Missional Business in South Asia: From Language Classes to Friendships
Chloe serves with SIM USA in South Asia, where she runs a missional business. Her business focuses on education, offering classes in English. These classes create a meaningful space for building friendships with attendees.
“Language education is all conversation, so you get to know people well and share your ideas and thoughts with the class. There’s an opportunity to plant gospel seeds,” Chloe said.
The relationships formed in these courses often extend beyond the classroom. When students complete their language studies, some maintain friendships with Chloe, who continues to plant seeds and pour into them. As her friendships with students deepen, she shares Jesus’ love with them and invites them to Christian gatherings at her house.
“I’ll say, ‘Hey, do you want to come have a worship time for Jesus?’ And they’ll come,” Chloe said.
“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
Reaching Hindu Women with the Gospel in South Asia
In Hindu culture, where millions of gods are recognized, conversations about spiritual matters, including about Jesus, are not considered taboo. This openness often creates unique opportunities to share about Jesus as the one true and sovereign God.
Chloe has been ministering to Hindu women who are generally open to learning about Jesus and attending Christian events. When she invites them to these gatherings, they’re often willing to participate, even though it is unfamiliar to them.
“Going to a worship event can be a little bit scary for them, but then they find a good community there and meet other women,” Chloe said.
Although they are open to talking about, praying to, and even worshipping Jesus, many Hindus are scared to fully commit their lives to Him and recognize Him as the only God.
“To invite Jesus into your own home, or to say that He is going to be the only God you pray to, is really scary. It can get you kicked out of your community,” Chloe explained.
Despite the risk, Chloe has seen her Hindu friends begin opening their hearts and homes to Jesus.
A Worship Gathering in an Unexpected Place
Chloe regularly hosts worship gatherings at her home, creating a safe and welcoming environment for both believers and seekers. However, her local friends often find it too risky to open their homes to the Church.
That changed one Christmas when Chloe’s friend Mala offered to host a gathering.
Mala, a local Hindu woman, has been growing in friendship with Chloe through language lessons and shared conversations about life. Through this friendship, Mala has also been learning about Jesus Christ. Although she is still wrestling with recognizing Him as her only God, she is interested—so interested that she welcomed the Church into her home for a Christmas worship gathering.
“For her, welcoming Jesus into her home was a big step. That was the first time a worship gathering had not been held at my house,” Chloe said.
Mala’s willingness to open her home to a Christian gathering, and her deep curiosity in Jesus, are the fruit of Chloe’s intentional relationships with language students. By offering friendship and sharing the gospel, she is creating space for the Holy Spirit to move. Chloe plants the seeds, and God nourishes them into Life!
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
God’s Work Through Small Steps: The Power of Simple Bible Verse Texts
During the Christmas season, Chloe formed meaningful connections with three of her Hindu friends who were going through difficult circumstances. She was also walking through personal hardship, which allowed her to relate to their pain more deeply. By creating a safe and honest space where they could all share their struggles, Chloe fostered genuine community and mutual encouragement.
“All of us were struggling in our own way. And so, I said, ‘Hey, what if we spent the ten days before Christmas praying to Jesus and meditating on His word?’”
“Yes. We need help. Let’s do that,” Chloe’s friends agreed.
In the ten days leading up to Christmas, Chloe sent a daily Bible verse text to her three friends. Each message was intentionally centered around a common theme: What does Jesus save us from?
Every verse was drawn from the Christmas story and highlighted a specific aspect of what Jesus saves us from—darkness, spiritual hunger, fear, and more. Through these daily Bible verses, Chloe helped her friends see the birth of Christ not just as a historical event, but as personal good news.
The Bible verses deeply resonated with Chloe’s friend Reva. Just two days after Chloe began sending them, Reva called her, expressing how moved she was by the messages. Over the ten days, she continued to call Chloe, eager to discuss the verses and often asked if they could pray together.
Reva’s journey did not end after the ten days. She continued to seek truth, regularly praying with Chloe and growing in her understanding of Jesus. This is another example of how we plant the seeds, and God produces the growth. Even something as simple as a daily text message can bear eternal fruit.
“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground… the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.” Mark 4:26-27
She May Be the Only Christian Her Friends Know—Will You Join Her?
We scatter the seeds. God brings the growth. Whether you are opening your home for worship or sending daily Bible verse text messages, no work done for God’s glory is wasted.
Chloe may be the only follower of Jesus that her Hindu friends have ever met. Her presence matters, and so does yours. The harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. Who else will go and share the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the more than three billion people who have no access to God’s Word or His Church?
If Chloe’s story stirs something in you, we invite you to take the next step!
No matter where you are in your journey of discernment, as you consider the role God might have for you in global mission, it’s helpful to talk with people who have been there before.
Connect with a SIM USA mission coach to explore how God might be leading you into global ministry, just like Chloe. It is our privilege at SIM USA to walk alongside you as you explore serving God overseas.
Names have been changed for the privacy and safety of our workers, ministry partners, and those we serve.
Maggie Watts
Content Creator
I am a Content Creator with SIM USA. It is a joy to use writing and multimedia to glorify God and tell stories about how He is working around the world.