Leanna Cinquanta

August 2, 2026
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The Courage to Say Yes When God Calls You. Maybe God isn't calling you across the world—but He may be calling you to trust Him in a place that feels just as intimidating. Perhaps it's forgiving someone who hurt you, stepping into a new season of motherhood, waiting faithfully in singleness, caring for a loved one, sharing your faith, or simply surrendering an area you've been holding tightly. Like Leanna, you may not feel ready. You may even want to say "no." But God doesn't call you because you're fearless—He calls you because He promises to be with you. The same Lord who gave Leanna courage will give you the strength to walk in obedience, one faithful step at a time. What step of faith is God asking you to take today? "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 ESV)

Full Transcript

Leanna’s childhood was filled with flying airplanes, building homes from the ground up, and competing in horseback–riding events. Each of these experiences gave her the mental fortitude, strength, and determination for a much greater adventure to which God would call her–to bring Gospel truth to unreached peoples in India, nearly 8,000 miles from home. 

God began revealing His plan for Leanna’s life while she was a student at Youth With a Mission in Colorado. One Friday night, she sensed a clear summons to listen to the message God had for her.  He took her first to Ezekiel 36:24, “I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.” In her mind’s eye, an enormous carousel filled the sky. Instead of horses, each pole held the map of an unreached nation that came alive with images of its people.  

When she saw India spin to the foreground, the nation assumed the colors of its flag and then broke into masses of people scattering in every direction. As she continued to watch, a cacophony of noise rose from many discordant languages being spoken, and images of countless deities began to flash before her. The images continued to fill the map of India until an oozing blackness engulfed them all.  

She heard a clear message that confirmed what she didn’t want to accept. “Start in India.”  

The call was irresistible. At that moment, Leanna didn’t know how God was going to use her, but over the coming weeks, He continued to reveal His plan through visions. She was to go to the heart of Hinduism and bring the truth of God’s Word to those in spiritual bondage in the Ganges River Valley. With this simple, yet undeniable plan, in 1993 she boarded a plane to Uttar Pradesh, a deeply spiritual region comprising nearly 20% Muslims and 80% Hindus. As she learned the language and how to adopt an Indian lifestyle, she walked the city and prayed, played the guitar and sang the gospel message to passers-by.  

From these simple, yet daring, steps of obedience thirty years ago, God has been growing a powerful ministry and transforming lives in India and beyond. Leanna founded two mission organizations: We Ignite Nations and WIN Life, equipping and mobilizing ministries formed to empower local leaders to provide education, irrigation systems, microbusinesses, healthcare, church–leadership training, rescue from sex trafficking, and more.  Today she oversees these organizations from Colorado, USA and travels extensively, teaching God’s Word and speaking about the work of WIN and WIN Life. Leanna published her autobiography, Treasure in Dark Places, in 2017. 

Staring Down the Dark Ones 

As Leanna folded her map of local temples one last time, she steeled herself for an intense spiritual battle. For weeks she had been navigating the treacherous streets of the city, stopping at every temple, boldly entering it, and praying that the chains of spiritual bondage would be broken. She had prayed that the power of Satan, manifested in false gods, would be arrested. She’d declared the promise God had given her in Joshua 1:3, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”  Only Shiva’s temple remained unvisited, and it was time to reclaim that spiritual stronghold and its enslaved people for her Savior. 

The lure of Shiva held tremendous power over Hindu worshippers. Devotees made great sacrifices to undertake pilgrimages to this temple, believing that simple gifts from a pure heart would please Shiva and earn his favor and forgiveness. But, he was also known as “the destroyer,” for in his zeal for purity, he would annihilate those he perceived to have lustful thoughts, jealousy, or a host of self-gratifying behaviors. 

In the lane leading to the temple’s entrance, vendors hawked keepsake idols and a variety of offerings for temple worship. Leanna pressed against the walls of buildings to squeeze through the crowd. As she approached the temple, the hypnotizing drone of the worshippers’ chants grew louder. The entrance to the temple presented two obstacles: an armed policeman and a sign with the admonition, “Non-Hindus strictly prohibited.” 

Too late. Leanna had already taken her place in line. She shuffled along among the worshippers inching toward the entrance. Leanna hoped and prayed that her Indian attire, dark hair, and tan skin would help her look Indian enough to escape notice.  

She reached the threshold. So far so good. As she lifted her foot to step inside, suddenly the rifle of the policeman stood between Leanna and the entrance. “Look at the sign!” he gruffly barked at her. “Go! Go from here.” 

Leanna had no choice but to walk away … for now. A few days later, an undaunted Leanna tried again to make her way into the temple. Again, she was repulsed by the temple guard. 

She reminded God that going to this temple had been His idea, and she asked Him to clear the way to get her inside.  

And then Leanna waited. 

For several weeks, nothing happened. Finally, God’s Spirit nudged her. It was time to go try again.  

Early the next morning, she began her march toward this spiritual battlefield. Even at this hour, she was astounded by the enormity of the crowd. Unbeknownst to her, it was Shiva’s holy day. The orderly lines from previous days were gone, replaced by pressing, teeming masses of people determined to gain access to the spiritual favor they hoped Shiva could bestow. 

Despite numerous extra policemen nearby, they were no match for the crowd. It squeezed tighter, full of noise and chaos, in a singular pursuit of temple access. As she neared the door, Leanna watched two ladies shove their way past the guard and gain admission.  Leanna did the same. It worked! The guards had not even noticed her among the surging crowd. 

Leanna found herself in a circular sanctuary, surrounded by a strange assortment of statues. Some were human-esque, benevolent and gentle. Others were graphically sexual, grotesque and disturbing. All were strewn with—and surrounded by—the refuse of offerings innumerable. Decaying flower garlands, rancid milk, and rotting fruits all swirled with the mass of sweat and humanity in sweltering heat and an oppressive atmosphere.  

An announcement was made, and the worshippers gathered in the center of the temple, where the chief priest offered prayers and sprinkled the devotees with water from the Ganges River. The people chanted along as the priest performed his rituals. 

Leanna gazed above the vile statue that was the central focus of this ceremony. Far overhead, peering down from the dome, glowering eyes stared at her. She recognized at once the pure hate and ancient evil of these spiritual beings. This was who Leanna had come to do battle with, and God had opened her spiritual eyes to see them clearly.  

Boldly circling the perimeter of the worship gathering, confident in her Savior who was with her at every step, she stopped before each of the statues and proclaimed the name of Jesus over every power in this place. She praised God’s great name and prayed for the souls of the worshippers in this room and beyond the temple walls.   

Leanna could feel spiritual chains breaking loose. The demonic forces in the dome brooded and waited, leaving Leanna unchallenged. When she had finished, Leanna left the temple triumphant. She had completed her assignment. Every stronghold in the city had been invaded and reclaimed for her Lord. 

That night, In the twilight moments between lying down to rest and falling fully asleep, the vengeful spirits returned her boldness with their own declaration. They screeched and raged at her, promising that they would destroy her. Leanna opened her eyes and saw gruesome creatures charging straight for her.  

Leanna had no time to prepare a battle strategy. She called out the name of the only One whose power was greater, “Stop, in Jesus’ name!” 

The demons’ charge was instantly repelled. They reformed and came at her again. Again, they were halted when she called upon the name of Jesus. 

Leanna praised God for the spiritual strength He was providing her. 

Throughout the entire night, these gnarled and sinister spirits of her Savior’s enemy threatened and charged at Leanna, only to be repulsed by the name of Jesus.  

Morning came. The battle ended when they fled in defeat. Leanna lay utterly exhausted and physically ill from the experience, but victory had been won. Her Savior reigned triumphant, and she marveled at the part she had been chosen to play in this battle.  

The war for the souls of more than 100,000,000 Indians in Uttar Pradesh had begun.  

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 6: 10-12, ESV). 

Leanna’s childhood was filled with flying airplanes, building homes from the ground up, and competing in horseback–riding events. Each of these experiences gave her the mental fortitude, strength, and determination for a much greater adventure to which God would call her–to bring Gospel truth to unreached peoples in India, nearly 8,000 miles from home.

God began revealing His plan for Leanna’s life while she was a student at Youth With a Mission in Colorado. One Friday night, she sensed a clear summons to listen to the message God had for her. He took her first to Ezekiel 36:24, “I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.” In her mind’s eye, an enormous carousel filled the sky. Instead of horses, each pole held the map of an unreached nation that came alive with images of its people.

When she saw India spin to the foreground, the nation assumed the colors of its flag and then broke into masses of people scattering in every direction. As she continued to watch, a cacophony of noise rose from many discordant languages being spoken, and images of countless deities began to flash before her. The images continued to fill the map of India until an oozing blackness engulfed them all.

She heard a clear message that confirmed what she didn’t want to accept. “Start in India.”

The call was irresistible. At that moment, Leanna didn’t know how God was going to use her, but over the coming weeks, He continued to reveal His plan through visions. She was to go to the heart of Hinduism and bring the truth of God’s Word to those in spiritual bondage in the Ganges River Valley. With this simple, yet undeniable plan, in 1993 she boarded a plane to Uttar Pradesh, a deeply spiritual region comprising nearly 20% Muslims and 80% Hindus. As she learned the language and how to adopt an Indian lifestyle, she walked the city and prayed, played the guitar and sang the gospel message to passers-by.

From these simple, yet daring, steps of obedience thirty years ago, God has been growing a powerful ministry and transforming lives in India and beyond. Leanna founded two mission organizations: We Ignite Nations and WIN Life, equipping and mobilizing ministries formed to empower local leaders to provide education, irrigation systems, microbusinesses, healthcare, church–leadership training, rescue from sex trafficking, and more. Today she oversees these organizations from Colorado, USA and travels extensively, teaching God’s Word and speaking about the work of WIN and WIN Life. Leanna published her autobiography, Treasure in Dark Places, in 2017.

Staring Down the Dark Ones

As Leanna folded her map of local temples one last time, she steeled herself for an intense spiritual battle. For weeks she had been navigating the treacherous streets of the city, stopping at every temple, boldly entering it, and praying that the chains of spiritual bondage would be broken. She had prayed that the power of Satan, manifested in false gods, would be arrested. She’d declared the promise God had given her in Joshua 1:3, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” Only Shiva’s temple remained unvisited, and it was time to reclaim that spiritual stronghold and its enslaved people for her Savior.

The lure of Shiva held tremendous power over Hindu worshippers. Devotees made great sacrifices to undertake pilgrimages to this temple, believing that simple gifts from a pure heart would please Shiva and earn his favor and forgiveness. But, he was also known as “the destroyer,” for in his zeal for purity, he would annihilate those he perceived to have lustful thoughts, jealousy, or a host of self-gratifying behaviors.

In the lane leading to the temple’s entrance, vendors hawked keepsake idols and a variety of offerings for temple worship. Leanna pressed against the walls of buildings to squeeze through the crowd. As she approached the temple, the hypnotizing drone of the worshippers’ chants grew louder. The entrance to the temple presented two obstacles: an armed policeman and a sign with the admonition, “Non-Hindus strictly prohibited.”

Too late. Leanna had already taken her place in line. She shuffled along among the worshippers inching toward the entrance. Leanna hoped and prayed that her Indian attire, dark hair, and tan skin would help her look Indian enough to escape notice.

She reached the threshold. So far so good. As she lifted her foot to step inside, suddenly the rifle of the policeman stood between Leanna and the entrance. “Look at the sign!” he gruffly barked at her. “Go! Go from here.”

Leanna had no choice but to walk away … for now. A few days later, an undaunted Leanna tried again to make her way into the temple. Again, she was repulsed by the temple guard.

She reminded God that going to this temple had been His idea, and she asked Him to clear the way to get her inside.

And then Leanna waited.

For several weeks, nothing happened. Finally, God’s Spirit nudged her. It was time to go try again.

Early the next morning, she began her march toward this spiritual battlefield. Even at this hour, she was astounded by the enormity of the crowd. Unbeknownst to her, it was Shiva’s holy day. The orderly lines from previous days were gone, replaced by pressing, teeming masses of people determined to gain access to the spiritual favor they hoped Shiva could bestow.

Despite numerous extra policemen nearby, they were no match for the crowd. It squeezed tighter, full of noise and chaos, in a singular pursuit of temple access. As she neared the door, Leanna watched two ladies shove their way past the guard and gain admission. Leanna did the same. It worked! The guards had not even noticed her among the surging crowd.

Leanna found herself in a circular sanctuary, surrounded by a strange assortment of statues. Some were human-esque, benevolent and gentle. Others were graphically sexual, grotesque and disturbing. All were strewn with—and surrounded by—the refuse of offerings innumerable. Decaying flower garlands, rancid milk, and rotting fruits all swirled with the mass of sweat and humanity in sweltering heat and an oppressive atmosphere.

An announcement was made, and the worshippers gathered in the center of the temple, where the chief priest offered prayers and sprinkled the devotees with water from the Ganges River. The people chanted along as the priest performed his rituals.

Leanna gazed above the vile statue that was the central focus of this ceremony. Far overhead, peering down from the dome, glowering eyes stared at her. She recognized at once the pure hate and ancient evil of these spiritual beings. This was who Leanna had come to do battle with, and God had opened her spiritual eyes to see them clearly.

Boldly circling the perimeter of the worship gathering, confident in her Savior who was with her at every step, she stopped before each of the statues and proclaimed the name of Jesus over every power in this place. She praised God’s great name and prayed for the souls of the worshippers in this room and beyond the temple walls.

Leanna could feel spiritual chains breaking loose. The demonic forces in the dome brooded and waited, leaving Leanna unchallenged. When she had finished, Leanna left the temple triumphant. She had completed her assignment. Every stronghold in the city had been invaded and reclaimed for her Lord.

That night, In the twilight moments between lying down to rest and falling fully asleep, the vengeful spirits returned her boldness with their own declaration. They screeched and raged at her, promising that they would destroy her. Leanna opened her eyes and saw gruesome creatures charging straight for her.

Leanna had no time to prepare a battle strategy. She called out the name of the only One whose power was greater, “Stop, in Jesus’ name!”

The demons’ charge was instantly repelled. They reformed and came at her again. Again, they were halted when she called upon the name of Jesus.

Leanna praised God for the spiritual strength He was providing her.

Throughout the entire night, these gnarled and sinister spirits of her Savior’s enemy threatened and charged at Leanna, only to be repulsed by the name of Jesus.

Morning came. The battle ended when they fled in defeat. Leanna lay utterly exhausted and physically ill from the experience, but victory had been won. Her Savior reigned triumphant, and she marveled at the part she had been chosen to play in this battle.

The war for the souls of more than 100,000,000 Indians in Uttar Pradesh had begun.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 6: 10-12, ESV).