South Asia Update
Called to Disciple
Philipians 2:6-7, "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross."
I am thankful to God for giving me His grace and wisdom and strength to lead the 54 days of South Asia Mission Trip 2022. I am thankful to you all for all your support through prayer, finances and encouraging words. I couldn’t have made it without all your support. In the midst of all the stress that I encountered such as uncertainty of team members who will be joining the trip due to delay of applying visas, insufficient finances needed for the entire trip, God reminded me of His unconditional love and His grace each day during this trip. He reminded me that "If God's work is done in God's way, nothing could stop it and His people do not lack anything. He accomplishes His purpose for His glory and honour".
As I started planning this trip to organize discipleship training since June 2022, we visited three South Asian countries, flying with 13 international and domestic flights conducted 15 discipleship trainings, preaching at Sunday services, Sunday school, youth meetings in eight different locations with the local church leaders and a bible seminary, reaching out to more than 400 grassroot pastors, lay leaders, youths and Sunday school children ages (3-15 yr). None of the flights were cancelled except one delayed for two hours due to a local festival. I began my mission work by visiting my sister's family. I had a great opportunity to mentor my niece who was getting ready to be baptized. We spent time together going through the study on baptism found under the leader's resource on the DI website. She had lots of questions to discuss with me and to understand in-depth understanding of baptism. I am thankful to God for using me in her life to prepare her for the baptism that held in December. God also helped me to encourage my sister who has lots of physical challenges and spiritual battles in her life.
I also had the privileged to celebrate 79th birthday of my mother. This is the first time in her life that I could celebrate her birthday with my aunt and uncle. She is the prayerful, God-fearing woman of God who always is a prayer warrior to support me in my life. I am also thankful to God for speaking to many people like my friends and my mother who opened their home to host our team to stay for several days during this trip and cooking healthy food and keeping us healthy so that we could serve the Lord.
There were 15 ETS trainings conducted in 8 different locations in South Asia. Some were a ETS follow up training and few of them were newly introduced about ETS training. In one location I was able to teach 1 John to the students who were in a discipleship training.
From 10th-20th November, we were able to do a follow up with 80 grassroot level pastors and 48 Life Skill Training students. It was overwhelming as there was few ETS trainers but a large group of participants. I was in charge of two groups conducting Book-2 and Book-3. We started with a half day fasting prayer followed ACTS model. During supplication, students presented in groups about few states to prayer for particular region, their government, political, social economical situations and for the pastors facing persecution.
It is encouraging to hear stories from the pastors who are excited to receive the ETS books in their own language as many of these pastors have limited education. We did more of small group discussion which was very to understand the teaching and apply it into their own context and culture. Even though some of the areas it was challenging to understand how to apply to the context, but I could help them in explaining the concept of the teachings and to contextualize effectively to the context of multi religions and multicultural settings. Many of them also expressed the effectiveness of understanding the teaching in person than in zoom settings. Translating the ETS series in their local language was a great benefit to learn the teachings as expressed by many pastors when I met individually.
From 21st Nov -1st December, we visited 3 other locations and conducted 6 different ETS trainings among the pastors, youth and bible seminary students. I will never forget these words I heard from a woman who met with me after I taught the bridge illustration to the group. She gave me a hug and appreciated me for learning the bridge illustration. It has been praying to God to open a way for her to share the gospel with her husband who is an unbeliever. Now she knows how to share the bridge illustration with him. I praise God used our team to share all these teachings to help them to understand how to be a real disciple of God and to help others to become His disciples.
I was so thankful to God that I was invitation to preach in my Baptist church on 11th December in both of the services, morning at English service and afternoon at Oriya service. In the morning, we as a team-taught bridge illustration and wheel illustration to the Sunday school children. We also distributed key knob and Yo-Yos that has citybible scan app containing several video materials of teachings of God, John gospel movie and full bible in 94 languages of the world. It is a great tool for children and adults to download in mobile phones and iPads to access various Christian resources to grow spiritually in a digital world.
Prayer Requests:
Please pray for all the new groups that will be starting ETS training in different locations in South Asia in the coming year 2023.
Please pray for the present students who will resume their ETS class in January 2023.
Please pray for me and my family to spend meaning time of celebrating Christmas and new year 2023 during this holiday season.
Please pray for God’s provision for travel expenses and monthly ministry expenses and to support ETS students for their internet expenses and trainings.
Pray for the upcoming trips to South Asia 2023 as I am planning for discipleship training programs.
Pray for all the ETS students who will be starting Book-1 with students.
If you would like to support me, please click on https://discipleshipint.org/donate and click on the right payment method that is appropriate for you. My account number is DI022.Thank you for joining me in serving God with DI.
Madhumita S Nayak
Discipleship International
