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In the Shadows of the Himalayas
Names of individuals have been omitted for their safety.
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The country of Bhutan is a beautiful place, but one with doors closed firmly against the Gospel. Christian churches are not recognized, making their gatherings legally tenuous. Believers face persecution on every side, including difficulty in gaining access to employment, education, and even Bibles, many of which are smuggled into the country.
One Emmaus worker shared his story of growing up in a broken family. After his mother left at age 10 and he was tortured by his stepmother, he took to the streets, eventually finding his home with gangs and his living smuggling drugs. One morning he woke up to find himself in jail, and after a swift trial was locked behind bars for 3 years. Broken by facing who he had become, he was eventually released into the custody of his brother, a believer, who took him to stay with a missionary couple. Soon afterward he met Jesus.
God has done an amazing work through this man in the “closed” country of Bhutan. Once from a broken home, he now has a wife and 2 year old daughter. Greater still, he is part of the family of God! Once a smuggler of drugs, he now “smuggles” God’s Word into 8 provinces in Bhutan. Once he turned to gangs to shelter him, he now shelters and works in 4 assemblies. Once he was unable to read and write, now he teaches Bible classes and conducts Bible seminars. Once he was a slave to drugs from a troubled family, now he reaches out to those who are behind the doors he came from. Praise the Lord with us for His mighty work!
Prayer requests- please pray for this man and his family, for their housing and transportation needs, for safety for them and their assemblies, and for the government to allow them to purchase and use land for a cemetery.
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Seeing Open Doors in Zimbabwe
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A worker in Zimbabwe shared the following about the work God is doing in the prisons with us earlier this month:
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We offer heartfelt praise to our Lord and Savior for opening doors wide for our prison ministry, allowing us to witness the transformative power of his redemption in the lives of inmates. In recent visits the officer in charge of one of the prisons graciously invited us to his office and enthusiastically shared how the Lord is radically changing the lives of those behind bars. He encouraged us to persist in this vital work, and we are deeply grateful for his support. Moreover we are thankful for the steadfast backing we have received from various assemblies, enabling us to further his Kingdom in the ministry. We are eager to explore the numerous opportunities
that lie ahead, trusting in God’s guidance and provision to accomplish his will.
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The worker included a testimony from an inmate named Kudzai:
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In the depths of despair, imprisoned and facing a lengthy sentence, I had lost all hope, but God in His mercy intervened. While fellow inmates urged me to join a prison gang, I felt a divine prompting to resist. Instead, a friend encouraged me to join a prison choir, where I discovered the transformative power of worship. Through beautiful Christian songs, my heart began to stir. I asked my friend about Jesus Christ, who they so passionately loved, and they shared the gospel with me. The Holy Spirit convicted me of my sinfulness, and I surrendered my life to Christ. My new friends introduced me to Emmaus courses, and in a short time, I have grown exponentially
in faith. I am now eager to share the good news and the lessons I’ve learned with others so that they too may experience the redemption and hope that I have found in Jesus Christ. Thank you Emmaus for being a vessel of God’s grace in my life.
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Prayer requests- please pray the workers in Zimbabwe, that they would continue to receive the funds they need to reach inmates like Kudzai.
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Scott's UK Testimony
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Each month, we get dozens of letters and testimonies from inmates, and time fails to share all that God is doing. For another amazing testimony, see this link for Scott’s story.
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Closed Doors
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This month, we have featured testimonies from people who are still seeing God’s work behind closed doors, reaching into places where no one else can. What does a closed door mean? It might mean safety, or isolation, or a missed opportunity. Closed doors seem to be an increasingly common part of our lives, but whether it is meeting His scared disciples in a locked upper room or delivering Peter from a prison cell, Jesus shows consistently that a closed door is no barrier for Him. Please join us in praising our all-mighty God.
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Sincerely,
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The Emmaus Worldwide Team
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