During Ramadan, believers in a predominantly Muslim area of Southeast Asia posted a simple question on a Christian social media page: are good works enough to get to heaven? Knowing more people would be online during the holy month, they hoped the post would spark spiritual conversations. It worked, and messages poured in, sometimes more than 80 a day. Jacob and Julie Stanley, who live in the area and help local believers plan their social media outreach, said they were overwhelmed by the response. Jacob noted that heightened spiritual sensitivity during Ramadan created a rare opening to share the gospel with people who might not otherwise engage. The outreach has also deepened the faith of the local believers themselves, who have grown in their understanding of Scripture and their ability to articulate what they believe as they practice sharing it with strangers online. Jacob continues praying for discernment as they carry the conversations forward.
Pray the Lord will give Southeast Asian believers discernment and boldness as they continue sharing the gospel through social media outreach.
Southern Baptists’ generous giving through the Cooperative Program sends and sustains missionaries like Jacob and Julie Stanley to train believers in Southeast Asia to share the gospel through social media.