Central Asia!

Hey everyone! I hope you’re all doing well!!

I’m nearing the end of my time here; I’ve loved it so much!! But I will update you guys on the last month or so!

We went to another nearby country in Central Asia for 2 weeks where we partnered with a group of missionaries who are currently planting churches in Central Asia. It was so amazing to see what they were doing and how they were reaching people here with the gospel. We interceded together, helped them with the events, services, charity and outreach work… and danced a LOTT!

They have a service every Sunday, in the office of a local church, as you cannot just have church anywhere but a licenced building. Although it is a small gathering, the preaching and worship were so powerful, that you can see their heart for Jesus! But one of the biggest ways they do ministry and outreach is through hosting events in the area, completely separate from the church. There was one where a Russian millionaire came to speak about how to be successful- (we couldn’t understand what he was saying so I actually have no idea what he said). This was held in a restaurant space with breakfast and lots of time to mingle. And through this, they made connections and contacts with people there and then invited them for a game night. Through this, they carry on making connections with the hopes of preaching the gospel to them after a meeting or two with them. They’ve had some really cool testimonies of people who are now Christians or going to church consistently whom they had first met at one of these events! Ministry in Central Asia, especially for long-termers is very different to what we usually think of. They have to protect their ministry and reputation by not preaching to everyone on the streets etc, otherwise, people will be less likely to trust them… and it’s illegal to convert people to Christianity.

However, for us short-termers, it was awesome to be able to preach the gospel and talk about Jesus knowing that we only have a short time there! We were able to make connections with strangers, meet them for food etc and preach the gospel to them, as well as talk to our taxi drivers, and literally anyone who served us food, boba, or walked past on the street! We had the honour of telling Muslims the gospel, the GOOD NEWS, for the first time! And even if we were the first seed, it was such a joy and honour to partner with God’s heart for these people.

It is so crazy and amazing to go from not even knowing where Central Asia is on the map, to having such a heart for the people there when partnering with the heart of God! 

But we could see why Central Asia is unreached, there is such deep-rooted religion here, 98% being Islam, with massive ties to the shame and honour culture here. It is so sad to know the generational beliefs here and hear the heat people would come under if they were to believe in Jesus, the son of God, who died for them. But we believe in full faith that God will save his people and the Great Commission will be fulfilled one day!! God is moving here, whether we can tangibly see it or not!

But the long-termers here were so servant-hearted and devoted, even seeing their whole office space which they completely fund themselves – they originally bought it completely empty and turned it around themselves with a bathroom, kitchen area, musical instruments, paint etc. And they are by no means rich, just a group of people from all over called to make disciples of all nations!!

We then spent a few days in the touristy city, having a good time of rest and evangelism before returning to our last city for a month back to the first place we stayed.

Here we worked with the long-term missionaries, taking part in some of their ministry like English lessons and soccer with Afghanistan refugees in the smaller towns. As well as visiting families- both believers and non-believers in the small mountain villages. This was such a highlight, not only were the villages absolutely beautiful, but it was amazing to be invited into these homes and hear their stories, pray for healing, give encouragement and words from the Lord and share our testimonies and the gospel!

We were also able to do a lot of evangelism in this city, going around in 2 or 3s and just being the hands and feet of Jesus, talking to people on the streets or in shops and restaurants and preaching the gospel, sharing what the Lord wants us to tell them, and pouring out Gods love and their identity out to them. EV can be intimidating at times, but it is just talking to people about what they believe and what we believe and seeing their heart and acting on what God is telling us to do. 99% (like I’ve said many times) are Muslims so we were able to preach the gospel to people who had never heard it before and reveal God’s love to them, it is such a joy and honour!! In our final weeks here we decided to full send it and talk to as many people as we could!! One day Kate and I talked to 14 people in a couple of hours and preached the gospel, prayed for healing, prayed for an encounter, gave prophetic words, and asked if they’d had a dream of a man in white (Jesus). AND ONE LADY WAS HEALED!! PRAISE GOD!!

Every Sunday night at midnight, we pray as a team for dreams and visions for this nation, and it has been such a great night of encounters, breakthroughs, and pure joy as we partner with God’s heart for these people. One night, after praying, Kate and I both felt God was telling us to pray at midnight for a week for dreams and visions of Jesus. It was such an amazing time of intercession for this nation, God poured out so much revelation to both of us, saying that he was firing arrows out into this nation as we were interceding. And so every day we asked people if they’d had a dream. A couple of days later we met a man in the villages who said exactly a year ago he had a dream of Jesus in the middle of his fast at Ramadan, which is so amazing and encouraged us so much that Jesus does reveal himself to his people in dreams! A week later a lady responded saying she had a dream 2 nights ago of a man in white saying come follow me!! And we had prayed that night!

Intercession is so amazing and important, getting to partner with the heart of God, and Jesus who is interceding on our behalf 24/7 on the right hand of the Father!

With only a short time left, I’m savouring my time here, being so ever grateful that God sent me here to this unreached nation. God hasn’t forgotten about his sons and daughters here! I would love it if you could all pray with me for Central Asia!!

-       Pray that God will reveal himself to his people here, in dreams, visions and encounters, that they may know the truth and love of Jesus.

-       Pray that God will rise up the believers here as preachers, worship leaders, church planters, evangelists, and catalysts to catalyse their communities into believing and taking action!

-       Pray over all the long-term missionaries for continued protection, provision, blessings, and confidence in the truth they know!

-       Pray for more missionaries to be sent here!! That people will “go”. Matthew 28:19-20 is a call to all people from Jesus to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Ман ҳама шуморо дӯст медорам ва муҳимтар аз ҳама Исо шуморо дӯст медорад !! :)

I love you all, and more importantly, Jesus loves you!! :)