Boldly Whispering the Name of Jesus: Stories of Faith from the Asian Mission Field: a 30 Day Devotional

By Peter Hone

Too often we give no more than a moment's thought to the hardship and persecution of Christians in Asian countries. Their struggles and suffering are too uncomfortable, too convicting for us. Big Life is a ministry that continues to be used by God to plant thousands of churches in Asia, in countries that are among the most hostile towards the gospel message.

In this 30-day devotional of stories from the Asian mission field, we meet a God who reveals himself in personal, providential and powerful ways to bring his chosen people to salvation in Christ. And we meet some of these people, simple but remarkable men and women, driven to tell others in their culture about Jesus, in obedience to the Great Commission.

These stories of distant Brothers and Sisters will touch you. Read their testimonies. Support their ministries through Big Life. Most importantly, for thirty days, pray for them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Big Life Ministries
• Release date: Dec 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9780990495802

Book preview

Kingdom)

BOLDLY

WHISPERING

THE NAME OF

JESUS

STORIES OF FAITH FROM THE

ASIAN MISSION FIELD:

A 30 DAY DEVOTIONAL

PETER HONE

Copyright © 2014 Peter Hone.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-9904958-1-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-0-9904958-0-2 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Revisions date: 12/17/2014

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Day 1 - Sanjit - India

Day 2 - Minhas - Pakistan

Day 3 - Chakkar - India

Day 4 - Musa - Afghanistan

Day 5 - Qazi - Afghanistan

Day 6 - Luqman - Afghanistan

Day 7 - Kirrin - Nepal

Day 8 - Sadeq - Afghanistan

Day 9 - The Tiger - India

Day 10 - Thomas - Pakistan

Day 11 - Ayanna - India

Day 12 - Hafiz - Pakistan

Day 13 - Hafiz - Pakistan

Day 14 - Farshad - Afghanistan

Day 15 - Taran - Cambodia

Day 16 - Dao Sanh - Vietnam

Day 17 - Munshi - Pakistan

Day 18 - Marium - Pakistan

Day 19 - Mirza Khan - Afghanistan

Day 20 - Raben - India

Day 21 - Amin - Pakistan

Day 22 - Mufti - Pakistan

Day 23 - Shabbir - Pakistan

Day 24 - Noor Allem - India

Day 25 - Hammad - Afghanistan

Day 26 - Javid - Pakistan

Day 27 - Kou Ratha - Cambodia

Day 28 - Ahmed - Afghanistan

Day 29 - Dilbar - Afghanistan

Day 30 - Imran - Pakistan

Afterword

TO TERRY AND BARBARA COSGROVE

IN GRATITUDE FOR YOUR LOVE FOR JESUS THAT LED TO YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT

FOREWORD

I t is a sad fact that after all the military effort in Afghanistan, in spite of the sacrifices of our brave men and women who have fought there and shed blood there, and in spite of the billions of dollars spent, we have not seen a fundamental transformation in that country.

And yet the ministry of Big Life is seeing the transformation of people’s lives with far less than the billions of dollars that our government has spent. And this is being achieved without tanks, airplanes or automatic weapons. It is being achieved with the Bible, and the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is still a dangerous assignment, because the people who stand for Jesus in Afghanistan (and many other places where Big Life operates) understand that their stand may well cost them and their family members their very lives. This devotional records many such tragic but heroic stories.

If you told these people that those who know Jesus will never suffer, they would not believe it, because they know suffering. If you told them those who pray and have faith will be given riches, they would not understand, because they do not know riches. Most of them live on a diet of rice and beans. But they have met Jesus, and have joy in their hearts. They know they are part of something bigger than they are, and are driven to pass on the good news.

I wish I were optimistic enough to believe that we can defeat radical Islam across the world. It may be necessary to engage them in battle, but this war will never be completely won this way, no matter how much it costs. It can only be won one heart at a time, as people come to see the difference between darkness and light, deception and truth. Our brothers and sisters in Christ, some of whom are described in this book, are His messengers in these dark places across the world. Pray for them.

Governor Mike Huckabee,

November 2014

PREFACE

I n 2003, Big Life Ministries hit a crossroads – either change direction or call it quits . Looking back, we believe that this painful redirection was a prompting from God, which ultimately aligned the work of the ministry with the center of His will for the very first time.

Through dedicated prayer and careful study, the Bible laid out for us a simple, clear and fundamental plan. Luke chapter 10 guided us to look for the man of peace wherever we were working. We began to look for the man, woman or child who God was already preparing to reach his or her own people with the gospel message.

By the end of 2003, we learned that a Luke 10 man of peace could be found even in the most remote and difficult strongholds. Sometimes that man of peace would already be a Christ-follower. However, a far greater majority of God’s peacemakers emerged from long traditions of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and many other religious belief systems. Only God could orchestrate such remarkable modern-day Saul-to-Paul transformations every single day!

As of this November 2014 writing, God has used thousands of Big Life indigenous believers to plant nearly 15,000 churches worldwide. These churches are not brick and mortar, but groups of people that meet together in homes, under trees, or wherever there is space available. Many are forced to meet in darkness as they face the constant and deadly threat of religious persecution. Even so, over 180,000 believers are currently worshipping weekly, being discipled daily, and boldly telling their friends and neighbors about what Jesus has done for them.

The stories contained within these pages are everyday situations, lived out by Big Life workers. We praise The Lord for granting us the privilege to see Him move in ways and in areas we never dreamed possible. We are so thankful for the obedient, anointed Big Life workers He is using for Kingdom impact. There are tens of thousands more stories just like the ones contained in these pages - stories of everyday people whose lives have been radically transformed by Jesus.

I want to personally thank Peter Hone for gathering the stories of our people in their own words, and putting those stories together for this devotional. It is our prayer that these stories will leave you encouraged. It is our hope that these stories weave together a much larger picture – a picture of what God can do with everyday people from every tongue, tribe and nation who are obedient to His call and set apart for His glory.

We also praise The Lord for you. It is because of faithful people like you who partner with Big Life, along with those who risk everything to tell their stories, that this movement of God is taking place. If you would like to join us or learn more about us, please visit our website at blm.org.

In His Service,

John Heerema

Executive Director of Big Life Ministries

INTRODUCTION

I have a photograph of Musa. His well-trimmed beard and receding hairline frame a handsome face. His smile is compassionate, almost shy, and his eyes radiate calm, confidence and peace. It is the face of a man who knows Jesus intimately. I wish that I could show this photograph alongside Musa’s story in this devotional, but I cannot, because this simple act would put Musa’s life at risk. It is the same with so many represented here. In fact, all of their names have been changed for the same sad reason. I cannot even recognize those who courageously helped provide details of these stories. Bringing the gospel in Asia is difficult, and dangerous.

Most of these Christians did not intend to be heroes or stand out in any way. They were just searching for God, as we all are. But they have found a way to serve their Lord through the ministry of Big Life. They are trained to evangelize and disciple, and to teach these skills to others who are then sent to train others. This is how the good news is passed on. In the book of Acts it is called multiplication. And this is carried out in their own country, in their own language and in their own culture, without ‘western’ influence. The results have been staggering. Some 200,000 souls, previously Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim, in ten Asian countries, meet regularly in small fellowships to praise Jesus, learn about him, and to spread his gospel. It’s a God-thing.

The church planting team that Musa leads have initiated hundreds of these fellowships, known in Muslim areas as jamats, with thousands of converts both young and old, from various peoples and tribes, all finding true peace in Isa (Jesus), their King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In Afghanistan. This has not been achieved without pain, persecution and loss, but these Christians understand the meaning of total surrender, as you will see in these pages.

Other stories told here are testimonies to the greatness of God, and the power and grace with which he transforms the lives of people that do not know him, but desperately need to know and follow him. Many of these new Christians immediately feel the call to serve him, and so the story of Christ’s church continues. South and Central Asia is a battleground, and the stakes are high, but Christians obedient to the Great Commission need our prayers, as well as our financial support.

Why a devotional? In our busy culture, often one of the few times we Christians can focus and spend quiet time with God is when we read a daily devotional. It is my earnest prayer that the readers of this devotional will take time to learn about and pray over the stories and ministries of our Brothers and Sisters who labor in areas where the gospel is unknown and unwelcome.

The work continues, and there is much to do, but I know that Musa would be greatly encouraged to know that as he travels by foot in mountainous terrain to reach the next village, others across the world are praying for his safety and his mission-to continue to bring the lost to Christ.

Peter Hone

1

SANJIT - INDIA

"The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me."

Psalm 116:6

K urseong is a diamond, set almost 5000 feet amongst the high hills and mountains that rise and fall on the winding, steeply climbing road between Siliguri and Darjeeling in the lower Himalayas of West Bengal. Restful and serene, it does not have the bustle of Siliguri, the small city known as ‘the gateway to the north,’ or the constant march of tourists that flood Darjeeling. But it has history, natural beauty and novelty. The Himalayan Mountain Railway, or as it is more aptly known, the Toy Train, steams and whistles its precarious way from Siliguri right through the length of Kurseong, giving its passengers just an extended glimpse of its quaintness before they are carried off to their packaged tour of Darjeeling, seventeen kilometers further north. The fields below the peaks are home to the world’s finest and most expensive black tea plantations, or gardens, as they are known. Grandly built schools and universities, formed here in the heady days of the British Raj to take advantage of the mild weather and the healthy air, were strategically placed on the sides of the mountains, facing north to capture the fantastic views from the distant Himalayas. The constant mist rolling in from the mountains ensures that any hint of a view is a thrill, and although they are rare, on clear days the sight is breathtaking enough to make the viewer stop, and think of God.

He woke, but it was too painful to open his eyes. His head felt like it was splitting in two, and his mouth was dry as a desert. His body ached, stiff with cold, and he could hear birds singing. Where was he? He had no idea. With an effort he opened his eyes, and the light invaded his head, made it pound with pain. He tried to focus, and looked around. He had apparently slept on a grassy patch between two rocks on the edge of a cliff. Lifting himself into a sitting position, he set his back against a tree and tried to think.

He had been drinking again. His pounding head brought the events of last night back to him. He remembered drinking Indian whisky, and then some liquor that a man in the village made illegally. It was bad, but it was cheap, and he drank plenty. He had gotten angry and picked a fight with someone. That was all he could remember. He reached up to touch a tender bruise on his face. Suddenly, just like so many times before, he was swamped with guilt and shame.

He had told himself the last time this happened that he would stop drinking, and for a little while he had. He even got a job at the tea garden. But he had stolen money from another man’s backpack, and the plantation shift manager let him go. Instead of going home to his mother and father he took the money he had earned and he drank until it was all gone.

He was a mess. He looked out over the beautiful mountains of Kurseong and he wept. He wept for the shame he had brought to his family, and for the hopelessness of his life.

Sanjit came from a good Hindu family. He had studied and learned to worship many gods from a young age, and he always considered Shiva, the omniscient, the omnipresent, to be the supreme god of all. Life was about ritual and honor, and the greatest day of his life was his thirteenth birthday, when his parents took him to the wonderful Ambhotia Temple of Shiva in Kurseong. He had never been to the town before, he had never left his village, but as he looked around in wonder at the people and the buildings, it did not seem quaint and sleepy to him. He thought it had to be the greatest city on earth. And Sanjit’s eyes widened as he entered the temple and looked up at the magnificent statue of Shiva. The great god, the destroyer of demons, the controller of the cosmos, sat cross-legged, arms out in meditation, radiating immense power. Sanjit was speechless, in awe of such a god. He would live a life of goodness to honor him.

But by his fifteenth birthday, Sanjit was involved with a group of boys that drank and used drugs. He liked to drink, and he soon began to steal money to pay for it. He was caught often, because his addiction made him desperate. His parents punished him, mentored him, prayed with him, cried over him. But he could not stop. As he reached his early twenties, he found it impossible to hold down a job. Young men shunned him and girls avoided him, because they feared him. He was pleasant enough when sober, but angry and violent when drunk. His personality would change in an instant, and he would brawl with anyone who opposed him or tried to help him. Sanjit immersed himself in Buddhist teachings, hoping that he would find a cure in that religion. It worked for a while, but whenever he encountered problems in his life he always went back to drinking.

At twenty-five, Sanjit sought to rediscover his Hindu roots. He yearned to be a true kanwaria, a devoted follower of Shiva, and he vowed to change, to stop the addiction that he knew was killing him. He decided to engage in a yatra, a holy pilgrimage to the Ambhotia temple, to seek Shiva. He had heard that other kanwarias from as far distant as Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar had journeyed on foot to Ambhotia, and they had found karma, purity and peace. Sanjit needed this. He had to have it, or he would die.

He set off to