By the Regional Director for Asia-Pacific
Several years ago, about 300 irate villagers in a remote area of an Asia-Pacific country gathered outside the home of a Navigator worker, forced him and his family out of the house and booted them out of the village. Then the mob nabbed two more Navigator workers who lived nearby and took them to jail, where they have remained for three years.
Unfortunately, that is not the only opposition to the Gospel we have seen in the Asia-Pacific region. Most of our efforts to love and serve people who follow major religions are successful, but sometimes more radical groups threaten our teams. Sometimes our friends end up in jail. Other times they are expelled from their homes and forced to move to other villages.
In the face of fear, these godly servants find strength in one another. They know they are not alone. When someone is expelled from a village, the team provides finances and helps them find a new home. They pray together constantly, and they encourage one another in the Scriptures.
Supporting one another during severe hardship is just one reason why teamwork is vital to fulfilling our calling. Working together is also God’s design for reaching people. A multi-generational team in our region serves as a good example.
Starting in the early 1990s, in an unreached nation, a team of Asian Navigators made a long-term commitment to help each other reach unbelieving neighbors and relatives. They would be the church for each other while being embedded naturally into the local culture—without creating any religious structures that would make it difficult for non-believers to come to Christ.
As working professionals with children, they chose to live in the same neighborhood. This enabled them to engage with nonbelievers as a group rather than as individuals. Everyone served according to each person’s gifting—evangelism, hospitality, generosity, organizing meetings, etc. Even the children contributed by creating a fun environment for the children of non-believing parents.
Since then, the work has expanded dramatically through relational networks. As new people have come to Christ, the team has developed natural relationships with their relatives. That has opened doors to new relationships in remote villages and towns.
Our Navigator teams step through these open doors by developing authentic trust with villagers. They build sincere relationships with each town’s leader. They set up small libraries, teach schoolchildren, and provide educational scholarships. As the community of believers grows, the local team works together to organize personal family visits: eating together, studying the Bible, enjoying holidays, and sometimes holding larger day-long events with biblical teaching. Hundreds of people have accepted Christ across the country—a process that continues to this day.
This growth has occurred because, for nearly 30 years, this team has been committed to living and discipling together among the lost—as a true body of Christ. Sustaining this team over several generations has been beautiful to see. Mature leaders train and equip younger, emerging leaders. Regional leadership helps to keep everyone aligned with the Word of God and with our Navigator Calling. In fact, today we are developing about 50 emerging local leaders in just one unreached tribal community.
Our African brothers and sisters have a beautiful saying: “It takes a village to raise a kid.” I believe the same is true for raising disciples. It takes a whole community and a team to develop a follower of Christ. So, I wonder why anyone would even try to reach unbelievers alone?
