Field Report: Loving the Outcasts

Loving the Outcasts

Location: South Asia—CREAC #05

In this restricted nation, a particular ethnic group faces ostracization, prejudice, and mistreatment. Seen as outsiders, members of this group face extreme poverty, have difficulty finding employment to support their families, and lack access to medical care and education. Our team in this nation also reports that women and children have been assaulted, and homes and churches have been attacked in an attempt to force members of this group to convert to Islam and assimilate into the dominant culture of the region.

“The government’s daily strategy of evicting the tribal people from the city is spreading fear and panic among the people,” writes our team. “The health of their children and the safety of women is a big concern…and many people are getting addicted to drugs. We request prayer for all these things.”

Outreach takes many forms in this community. Changing seasons bring the spread of disease in this marginalized community. So, the Every Home team offers health education alongside other basic aid as a tangible testament to the love of Jesus. The team also holds sewing classes for women to help them support themselves and their families.

“This month, we showed the Jesus movie throughout the night at different places,” our team says. “After watching this, many people accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and shared the message with their loved ones so that they too could hear and understand the good news of salvation.”

Our team and believers who belong to this ethnic group continue to experience persecution and prejudice. Fear might be the natural reaction to these events, but the peace, love, and hope believers share amid suffering draws others to learn more about Jesus.

A report from our team reads: “A tribal church was set on fire, and eight huts also caught fire, burning everything to ashes.

But these people continued to pray to their Lord for comfort. Seeing all this, the rest of the tribe were eager to know Jesus Christ, and ten people were baptized and started a new life.”