We’ve been sharing stories this month from Central Eurasia, and today we thought we’d have one of our workers share personally her experience of ministry in a place that has walked away from Christ. I think you’ll be encouraged and challenged by her words.

We ducked our heads through the caves with painted ceilings depicting Jesus, the saints, and the apostles.

The evidence that these caves once held groups of thriving Christian believers is fading, and yet they remain, reminding us that this region was once filled with the knowledge of Christ. It’s a stark contrast to what exists today.

One small group of believers remains among a city of over a million people. The people here hold tightly to Islam and turn their backs on anything that contradicts their ideology. They deny the very history that surrounds them, as if it never was.

As my friend and I stood in one of those old cave churches, we began to lift our voices in praise to Jesus. It seemed fitting.

We would worship with those who had worshipped here before. In that moment, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit speak these words from Isaiah 58:12 to my heart,

Those from among you will build up the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

Could these old waste places be built up again?

Could these spiritual foundations from many generations past be raised up once again?

Can our God restore what has been lost?

Can He repair what has been broken?

We believe He can and that is why He has sent the four of us to this corner of Central Eurasia, to people who are truly the least reached, who have little access to the truth of the Gospel.

A pioneer is an individual or organism that successfully establishes itself in a barren area, thus, starting a new cycle of life.

We will pioneer.

We will take root, attach ourselves to the well of Living Water, and believe for a new cycle of life to be established in this area along the Silk Road. We will brave the desert; we will labor and toil. Fighting the fight of faith until new life is once again evident in this region.

We have seen God’s hand move as we have been called together and propelled forward to embark on this mission.

So, we are going.

Going to authentically establish relationships and immerse ourselves in the community.

Going to intentionally, continually and abundantly sow the truth of Jesus Christ.

Preparing ourselves in prayer to train obedient disciples to pass on the truth of the Gospel to their own people.

Would you join us in prayer for new life to be established in this barren area? Would you believe with us that God would once again pour out His Spirit along the Silk Road?

Thanks for praying, and thanks, as always, for being a part of this community. We couldn’t do this without you.