When Stanley*—an East-West missionary—landed in South Asia with a short-term team, he never left the airport. At passport control, local officials denied his entry into the country despite Stanley’s valid visa and escorted him onto the first plane back to the United States.
His passport was retained … not to be returned until he was back on U.S. soil.
A new trip leader was appointed, and the team continued on to their ministry location for the week. Stanley traveled home and prayed for the team’s work on an unreached island.
A few days later, his phone rang. It was the team. They’d met opposition from locals and had been questioned at the police station. They were now being sent back to the mainland and given a week to leave the country.
Stanley served as a central point of contact for the team from the other side of the world … praying constantly as he helped them navigate encounters with authorities and their changing travel plans.
Despite opposition on the island, the team chose to continue their mission.
They came to preach the gospel to the lost, and, with the help of national partners, continued to proclaim Christ crucified and raised to life on the mainland until their flight left a few days later.
Though they met much resistance during the trip, the team’s God-given resilience created opportunities for 1,393 people to hear and respond to the gospel message.
*Name changed for security reasons.