All of our workers on the field are serving in completely unreached, unengaged people groups. What this means, is that they’re living and working among people who currently have no access to the Gospel or any Biblical resources. In situations like this, relationships are the key to establishing a foundation of trust and respect in order to be able to discuss spiritual concepts and share our beliefs and the hope of the Gospel.

When Darin and his wife, Alice, first moved to a remote mountain village in Central Asia, they immediately began looking for ways to get to know their new neighbors and start building relationships with them. They noticed that all the young boys in the town had a special interest in martial arts. Over time, as their family became more well known in the town, the younger boys in the neighborhood started spending more and more time at their house practicing the latest moves they had learned. Darin installed a swing in their garage, which they used to practice jump kicks. They also learned that these boys regarded Bruce Lee as their biggest role model and really looked up to him.

As he started spending more time with this group, Darin was able to share some Bible stories with them, and a few became very interested. One day, he was trying to teach them about how Jesus is more important than anything else, when one of the boys asked, “Uncle, if I follow Jesus Christ, can I still like Bruce Lee?” Darin explained to the group that there’s nothing wrong with liking Bruce Lee or admiring his abilities, as long as we realize Jesus is truly the only one who is all-powerful and who can save our souls in eternity. Foundational conversations like these, about spiritual and eternal concepts, are incredibly important in the work of sharing the Gospel with people who have never heard before.

Please join with us in praying for Darin, his family, and these boys- that God would get ahold of each of their hearts and give Darin and his family favor and wisdom in their relationships.

*Names and places changed for security purposes.