Just One Soul: How Perseverance and Partnership Sparked a Movement

Many years ago, during a severe humanitarian crisis, workers from several organizations entered a remote region to provide relief and share the Gospel. But despite their efforts, little visible fruit emerged. Over time, one by one, the teams packed up and returned home…except for Daniel and Yusuf, two cross-cultural workers from neighboring islands who felt deeply called to stay.

After 16 years of toil and seemingly little to show for it, Daniel and Yusuf were ready to give up. But before they left, Daniel felt compelled to launch one last effort, rooted in prayer. Rising at 4:00 a.m. each day before the Muslim call to prayer, they cried out to Jesus with a simple request: “Just one soul.” If one person came to faith, they would stay. If not, they would leave.

For six months, they prayed, tired, heartbroken, and desperate.

Then, the breakthrough came.

God answered their cries and led them to a man who was spiritually open and eager to learn. At the time, Daniel and Yusuf didn’t know the term “Person of Peace,” but that’s exactly who he was. This man not only received the message of Jesus, but he immediately began sharing it with others, introducing them to his friends and colleagues. He urged them to listen, warning that salvation could only be found through Christ.

A mini movement began to take shape. Tiny fellowships formed in homes, but only among men. These early believers worshiped and studied the Bible in secret, without their wives and families.

Three years ago, something unexpected happened. Daniel and Yusuf were let go from the organization they had served with for years. Despite the fruit they were seeing, they felt something was missing. Only men were coming to faith. Their discipleship strategy felt inadequate. And they were burdened by isolation, told by their organization that partnering with others was too dangerous.

That’s when Daniel reached out to the New Generations Regional Director and asked for a Zoom meeting. During that call, they shared their successes and heartbreaks. More than anything, they longed for friendship and meaningful partnership—someone who would care not just about their ministry, but also about them. Someone who could connect them to a wider network of support, safely.

That conversation marked the beginning of a new chapter.

Over the past three years, Daniel and Yusuf have been trained in the Disciple Making Movements (DMM) strategy and have connected with Steven and other local and expat leaders through a growing national partnership. The impact has been profound.

Today, entire families are coming to Christ—men, women, and children. New Discovery Bible Studies are launching, and their disciples are making disciples. They’re now training other local workers in the DMM approach, and those workers are becoming more fruitful as well.

As of the latest count, over 100 DBS groups and some churches have formed in this emerging movement, spanning six generations of disciples.

Even now, we are working with Daniel and Yusuf to discern which groups have become fully formed churches and which are still seeker groups. The excitement is tangible. What once felt impossible is now becoming reality.

God is moving. And it all started with two weary workers who refused to give up—and a simple, desperate prayer for “just one soul.”

*Names have been changed for security purposes.

This post originally appeared at: Just One Soul: How Perseverance and Partnership Sparked a Movement – New Generations