*Photos and specific information removed for Pastor Jesse's safety*

Pastor “Jesse” is a member of a minority people group in Southeast Asia who has been serving to reach his people with the Gospel since 2005. Over the past 20 years of ministry, Pastor Jesse has led many to Christ, established a local body of believers, and helped translate the Bible into his heart language so his people could read Scripture for themselves.

However, the Southeast Asian government has opposed his efforts along the way. Opposition to his ministry has included repeated police interrogations, physical assault, confiscation of Bibles and ministry materials, public accusations of following a “reactionary religion,” and restrictions preventing believers from gathering for worship. Authorities have pressured members of his church to renounce their faith and have threatened families with the loss of social services and educational opportunities if they continued attending. He has also been denied basic documentation that would allow his children to attend school. In addition to this ongoing pressure, he has endured the personal loss of his wife, who left the faith and their family, leaving Pastor Jesse to care for his kids alone.

Two months ago, Pastor Jesse and his children fled to a neighboring country in the middle of the night after receiving direct threats from Southeast Asian authorities accusing him of cooperating with foreign organizations and warning him to return home for “leniency.” Based on past detentions and beatings, he had strong reason to believe that returning would result in imprisonment. Pastor Jesse is currently on a tourist visa, which means he is unable to work or legally support his children. Since his departure, the Southeast Asian police have continued contacting extended family members, urging them to persuade him to come home in exchange for a “reduced punishment.”

Pastor Jesse must travel to a third country every two months to renew his visa. If he fails to keep his visa current, he risks arrest for overstaying and possible deportation back to Southeast Asian, where he is expected to face several years in prison. Such an outcome would leave his children without either parent to care for them.

The most stable and long-term solution for Pastor Jesse and his children is to leave the country he's in now and enter a third country with a reliable legal status—one that would allow him to work, support his family, and live without constant fear of detention or forced return. He has been given the opportunity to apply for a work visa in Canada through an organization that assists Southeast Asian victims of human rights violations. This pathway could allow him to work legally and eventually pursue permanent residence. However, moving forward requires substantial upfront expenses, including visa processing fees, international travel for him and his children, required documentation, and temporary living costs while he waits for approval.

Although he will be able to repay part of his fees after he begins working, he must cover a large portion before he can move forward with the application. We are raising funds to help cover:

Your support will help provide a clear and lawful path forward for Pastor Jesse and his family. Thank you for considering standing with our persecuted brother and his family during this critical time.