They had just been married, but a rift had already formed between a young South Asian couple. She believed in Jesus, while he vehemently opposed Christianity.
Govin* and his wife, Malina*, belong to the Vorlon* people, a group living largely in poverty and often looked down on by others. Worshipping idols is a key part of their religion. When Govin learned that Malina had started attending a local church, he was furious and forbade her from returning. Govin, who normally worked as a driver, was jobless at the time. His frequent drinking had caused many problems.
One day, a South Asian Christian woman named Madeline*, who knew oral Bible stories, came to their village and began speaking with people about Jesus. When Malina met Madeline, she asked her to speak with her husband.
When Madeline visited and told him stories, something made Govin willing to listen to this Christian, despite his opposition to her religion. The woman began visiting every week and discussing the Bible with him. She challenged him to come to church with his wife, but at first he refused – what would the rest of the family think of him abandoning his traditional practice?
"Madeline convinced him through many stories of how Jesus can redeem his problems," said Paul*, Cru StoryRunners' coordinator in that country.
As Govin began to open his heart, the Lord changed his life. He attended church with his wife and that day received Jesus as his personal Savior and Lord.
Soon his anger subsided, and people noticed how happy he was. He started driving again, earning money for himself and his wife. They go to church regularly, thanks to the persistence of a storyteller and the work of the Holy Spirit through God's Word.
* Names changed and faces blurred for security purposes
Cru’s StoryRunners ministry equips people to translate oral Bible stories into their local language, launching church-planting movements among those without access to the Bible in ways that speak to their hearts. I (Steve) have been serving with the StoryRunners ministry since 2023. I help them with technology, such as updating their website, storyrunners.org, with new story sets in other languages, storyrunners.org/stories-v2.
"We proclaim to you what we ourselves have…heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy." (1 John 1:3-4) Robin and I are thankful for your fellowship with us in our ministry with Cru.
One in Christ,
Steve & Robin
