For security reasons, we are unable to disclose any identifying information about “Philip,” including his real name, the specific country where he serves, or the particular people group among whom he ministers. “Philip” is a pseudonym used to protect him, his family, and the believers he serves.

What we can share is that “Philip” and his family of four have faithfully served as missionaries for more than fifteen years in a “closed” country among “Unreached People Groups.” Throughout this time, they have remained steadfast in their calling despite significant hardship, pressure, and risk.

“Philip” serves in a country where Islam is the state religion and where Christians live under constant pressure. Believers in this context frequently face social discrimination, intense pressure to renounce their faith, and, at times, violent attacks.

The country where Philip serves is consistently ranked among the top five nations globally with the highest number of Unreached People Groups (UPGs). It is estimated that more than 98% of the population belongs to an unreached group, meaning they have little to no access to the gospel or a local Christian witness.

In addition to training pastors and church leaders, the Equip Institute also trains Majority World missionaries. While the long-standing concept of “closed countries”—regions that restrict Christianity and missionary access—remains helpful, it must be understood differently today.

In practice, many countries are primarily “closed” to Western missionaries, while leaders from the Majority World often have greater access. Today, missions is increasingly “from everywhere to everywhere.” As Chinese nationals, “Philip” and his family are able to enter and serve faithfully within this “closed” context in a way that “Western” missionaries cannot.

At the Equip Institute, we equip missionary leaders like “Philip” for vibrant, contextual, cross-cultural ministry among the Unreached People Groups to whom they are called.

Together with our global partners in the Chinese underground church, the Equip Institute is supporting “Philip” in formal theological training through an accredited Master of Arts in Theological Studies program.

For more than fifteen years, “Philip” has faithfully served in cross-cultural ministry in this challenging Muslim context, persevering through hardship and even persecution. At this stage of his ministry, he is seeking a deeper foundation in theology, biblical interpretation, and the craft of cross-cultural ministry so that he can more effectively proclaim the gospel and do the challenging work of making disciples across social, cultural, linguistic, and religious barriers.

Your partnership helps equip a faithful missionary for long-term Gospel-focused impact in one of the most challenging contexts in the world.

In a context marked by spiritual opposition, “Philip” and his family depend on prayer to soften hearts and open lives to the gospel. We invite you to join “Philip” in this posture of prayer and to lift up the following requests he has shared:

• Pray that the Holy Spirit would bring spiritual renewal and revival, filling the church with truth, humility, and Christ’s presence.

• Pray that believers would become truly “poor in spirit,” rooted in genuine faith rather than superficial or benefit-driven belief.

• Pray for covering and protection over all ministry work, especially amid religious tension and conflict.

• Pray that God would hide and protect sensitive ministry efforts in unstable or hostile environments.

• Pray for those involved in one-on-one discipleship, that lives would continue to be restored, strengthened, and rooted in Christ.

• Pray for the children being sponsored and cared for, especially those from poor, remote, or single-parent families.

• Pray for God’s covering over all local coworkers, that they would remain faithful and sustained in their calling.