church members available to help them in times of need. They trained church members to be ready to listen and engage with those on the phone. By the end of 2020, they had led nearly 70 people to Christ! Praise God with us for this harvest!
As 2021 progressed, the same type of resource distribution was not as effective because people learned to live in lockdown and found ways to find necessities. While this change was initially somewhat discouraging, it drove our missionary partners to seek the Lord and find new ways to engage people when they could not meet face to face. That led to some significant ministry breakthroughs that are very important for the future of missions in this region.
Many of those in lockdown joined online forums, seeking friends and meaningful communication. These online communities opened many doors for local missionaries to go online and build relationships. As the lockdowns eased, many of those friendships continued in person, and people began meeting in small groups in each other’s homes. They were amazed at the demeanor and the outlook of the Christians. So much of the region was in despair over Covid, but the Christians had so much positivity and joy. The contrast was so significant it drew non-believers to engage with the believers!
God used the pandemic to propel gospel work forward in ways that were not possible prior to the lockdown. Government officials and companies expanded internet highway infrastructure because they knew that was the way to keep people occupied during lockdown. Greater bandwidth led to many new forms of gospel engagement and re-enabled access for missionaries who felt isolated. They were able to connect with others in similar situations, and new relationships were forged among missionary colleagues. The result is that three new local mission agencies have been formed from the partnership of these missionary networks! These alliances are essential for the growth of missions in this region. God used the global pandemic to bring together missionary colleagues to catalyze the spread of His name and glory!
Statistics
The gospel has been shared with more than 5,000 people throughout the project. At least eight first-generation churches were planted, and more than 50 second and third-generation churches were planted (i.e., existing churches planting new churches).
Testimony
“Greetings from Bread of Life Church*!
I have great news to share with you! The second Bread of Life Church* has launched!!!
After launching the first church plant at the beginning of March, we have successfully established a second church in this area. This time it was in a remote mountain village, which is about two hours away from the city. The size of the church is about 20 people, primarily consisting of the High Mountain People*. Praise God that about 50% of them are new believers. A local brother has been appointed as the teaching pastor of this church.
The mission of this church is as follows:
- To reach out to the local High Mountain People who are living in the remote villages, bringing the light of Christ to the mountains and valleys;
- To identify and aid kids who have dropped out of schools because of poverty, bringing them back to school, offering them hope for the future through education;
- To help new local believers live out transformed lives for the glory of Christ to shine through this people group.
While our aim is the evangelization of the High Mountain People as the ultimate goal, it has placed a considerable amount of importance on aiding kids who have dropped out of school because of poverty. So far, the current number of kids we have helped is 180.
Prayer Requests
The security situation in the region remains extremely difficult. While it is hard to be a Christian here, it is even more to be an ethnic minority Christian. Imagine, then, how challenging it is to be an ethnic minority missionary! Life is not easy for the missionaries who are part of this project, and they need fervent prayer. Please pray for them in the following ways:
- Please pray they would be rooted in Christ and grow and prosper even as difficulties surround them.
- Please pray for the churches to be bold and continue to send out missionaries. The churches that support these missionaries face similar difficulties to the missionaries. They are risking a lot by sending and supporting missionaries.
- Please pray that we will help East Asia’s churches continue to take the gospel to new areas through this project until there are no more unreached peoples and places in East Asia!
Gratitude
We are so thankful for you, our partners, who have made this project possible! There are so many ripple effects from this project that we will probably never know this side of heaven. However, we know that the Lord has hardwired this world in such a way that all your giving and prayer support is being woven into our Lord’s plan of filling the earth with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea. Thank you so much!!
*Names changed for security.
De* and Jing* entered the village on foot, aware they were strangers and might not be welcomed. They politely asked villagers for a room for rent, found a family who offered them shelter, and settled in.
Because of your gifts, De and Jing have shared the gospel in several UUPG villages, and many have become believers. They teach agricultural practices during the day and hold gospel conversations as God opens the doors.
Three missionaries have begun engaging three UUPGs.
Throughout the duration of this project, the gospel has been shared with more than 10,000 people, resulting in 14 new churches planted where no church existed and more than 70 church plants from existing churches. Some of these were “third generation” church plants, which means the parent church planted a church which then planted a church.
Praise God with us for these students who have answered God’s call! They have three goals as they minister in a Southeast Asian country. First, they are partnering with a local church to plant a new church in a poor, remote village. Second, the students will identify and teach students too poor to attend the local school. Finally, they are working with an orphanage to provide healthcare, education, and the gospel to its children.