First Generation: A Gospel Access Story

In the remote mountains of a communist country in Southeast Asia, people know so little about Jesus that they sometimes ask what village He lives in when they hear His name for the first time.

For 15 years, Max,* an Asia Pacific global worker, and his team have been changing that — one relationship at a time.

A few years ago, he struck up a friendship with a young man who wanted to practice English. They met over meals and built a genuine friendship. When the young man finished his degree, he came to work at the team’s language center.

One night he walked into class and noticed something written on the whiteboard.

“A good name is more valuable than riches.”

“Where did you get that?”

Max opened the YouVersion Bible App on his phone, found the passage in the young man’s own language, and began to share.

The young man read it. Then looked up.

“I’ve never heard of Proverbs. I’ve never heard of the Bible. I’ve never heard of Jesus.”

He joined a discipleship class, then gave his heart to Jesus. He was baptized — the first believer from his people group.

Max asked about the young man’s fiancée. “As soon as she hears the truth,” the young man said, “she’ll believe.” He was right. A year later, she did.

They now have two young boys. Those boys are the first generation in their people group who will grow up in a Christian home — the first who will not carry offerings to a stone statue or bow before their ancestors.

For the first time, that village had gospel access.

Max and his team are believing for more — not just one family, but communities and villages across that remote region transformed by the power of the gospel.

*The global worker’s name has been changed for security.

WAYS TO PRAY:

• Pray for people in the remote villages of Southeast Asia who have never had access to the life-changing gospel of Jesus.
• Ask God to send more global workers into these secluded areas. Pray for God to protect them and fill them with a holy boldness to preach the Good News.
• Pray that generational curses will break and future generations will be known for worshiping Jesus — not a dead statue.

Go: A 40-Day Journey to the Never Reached is a YouVersion plan from the Asia Pacific region of AG World Missions. This 40 days of focused prayer for unreached people groups, each paired with Scripture, is a simple, powerful way to make prayer for gospel access part of your daily life.