Semi-Annual Update
Our theme for the year is ‘Rejoice’ – and we are constantly amazed by all we have to celebrate. God is truly alive and working around the world, and we’re humbled to catch glimpses of His love, power, and presence as He transforms lives and communities. We hope these stories and updates encourage your heart and that you’ll rejoice with us in the greatness of our God.
A relationship healed and a tiny miracle given
After ten years of marriage and no children, Kalibala’s heart was heavy with grief. In his culture, infertility not only brought emotional pain but also lowered social status. As years passed, he began to question God and lose his faith.
Everything shifted when Kalibala attended the Marriage and Family module of the TCT program. He was deeply moved. Convicted by God’s call to love as Christ loves, he realized he had not been treating his wife as Christ called him to. When he returned home, he prayed with his wife and worked to improve their relationship.
Months later, his wife began feeling unwell. A visit to the doctor brought unbelievable news- she was pregnant! Overcome, Kalibala asked, “Are you sure?!” But it was true! After a decade of waiting, their beautiful daughter was born.
A simple Act of Love leads to long-term safety
In one community in Benin, safety was deteriorating. Theft was common, which not only caused physical danger but also increased people’s poverty. The local police station sat abandoned, offering no hope of help.
After completing Module 1 of the TCT training, Pastor Adaze prayed and felt led to clean the police station. His church was skeptical!
“What help does the police station bring to the village?” they asked. Adaze encouraged them to do it for love and allow God to use it how He wanted.
God responded in powerful ways. Community leaders noticed the church’s work and arranged for police patrols to return. The village is now safer, and the church has earned gratitude and respect.
A New Road, A New Beginning
In a remote village in Bangladesh, broken roads isolated the community. Access to markets, schools, and hospitals was nearly impossible. The community’s small house church—already facing persecution for their faith—felt similarly cut off.
But Pastor Milton remained faithful. After attending TCT training, he felt a renewed sense of purpose to serve the community. He and his church decided to repair the road.
The outcome was meaningful. Roughly 150 people benefit from improved access. Vehicles now enter the area, which allows people to transport crops to market and purchase essential goods. Thirty children now attend school without getting muddy on the way.
But perhaps most significant are the relational changes. One family brought food to the church members as they worked—a simple gesture that spoke volumes. Neighbors who once ignored Pastor Milton and his church now interact warmly.
Wholistic Development Center
Training youth to be godly leaders.
Too many youth in Southeast Asia are at risk of exploitation by sweatshop owners, sex traffickers and the drug cartel. The Wholistic Development Center fights to give youth a brighter future by offering a two-year program of discipleship and vocational training.
The Wholistic Development Center recently received a plot of land—a huge answer to prayer! They’re currently envisioning the possibilities of how best to use the space and seeking funds to bring those dreams to life.
In His Image
Helping others see the blessing and potential of children with special needs.
For nearly 20 years, In His Image has challenged the belief that children born with disabilities are cursed or worthless. They offer services and training to affirm the value of every child and to give opportunities to those who are differently-abled. Here is a story of one of the children they serve:
Because he was born with severe physical disabilities, many believed Arjun was ‘better off dead’. But when he joined In His Image at age nine, his life changed. He eagerly embraced every opportunity and gained many skills including vocational skills. He now works as a supervisor at an e-commerce company and is the sole breadwinner for his family. He still comes back to In His Image every year for their annual celebration where he proudly shows off his dance skills!
Graduations and New Partners
Graduating Partners
2025 has already been a year of rejoicing! Eleven partners graduated from the TCT program after completing all ten modules over the course of approximately five years. This represents 1,192 churches, and thousands of church members. And the momentum continues – 30 more partners are expected to complete Module 10 this year!
New Partners
As some groups finish their TCT journey, new partners begin! Since October, twenty-four partners have joined, with ten more expected to start in the coming months.
We don’t celebrate growth for growth’s sake—we rejoice because each number represents communities being transformed by our God who longs to bring His Kingdom to earth.
Perseverance and Persecution in Asia
At a recent graduation in Asia, there was a strong sense of accomplishment that they had made it to the end. There was also joyous thanksgiving for God’s faithfulness throughout their six years in the program.
This group started TCT in 2019. But after completing just two modules, covid lockdowns halted all travel. The partners were determined to continue, so they pivoted to doing training virtually.
Despite the limitations, Acts of Love exploded during lockdowns. The churches gave out food and made masks. They identified people in the community who were struggling and provided for them. They ministered in the prisons where conditions were terrible. They noticed the needs of migrant laborers, who were forced by officials to go back to their own village although there was no transport available. People walked long distances to get home. The TCT partner churches set up stands on the roads to give out food and water to those traveling.
Right as these partners were about to resume in-person training, persecution began in their area. Small house churches were banned from meeting. Pastors who continued to meet were reported by neighbors and thrown in prison.
Despite many pastors being imprisoned during this time, only one pastor involved with the TCT program was arrested. The local church leaders attributed this to the strong relationships the TCT churches had built in the community. In addition, because they had already established a strong prison ministry, they were able to visit the prisons and pray with their fellow pastors, encouraging them during this difficult time.
In just six years, as they studied and applied all ten modules of TCT training, and in the midst of great trials, God strengthened the church in this region. Churches went from 30 or 50 members to up to 300! More importantly, the thinking of the church changed. They realized that their own resources could be used by God. And in a time when the community was desperate, the church showed love to their neighbors.
Please pray that these churches would continue to be transformed by God, love their neighbors, and be salt and light in their communities.
Community Transformation in Malawi
During the recent graduation in Malawi, partners recalled what their communities looked like five years ago compared to what they look like now in key areas of wholistic discipleship. It involved dramas, drawing, laughter, and joy at how far they had come since beginning TCT. Here are some of the changes they shared with us:
Physical
Deforestation and littering were just part of life. No one even thought about it. But now, we really believe we can and should rule over creation.
Before we were hit by droughts and floods every year, which destroyed crops and houses. But we did nothing to protect ourselves from them. After the training, we set up nurseries for trees. We plant them strategically for flood control and to increase the nutrients in the soil. We deepened the river and built a dyke to manage flood water.
Fewer than 20% of people had access to safe drinking water and a toilet before TCT, while now over 80% of people have both.
Social
Parents would beat their children as punishment without even thinking about it. Now we talk to our children and listen to them and try to understand.
Husbands drink less and help their wives in the home and fields. Couples make decisions together, and conflict is reduced.
Before TCT, the church did nothing at all to serve their community. Now we respond to our community’s needs when we see them. Over 80% of church members have been involved in Acts of Love in the last year.
Mental
Before TCT, fewer than 50% of children in our community were in primary school, while now it is over 80%. Fewer than 20% were in secondary, which has now increased to more than 50%.
Spiritual
Church members are now pursuing God actively and seeking to obey Him. Attendance has doubled. Tithing has doubled. We have planted two new churches. The whole congregation fasts and prays in order to make decisions. Church members are more united with one another and welcoming to people who are different.
Every single MT who graduated is passionate about continuing TCT. They intend to bring TCT to more churches across the south of Malawi and even into Mozambique!
Intercession
Intercession has gained momentum across Africa this year. Our Regional and National Coordinators are gathering regularly for training in intercession and to passionately pray together for transformation within their communities and churches. One of the key prayers is that churches would fully embrace and obey the biblical truths they are discovering. Please continue to lift them up in prayer, asking God to move mightily in these churches!
Staff Testimony
The Christian Church has been in Bangladesh for hundreds of years, yet spiritual growth is lacking. Most churches meet together on Sundays but do not offer additional programs or reach out to those outside the church. When Binu became a Christian as a youth, his heart broke for this reality. He knew there was more for the Church and wanted to see it realized.
After Binu gave his life to Christ, he went back to his village and began preaching the Gospel. One of the people who heard the Gospel from him was Monika. Monika was from a Hindu family, but she was hungry for God. She regularly came to Binu with questions about Jesus and soaked up all she could learn. Binu’s heart was softened toward her, and they fell in love.
There was just one problem—Monika’s family had already arranged for her to marry a Hindu man. Going against the custom of arranged marriage was a bold and difficult decision. Yet Binu felt strongly that it was the right step. He proposed to Monika and, though shocked, she accepted. Though the road was not easy, 25 years later, Binu and Monika are highly respected in their community and both serve as preachers in their local church.
Not long after their marriage, Monika’s hunger for God’s word grew even more. She read the Bible daily and constantly asked Binu questions—some of which he couldn’t answer. Realizing they needed deeper understanding, they enrolled in the Christian Discipleship Centre in 2001. Monika excelled in her studies, graduating at the top of her class. Around this time, Binu began working as a program coordinator for a ministry. He traveled across the country organizing camps for children and youth, as well as leadership training for pastors. It was a prestigious role, and Binu enjoyed the work.
However, Monika continued to long for more biblical training. She fasted and prayed for 15 years, and even their son joined in prayer, asking God to open a door for her to study theology more deeply.
Eventually, God began working in Binu’s heart too. Despite the success of his ministry role, he started to feel unfulfilled. A sense of spiritual emptiness grew, and he and Monika began fasting and praying together. God answered. Binu felt clearly that the time had come to pursue further theological education.
In great faith, they left everything behind to study for their Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in the Philippines. During their three years there, they experienced God’s miraculous provision time and again. After graduating in 2020, they returned to Bangladesh. Binu began teaching part-time at a Bible school. However, due to the pandemic, the school eventually closed, and Binu struggled to find a job that would both provide for his family and fulfill his deep calling to strengthen the Church.
After several years of hardship, Binu received a job offer that seemed perfect on paper. Yet in his heart, he knew it was not God’s plan. Trusting God, he turned it down.
Just one month later, he was asked to be the Bangladesh National Coordinator with Reconciled World. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Binu cried—he had waited decades for an opportunity to empower local churches.
We are so grateful to have Binu as part of our team. In his somewhat short time with us, he has already seen impressive growth. One denomination leader told Binu with great confidence after they met, “My pastors are in your hands.”