The Birth of the Movement in Western/Central Asia

Western and Central Asia are dominated by Islam, making it especially challenging for the gospel to spread. That’s exactly why Encompass journeyed into Central Asia in 1996, when we supported Grace Church of Long Beach in sending Ted and Kaylin, through a partnering organization, to a heavily Muslim country in Central Asia. They were joined by Mike and Michelle in 1998, forming a team that worked at engaging university students and planting a church. Their fruitfulness was quite evident in the early years of ministry in a country few had heard of. The early efforts of this team laid the groundwork for our movement there, which continues gaining traction today. 

Six years after sending that initial team to Central Asia, we expanded into Western Asia in 2002 as we sent our first couple to a heavily Muslim country there.  

The Growth of the Movement in Western/Central Asia 

In 2005, we deployed Betsy to Central Asia, who God used to minister to locals with special needs. By 2023, this ministry welcomed 70 people with disabilities to their Christmas party along with 30 volunteers from local churches. The local church, which was once unaware of these special needs individuals, now finds joy in embracing them as treasured members of God’s family. 

In 2008, we deployed Eddy* to Central Asia, and God is still using him to plant churches there. He and his wife, Sarah,* help local believers start small businesses that give them financial freedom. This ministry is vital, because the culture sometimes persecutes believers so harshly that they can’t find jobs and often feel forced to leave the country. As you can imagine, this dynamic makes it nearly impossible for Christian churches to exist. But thanks to our team’s strategy, God has allowed a Charis church plant not only to exist, but to thrive, expand, and even raise up local elders. 

In 2010, we sent Steve and Rachel* to Central Asia, who God used to start a textile business, giving their message credibility while also providing discipleship opportunities for their employees. God is still working through them today as they continue to operate the facility and expand that business and ministry. 

In 2013, Justin and Avery* were deployed to Western Asia, where they still minister today. In 2018, we deployed both Ally* and Sarah* to Western Asia where they partnered with another ministry to serve Afghan refugees. In 2022, Encompass deployed two more families to Western Asia to work with Afghan refugees, with one of these families remaining on that field today. 

A Call to Prayer and Support 

The Muslim cultures of Western and Central Asia make it especially challenging to spread the good news—yet against all odds, God has granted us a lot of fruit there. Your prayers are vital as we continue working in these least-reached regions. 

• Ask God to continue nurturing His church in Central Asia and raising up local leaders there despite the heavy persecution from the surrounding culture. 

• Ask God to bless our teams in Western Asia who are trying to reach their Muslim neighbors despite the numerous challenges local governments impose on them. 

• Pray for God to continue using our workers at the textile facility in Central Asia to reach their employees and business partners with the gospel while providing them with economic opportunities as believers. 

*Names changed for security