God Is Answering Prayers Across the Nations
Throughout Scripture, we see that God hears the prayers of His people. He responds to those who seek Him, often providing exactly what is needed at exactly the right time.
Across the nations today, pastors are praying for wisdom, encouragement and the tools needed to reach their communities with the Gospel. As you read these stories from Zambia, Nigeria, Chad and Albania, would you join us in thanking God for the prayers He has answered and praying for the work that continues?
An Answer to the Prayer for Family
For Pastor Teddy Chinyama in Zambia, the calling was clear: to plant churches and make disciples. But one question remained: how could he fulfil this mission?
“I had a calling to go plant churches, disciple people. It was like, how now do I do it, Lord? And I had no answer,” he shared.
Through Harvesters training, God answered that prayer by providing not only practical tools, but a family of believers carrying the same vision. “It’s like I’ve been longing to find a family, and finally I have found this family, and this very family is the family of God,” Teddy rejoiced.
Now encouraged and equipped, he is ready to carry the mission forward alongside other leaders, believing that God will continue to light a fire for the Gospel. “Zambia will be on fire for Jesus,” he declared.
An Answer to the Prayer for a Way Forward
In Nigeria, leaders have long carried a burden to see more people hear the Gospel and become mature disciples of Jesus.
One leader shared, “I’ve been asking God… if the goal is to get all the nations of the world to hear the Gospel and to disciple the people, then the question is, how do we do it? I’ve been trusting God for the model.”
Through Harvesters training, he found the answer he had been praying for. “Seeing the church planting model of Harvesters Ministries was just the exact answer I needed,” he explained. “I want to let you know that this [training] is not in vain. We are going into the field for the work of the Gospel.”
Now equipped with a biblical model for evangelism, discipleship and church planting, these leaders are preparing to raise disciples who will make disciples.
An Answer to Prayer at the Right Time
In Chad, pastors are serving in a nation where sharing the Gospel can bring many challenges. They have a deep desire to reach their communities, but they need to be equipped for the task ahead.
Pastor David, in training with Harvesters, shared, “In our country, where we face many challenges in sharing the Gospel, Harvesters has come at the right time and provided valuable support.”
Another leader explained the heart of the mission: “The goal of this training is to make disciples who, in turn, will make other disciples. Through this process, we can plant churches and reach souls.”
As these leaders have been equipped at the right time, let’s pray with them to see their nation reached for Jesus.
An Answer to the Prayer for Renewal
In Albania, where the Apostle Paul preached 2,000 years ago, less than 1% of the population is estimated to be born-again believers – yet opportunities abound. For pastors serving on the front lines of ministry, recent training brought refreshing and renewed vision.
As one local pastor shared, “Sometimes when we serve in the first line of ministry for so long, we sometimes forget or we get weary of things.”
Yet God used this time to remind and encourage His servants. “This is really good reminder for us to come together and be reminded of old truths that in a sense have been recently forgotten.”
“Encouraged and motivated”, these leaders are returning to their churches determined to keep evangelism and discipleship at the centre, trusting God to awaken His Church and bring many more people to know Jesus.
Prayer Points
God is still answering prayers across the nations. Let’s thank Him for His faithfulness.
- Thank God for the leaders across Zambia, Nigeria, Chad and Albania, and pray that He will strengthen and encourage them.
- Pray for the Gospel to advance across nations where many people have yet to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
- Pray that God will continue to answer the prayers of His people by providing wisdom, unity and opportunities to reach communities around the world.
A Tribute to Steven Loots, Founder of Harvesters
“Dream big, Kingdom dreams.” These were words of encouragement to all believers shared by Steven Loots in one of his final interviews. A simple phrase that perfectly encapsulates the life and legacy of a man who answered God’s call with unwavering faith and vision.
Steven was born in 1960 in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1976, at the age of 16, a beloved teacher at his high school led him to Jesus. Two of his classmates were instructed to disciple him, and the first thing they told Steven to do was to tell his parents about his salvation. Everything these friends asked him to do, he did, and Steven grew in his faith. This early equipping stuck in Steven’s mind. He realised the importance of activating new believers immediately into discipleship, not asking them to simply “sit and wait a while” in churches picking up bad Christian habits. A few weeks later on Christmas Eve – not yet even in a church – young Steven was reading a Christian book and felt the strong call of God to ministry.
In 1978 he met his beloved wife Hannalie, whom he later described as “God’s gift to me.” The couple went on to marry and have two beloved sons, Stefan and Marcel, and four wonderful grandchildren.
After school, Steven studied at Rand Afrikaans University and got involved in evangelical ministry, sharing the Gospel on the streets of South Africa. After university, he was conscripted to the army. Around 1988, he began pastoring his first church in Ladysmith, Natal, where he remained for 8 years. In 1992, he went on a life-changing mission trip abroad for the first time, to Russia.
During this period of his life, Steven developed a passion for evangelism and mission, and a growing disturbance about the lethargy he saw in churches.
By 1994, he returned to Gauteng and it was during this time that the Lord began to shape what became Harvesters Ministries. “He shaped it out of experience I had with different mission agencies,” Steven said. Along the way, he learned strategy and logistics. He also witnessed a lot of cracks in the system. He grew concerned about “hit and run” evangelism, and seeing the same rural people seek salvation over and over again by every mission organisation that came to town.
By 1998, Steven knew something needed to be done. He had a pivotal conversation with local leaders about the options available to solve the problems he was seeing. And Harvesters’ Hub Church Model began to take shape.
As Steven said, “the greatest need in Africa is assurance of salvation.” He had witnessed repeatedly that the same people were being saved over and over by every missionary crusade that came through. Without a church in their remote village to disciple these converts, they were not growing – and ultimately returned to their old lives. There was a need to feed and develop these baby Christians. Sadly, most churches were in towns and cities.
One day, flying low over Malawi in a small Cessna, Steven looked down at the network of dirt roads turning into bicycle paths turning into walking trails. And at the end of each footpath was a tiny, hidden, forgotten village. “How do we get a local church to these people?” he wondered. As he flew, he prayed: “Lord, give us that village. And that village. And that one…”
He soon realised, if he began planting churches, they would need pastors. So, the Model he developed involved starting with an established partnership with a local Hub Church that had an evangelical heart and a high regard for scripture, which could commit to planting 10 new churches. For each of those, a pastor would be trained at the Hub Church, and a requirement to pass their training would be that they must plant at least three new churches – and train pastors for those churches. Thus, the multiplication was built in.
Through divine connections in the USA, Steven’s dream was funded, and by 2000, the first churches were planted in Malawi and Zambia. And God blessed it!
As Harvesters grew, new problems needed to be addressed. Firstly, it became clear to Steven that he would need to produce his own materials for the programme. So, around 2008 Steven started writing what became the four-year Phase A-G curriculum for training pastors. Secondly, it was impossible to disciple people who didn’t have copies of God’s Word. So, the Bibles for Believers department was created in 2004 to place God’s Word in the hands of pastors in training. In 2022 the Lord expanded this through a partnership project with Biblica that aimed to put a Bible in the hands of every family in discipleship with Harvesters.
Soon, Steven found himself travelling to 18+ countries twice a year, and he knew that staff and leadership were needed. Harvesters began to appoint Regional Directors to oversee the training in different regions, taking the ministry to new levels. During one fateful trip to Mozambique, Steven met Francois Rauch, who was to become his successor. “He is my right-hand man. When Francois came on board it was another jump in terms of our ability to serve the field,” said Steven of this relationship.
In late 2024, Steven was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The succession plan that was already planned was accelerated. Steven made what he described as “the hardest phone call” of his life to Francois with the news, saying, “I’m about to blow up your life because that plan we had for then, is now.”
Steven prayed for time to hand over the ministry properly, and God was gracious. Steven continued to defy the odds against him and was able to hand over the ministry fully. Francois officially became CEO of Harvesters in August 2025.
Throughout his sickness, Steven’s faith in his beloved Saviour remained strong until the end. He recorded his cancer journey in video diaries which were shared widely to encourage others walking the same path, many doing so without Jesus. He also wrote a book of devotionals for patients and caregivers entitled ‘Echoes of Eternity’, providing a biblical perspective on death and dying.
“Death is transition for the believer. It doesn’t hold fear for us. It holds promise,” he said. “And it doesn’t mean when you have faith that you stop fighting. It means that you stop fighting in fear and you start fighting with faith and peace in your heart.”
He refused to allow statistics to determine his outlook. “There’s statistics and then there’s God,” he said. “I will be here as long as God wants me. I will not die a day early or a day late.”
But more than simply wanting to live, Steven wanted to finish well. He wanted his life, including its final chapter, to point people to Jesus.
“I hope that I can end well. This is important for me, ending well. Many people live well, but they don’t end well. I want to end well. If anybody remembers me, I hope that they remember that I ended well. I hope that my wife and my children remember that. And I hope I have a legacy of faithfulness and of generosity. Those are the two things that have been important to me.”
A verse that Steven said affected him deeply is 1 John 2:6. “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Steven Loots, husband to Hannalie, father to Stefan and Marcel, grandfather to Evan, Daniel, Matthew and Ariel, and Founder of Harvesters Ministries, went to be with his Saviour on 6 September 2026. He passed peacefully in his home. At the time of his promotion to glory, Harvesters is active in more than half the world’s countries, training pastors in more than 80 languages. Through Steven’s life of faithful obedience, the Kingdom of God was expanded here on earth.
Disciple Makers: God at work in South Africa
God is using Harvesters’ Disciple Makers to powerfully strengthen and grow His church in South Africa. Congregations that have embarked on the Disciple Makers journey have seen transformation: from unbelievers to believers, from converts to disciples, and from disciples to disciple makers.
Disciple Makers is a programme aimed at equipping all believers, regardless of their maturity and biblical knowledge, to make disciples who make disciples. We focus on returning to the biblical principles of evangelism, discipleship and being the Body of Christ.
“It has transformed the way I see evangelism and church leading,” says Pastor Dube from Nyanga in South Africa. “I thank God that I have been exposed to this great move of God. Personally, it has touched me. We don’t just do converts, we make disciples that will make disciples.”
From Converts to Disciples
The powerful testimony of Damian Cox, a young believer from Gqeberha, is a beautiful example of transformation. It encourages us to pursue Jesus’ Great Commission tirelessly: go, make disciples, baptise and teach.
Damian was saved in September 2025 and began growing as a disciple under the guidance of Liesl Alberts, who had been equipped through Disciple Makers to evangelise and guide others in their faith. Damian was one of her first disciples.
Under Liesl’s mentorship, Damian felt the call to help others grow in their faith too: “Since I’ve been saved and been discipled, I also want to disciple,” he said. Boldly, Damian started sharing Jesus with his colleagues at work.
From Unbelievers to Believers
One of Damian’s colleagues and friends was an atheist. Before Damian came to Christ, they would often debate different topics, including Christianity. However, after encountering Jesus, Damian approached these conversations differently. Instead of simply debating, he shared his testimony and pointed his friend to the truth of Scripture.
Using the Harvesters’ Disciple Makers material to guide him through Scripture, Damian was equipped to answer his friend’s questions and share the Gospel with confidence, despite being a young disciple himself.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, his friend gave his life to Jesus. “He is a full-on child of God now!” rejoices Damian.
Damian’s friend is now also using the biblical approach he learnt through Disciple Makers to help him reach his family, including his wife, who is still an atheist. Damian continues to walk alongside him as he grows as a disciple. “We pray together to get his family closer to the Lord, and the children have actually asked that their father teach them about Jesus,” Damian tells us.
From Disciples to Disciple Makers
While Damian and his friend are praying for their families and community, Pastor Dube and 45 other leaders who have also embarked on the Disciple Makers journey are praying for similar transformation in Nyanga – a township in Cape Town, unofficially known as the crime capital of South Africa.
After first attending Disciple Makers training in 2024, Pastor Dube realised that ministry was not only about preaching to his congregation, but also about intentionally evangelising, following up with new believers and making disciples. “This training was so informative, so blessed, so transformational in its core, and I was very much touched,” he says. “I now view evangelism differently. I view church differently.”
“I see Nyanga being transformed, being saturated with healthy churches that will make disciples that will make disciples, and crime will definitely drop,” he says. “All the pastors that were here are excited. They are catching the same fire that I have caught.”
Damian, Liesl and Pastor Dube are just some of the believers discovering the impact of Disciple Makers. Across South Africa, many others are responding to God’s call to make disciples.
Francois from Scottsdene, Cape Town shares the same desire to be equipped and sent out: “My expectation is to overcome fear and to equip myself to be able to go out and make disciples,” he says. “And that makes me excited… It stirs up a fire.”
We praise God for the victories already achieved and pray for the great works He still has in store for us.
Seeds Have Been Planted! Pray for the Harvest
Jesus often used the picture of a seed to describe God’s Kingdom. A seed may appear small and insignificant, but when planted in good soil, it has the potential to grow into something far greater than anyone first imagined.
Across the world today, God is planting seeds through His Word, through new churches and through faithful disciples who are raising up others. While the full harvest is yet to come, we have the privilege of praying over what God has already begun. As you read these stories from the Amazon, the UK and Egypt, would you join us in praying that every seed takes root, grows strong and bears lasting fruit for God’s Kingdom?
Seeds of God’s Word
A small Harvesters’ team recently travelled deep into the Amazon, flying by tiny aircraft before continuing by simple canoe along the mighty Juruá River to reach some of the region’s most remote churches and communities. They carried with them 5,000 waterproof Bibles – a precious answer to a growing need.
As churches have been planted across the region, many new believers have longed to keep growing in their faith but had no Bible of their own. The need became our urgent prayer: “Lord… could we ever get Your Word into the hands of these tribes?” God answered through Harvesters’ partnership with Biblica, miraculously providing 5,000 unique Bibles specially designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the Amazon.
Local leaders were amazed to discover, “The whole Bible can lay in the water for three months… you take it out, you can still read it.” Designed for life on the river, these Bibles are now travelling by canoe into communities where ordinary paper copies would quickly be damaged by water and humidity.
Their nature gods never answered their cries, but the true and living God has come to them. Every Bible given is a seed of God’s Word, planted in eager hearts where many believers have little access to biblical resources.
Seeds of a New Church
Thousands of miles away in Leeds, UK, another kind of seed is being planted. During a recent Harvesters training, church leaders gathered to pray, plan and map out how they would plant a new church in the next town.
Albert, who will lead the new church plant, shared how the training had strengthened his understanding of the church’s mission. “The purpose of the church is to teach, make disciples… unto obedience,” he said. “We decided to plant a new church in Castleford.”
Pastor Ebenezer, whose church is sending the new congregation, echoed the same vision: “Everyone who is saved, is saved to make a disciple.”
Pray that this small beginning will grow into a thriving church where many people come to know Jesus and are equipped to make disciples of others.
Seeds of Future Leaders
In Egypt, the seeds planted through discipleship are already beginning to multiply. One church leader described it beautifully: “I see myself as a seed planted.”
Having first been discipled himself, he was sent to serve in another church. Today, he leads discipleship groups in two locations and has already seen additional groups grow from those first gatherings. Reflecting on the training, he explained how it showed him “how a small group can become a cell that multiplies and divides to form new groups.”
Elsewhere in Egypt, another leader is preparing to begin discipling 10 to 12 young people after returning from the training, helping them understand God’s Word and grow in their faith.
Prayer Points
None of these stories has reached its conclusion. God’s Word has been planted in the Amazon. A new church is taking shape in the UK. New disciples are being raised in Egypt. Now we have the privilege of praying that God will bring the growth, so that these seeds will bear lasting fruit for His glory and for the fulfilment of the Great Commission.
- Thank God for the opportunity to place His Word into the hands of believers living in remote communities across the Amazon, and pray that every Bible distributed will be read, treasured and shared.
- Give thanks for Harvesters’ partnership with Biblica, and pray that many more people will gain access to God’s Word through this ministry.
- Pray for Albert and the team preparing to plant the new church in Castleford, asking God to guide their planning, evangelism and discipleship.
- Thank God for the leaders being equipped across Egypt, and pray that every discipleship group will grow, multiply and raise up future leaders for God’s Kingdom.
Newsletter August 2026
Download your copy of our August newsletter below.
Inside discover the passion for church planting in Northern Asia, the excitement from Pastor Dorcas at receiving tools for ministry – plus the rapid growth happening across Central Africa.
Download the August 2026 Newsletter – UK
Download the August 2026 Newsletter – South Africa English
Download the August 2026 Newsletter – Afrikaans
Download the August 2026 Newsletter – International
Download the August 2026 Newsletter – USA
Pray For Myanmar – A Country in Crisis
For many years the country of Myanmar has been fraught with conflict, violence and war – escalating significantly in the aftermath of a military coup in 2021. Uncertainty, instability and violent disruptions in daily life are a matter of fact for the 149 ethnic people groups who live in Myanmar. The few Christians among this mostly Buddhist nation suffer even more extreme hardships than their fellow countrymen and are in desperate need of our prayers.
Christianity Under Pressure
Evangelical Christians in Myanmar make up about 5% of the total population. Although this percentage is low, it is still the second largest religion in the country, with around 78% of the population considering themselves Buddhists. Buddhism is an integral part of Burmese culture and converting to a different religion, such as Christianity, is considered akin to treason.
Believers who convert to Christianity risk estrangement from their families, forced military conscription and, in rural areas, losing their agricultural land and subsequently their livelihoods. Existing churches face violent attacks – many put their lives on the line to serve in ministry or missions. Any Christian activities conducted outside the church compound is considered illegal and could lead to arrest.
Yet, God is at work – notwithstanding the cost to those who serve Him faithfully. “Even in various trials and hardships, I want to remain steadfast in prayer and trust. I pray that my heart will be purified and that I will be guided to walk in the right path,” says Pastor Htet*. “We also continue to encourage one another and remain faithful in the ministry work we are doing,” adds Pastor Mahn, who oversees this church-planting Stream.
God’s Plan
In a mighty and astonishing move, God recently enabled 49 Christian leaders to gather in Myanmar. In partnership with Harvesters, they worked on a strategy to evangelise, disciple and plant churches – despite the risk of great personal loss.
The goal these leaders aim to achieve is awe-inspiring and brave beyond measure – they know what they might have to sacrifice, but they also trust the One who was willing to sacrifice all for them. By using the training and resources provided by Harvesters, each of them plans to plant 10 churches in 10 different villages.
To execute their plan, the leaders will have to evangelise to existing friends, to family members and to colleagues. In the process, these relationships might break down entirely. They face the very real possibility of being shunned from their communities. Despite this, the leaders are committed to the Great Commission, to make disciples of all nations, whatever the cost – because they are not ashamed of the name of Jesus. “What I received from this training is a burden and vision to continue building strong discipleship,” says Pastor Mahn.
The Way Forward
At the very heart of the bravery and commitment of these leaders is complete surrender. “Salvation is not something I can achieve by my own strength. I understand that I depend fully on God’s grace,” says Pastor Than. The leaders understand that they, as well as believers across the world, are called for obedience. God’s wish for us is to remain faithful and to apply His Word – in the small things, as well as the big things. Any cost – or growth – is entrusted to the Spirit.
Than tells us that, before meeting Harvesters, he wasn’t sure how to evangelise, plant a church or disciple but now understands these things “more clearly.” In the words of Pastor Mahn: “There are still many who do not know what they should do in serving God. I have a strong desire to help people genuinely know and love God, and to see lives transformed through ministry and discipleship. This experience has helped strengthen and guide me.” These leaders are now ready to execute the Great Commission and make disciples whatever it takes.
Join the leaders of Myanmar in trusting the Spirit for growth in the areas they serve so fearlessly. Please pray with them.
- Pray for stability and peace in the conflict-ridden nation of Myanmar.
- Pray for all who have been displaced, who are hungry and who live in daily fear of violence.
- Pray for the Church in Myanmar. May believers find comfort and strength in the quiet knowledge that they serve an all-powerful God.
- Pray for the protection and faithfulness of the leaders in Myanmar who have taken up the burden to evangelise, make disciples and plant churches.
- Join Pastor Mahn in his prayer: “Please continue praying that God would raise up more workers, more ministry opportunities, and more support for the mission here in Myanmar.”
* All names changed for security reasons.
How Church Planting Works: The Six Steps
Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ started a movement called the Church – called to expand His Kingdom and reach people in every nation and generation. At Harvesters, we are committed to playing our part in this movement by planting churches among unreached communities around the world.
By God’s grace, over many years of ministry we have seen that church planting flourishes when there is a clear and reproducible pathway. Harvesters’ six-step model is enabling churches to multiply rapidly and sustainably across more than 100 nations worldwide.
To help illustrate how this works in practice, leaders from Malawi – where Harvesters first began – share their reflections on each of the steps.
Step 1: Evangelise
Church planting begins with the Gospel. Before there can be a church, there must be people who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and respond in faith. Evangelism is the starting point of every new work, as believers step out intentionally to reach those who have not yet heard.
In Pastor Maxwell Ngulande’s words: “I am committed to evangelism because Jesus Christ says that’s the only way to reach the lost people.”
Step 2: Plant a Church
When people come to faith, they are not meant to walk alone. The Church is God’s design for gathering believers into a spiritual family where they can grow together, worship together, and be strengthened in their faith.
Pastor Aaron Balamu shares why church planting matters: “I’m committed to church planting because Jesus started the church to reach a community. When people get saved, they need to be united.”
Step 3: Disciple Believers
A healthy church is not only a gathering of believers, but a community where people grow into the likeness of Christ. Discipleship provides intentional guidance, helping believers develop strong foundations in the Word of God and mature in their relationship with Jesus. Through discipleship, faith becomes established, character is formed, and believers become equipped to serve and reach others.
Pastor Shadrick Chinyama explains: “Discipleship is a very important aspect in church planting. When I took the discipleship model, I saw [church growth] because I’m [helping] people grow into the likeness of Christ. I have become a disciple that is committed to also make disciples.”
Step 4: Choose a Leader
As churches grow, leadership becomes essential. Scripture shows us that every church benefits from faithful, committed leadership that helps guide believers in truth and unity. Choosing leaders ensures that each church has spiritual oversight and stability, allowing believers to continue growing in sound teaching.
Pastor Isaac Nyamafumba highlights the biblical foundation for this step: “Paul appointed Titus to select leaders to lead the church. This shows that it is the will of God that every church must have a leader. It’s very important to choose a leader so that sound doctrine can be established in the churches.”
Step 5: Train the Leader
Leadership carries great responsibility, and pastors need training in order to faithfully shepherd God’s people. Harvesters provides structured biblical training over four years to train a pastor for every church planted.
Pastor Shadrick Tika Tika reflects this commitment: “It’s very important to follow Jesus’ format of training disciples – we train others in our churches who can also train others. In doing so, churches will have pastors who are able to lead them.”
Step 6: Repeat the Process
Church planting does not end with one church. Each new church becomes a starting point for further multiplication. As believers evangelise, disciple others, and raise new leaders, the same process begins again in new communities.
Pastor Thomas Gondwe summarises this simply: “If churches have been established, the newly planted church should repeat the same process.”
A Model That Multiplies
From its beginnings in Malawi, Harvesters’ simple and reproducible model has helped churches multiply across many nations. Each step builds upon the previous one, creating a strong foundation for long-term growth. And by God’s grace, the story continues.
Laos: The Gospel Growing Quietly
In Laos, following Jesus can come at a great personal cost. For many believers, becoming a Christian means facing rejection from family, pressure from their community, and close monitoring from local authorities. Yet even in these difficult circumstances, God is moving powerfully. Through partnership with local pastors and churches, Harvesters is seeing lives transformed, disciples raised up, and new churches planted across the nation. We are so grateful for what God is doing in Laos, and we know this work is powered by faithful prayer. Please read the updates below and join us in praying through the prayer points at the end of this article.
Growth in the Face of Opposition
Laos is a small Southeast Asian nation of around 8 million people, where the majority follow Buddhism, often mixed with traditional animist beliefs focused on spirits and ancestors. Christianity remains a very small minority, with only around 200,000-300,000 believers across the country.
Because religion is deeply connected to family and tradition, choosing to follow Jesus can bring painful consequences. Many believers face their greatest persecution not from strangers, but from those closest to them. Some are rejected by their families, pressured by their villages, or even lose their place in their community because of their faith.
Religious activity is also closely monitored under the country’s communist system. Churches cannot always operate openly, and many believers gather quietly in homes rather than public church buildings.
Yet despite these challenges, the church is growing. Over the past three and a half years, through partnership with local pastors and leaders, more than 60 new churches have been planted across Laos. These are often simple gatherings in homes, but they are vibrant communities where people are coming to faith, being discipled and learning to follow Jesus.
Training Leaders to Reach Their Communities
Harvesters has been equipping local leaders with practical training to help them share the Gospel in ways that fit their culture and communities. In Laos, relationships are everything. Evangelism often begins through friendship and trust. As believers build genuine relationships, opportunities open for conversations about Jesus.
Pastor Sengphet* shared how the training helped him understand the importance of vision and purpose in ministry. He explained that although he had served in church before, he had not clearly understood the goal God was calling him toward. Through the teaching, he was reminded to reflect on his own life, understand God’s vision more clearly, and lead others with greater clarity.
Pastor Kham spoke about learning to “deal with pride” and fully depend on the Holy Spirit. He shared that walking God’s will bring “many challenges”, but if we reject pride and allow God to lead us, we can become faithful “messengers of life” to others.
These pastors are not only growing personally; they are taking this teaching back to their churches, helping believers understand their calling, strengthening discipleship, and raising up new leaders for future church planting.
Slow but Faithful Gospel Work
In many villages, sharing the Gospel is a slow and difficult process. Traditional beliefs in ancestor spirits remain strong, and many people are taught from childhood to reject Christianity. Pastor Noy explained that some local authorities even spread false ideas about Jesus and tell people that following Christ means dishonouring their family.
Pastor Noy explained that while church planting may be slow, when people do come to faith, they often remain strong and steadfast in their commitment to Christ even in the face of rejection. Their transformed lives also become a witness to their families, and in many cases, entire households begin asking questions and eventually follow Jesus too.
This quiet, faithful work is producing lasting fruit. Small groups are forming, regular baptisms are taking place, and house churches are forming in homes across Laos.
Prayer Points
- Pray for believers in Laos who face rejection, persecution and pressure from their families and communities because of their faith in Jesus.
- Pray for local pastors and leaders as they continue to evangelise, disciple new believers and plant churches in difficult and restricted environments.
- Pray for wisdom and boldness as believers build relationships and share the Gospel in villages where Christianity is often misunderstood or opposed.
- Pray for the more than 60 new churches planted across Laos – that these home fellowships would grow stronger, remain faithful and become places of lasting discipleship.
- Pray for more leaders to be raised up through training, with clear vision, humility and dependence on the Holy Spirit to serve their communities well.
*All names changed for security reasons.
Newsletter May 2026
In our latest newsletter, discover the powerful testimony of a woman in North Africa who is overcoming fear. Also, read how a faithful pastor in Guatemala is planting churches. Plus news from a recent Bible delivery. Download your copy below.
Download May 2026 Newsletter – UK
Download the May 2026 Newsletter – South Africa English
Download the May 2026 Newsletter – International
Download the May 2026 Newsletter – Afrikaans
Download the May 2026 Newsletter – USA
Pray for Co-workers in the Philippines
“As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and honour to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 8:23
The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7000 islands off the coast of Vietnam, is one of very few predominantly Christian countries in Asia. This makes it an important centre for Kingdom growth – a potential springboard for the expansion of the Gospel across Asia. God established a resilient, relational and hospitable spirit in the Filipino people, preparing many to serve as faithful co-workers in His Kingdom.
We invite you to pray for Pastor Jazeril Laraño and Pastor James, two of these leaders serving in Palawan, as they help equip others to multiply disciples and churches across their nation.
We Can Never Work Alone
“When we think of expanding God’s Kingdom, we realise that we can never work alone,” says Harvesters’ Regional Director for the Philippines. True and lasting Kingdom growth depends on collaboration with local leaders who understand their communities, culture and challenges.
Pastor Jazeril Laraño is one of 25 Harvesters Licensed Trainers (HLTs) in the Philippines, equipped to train pastors using Harvesters’ discipleship and church planting material . He recently presented Phase A, focussing on spiritual disciplines and discipleship, for the first time. His reaction: “I really love how God would use us for His glory.”
Beyond the material itself, the experience of partnership was deeply encouraging for him: “[Harvesters] treats us like people who know the field,” he says. “They trust us with the material and give us freedom to present it in our own way.” This freedom allows Filipino leaders to contextualise training in ways that connect naturally with their communities. “For example, Filipinos love stories,” Pastor Jazeril explains. “We tell the stories — and they listen.”
Pastors Need to be Pastored
Like pastors all over the world, Pastor Jazeril and his fellow servants often feel isolated in the work they do. He expressed a reality shared by many leaders: “Pastors also need to be pastored.”
Through time spent together in training and fellowship, pastors experienced not only practical tools but spiritual encouragement. “This time, we felt pastored,” he said. “We felt that someone cares for us.”
Pastor James, who also serves in Palawan as a trainer and facilitator, agrees. “We have learned a lot through this ministry, especially in the area of church planting. We really felt the impact… and we were so blessed.”
Partnership not only strengthens ministry strategy — it strengthens those called to serve.
Discipleship, Soul Winning and Church Planting
As Pastor James expresses, the mission is to multiply churches and disciples. Despite being a mainly Christian country, many communities still lack a clear Gospel witness and active discipleship. In Palawan alone, more than 400 municipalities have no evangelical church. Learning this created a renewed sense of urgency among local leaders.
“I thought we had churches on every corner,” Pastor Jazeril reflects. “But this gave our people the burden to do more for the glory of God.”
Training is helping pastors rethink what constitutes a church. Instead of looking to numbers for success, they now look to discipleship. The focus has shifted to establishing churches with members that are “active, engaged in discipleship, in soul winning… and church planting,” says Pastor James.
Pray with us for the Philippines
Just as Titus was described as a co-worker and partner in the Gospel, let’s pray for faithful Filipino pastors:
- Thank God for leaders like Pastor Jazeril and Pastor James who are equipping others to make disciples.
- Pray for wisdom as local trainers contextualise teaching for their communities.
- Pray for the multiplication of disciples and churches in the more than 400 municipalities without evangelical witness.
- Pray for unity and encouragement among pastors serving in remote areas.
- Pray for our brothers and sisters in the Philippines. May they be true representatives of the one true Church and may they honour Christ in all they do.
Pray for God’s Workers in India
India is now home to the largest population in the world, making it a vast mission field that requires an increasing number of workers to reap a plentiful harvest. But God has already prepared faithful leaders who are ready to take up their cross and obey the Great Commission, despite serious challenges. Find prayer points below.
Great Obstacles but Greater Faith
Christians in India face many challenges. One of the most significant is religious syncretism, the merging of different religious practices and beliefs, which is common among Christians in India. As a result, many Indian Christians still hold to ideas such as karma and other beliefs associated with Hinduism and Buddhism.
This challenge is exacerbated by rising religious persecution of Christians in India. The threat of being considered a social outcast, or possibly even facing physical attacks and arrest, is a very real challenge for new believers when trying to break with the past and accept a new identity in Christ.
Despite this, God is raising up bold leaders. In one southeastern region, 300 leaders have been equipped through Harvesters and are ready to proclaim the Truth and plant churches among their people.
These leaders are grateful for their fruitful partnership with Harvesters. “Their heart is to raise many more HLTs (Harvesters Licensed Trainers) so that we can reach many more people and train many more groups – so that together, we can build the Kingdom of God,” says one of the leaders.
All are Called
In the same region, God has prepared the hearts of leaders to start a Harvesters Church Planting Stream that invites women to take part in His mission. In a society rife with social inequality and where women are often devalued in worth and stature this is a bold move toward building God’s Kingdom.
“Women are given second priority. But what I wish is raising women as leaders will help us to reach many more tribes and people and unreached people groups,” says the leader interviewed by Harvesters.
Jesus called all people to be His disciples. In the past many brave women in India answered this call, among them Phandita Ramabai, Amy Carmichael and Ida Scudder. May God enable these leaders to break through social boundaries and prepare even more workers for India.
The Ends of the Earth
The pastors and leaders in this southeastern region of India are not only breaking through social boundaries, but physical ones as well. On the northern border there is an unreached people group that lives in mountainous terrain inaccessible by road. The communities there have little access to electricity or basic services.
Leaders trained by Harvesters undertake the arduous journey to these villages by foot, risking their lives as they cross the treacherous terrain. Workers called to serve here admit that it is easy to be willing to go where it is comfortable – but they have been called to go where it is most difficult. They believe it is their call to reach the unreached at any cost. Let’s pray for them!
Pray for India
Join the leaders of India in prayer today.
- Pray for each leader and the work that is already being done, particularly in difficult places.
- Pray that God will prepare even more leaders who can plant even more churches.
- Pray that women in India will be able to join in God’s calling and the expansion of His Kingdom.
- Pray that God will protect His children in India against syncretism and persecution.
- Give thanks for a fruitful partnership between Harvesters and the leaders in India.
Bringing God’s Word to Rural Communities in Uganda and Kenya
In rural Uganda and Kenya, many believers have never held a Bible in their hands. Harvesters, in partnership with Biblica, is changing that. Recently, we visited dozens of church plants, hand-delivering God’s Word. For many, this answered a long-standing prayer.
Even pastors were struggling with old and worn Bibles. Pastor Dennis in Uganda, who feels called to plant churches in rural communities, only had the books of Leviticus to Luke in his torn-up copy. With these new Bibles, disciples are now equipped to spread God’s Word deeper into challenging communities.
Lives Redeemed from the Powers of Darkness
In Uganda, stories of transformation abound. Anna Kelea shared her powerful story: “I was a very bad person. I was a witch doctor. [One day] I found all my children had given their lives to Christ. My son preached to me and said, ‘Mom, what you’re doing is bad and it’s wrong.’ I gave my life to Christ… but I said, ‘I cannot just leave my work… leaving the money they give me… and join this thing where they’re not going to pay me.’ But at 4am, God himself spoke to me: ‘What are you waiting for?’ When I heard that voice, in the morning I woke up and… I fell down on my knees before my son. He prayed for me and I’m born again.”
Anna’s son, Pastor Ronald, leads a congregation under a tree in a place previously known for alcoholism. “This was a place where people would gather to drink from morning up to evening,” he shared. “But it has changed to be a church.”
In Kenya, one pastor is ministering tirelessly in a community “pestered by demons.” He explains: “Planting churches here… is very hard. We cannot preach the Word of God without Bibles.”
New Life in Christ
Other believers are also experiencing life change. Pastor Gerald Wangarira, from a Catholic and witchcraft background, became a Christian after hearing the Good News from a Harvesters-trained pastor. “I got delivered from all bad influences or characters I used to have,” he said. He’s now a Student Pastor, discipling a church of 28 members under a mango tree. “Ever since I joined Harvesters Bible School, my soul fumes with passion of sharing the good news with others.”
Another previously Catholic man received his Bible with gratitude, saying, “If you receive Christ there is nothing impossible. As you have given me this Bible, I have already read inside. In Psalms 34:15-16 I’m reading, the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry. But the face of the Lord is against all those who do evil. Hallelujah. Thank you so much.”
Pastor Peter Mukisa, a former Muslim, now oversees 102 churches in Uganda, bringing the Gospel to difficult areas. “We have developed discipleship in our churches… people are now founded on the true Gospel of the Bible. The Bible in the hand of a true Christian, it’s a tool that is going to help us advance the kingdom of the Lord in dark areas. It is pushing back witchcraft, sorcery and other cultic beliefs.”
Bibles Delivered: Miracles in Hands
For many believers, receiving a Bible is more than a gift – it is a miracle. A participant from New Life Church, Nakaloke, reflected on God’s purpose prevailing: “The Bible says in Proverbs… that many are the plans of man, but the purpose of God prevails. Before I started training [with Harvesters], I didn’t have the confidence to speak about the Word of God. Now I’m confident to tell someone that God loves you.”
Mary Chituwe, who was saved in 1992 but had never owned a Bible, exclaimed: “I have never received a Bible in my hands. This is a miracle! Thank you so much… Jesus has done wonders.”
Pastor Stephen Mangira, who planted a new church in Kenya only a few weeks ago, echoed the significance of the Scriptures for new churches: “The Bibles that you are distributing… are going to bring a lot of impact – we are going to make more disciples.”
Thanks to Biblica, Harvesters delivered 5,000 Bibles across Uganda and Kenya, providing essential tools for training, discipleship and church multiplication. As pastors and disciples alike say: “Thank you so much for bringing God’s Word to us.”
Pray for Momentum and Expansion in West Africa
God is moving powerfully in West Africa, where Harvesters’ pastoral-training and church-planting programme is gaining momentum. Our dedicated local partners are increasingly committed to disciple-making in line with the Great Commission. Yet there they are facing increasing challenges, and prayer is essential. Below, we share recent updates and invite you to pray with us – see prayer points at the end.
The Next Step for Committed Pastors in Ghana
Over 50 leaders in Accra recently completed their Phase A training, focused on spiritual disciplines and discipleship – the first major step following the Kick Off. Many of these are high-profile, seasoned leaders from major denominations such as the Baptist and Assemblies of God churches who are eager to integrate Harvesters’ training into their networks.
Pastor Edmond, who travelled 80 km to Accra, testified that the material is “an answer to a heart cry… Like a mustard seed given to our hands.” This reflects how Harvesters is stepping into long-held prayers of local pastors longing for true discipleship.
The Harvesters model – evangelise, plant churches, disciple, select leaders, train and repeat – is a process aimed at building mature, Christlike communities for the long term. One pastor explained that he sees this training as foundational to planting more churches across Ghana and beyond, and he has already identified ten people to train.
Reverend Moses, a veteran pastor of 36 years who has already planted seven churches, described Harvesters’ methodology as “an eye-opener,” especially around discipleship. He’s already recruiting young pastors to embrace this vision.
The overriding excitement and gratitude of these pastors can be summed up in the words of one participant: “All of this has been possible because Harvesters decided to come to Ghana and come to help us to build [the] church here.” May God continue to raise and equip these leaders, and may their work bear eternal fruit.
Momentum Builds across Nigeria
Three church-planting Streams are now underway in Nigeria, marking significant momentum for church growth. In Abuja, nearly 70 pastors attended Phase A, describing it as deeply clarifying – especially around discipleship and what the church truly is. Their enthusiasm is already inspiring more leaders to join the next cohorts.
One pastor in Abuja highlighted a shift in his theology on church: “[It’s] not a building. Church is a group of believers who have Christ in their lives, and Christ is the centre of their lives.”
Leaders are recognising that discipleship is the key. As one pastor put it, “I’ve come to realise that without discipleship… we wouldn’t be fulfilling the Great Commission.” And another said, “The Lord has sent Harvesters to awaken us unto obedience… to make disciples.”
In the south, more than 250 leaders gathered for the launches of two new Streams in Ibadan and Port Harcourt. There’s a fresh excitement, and a strong desire to see evangelism, church planting and discipleship flow through their communities.
From Ibadan, one pastor realised that there’s a “better ways of doing things,” while another committed to “get back to basics.” In Port Harcourt, one participant described it like this: “The main thing is raising disciples that will, in turn, raise other disciples. That is the church that God is interested in, and that is the church I have so resolved, God be my helper, to go and start building.”
In the midst of increasing pressure and opposition, Nigeria is building strong foundations for Kingdom growth.
Prayer Points
- For spiritual transformation: Pray that the leaders in West Africa will grow in spiritual maturity and faithfully reproduce discipleship in their churches.
- For multiplication: Ask God to raise godly disciple-makers across Nigeria and Ghana, who will plant healthy, multiplying churches.
- For clarity and unity: Pray for unity among denominational partners (Baptists, Assemblies of God, etc.) to embrace the disciple-making vision.
- For expansion: Pray for new church-planting Streams to open and for more leaders to respond to the call to train and plant.
- For strength and resilience: As persecution and opposition abound, let’s pray for God’s peace and strength to support pastors and believers in Nigeria and West Africa.
Newsletter February 2026
We are delighted to share with you the latest copy of our newsletter.
Inside: Reaching India, the world’s largest mission field, and harnessing the power of local leadership in Mozambique. Plus, a powerful testimony from Bent in Denmark, who finally followed God’s call after 13 years of hesitation. Download your copy below.
Download the February 2026 newsletter – UK
Download the February 2026 newsletter – South Africa English
Download the February 2026 newsletter – International
Download the February 2026 newsletter – USA
Download the February 2026 newsletter – Afrikaans
God’s Perfect Timing in Mongolia
God has long been at work in Mongolia, as one ministry team recently discovered. After being emboldened by Harvesters to take the Gospel out, they evangelised door-to-door in a remote village – and encountered a couple who had been waiting decades for someone to share the Gospel. Over 25 years earlier, this couple had watched The Jesus Film and had been hoping ever since for someone to tell them more about the “wonderful man” they saw. “We’ve waited 27 years for you to come!” they exclaimed, accepting Christ with joy. Encounters like this remind us that the Holy Spirit is already preparing hearts for the Gospel, even in places that seem distant and forgotten.
Joining God’s Work
A group of enthusiastic Mongolia pastors recently completed Phase A of Harvesters’ church-planting training, focused on discipleship and spiritual disciplines. Our Regional Director shared that the simplicity and practicality of the training “deeply touched their hearts,” and pastors described it as “life changing.”
Pastor Ulzii expressed his gratitude: “In the past, we tried many different methods and materials, but we are so grateful to God that He is now providing systematic materials at the right time through Harvesters. I plan to start implementing this model immediately… while we are fresh and full of fire.”
God has aligned the training from Harvesters to the needs of Mongolian pastors in His perfect timing.
Pastors Taking Action
The response was immediate. Pastor Ulzii and his leadership team implemented a strategy for discipleship right after the training and committed to financially support two churches in Dornod province in their planting efforts. They are also preparing to launch their first new church plant in a small town near Ulaanbaatar.
Another pastor reflected, “God reminded me of His perfect timing. Right now, our church is especially focused on discipleship and church planting. This summer, our church went on an outreach to the countryside and shared the Gospel. A few people responded, and we are planning to plant a church among them. It was exactly what we had been learning through this training. God confirmed to me through this experience that it was truly His plan.”
Evangelism in Action
We have also seen God guiding young leaders in bold evangelism. In one village, a team approached a house where no one answered the door, but a young member felt unusually prompted by the Holy Spirit to enter. Inside, they found a 90-year-old woman unable to walk to the door. After helping her and sharing the Gospel, she accepted Christ with tears and thanked them for coming in when she could not respond. Two nights later, she arrived on crutches to a gathering of new believers. By the end of the meeting, she stood singing and praising the Lord without them.
These testimonies reveal a powerful truth: God’s perfect timing and preparation always go ahead of us. Pastors across Mongolia are now encouraged, emboldened and equipped for church growth in their communities and beyond. May we continue to watch and celebrate as God’s harvest grows across this nation.
Light in Central Africa: God’s Glory Shines in Darkness
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and The Central African Republic (CAR) are two countries that have known much darkness. Their people are wracked by war, human rights infringements and extreme poverty. However, they have been touched by a Light far greater than any darkness of this world. During recent trainings in the DRC, Harvesters found this Light shining brightly in the most unexpected places.
From a Godly Meeting to Answered Prayers
Two years ago, Pastor Duale Langba – president of the evangelical community in Ubangi Mongala, DRC – had a chance encounter with Harvesters Regional Director for Central Africa, Reynold Fourie, at a conference they were both attending. As Reynold explained Harvesters’ mission of planting churches through evangelism and discipleship, a stirring rose in Duale’s heart as the vision resonated deeply with his own.
At the beginning of 2025, Pastor Langba shared this leadership vision with his community: Stage one was “to activate churches to evangelise and disciple.” That same year, God brought this vision to life. In October – thanks to the God-ordained meeting – Harvesters launched our church-planting programme in Gemena with 277 pastors.
“This training is the answer for the first stage of my vision,” Pastor Langba shared. “Harvesters works to plant churches and it’s an answer to prayer for me to collaborate with you.”
Giving Their All to Receive Training
Gemena lies in the remote north of the DRC, near the border of CAR. Roads are mostly inaccessible, yet pastors came from far and wide to attend. Some travelled over 500 kilometres on small motorbikes; others crossed the mighty Congo River. In a wonderful move of God, five pastors from CAR even managed to cross the border to join us.
The training ignited a powerful flame in pastors hungry for training. “When we return to our county, we will activate the whole church for evangelism,“ said pastor Gbaka Tagba Benjamin from CAR. “Then we will plant churches and disciple people. From the members of the church plants, we will choose leaders and train them. And we will follow up with them and teach them to repeat the process. With the Lord’s help, we will plant many churches.”
CAR has been tormented by a civil war since 2012. They have every reason to abandon all hope. But God is using these pastors to transform their country.
It Takes a Body
It’s clear that God has His hand upon this church-planting movement which has now launched in Gemena. From orchestrating the divine meeting between Pastor Duale and Harvesters, to the deep hunger of pastors travelling for miles to attend. Furthermore, the whole local church community played their part by opening their homes and providing food for all the attendees.
This is how the Body of Christ functions: believers opening homes, ministries joining hands, pastors travelling and crossing borders – all to fulfil the Great Commission. Despite the region’s turmoil, God’s light is shining through faithful servants who are aflame with the love of Christ.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
