author
Samir* graduated from OM’s teenager discipleship school in the Caucasus in 2024. Though only 17 years old, he is already an active disciple-maker. For the past two years, he has led a Discovery Bible Study (DBS) group with his family. He also leads two online DBS groups and mentors four teenagers, with plans to bring them together to form a new group.
One member of Samir’s family DBS group is his 75-year-old grandmother, Gulnara*. A follower of Jesus, Gulnara had always been hesitant to share the gospel, feeling a little inadequate to do so. Even though their weekly DBS meetings encouraged them to share Bible stories with others, she continued to struggle with shyness in this area.
One day, while Samir was sharing the gospel over the phone, his grandmother overheard him. He was speaking from Matthew 7:7-11 about how the Father gives good gifts to those who seek and ask Him. Gulnara felt deeply encouraged. When Samir ended the call, she said, “Please send me those verses. I want to share them.” She was part of a WhatsApp group chat for elderly women in the neighbourhood, and she had never before told them that she was a follower of Jesus.
Samir helped his grandmother, and together they shared Matthew 7:7–11 in the group chat. Shortly afterwards, questions begin to appear: “What is this?” “Who is Matthew?”
Gulnara immediately began to do research, learnt who Matthew was, and wrote in the chat that Matthew was one of Jesus’ disciples. She then began to talk about Jesus.
Some of the women responded, saying, “We are Muslims. We don’t need this. We have our own religion.” After some time, a few knocked on her door and told her they wanted to hear more. Although they listened, they did not accept what she said.
Since that day, the neighbourhood women have not been speaking to Gulnara. Sometimes, when she walks past them, she hears them talking behind her back. Yet Gulnara is glad that she took a brave step and proud that her grandson supported her in it.
She plans to talk to her neighbours again and explain things more fully. Because Gulnara handles many responsibilities in her building, her neighbours usually consult her before taking any action. So, she knows they cannot ignore her forever. She is already in the perfect position to keep sharing the hope and love of Jesus with them.
Please pray for Gulnara to have the courage and words to share the gospel clearly and explain Jesus’s love to her neighbours. Pray for the Lord to soften their hearts. May a new gathering of grandmothers begin in her home.
*name changed
Share On Your Socials
New groups of Jesus followers are forming in the Caucasus region – sparked by social media Scripture advertisements and led by a growing group of national disciple makers.
Melanie spent years praying and preparing while she waited to move overseas. Having moved to the Caucasus region in 2023, she can see how everything happened in God's timing.
For years, Zara searched for God and longed for a Bible, but she lived in the Northern Caucasus and had no access. Then Jesus appeared to her in a dream, which changed everything.
Davud and Omer travelled to the Northern Caucasus, where God led them to two families who were willing to hear about Jesus.
In a region where culture and religion create barriers to the gospel, strategic media is reaching millions.
Gospel proclamation and discipleship are spreading across the Caucasus — thanks to national believers, such as Mehdi. In his region, he is forming groups of disciples and teaching his disciples to do the same.
In Central Asia, the OM team is reaching out to children and teenagers with the love of Christ.
"I came to Christ only thanks to God and thanks to those people who showed me God’s love," shared a new believer in the North Caucasus.
Bayar attended OM’s winter camp for teenagers in the Caucasus. At camp, he heard the gospel, and it touched his heart.
When young people from across Russia and the wider Caucasus gathered for a TeenStreet event, the lives of many were touched by God's presence.
When travel due to the new coronavirus comes to a halt, the short term outreach to Hungary goes online.
Nine years ago, Pippa (32) left her home in the UK and joined in with what God was doing among Buddhist communities in the Himalayas. Through challenges, doubts and crisis, prayer has been her unshakable foundation.
For teens Grace and Sophia, sharing Christ's love with those who don't know Him is what they are used to.
When the Esaus left their small Canadian town 52 years ago, they expected to be teaching at a Bible school. God however had other plans.
Four years ago, the Bullock family left the familiarity and security of life in the UK to serve God cross-culturally in Zambia. OM writer Ivy Chiu spoke to Dan and Ruth about why they took such a bold step, and what life is now like for their young family.
Aneli, a Mexican physiotherapist, gave up her comfortable home, job, and being close to family to use her professional skills to reach out to special needs people in Albania. Her plans seem to come to a halt with the coronavirus pandemic, however, until God opens the door for her to share His love in a beautiful, unplanned way.
Through trials and troubles, Alan and Vicki experienced God's love and peace, sharing it with others wherever they go.
When Patrick prayed for the Lord to lead him to one person whom he could further train and equip, Samuel was not the obvious choice.
“Life with God is an adventure, and do you trust Him enough to say 'Yes!' to that adventure?” When Jenna Montgomery heard a conference speaker say that, it was the final confirmation that she needed to step out. “God wanted me to use my professional skills to invest in something eternal,” she said in an interview with OM Journalist Nicky Andrews.
Igor undergoes transformation in his life before God can use him to serve the people he used to hate in the Cacausus region.
