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
Equip Gospel Workers in Vietnam
Working among the Ha Nhi, an unreached people group in a remote district, native workers were recently encouraged when 21 of them put their faith in Christ. Among the Khang, another unreached group, 23 accepted Christ, while two members of the San Diu tribe were saved in another province.
Help Bring Aid to the Needy in Burma
Leaders of native ministries request urgent prayer for aid and protection amid constant surges of people displaced by military conflict, and for workers risking their lives to help them. Recently fighting drove more than 40,000 people from 11 villages. “About 200 are under our care in our church compound,” a native ministry leader said.
Christians Defy Orders in Laos
A pastor in Laos recently went to an area heavily influenced by “old school” soldiers in the communist country who strongly detested Christianity, the leader of a native ministry said. “The pastor took the risk to evangelize in this area and led 20 people to the Lord,” the leader said. “The village authorities were shocked, and the police came to drive the pastor away – with the threat to arrest him, if he returned.” The pastor told the ministry leader and others at a conference that he was not frightened by the threats.
Help Spread Gospel Seed in the Philippines
A company that delivers free food to poor people scavenging in dumps required employees to do a dance before distribution to entertain the crowds. One of the employees was a new Christian discipled by native ministry workers, and she requested to share something spiritual instead of doing a dance.
Help Support Gospel Workers in Burma
In spite of ongoing military conflict, eight disciples recently graduated with bachelor’s degrees in theology from a native ministry’s seminary, including five in absentia, and eight others received diplomas for lesser studies. “It was a small celebration on our campus, yet a good reminder of God’s faithfulness through the years despite the many challenges confronting us,” the native ministry leader said.
Help Power Gospel Proclamation in Indonesia
A native Christian worker who pastors various home churches recently had the opportunity to share the gospel at a worship gathering that a curious newcomer visited. “He wants to come again and again to see and hear more teaching,” the ministry leader said. “Now the pastor has a dual focus – discipling the church and evangelizing new people who come.”
