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.
Christians Overcome Persecution 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 Workers Share the Gospel in Indonesia
A poor woman came to faith in Christ after meeting with one of the female church planters of a native ministry, who taught her to pray for healing of her husband’s long-term mental illness. She prayed for a month, her husband was healed, and soon he accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.
Equip Gospel Workers in Vietnam
In 22 provinces over six months, native Christian workers sharing the gospel with Vietnamese and ethnic minority groups saw 1,350 people put their faith in Christ. They planted seven new house churches.
Bring Christ’s Love to the Needy in Burma
A native Christian worker from the La Hu people went to his ethnic group in a jungle village, where the local animists worshipped evil spirits. The worker became friendly with the local priest, sharing about the heavenly Father who casts out evil spirits, and the leader called the villagers together and told them of the one God who created all things; some villagers believed and formed a small group worshipping Christ.
Help Form New Christians in the Philippines
A young woman who grew up in church had suicidal thoughts since her high school years, but after hearing a native worker teach about salvation and the Holy Spirit, she learned to trust in Christ. “It is her desire to keep on growing in the knowledge of God,” the ministry leader said.
