South Asia includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Oklahoma Baptists on assignment there with the International Mission Board (IMB) are not named or numbered for security reasons.

With 863 unreached people groups among South Asia’s 2,286 people groups, South Asia has the largest unreached population in the world: 1.5 billion. IMB workers in South Asia respond to crises with the message of the cross, share the Gospel daily and disciple South Asians using 35 chronological Bible stories.

In 2019, many people were affected by floods in South Asia. One village of 60 families was nearly destroyed. Because the area was not registered as being flood-prone, no governmental aid was available. Believers were able to provide relief supplies in the name of Jesus and the people both heard and saw the love of Jesus!

Pastors, along with their small congregations, decided to dedicate 30 minutes a day for 30 days to talk to people intentionally about Jesus. Over the course of one month, these faithful individuals shared with more than 7,000 people!

Amit—name changed for security reasons—is a faithful disciple-maker who, over the past two years, has been sharing the Gospel in new and unreached places. In one village, Amit began visiting a home in order to share 35 chronological Bible lessons. The family committed their lives to Christ, becoming the village’s first believers.

Over several months, this family began sharing the Gospel with others. Now there are 18 believing families and 55 in-home Bible studies in this village. The believers are sharing 35 chronological Bible lessons with the help of SD cards.

In 2019, IMB workers in South Asia reported 103,328 people heard a Gospel witness; 35,183 became new believers; 29,286 were baptized; and 9,911 churches were started. IMB workers also reported 73,110 South Asians involved in on-going Bible study.

Because of the generous giving of Oklahoma Baptists through the Cooperative Program, an amazing array of ministries are supported. This unified giving encourages fellowship with other believers all over the world. Collectively, Oklahoma Baptists are advancing the Gospel together.

South Asian peoples were featured in the 2021 Missionary Prayer Guide for Oklahoma Baptists. To see more information about the work in South Asia, visit www.oklahomabaptists.org/cp