There are moments in history when something shifts—not just in one place, but across the earth. Quietly at first, then unmistakably, we begin to see it—hearts opening, barriers breaking, and the gospel moving in ways that can’t be explained apart from God’s supernatural power and grace. We are living in one of those moments. 

Over the last several years, a simple conviction has guided everything we’ve done: The Great Commission will only be fulfilled through united prayer. Jesus commanded us to make disciples of all nations, but he also declared that his house would be a house of prayer for all nations. Those two realities were never meant to be separated. 

What started as a vision has become a global movement—over 5,000 prayer ministries across 150 nations, united around one purpose: asking God to send workers into the harvest and bring the gospel to every people and place on earth. 

Five years ago, we launched a 24/7 online global prayer room. Hour by hour, day and night, believers from more than 50 nations began to lift up worship and intercession in over 20 languages. Since then, there has not been a moment when the incense of prayer has stopped rising. But prayer didn’t stay in a room—it began to move toward the world’s hardest places. 

We turned our focus to 110 of the largest unreached megacities on earth—places where nearly 90 percent of the remaining unreached peoples live. As we prayed, partnerships began to form with underground church movements. Together, we asked a simple question: What would it look like to see gospel movements in every one of these cities? 

The answers are still unfolding, but already they are staggering. Today, 105 of those 110 cities are being engaged through prayer movements, prayer-walking teams, and discipleship efforts. Alongside this, 55 new 24/7 houses of prayer have been established in regions like China, the Middle East, North Africa, India, and Europe. And as we have prayed, God has responded. 

Underground house churches have grown at a remarkable pace—over 22 percent annually—now totaling more than 8.4 million house churches, with an estimated 154 million Jesus followers across 190 nations and over 2,500 languages. This isn’t just growth. It’s a harvest. 

And yet, what makes this moment even more remarkable is how it’s happening—often in the most unlikely places, through the most unexpected people.

When Prayer Meets the Unreached

At the start of this year, we launched a 365-day prayer initiative through the YouVersion Bible app, inviting believers to pray by name for workers and missionaries in each of the 110 unreached megacities—one worker in one city per day. More than 35,000 people committed. 

During Ramadan, millions of believers committed to pray around the clock for Muslim peoples. Fifteen million prayer commitments were made. Twenty-four hours a day, for an entire month, and then on a single day—March 16th—the Muslim night of power, over 100 million people from 150 nations united in prayer for the Muslim world! 

But these aren’t just numbers. They are connected to real people, real lives, and real encounters with Jesus.

A Mufti Encounters the Word

One man—a respected religious leader, a Mufti—never expected his life to change. After participating in protests, everything unraveled. The government took four members of his family. He was hunted. Forced to flee, he wandered until he found a group of people who welcomed him, cared for him, and began to pray for him. Then they started reading from a book. He didn’t know it at first, but it was the New Testament in his own language. As he listened, something stirred. After a couple of hours, he did something unexpected—he took the book, held it tightly against his chest, and kissed it. “Someone read these words to me,” he said. “‘If you ask anything and believe in my name, you will receive it.’ What does that mean?” They explained. They told him about Jesus. Hours later, he looked at them and said something no one anticipated: 

“I will be a Mufti for Jesus. Give me one week—and I will bring my whole family.” A week later, he returned. His entire extended family came with him. Together, they chose to follow Jesus.

A Village Waiting for an Answer

In northern Iran, a 46-year-old grandfather named Yusef faced an impossible decision. War had devastated the region. Families were leaving. His own wife and children pleaded with him to go. But something deep inside him kept saying, wait. Then help arrived. A small team managed to reach their isolated village with food and supplies. At first, everyone was afraid. Who were these strangers? Yusef asked the question everyone was thinking: “Who sent you?” One of the men simply raised his hand toward the sky and said, “Isa.” Jesus. In that moment, Yusef describes feeling something like a flash go through his chest. Tears filled his eyes. “Tell me more about Jesus,” he said. 

Eighty-nine people in that village experienced peace that day—not just because of food, but because the presence of Jesus had come near.

A Cry in the Darkness

Another man, Tariq, tells a story that is harder to hear—but impossible to ignore. One morning, he was at a village shop, talking with friends. Like many others, they shared a quiet hope: that change would come to their country. Weeks later, that conversation cost them everything. Authorities came. They were taken, bound, blind-folded, and driven away. When the vehicle stopped, they were forced out—and then the shooting began. Tariq watched his friends die. He was severely wounded, lying there for hours, unsure if he would survive. Then he heard something—voices. “Jesus, we need all of them to be alive.” It was the first time he had ever heard the name Jesus. In desperation, he began to cry out: “Jesus, keep me alive for my children.” Again and again, he called on the name of Jesus. Then, through the pain and chaos, he heard a voice: “Nothing will happen to you.” “Who are you?” he asked. “I am Jesus, your God.” Tariq survived. He was rescued by believers and brought to safety. But more than that—he encountered Jesus. 

The Harvest Is Costly—and Real

These stories are not isolated. Across the Middle East, Asia, and beyond, similar accounts are emerging—dreams, visions, miracles, bold witness, and entire communities turning to Christ. 

In one gathering in the Middle East, a leader stood before thousands—tribal leaders, refugees, families—and declared that true peace could only be found in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Hours later, more than 8,000 people chose to follow him.

But this harvest comes at a cost. In just one partner network, over 1,900 believers were martyred in a single year. And yet, the Church continues to grow. Why? Because when people encounter Jesus, everything changes.

A Dream, A Light, A Village Transformed

A man named Abdul had the same dream four nights in a row. He saw people carrying light, walking toward his village. On the fourth night, he decided to wait outside in the darkness. His village had no electricity—only silence and uncertainty. Then he saw it. Lights approaching. The same scene from his dream. A group of believers had come, carrying lamps, bringing a message. “We have come to bring you a message from God,” they told him. They opened a Bible—something he had never seen—and told him about Jesus. Today, 18 households in his village have chosen to follow Christ.

Hope Rising from Tragedy

One young student, sent by his family to study Islam, survived a devastating bombing that killed most of his classmates. Out of 1,000 students, only 269 lived. With no direction and no resources, he led the survivors on a 42-hour journey through the hills—without food or water. Then help came. People found them, fed them, and shared the message of Jesus. He later asked a haunting question: “How did we study religion for six years—and this is the first time we’ve heard the name of Jesus?”

A Global Awakening

This is the reality of the global harvest. It is not theoretical. It is happening now. 

In Nepal this year, 35,000-plus gathered from 1,500 churches in Katmandu on Easter morning to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Thousands have been praying in this city on a daily basis! Cities are being filled with intercession. And behind it all is a simple truth: Christ-exalting prayer is fueling the harvest and all for the global glory of God! We may not be able to go to every village, every city, every nation. But we can pray. 

And as we pray, God sends. He sends workers. He opens hearts. He reveals himself in dreams, in Scripture, in moments of desperation and hope. The harvest is not coming. It’s here. The question is—will we be part of it?