An exciting movement of the Spirit has been taking place for the last several years in a relatively closed country in Southeast Asia. As One Challenge workers in this country counsel and train local believers, one of the most exciting things is the explosion of believers in this country has very little to do with Westerners. The local believers are spreading the gospel and making disciples who make disciples. Yes!
A Movement to Christ
Since 2015, a movement consisting of 23,000 believers has skyrocketed to roughly 180,000 believers today, with over half being baptized. All in a four-year time period.
The OC teammates in this country are privileged to see God at work. An amazing thing about this movement of people to Christ is it has not happened through mass evangelism or publicized venues with dynamic preaching.
Garry*, an OC worker in this country, says: “It is happening through a quiet but steady movement of the Spirit of God through simple, faithful people reproducing their faith in the saving grace of Christ through small groups of other simple people who then carry the truth to other small groups. These groups continue to multiply into a massive movement comprised of individuals who epitomize the truth of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29:
‘For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God ….’”
Leni’s Story
One of these people, serving faithfully and speaking truth, is Leni*. At 43, she has four children and works as a household helper. She also takes in laundry and ironing and sells snacks she prepares to pay for rice, vegetables, and, when possible, chicken, milk, or fruit. Her husband, Dex*, works as a gardener, painter, and a variety of other odd jobs. They barely scrape by financially with so many challenges to pay ongoing school fees plus purchased uniforms and shoes for the older three children; get medicine for their family’s frequent and chronic illnesses (such as anemia, asthma, and migraines); and pay household bills.
“In the midst of these challenges, Leni has reached out to the women around her, gathering them into small groups to study the Word and helping them come to know our Savior,” Garry says.
This movement to Christ does not go unnoticed by the Enemy. Garry says: “The warfare is real. One of those women, who came to faith and has been growing in her love of the Lord and his Word, recently learned that her husband has a girlfriend who is now pregnant with his child. Another woman’s husband seldom helps with the expenses of their four children. Some of the women from Leni’s groups come to her in need of rice or vegetables for their families. She has a tender heart and does what she can, all the time longing to reach out to others and then help them reach their own friends. Through Leni’s loving, caring ministry, groups of new believers are spreading throughout our city.”
God works through the faithfulness of his people. Leni is just one believer in this country-wide movement, but her faithfulness and work is precious to the Father.
Pray with One Challenge
- Pray for Leni and hundreds of those like her who are not mighty in the world’s eyes but faithful and committed to only boasting in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).
- Pray for this movement; pray more and more people will come to know their Savior.
- Pray for the workers in this country; pray God would give them wisdom as they counsel and advise.
*Names have been change for security purposes
