Empowered and equipped through REACH, Rayana saw “how God was using my testimony to touch people's hearts."
Standing outside her high school with friends, Rayana* (Central Asia) was handed a piece of paper from a group of foreigners. On the paper was a brief explanation of the gospel in her heart language. Though she had heard about Jesus before, this was the first time Rayana understood the message. “But I didn't accept it or believe in it right away,” she recalled.
Rayana’s older sister was curious about what happens to a person after they die and she searched for an answer; watching people’s testimonies and reading whatever she could find. She shared with Rayana that in all the information she had found, many people who died saw Jesus; no other god. This sparked Rayana’s curiosity, and she began her own quest for truth.
Her search led her to YouTube, where Rayana watched countless videos of people’s testimonies. One YouTuber who shared her faith and the stories of others particularly impacted Rayana and was integral in her developing faith. “It was kind of a process,” Rayana said. “God started working in my heart, and in 2020, I invited Jesus into my heart.”
Over the next few years, Rayana’s faith continued to grow as she was baptised, found a church and shared her faith with her family. Rayana’s older sister became a believer before Rayana, and her other sister and mother gave their lives to Christ soon after. Though her father does not currently believe in the Bible, Rayana hopes that one day he will.
After graduating from high school, Rayana took a gap year to “take time to pray and just to hear what God wants me to do,” she said. One year quickly turned into two, and it was during this time that Rayana learnt about OM through her church. She heard about OM Ships and REACH — both of which she knew she wanted to be a part of.
In Central Asia, REACH is a five-month discipleship course that helps participants strengthen their personal relationship with God and equips them to share their faith with others. Various topics are covered by speakers, and participants gain hands-on experience through multiple outreaches in different areas of Central Asia. The outreaches were a highlight for Rayana.
Before the programme, Rayana had not had positive experiences sharing about Christ with others; people brushed her off and no one listened. “I thought that everybody's answer would be the same,” she recalled. “So, before even going to people and sharing, I had a picture in my mind that they would just refuse.”
Empowered and equipped through REACH, the outreaches changed Rayana’s perception. People listened as Rayana shared the gospel and how Jesus had changed her own life.
In one city, Rayana and another participant met a young man while they were walking around. Rayana shared her story with him, and the man opened up, telling them about his own story and struggles. After a long conversation, the man gave his life to Christ.
Just as Rayana had been impacted through other people’s stories, she in turn saw “how God was using my testimony to touch people's hearts,” shared Rayana.
‘A beautiful ministry’
The first REACH in Central Asia ran in 2022 with two participants. Since then, each year has welcomed a few more participants. The programme is specifically designed for believers from Central Asia, and partners with local churches.
Hana* (South Korea) was part of the REACH leadership team for the first two years and saw how the programme is effective in training participants to spread the good news in their home country and beyond. She described how many of the participants come from a Muslim background and are “eager to share the gospel, but they don’t know how to.”
During REACH, participants learn from Scripture, discover more about God’s character and find their place in sharing the good news with people near and far. Throughout the programme, there are opportunities for participants to put into practice what they have learnt by helping churches, working alongside mission workers or going out as a team.
Hana reiterates, “Deeply engaging with the local church is very important,” so after REACH, participants return to their home churches where they share what they have learnt and use their new knowledge where applicable. Some REACH students stay in their hometowns while others move elsewhere to continue reaching people with the gospel.
Having lived in the country for the past 15 years, Hana is passionate about seeing the gospel spread and recognises that “it is more effective if the gospel is carried out by Central Asians” to other Central Asians as opposed to being carried by foreigners. This is one of the reasons “REACH in Central Asia is a very beautiful ministry.”
Reflecting God’s love
Umit* (Central Asia) grew up learning about God and Christian principles but never learnt “how to live out these principles.” After a rough time in Umit’s life that both challenged what she believed and helped her find God, a relative suggested that Umit attend REACH.
One of the concepts from REACH that stood out to Umit the most was the idea that “Your attitude towards other people reflects God’s love,” Umit said. “You can show God’s love through your relationships.”
Join with us in prayer for past and future REACH students. Pray that God will continue to reveal Himself to them and that they will seek Him in all that they do.
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