Their faith compels them to offer their lives as living sacrifices—regarding disgrace for the sake of the gospel as more valuable

than the treasures of this world. They give of their lives . . . believing by faith that others will receive life as a result of their

obedience and God’s grace.

THE FOLLOWING PAGES

recount the stories of those whose lives have been radically transformed by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

Persecuted, mistreated, and rejected from their communities—this world is not worthy of them.

Yet, their faith persists.

FIRST STEPS OF FAITH

For East-West Ministries, the first steps of faith resulted from the obedience of two men—committed to the advance of the gospel throughout the Soviet Union. In a nation filled

with empty hope, unfulfilled promises, and futile rituals, John Maisel and Bud Toole carried the light of the gospel to a people

yearning for truth. As a result of those first steps of faith, a ripple effect has spread throughout the world as East-West has

responded to the call to reach the world’s spiritually darkest nations with the message of redemption through Jesus Christ.

“It was just like the first century church in the early days . . . the believers had no heritage but they were captured by Christ in their journey from darkness to light.”

JOHN MAISELFounder of East-West Ministries

RUSSIA • 6-13Equipped to MultiplyA Teacher of TruthPower over Fear

After 20 years of unashamed faith being lived out and multiplied through East-West, millions across the world have been impacted by the power of the gospel message. The stories that follow represent only a few of those whose daring faith has activated transformation among nations of spiritual darkness . . .

CUBA • 14-21That All May HearObedient Surrender

THE CAUCASUS • 22-33Advocates of Heart ChangeLove Conquers AllHope for a NationTransformational Grace

CENTRAL ASIA • 34-45A Trainer of TrainersA Foolish WisdomFreedom Encountered

SOUTH ASIA • 52-61Full of HopeA Chosen People for a Divine Work

EAST ASIA • 46-51Overcome by Truth

STORIES OF

FaithUnashamed

6

“There was something fresh and exciting happening every day in those early years in Russia. We were just reacting to God’s work to build up the Body of Christ in the way He wanted to build it.”

–JOHN MAISEL, FOUNDER OF EAST-WEST MINISTRIES

7RUSSIA

8

BORIS—“In the beginning of my ministry, I had no training and simply ministered by faith and in hope. Desperate for a deeper understanding of God’s Word, my dreams were realized when East-West brought a training center to our city.

God used this training to build a biblical foundation for church planting among many church leaders and pastors in my city. We continue to live with the knowledge we gained at the training center.”

EQUIPPED TO MULTIPLY

led him to receive training that has resulted in seven new churches being planted throughout his city.

Boris’UNASHAMED FAITH

EQUIPPED

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10

VALENTINA—“The Iron Curtain had just fallen, and an American had come to teach lectures in the university where I taught. As he spoke about Jesus, I realized that the words he spoke were truth even though this was the first I had heard of Jesus. God touched my heart that day.

As I continued to learn God’s truth in Scripture, I began to teach this truth to

my students and share with my family and friends.

When I attended that lecture many years ago, I never imagined that God would use me to tell others about Jesus. I have found joy and life in abundance in the ministry He has given me to teach others about Himself.”

A TEACHER OF TRUTH

opened doors for the gospel to spread throughout many universities in Moscow after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Valentina’sUNASHAMED FAITH

overcame fear—leading to biblical training that he still practices 20 years later as he pastors a church in Voronezh, Russia.

Gennadiy’sUNASHAMED FAITH

GENNADIY—“I was a very new believer when I participated in my first evangelism outreach with East-West. In those 4 days, God gave me power over fear, and I learned how to share my faith with others.

God had ignited a fire within my soul to minister in His name, so I attended East-West’s training to learn how to more effectively serve God. I realized through this training that God wanted to use me to plant churches in this region, and I was eager to apply all of the knowledge I had learned.”

OVER FEARPOWER

14

“Just as the wind blows, the Spirit of God blows East-West into different places—leading us to nations of spiritual darkness to participate in the fierce battle against the kingdom of darkness.”

–– KURT NELSON, PRESIDENT OF EAST-WEST MINISTRIES

15CUBA

UNASHAMED FAITH

That All May

HEAR

JOCHI—“God instilled a passion for missions in me at a young age. I know God has a heart for all people to be reached with the life-changing message of the gospel, and I want to be a part of that mission.

There is a particular need for the gospel throughout Cuba, and God is calling men and women to participate in His work here. It is my prayer that God would use me as an ambassador for the gospel in my country—so that all of Cuba may hear the Name of Jesus.”

has led him to travel across his nation to proclaim the message of grace and freedom found only in Jesus Christ—believing that all of his fellow countrymen will one day be reached with the message of the gospel.

Jochi’s

18

ODALYS—“A local pastor one day visited my home with some Americans and shared the gospel with me. I had heard the gospel before but the Holy Spirit worked in a way I had never felt before that day. I knew immediately that I was ready to surrender my life to Jesus! I understood that this commitment required immediate obedience.

That same day, I broke free from the religious covenant of my ancestors, relinquished my position in the communist party, and was baptized at my home.

“My life since that day has not been easy. My faith has been a point of ridicule from my neighbors and of oppression from my government. But I continue to keep my eyes on Jesus and listen to the Holy Spirit as He leads me in praying for my country, teaching my neighbors about the hope in Jesus that brings freedom from empty ancestral religions, comforting the sick and dying, and defying the rules against sharing the gospel with government officials.

I don’t know what new challenges my future will hold, but I do know that I will never turn back. I will keep my faith always.”

“...THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKED IN A WAY I HAD NEVER FELT

BEFORE THAT DAY.”

ObedientSurrender

19

Odalys and her husband praying to trust in the Lord

Odalys tore off her bracelet that symbolized her commitment to her ancestor’s religion

22

“And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become

effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”

–– PHILEMON 1:6

THE CAUCASUS

THE CAUCASUS

ANDREY AND GALINA—“Our passion is to see the hearts of people changed by God, and we know that God has created the church to reach those who do not yet know Jesus. We have committed our lives to the advance of God’s church in the Caucasus region—no matter the cost—so that more and more people may experience the heart change that we have experienced in our own lives.”

Advocates of Heart Change

UNASHAMED FAITH Andrey and Galina travel throughout the Caucasus region —to some of the most heavily persecuted areas including Chechnya, Dagestan and North Ossetia—to boldly profess the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ and to plant churches.

With

YAYHASARE

UNASHAMED FAITH are conquering the nations of Azerbaijan and Iran with the love of Jesus, and they are now training the next generation to do the same.

Sare and Yahya with

Conquers Love

Conquers Love

AllSARE—“Despite my Islamic background, my quest for truth began after receiving a gospel booklet. As I read the words of the Bible, I understood that I was a sinner in need of God’s mercy and grace. God put a fire in my soul for His Word and for sharing His Word with those around me.”

YAHYA—“My devotion to my Islamic heritage was confronted when I met Sare. As I spent more time with Sare and encountered the love that had so dramatically changed his life, I knew that the origin of that love—Jesus—must be authentic.”

Despite rejection, arrest, and even imprisonment, Sare and Yahya forged their country with the gospel as some of the earliest Azeri followers of Jesus over 18 years ago. Their preaching has led to groups being formed and churches being planted—both in Azerbaijan and in Iran through Yahya’s work as a missionary.

HOPE for a Nation

GIA—“For centuries Georgians have placed their identity in the traditions of the Orthodox Church. Therefore, my prayer is that my people would be ready to give their hearts to Christ as they learn of salvation in Jesus . . . turning their hearts from empty tradition to Christ.

As I work with other pastors, we also desire to

reach beyond our borders into surrounding nations. Since there is more freedom to practice Christianity in Georgia, we can bring believers from neighboring countries where persecution is more prevalent, train them, and send them back to do ministry in their own nations.”

UNASHAMED FAITH believes in the spread of the gospel through the multiplication of the evangelical church—even against cultural barriers.

Gia with

MARINA—“Our lives were marked with stress—my husband was in poor health and near death, we had just lost our seven year old child, and we had become outcasts in our community because of our struggles. Knowing God had more for our lives, my husband suggested we move our family to a city in Russia to attend an East-West training center.”

GRACE Transformational

TAMAZI—“We had only been following Jesus for a short time when we arrived, but what we learned during our two years at the training center challenged how we were living our lives. We learned what it meant to live under grace and to treat others with grace. Our lives were radically changed by all that we learned.”

Now back in their hometown, Marina is reaching Muslim women in nearby communities, sharing the love of Jesus with women who are experiencing suffering and rejection. Tamazi is using his knowledge as he pastors his church and as he prepares to go on mission to reach the people of Turkey.

UNASHAMED FAITH to become equipped to fulfill the ministry to which God was calling them. Their faith has resulted in former Muslim women coming to know Christ and in their church planting work moving into Turkey.

Tamazi and Marina left their homeland with

CENTRAL ASIA

“Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become

level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all the people will see it together.” –– PHI-

– ISAIAH 40:4-5

A

UNASHAMED FAITH prays that God would use this emerging house church model for Tajikistan to become the first Christian nation in Central Asia.

Volodya ‘s

TrainerA of TrainersVOLODYA—“The civil war here in Tajikistan resulted in people searching for God. This hunger opened many doors for laying the groundwork for a house church movement. Because planting house churches is built on relationships, we are seeing movements among families and in homes as one family member comes to know Christ and the life-change is demonstrated to the rest of the family.

I travel to many different cities throughout my country to meet with and disciple these new believers and emerging leaders—that they may be equipped to share their faith and plant churches.”

Volodya ‘s

ARSEN AND ABDURAHMON—Neighbors and followers of Jesus, Arsen and Abdurahmon receive training from Volodya when he visits their community. Passionate about planting house churches, Arsen and Abdurahmon are working together to reach their community with the message of the gospel—even in the face of persecution in their highly Muslim village.

“I had a revelation from God—obedience is what is asked of us because He wants to save the entire nation of Tajikistan.” - Abdurahmon

TRAINED TO PLANT CHURCHES

HASAN—“I knew there must be something stronger than me in this life. Though a Muslim, I started looking for strength in Jesus and found the peace and hope I had been looking for. The cost has been high—rejection, false accusations, arrest, imprisonment—but I count it all worth the cost because of the life I have found in Jesus.”

Also trained by Volodya, Hasan has learned to actively share of the life he has found in Jesus despite the continuing threats and oppression from his neighbors and the local government.

TRAINED TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Wisdom A Foolish

UMED—“When I started my ministry seven years ago, I was immediately faced with hardship and persecution from the authorities. My faith in Jesus was not accepted in my Islamic nation.

Discouraged and overwhelmed, the Lord responded that He had called me to His ministry—I was born to tell others about Jesus.

God once called me to go to a village with the strongest Muslim presence to share the gospel. As I went, I was filled with fear. However, at the same time I felt boldness which helped me put complete trust in God.

I wasn’t afraid of the short or long-term consequences—I simply wanted to obediently share the same love that had so dramatically changed my life.”

UNASHAMED FAITH obediently follows God’s call to share the love of Jesus with the people of his Muslim country—no matter the cost.

Uhmed with

Uhmed with

the gospel may continue to

spread

“My earnest prayer is that God would

continue to use me to share the gospel and train leaders so that

throughout Tajikistan and beyond.”

–– UHMED

–– UHMED

43

FreedomENCOUNTEREDMARINA—“All of my life I struggled with an omnipresent depression. Seeking the help of a witch doctor to overcome my sadness, an evil power overtook me. While living under these evil spirits, I met a group of missionaries who shared about the joy and life found in Jesus. I had a battle in my soul: trust God or continue to serve evil?”

“My mission is to tell other people who God is and what He did in my life . . . and how He can change their lives.”

UNASHAMED FAITH overcame fear and put her trust in the One True God.

Marina with

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and

– 2 CHRONICLES 7:14

turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

EAST ASIA

FULL OF

48

49

TruthOvercome by

CHARLOTTE—“My parents taught me Buddhism growing up; however, I knew there had to be something that offered more hope and life than Buddhism.”

Charlotte is a student at a university where an East-West missionary had the opportunity to teach a Bible class.

“As I heard the gospel from my American teacher, I knew this was the truth I had been searching for and I surrendered my life to Jesus. As I learn more about Jesus, I am overwhelmed by who He is and what He has done for me.”

UNASHAMED FAITH Charlotte boldly shares her faith with fellow students and believes she will one day reach her entire university campus with the gospel.

Though one of few believers on her campus, with

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53INDIA

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”

– PSALM 96:3

FULL OF

Across India, lepers are condemned to a life secluded from the rest of society because they are considered “unclean” and “untouchable.” Separation from their family and their once familiar lifestyle leaves this Indian caste hopeless and desolate.

Hope Contrary to this standard, there is a small community of lepers whose story is being rewritten because of the impact of the gospel. Exposed to the gospel through the work of East-West, these lepers are learning to grow together as a body of believers as they find hope in God’s saving grace.

Full of

HopeFull of

“We have entrusted our lives to God . . . we find comfort and hope in His embrace.” –Subashini, leper

A Chosen PeopleFor a Divine WorkLIPOK—“God is leading this church planting ministry as we seek Him through prayer. God has chosen us, a simple people, to accomplish His mission of reaching the lost. As more leaders are trained, new churches are being planted—resulting in the spread of the gospel and new numbers of believers being added daily.”

UNASHAMED FAITH has effectively trained thousands of local leaders throughout Northeast India. These leaders are in turn planting churches and training even more leaders—resulting in a reproducible, multiplicative movement throughout Northeast India and beyond.

Lipok with

THE WORK OF EVANGELISMBy faith Brodeswar travels by foot to reach the most remote people of Northeast India with the gospel—knowing they won’t hear unless he goes to preach.

THE WORK OF TRAINING

By faith Ramesh surrendered his high societal status to travel with Lipok and train fellow believers who are

desperate for biblical knowledge—like he once was.

THE WORK OF CHURCH PLANTINGBy faith Loiko, understanding his responsibility to go and share the gospel, disregarded his family’s persecution and carried his church planting training to unreached areas, where new churches are now thriving.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” – Romans 10:15b

“ . . . the world was not worthy of them.”

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” – Hebrews 11:38a; 39-40

These are only a few of the stories prompted by the Holy Spirit through East-West.

Countless unnamed individuals are being transformed by the increasing multiplication of followers of Jesus and their

. . . and this is only the beginning of what is to come.

Many more stories are yet to be written as the Lord continues to faithfully draw people to Himself through the ministry of East-West.

UNASHAMED FAITH

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GO. MULTIPLY.

Multiplying followers of Jesus Christ in the spiritually darkest areas of the world.