Shepherd 23:1 Q3 2025 South Asia Update

Orphan Care:

  • We are currently still caring for a total of 77 orphans in two different regions.
  • 37 of the children are split up between missionary families and a mission center while awaiting the completion of our second orphanage building, which we are hopeful will be complete by the end of 2025!
  • All children are doing well and growing in stature, knowledge, and their love of the Lord.

 

Evangelism & Church Planting:

  • We have currently evangelized to several new regions this year, evangelizing to a total of 39,441 people!
  • 2,641 souls have been saved by God’s redeeming grace so far in 2025!
  • 831 new believers have followed in baptism.
  • This resulted in 58 new house churches and 49 new church structures.
  • We hosted a children’s evangelism event, which you would call a Vacation Bible School. It was a great success. Many came to accept salvation from the Lord and followed in believer’s baptism, as a result!

 

Pastoral Training:

  • We have 48 missionary pastors currently enrolled at the Biblical Theological College and seminary.
  • We have done short-term training with ongoing discipleship for over 100 lay- pastors in newly evangelized regions so far this year.

 

Challenges / Prayer Requests:

  • The Hindus continue to ravage our churches, running our members and pastors out of town for months or longer. They set fire to our churches and often beat our pastors. By God’s grace, only one member’s life has been lost in these attacks; the unborn baby of a pastor’s wife. We do not pray that the persecution lessens. We pray that our faith stays strong and the gospel spreads amidst the persecution.
  • This spring, the government held the funds sent from Shepherd 23:1 for 90 days before returning them back to the US. My accountant told me this is due to the name “Shepherd 23:1” being an obvious Christian organization. By God’s grace, we have found a way around this. Pray that this pathway remains open to fluidly receive funds as they’re sent.
  • The delay in funding paired with heavy rains that washed out roads have caused several months delay in the construction of our second orphanage. Some of these orphans have been being housed with missionary families, while others sleep on the floor of a church building. Construction is now expected to complete in December but some roads necessary to deliver building materials are still impassable. Please pray with us for open roads and expedient construction. Please pray for funding to holistically care for these children once the building is complete.
  • My family has had two hospitalizations and illnesses these past few months. My hospitalization caused me to miss an important speaking engagement on behalf of persecuted Christians in South Asia. The Lord has been faithful to allow me to continue forth with the potential for another presentation next year. Pray for the spiritual battle that the Lord is fighting on our behalf. Pray for Him to continue to use me to speak boldly on behalf of my people and unreached people groups.

 

Praises to God:

  • Opportunities to take the gospel of Jesus to remote people groups who had never before heard the name of Jesus!
  • The many people accepting Christ’s salvation.
  • Open pathways to receive US funding.
  • Forward movement on the orphanage.
  • New relationships to help further the gospel.
  • Miracles that are regularly witnessed through healing, deliverance, and divine protection.