Tag - Asia

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Together for the Gospel: Praying for Asia
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3 Ways to Pray for Muslims
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How to Pray for 1.1 Billion Followers of Hinduism
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COVID is Still Changing Our Ministries — and God is Still Working
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How to Pray for Unreached People Groups
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Innov-Asia: A Short-Term Mission to the Ends of the Earth
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The Day Evil Spirits Stopped Being Scary

Together for the Gospel: Praying for Asia

Three boys on a motorcycle.
Over half the world’s population lives within a 2,500 mile radius of Yuxi, a city in southern China. For this month’s Prayer Focus, please join us in praying for Gospel reach in Asia.

With concerns over aerial surveillance, military aid to Russia, and increasing tensions with Taiwan, it seems that China is constantly in the news. Asia as a whole remains largely in the throes of economic upheaval caused by supply-chain disruptions and other aftershocks of the pandemic.  And yet the Gospel spreads. Christianity grew twice as fast as the general population in Asia during the 20th century, and that trend continues in the 21st. According to sources cited in this article from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Christians now make up 8.2% of people living in Asia.   How can we, as the global…

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3 Ways to Pray for Muslims

The Quran, the central religious text of Islam, contains references to more than fifty people and events also found in the Bible.
The Quran, the central religious text of Islam, contains references to more than fifty people and events also found in the Bible.

Christians have more in common with a Muslim than you may think. “You would probably share more values with a Muslim neighbor than with a secular one,” says Cody, a TEAM missionary in Asia whose ministry brings him in daily contact with Muslims. “Muslims are very focused on family and children and a moral society.” Although values may be similar, theological beliefs are not. Cody points out three big areas of disagreement Muslims bring up in regards to Christianity: Jesus is not God, Jesus did not die on the cross and the Bible in its current form is unreliable. Brian…

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How to Pray for 1.1 Billion Followers of Hinduism

Bells have symbolic meaning in Hinduism. The curved body of the bell represents Ananta. The clapper or tongue of the bell represents Saraswati, who is the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.
Bells have symbolic meaning in Hinduism. The curved body of the bell represents Ananta. The clapper or tongue of the bell represents Saraswati, who is the goddess of wisdom and knowledge.

As we start a new year, we are focusing on world religions and how to pray for the various followers among them. This month we will look at Hinduism. The wide and great diversity among what Hindus believe and practice can be somewhat overwhelming. About 15% of the world’s population call themselves Hindu and pride themselves on their liberal and accepting stance toward all other world religions. When a faith already encompasses 33 million gods, what’s one more god to the mix, right? The concept and truth of following just one is difficult for their beliefs and culture to grasp….

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COVID is Still Changing Our Ministries — and God is Still Working

Covid-19 has cost many missionaries access to their host countries. New strategies and perseverance are vital for the work to continue.
Covid-19 has cost many missionaries access to their host countries. New strategies and perseverance are vital for the work to continue.

As I write this from Asia, we are weary from yet another round of strict restrictions on travel and gatherings. The world entered the third wave in June; Asia is facing some of our hardest days yet. Today, six countries in Asia are in the top 10 countries facing the highest new cases per day. Eighteen months ago, one colleague was out of her host country for the New Year’s break when COVID-19 hit. The borders were closed, and she returned to the States. She’s now been stateside for more than a year. Another colleague was in the United States…

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How to Pray for Unreached People Groups

A missionary talks with a woman from an unreached people group in Chad.
Unreached people groups are found in rural villages, high-tech cities and everywhere in between — but all have the same need for the Gospel.

What pops into your mind when you read the words “unreached people groups”? Simple, tribal living or high-tech, city life? Intense religiosity or no religion at all? Commitment to community or extreme individualism? Hard-to-reach or just a plane ride away? Actually, any of those answers could be correct. Ask TEAM missionary Eric Kroner about the unreached people group (UPG) he serves in Chad, and he’ll share about farmers who live without electricity or running water. “They are very much aware that their livelihood is dependent upon rains, at the whim of disease, and with the very rhythms of day and…

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Innov-Asia: A Short-Term Mission to the Ends of the Earth

Innov-Asia Ministry
Innov-Asia is a chance to dive into ministry among unreached people groups throughout Asia.

One quarter of the world’s people are outside the normal reach of the Church. If you want to engage these unreached people groups, how do you do it? Innov-Asia is a short-term mission trip designed to help aspiring missionaries see that life and service at the ends of the earth is doable. It requires creativity, innovation and a willingness to live outside your comfort zone. Serving Unreached People Groups through Innovation Some workers live in unusual places, while others start new businesses. Some use arts and music, while others work on translation projects. Jackson and Diane chose to open a…

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The Day Evil Spirits Stopped Being Scary

Man in cloud of incense
Jian was completely non-religious — until it came to appeasing his ancestors. What would it take to break their hold over him?

Having kids creates all kinds of fears: careless babysitters, cleaning supplies, everything a child could possibly put in her mouth. But Jian’s fear was far more sinister. Jian* was worried about relatives — his dead relatives. Whatever their personalities in life, Jian’s ancestors were fearsome in death. They had to be placated every April or they would wreak havoc. Or so Jian was taught. And if they wanted to hurt Jian, what better way than to hurt his daughter? As an atheist, Jian knew he shouldn’t be afraid of ghosts. Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder, what if it was…

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