In the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, there is a village built on the rim of an extinct volcanic crater. Its name in the local language means "Holy Place." When Bryan Webb arrived, it was a place without gospel access and had been for generations.

The entire village had gathered in the open-air dancing ground that also served as the village courthouse. Surrounding it on every side were 20-foot idols. The people had long worshipped the volcano itself, believing their shaman could interpret its rumblings.

The chief looked at Bryan and asked simply, "What do you want to say?"

Bryan gave the best gospel presentation he knew how to give. When he finished, the chief looked him in the eye and said, "I don't need your God."

Then he paused. "But there are two women in my village who want to become Christians. So I'm giving you a piece of land. Build them a church."

And they did. Every morning while the work was underway, Bryan sat outside for his devotions. One morning he heard a scuffle in the dark — a little boy arguing with his mother in Bislama.

"I want to go over there by him."
"No. That's a tourist. Leave him alone."

Bryan called out. "I'm not a tourist. I'm a missionary. He can come."

The first morning it was Bryan and the boy. The next morning, the boy brought friends. Then more friends. Then parents. Then neighbors. Before long the house was full — and people were gathered around the outside listening in. Gospel access had come to this village — not through a program or a platform, but through faithful presence and the power of the Word.

By the time they were ready to lay the church's foundation, sitting quietly beside Bryan was the chief who had once said I don't need your God.

Soon they went together to the coast for a baptism service and celebrated God’s life-changing power.

The village whose name means "Holy Place" finally became one.

WAYS TO PRAY:

• Pray that God’s truth would shine throughout the villages of the Pacific Islands and that people would have the opportunity to say yes to Jesus.
• Ask God to open the hearts of those who are called to faithfully go into unreached places where people desperately need to hear the gospel.
• Pray for churches to be established in places where idol worship is deeply rooted. Pray that these churches would be strong and faithful, multiplying their gospel witness throughout Asia Pacific.

The never-reached peoples of Asia Pacific represent some of the widest gospel access gaps on earth. Surround Me is a prayer resource from the Asia Pacific region that guides you through focused intercession for missionaries on the front lines of gospel access. The downloadable prayer map and video series covers creative access, never-reached people groups, church planting, and the advance of the gospel across the region. Prayers shared by the missionaries themselves, from the places where they serve.