Countries Where We
Assist Native Ministries
Overview
Southeast Asia is home to an incredibly diverse population. The island nation of Papua New Guinea alone is home to more than 1,000 people groups who speak more than 800 languages. Christianity has taken root and continues to grow among ethnic minorities who face increasing persecution from oppressive regimes.
Islam is another challenge to native believers in Southeast Asia. Christians in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, face high levels of persecution from radical Muslims, who are pushing Sharia-inspired laws in more communities. Meanwhile, a growing Muslim population on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines continues to breed radicalism and hatred for Christians. In both of these countries, however, Christianity has sustained continued growth.
With the growth of Christianity in Southeast Asia comes an enormous need for trained church leaders. Thousands of rural congregations languish without adequate leadership, falling into unbiblical teaching, moral failure, and syncretism.
In addition to persecution from radical Muslims and hostile governments, native missionaries in Southeast Asia are challenged to minister to unreached people groups in regions of extreme poverty and where there is rampant drug usage. The countries of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand comprise Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle, one of Asia’s two main opium-producing areas. Myanmar is also the world’s largest producer of methamphetamines.
How You Can Make a Difference
Ways To Give
Evangelism & Discipleship
Through the work of one indigenous ministry in Vietnam, more than 3,000 house churches exist in the country’s Central Highlands. A ministry on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines has shared the gospel and planted churches among the island’s 13 Muslim-majority tribes through carefully trained native missionaries. Though ministry inside North Korea is impossible under the present regime, native missionaries established underground churches in six locations in northern China among North Korean women who were trafficked across the border. GIVE NOW to help evangelistic and discipleship ministries like these in Southeast Asia.
Community Engagement
In Indonesia, several Christian Aid Mission-assisted ministries are providing business training to desperately poor pastors and equipping them to start microenterprises to support their families and fledgling churches. GIVE NOW to help community engagement ministries like these in Southeast Asia.
Compassion
In Myanmar, where multitudes fall prey to drug addiction, a ministry is sharing the love of Christ through its two addiction recovery centers where addicts are cared for and discipled in God’s Word. GIVE NOW to help compassion ministries like this one in Southeast Asia.
Exclusive Stories from the Mission Field
Help Workers Share the Gospel in Laos
In spite of persecution and other hardships, godly and faithful leaders have helped a native ministry to grow God’s kingdom exponentially. Workers have led more than 30,000 people to Christ and planted more than 250 churches since the ministry began 26 years ago. Initially focusing on the Khmu people, the ministry now works among other tribal groups as well. “We cannot succeed in the ministry without God, our Khmu leaders and our ministry partners throughout the many years,” the leader said. The ministry needs donations for such gospel work. Pray that Christians imprisoned for their faith will be freed.
Desperation Spikes in Burma – and Faith Grows
Military conflict in the first three weeks of March increased the number of Internally Displaced Persons in Burma (Myanmar) by nearly 100,000, bringing the total since the 2021 military coup to 1.76 million. Desperation in Burma is growing but, amid opposition and restrictions, in many areas only native workers have the knowledge and networks to meet needs. They are risking their lives to do so.
Help Power Gospel Proclamation in Indonesia
After leading a woman and her husband to Christ, church planters helped them in the fields so they could get work done – freeing up time for Bible study. The native Christian workers’ discipleship of their family included helping them overcome their troubled past, along with aiding in health and informal education. Church planters make daily efforts to meet people open to spiritual conversations, sharing the gospel with 15,000 Muslims over a period of six months. Workers need donations to proclaim God’s grace in Christ and cultivate new faith. Pray the Word would speed ahead and be honored.
Support Spread of the Gospel in Vietnam
A Communist Party member had heard the gospel many times, but he opposed it until another party member shared her faith with him. After receiving Christ and returning to his village, his wife and children saw the change in him and also were saved. His parents and aunts opposed his faith, but they saw how he had stopped drinking and gambling and heard how the Holy Spirit dwelled in him, and they too received Christ’s grace, as did four other families – a total of 38 new Christians in the village. Workers need donations to carry out such gospel work. As more than 400 new church planters set out, pray the Holy Spirit will go before them in their outreach.
Send the Salvation Message in Laos
A stagnant house church increased from seven families to 22 families after native Christian workers gave members 10 radios for sharing electronically loaded gospel messages. “They love it very much and listen to it every day, even when going to rice fields to work,” the ministry leader said. “They let other people listen too.” The electronic messages helped three Christian families who had strayed into native rituals to return to faith and drew six other families to put their trust in Christ for the first time. Workers need donations of $25 or $50 for these and other outreaches of evangelism and discipleship. They request prayer for wisdom, spiritual strength and guidance by the Holy Spirit.
Provide Compassionate Aid in Burma
Unable to work amid military offensives and COVID-19, people are struggling to survive. Native Christian workers are providing rice, cooking oil, beans and basic medicines in several places. They are ministering especially to the elderly with shelter, food, vitamins and medications, along with teaching them literacy, which enables them to read the Bible and accept Christ. “We showed our love and concern to the community by way of helping with humanitarian needs, health and so on,” the leader said. Workers need donations of $35 or $70 to provide such compassionate aid. Pray for their provision and protection.
