EPISODE 26 Love Your Neighbor in India: How One Woman Trained 33 Believers to Reach Muslims
Today I'm sharing something a little different — a real conversation I had with my colleague in India. I'm calling her Suwahati (not her real name) to protect her identity, but I wanted you to hear directly from her because what's happening through her ministry is honestly one of the most encouraging things I've come across lately.
Suwahati took the Inviting Muslims to Follow Jesus Course, spearheaded the translation of it into Tamil with a team, and ran her own group training called Love Your Neighbor in India. She prayed for 40 people to join. She got 40 people. And by the end, 33 of them finished the six-week course — many of whom started out saying they didn't even want to have a heart for their Muslim neighbors.
In this episode we talk about:
Why so many believers and even pastors in her city didn't want to reach out to Muslims, and where that resistance came from
How she structured the course — video lessons on their own time, then a smaller live coaching group on Zoom each week
The moment she started seeing real heart change in her students, not just head knowledge
How she built consistency and community through WhatsApp reminders and personal phone calls (yes, she called people before every single session)
Why she chose to commission her students instead of just handing them a certificate and calling it done
Two student testimonies, translated from Tamil, about overcoming fear, starting conversations with Muslim neighbors, friends, and four families on the road into the Kingdom.
If you've ever wondered how to help the people in your own life — your small group, your church, your family — catch a heart for Muslims, this episode is full of practical, real-world encouragement. India is home to more people with the least access to Jesus than almost anywhere else in the world, and Suwahati is proof that ordinary people, in an ordinary city, can be part of changing that.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
✅ Group Training Package (run your own version of what Suwahati did) — jeanniemarieacademy.com/grouptraining
**Book a call with me and get rights to train FIFTY, less than $6 a person
✅ Free 10-Minute Video: Three Mistakes Most People Make When Reaching Out to Muslims — jeanniemarieacademy.com/invitemuslims
✅ Inviting Muslims to Follow Jesus Course (get $50 off after watching the free video) — jeanniemarieacademy.com/invitemuslims
Would you consider facilitating your own small group training to cast vision for, and help people learn how to invite Muslims to follow Jesus? No prep. No teaching. Just follow my lesson plan for a six-week small group, or a weekend training.
Show the videos, facilitate discussions and experience people feeling confident and happy to speak easily to their Muslim neighbor, co-worker, or friend.
Also, if you book a call with me (email [email protected] so I can brainstorm your situation with you), I'll throw in rights to train another 30 people. You could facilitate training for up to 50 people for only six dollars a person.
PPS: If you are a Global South student (like Suwahati, from a country in Africa or Asia), please click here to apply and I'll give you a full scholarship.
The Inviting Muslims to Follow Jesus Course is now in English, Tamil, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Related Episodes You Might Like
Episode 25: Jesus Is Not the Son of God
Episode 24: Easy Ways to Meet and Greet Internationals in Your City
Episode 19: Let Me Take You to Mumbai: What a Vision Trip Looks Like
Episode 10: How to Explain Easter to Hindus and Muslims
Episode 7: India From the Inside: A Live Report 12 Years in the Making
Episode 4: How to Be Intentional About Ramadan With Your Muslim Friends
More
If today's episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to listen to the full conversation, and if you're not subscribed yet, hit follow so you don't miss next week's episode on breakthrough prayer.
Drop me an email at [email protected] and tell me which part resonated most with you or if you have ideas for your own Group Training.
