From diaspora to disciples

Unreached people around the world have new access to Jesus because four women multiplied their Bible study to influence people from Vietnam, Thailand, Korea and the Philippines.

A few years ago, Kathie Pederson started a Discovery Bible Study with Bang and Keziah, who live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Twin Cities, and Mauritz, who resides in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Then, these four women began gathering around God’s word with people they know living among some of the world’s least-reached people groups.

“They’re being obedient, and I just love it,” Pederson said of her four friends.

Keziah knew Jintana, a woman living in Korat, Thailand. She told Jintana about studying God’s word with other believers. Now, Jintana leads a Discovery Bible Study with 18 family members, all in Thailand. 

Mauritz, a native of the Philippines, leads a group on Zoom, while Yana gathers Korean friends. She also invites students at her school to know Jesus. Finally, Linh translates English-language Bible studies into Vietnamese so those least-reached people can believe in the Lord.

“I can’t keep up with what God is doing,” Pederson said. 

Pederson and her husband, John, are project leaders in Converge’s From Scattered to Gathered Initiative. The team engages immigrants and refugees from 100 different people groups living in the Twin Cities, many of which are from the world’s unreached people groups.

Billions of these people have never heard of Jesus’ first coming. But through this diaspora, there is tremendous potential for making disciples who make disciples here and in unreached home countries.

Christ’s gospel movement has advanced, Pederson said, because these four women listen to the Holy Spirit and ask Jesus how to live. 

“That’s why the multiplication is happening,” Pederson said. “It’s not head knowledge. It’s heart obedience.”

Did you know 70,000 people die every day without a chance to hear a credible gospel presentation? Converge International Ministries emphasizes fruitful, faithful and Biblical service to start a gospel movement among every least-reached people group — in our generation.