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2022 Impact Report: East Asia | Closed Country

WordPartners


October 31, 2022

“The true one . . . who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.”

 

– Revelation 3:7 (ESV)

When we think of a particular closed country in East Asia, the words of Jesus in Revelation 3:7 ring true – that He is the “one . . . who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens” (ESV). The past few years of training in that closed country tell a story of doors shut and doors opened by the hand of the One who is holy and true.

In 2019, our access suddenly appeared uncertain after the government discovered one of our workshops. One of our trainers was sequestered, interrogated, and expelled from the country. When COVID hit in 2020, the same government enforced massive lockdowns, heavy restrictions, and closed borders that continue as of this writing. These two events upended the training we had done there since 2008.

But God had other plans. After three years of separation and limited contact, our regional director and our local partners in that country were filled with new resolve. They set their minds to continue the training, counting the costs. “We didn’t see a closed door, but an opportunity to move forward,” explains the regional director, “not in rebellion, but in the direction God was leading.”

Their resolve led to the development of a secure, virtual training program. Launching in early October, it will allow the training of twenty key pastors shepherding six geographical areas. They, in turn, will continue training 375 additional pastors in 25 small groups.

Please pray for a seamless launch, for protection, and for the glory of the One who opened this door.

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