Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa
God is in Control!
By Lisa Hall, International Prayer Coordinator
There are many paradoxes in the Christian life. One of them is that persecution and difficulty often cause the Church of Jesus Christ to grow.
That’s what our TWR Women of Hope teams in Central Asia are expecting as they see increased opposition to Christianity and limits being placed on gatherings of believers in some areas. But one of our leaders courageously shares, “We believe that everything is under God's control, and we hope that it will motivate the gatherings [of believers] to grow, unite and spread the gospel even more!”
Through radio, social media platforms, SD cards and flash drives, the Women of Hope and Precious and Beloved programs are reaching the people of Central Asia with biblical content and practical advice. Ministering to listeners’ common needs, program topics have included raising children, domestic violence, infertility, miscarriage and cultural hardships while others address emotional distress such as distrust, shame, guilt and rejection.
The biblical lessons they share are also making an impact as listeners express their gratitude for the encouragement and spiritual nourishment they receive from the programs.
“I felt worthless, unloved and unneeded and thought nobody could help me change my life,” one listener shared. “However, my life was radically changed after I received a radio and flash stick with Women of Hope programs. These told me that God loves me, that Jesus died for me, is alive and can transform my life. After accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I now know that I am his precious daughter, and that he is good and loves me.”
Another listener said, “I live in a village, and we don’t have a church there, which is why I feel so blessed to have radio programs to listen to every day and grow spiritually.”
Not only are our teams impacting Central Asia through programming, but they also lead a vibrant prayer ministry as people gather both in person and prayer together through text. They also reach out to local churches and travel to remote villages, encouraging believers in their faith and to read the Bible and pray.
Can we pray for our courageous TWR Women of Hope leaders as they look to our sovereign God who is in control of all things? They ask us to pray for their spiritual and physical strength, for laws that would protect the religious freedom of churches and for stability in their countries. Together, let’s bring them before the Lord.
Photo via IMB