December 2021: Glory to God & Peace on Earth

Whether traditional or not, all of our leaders ask for prayer for their ministries in this season of increased awareness of Jesus. Because of your generosity this year, we are able to give additional funds to several of our country directors to allocate for their Christmas outreach and service programs. 

This first week of Advent, as I am writing this letter, I was on calls with Jesus Film, confirming that we would be receiving key technology for over 50 leaders to be able to utilize the Jesus Film and other discipleship materials in local languages in Bangladesh in 2022. I had the joy of talking with our India, Kashmir, and Bangladesh leaders about pastoral training and discipleship programs especially meant to encourage and train believers facing persecution that we are able to fund early in the new year. Our US staff, along with our Nepal leadership, had an online planning meeting with a non-profit we began partnering with this year who will be coming alongside and then expanding existing community saving groups run through our church networks in Nepal. Already, these groups led by our leaders have transformed several communities in Nepal – a perfect combination of sharing the Gospel in both word and deed. I learned of an upcoming baptism program for dozens of newly discipled believers in Bangladesh. I was able to tell several leaders in India that we had received the funding they needed to purchase thousands of new Bibles in the new year – needed more than ever, considering the many new believers who were reached through Covid-19 relief programs.

Thinking about these Bibles, even though I’ve been with this ministry for a decade, I am still amazed by how much can be done with a dollar – on average, $6 purchases a Bible in a person’s heart language, and covers the logistical costs of getting that Bible where it needs to go. Although we don’t typically support building projects, $100 helped complete a church roof in northern India this week – the rest of the funds having been donated by the local believers. In November, $2,000 in Bihar, India covered the costs of a three-day discipleship conference, including meals, travel and lodging, to encourage and prepare 30 new believers from Hindu and Muslim backgrounds who face persecution and great challenges as some of the only followers of Jesus in their communities. For all of our relief programs, between $40-$120 feeds a family for a month. Your giving of any amount makes a deep impact in the hands of our leaders in South Asia and Myanmar.