Drew has lived in Indonesia for a few years and has developed friendships with locals through various avenues. One friend, Iwan, became a close friend as their hangouts included places like the gym or eating at cafes. After a few months, Drew asked Iwan if he was interested in reading the Bible together. Iwan agreed, and they began reading through the Old Testament’s significant stories, starting with creation and moving to the Old Testament prophets.

Although the stories differ, many of these prophets are mentioned in the Quran. After each story, Drew would ask Iwan what he thought was interesting about the story, and they would discuss it together before praying and going home. 

After reading through many of the prophets’ stories, Drew again asked Iwan what he thought was interesting about them. Iwan responded that it seems like most stories point to Isa (the name for Jesus in the Quran). Praise God that there is evidence of Jesus in the Old Testament that everyone can see!

How to pray for Iwan and other Indonesians:

• Pray that the Holy Spirit would open Iwan’s eyes to the truth of who Jesus is
• Pray that other Indonesians would begin to understand that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies
• Pray for more opportunities for believers to read Scripture together with non-believers

The post Reading With Iwan first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.

Teresa lives in a rural village near a tourist spot in Indonesia and owns a food stall. She sells food to tourists, hoping to make enough money to help provide for her family. Recently, Teresa heard the gospel from some visitors, which intrigued her.

She had never heard of Jesus before and was interested in the stories of the miracles He had performed. One of the visitors prayed for her and her family before leaving.

Sometime later, the visitors returned, and Teresa’s life took a remarkable turn. Though she couldn’t recall the name of the One who performed miracles, the stories had left an indelible mark. Hearing the gospel again, she embraced Jesus and uttered her first prayer. The visitors rejoiced and inquired about her needs.

She requested health and a thriving business. Miraculously, as they prayed for her business, a large bus of tourists arrived, flocking to her stall. This was a powerful testament to the power of prayer in Jesus’ name, transforming her humble stall into a bustling hub of activity.

Encouraged by her newfound faith, Teresa extended an invitation to the visitors to her home, eager to share her spiritual journey with her family. The visitors, in turn, shared the gospel with her husband and daughter, who listened with rapt attention. After numerous meetings and countless stories, both her husband and daughter found solace in Jesus.

The power of prayer was again evident when the visitors noticed Teresa’s granddaughter was sick and offered to pray for her healing. Miraculously, as the prayer concluded, the granddaughter walked in, her health restored. This was yet another powerful demonstration of the transformative power of prayer in Jesus’ name, echoing through Teresa’s family.

Ways to pray for Teresa and her family:

• Pray for protection from community persecution as they learn more about Jesus and the Bible
• Pray for boldness for Teresa’s family to share the Good News with their community
• Pray that their home could become a house church and the start of a movement in the region

The post Inspiring Lives: Teresa’s Story of Hope first appeared on Pray For Indonesia.