In spite of the on-going conflict and humanitarian crisis in our country, our indigenous, Christ-centered faith community has continued to grow at an accelerated rate. We have been receiving an average of one new media follow up contact a week, and our indigenous leadershave been baptizing an average of one new believer a week.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” stated one leader. “Every two or three days we discover a new believer. I’m afraid we won’t be able to manage and shepherd all the believers after a while if they keep coming in these numbers.”
“My story began in another Arab country where I moved with my family. I met a friend there who was a Christian. He always talked to me about Christ and His love and he wanted me to know Christ from a Christian perspective. I didn’t refuse to listen to him because he was a preacher and I respected his beliefs and he was my friend. He told me that if I wanted to know more about Christ, I should read the Bible. However, I was afraid of the social circle around me and my family. As fate would have it, a war started in that country and I was separated from my friend when I returned to my home on the Arabian Peninsula. As time went by, the scenes of blood and terrorism increased and my faith began to waver a lot. By chance, I met afriend from a different Arab country and after talking with him for a long time he gave me a website and as I read it I discovered many facts and I placed my faith in Christ. However, I felt lost and I was wrestling inside and I was afraid of the society around me. I felt that I needed help, like a person who is alone and lost. I searched on the internet and I found another website and I began to write to them. They asked me for my mobile phone number and I gave it to them. A believer in Christ living near me called me and began to help me and gave me the Bible. I thank the Lord and everyone who helped to guide me to the truth. I ask the Lord to bless me with eternal life and to save the lost souls and lead them to what is right.”
Believers around our country are reporting an increase in spiritual openness in their communities.
“These days the people are asking me, ‘What is the solution for our country?’” reported a Sheikh. “So I explain to them what the solution is. I begin with them in the book of Genesis and explain all the way until the resurrection and the victory over death and the return to heaven. The lesson lasts six hours, until I hear them saying, ‘Do you want us to leave the religion?’ and the Holy Spirit tells me to be quiet so that they will keep seeking.”
Our leaders have also been encouraging persecuted families and advising them about how to live wisely in our hostile society.One of these families is Selwa’s family. When Selwa got married, she was a devout Muslim. However, as the months went by, her husband began to tell her about Christ. She was surprised to learn that the faith she had grown up with was the wrong way and she went directly to her family and announced to them that she had become a Christian. Her family beat her and her brother warned her that he would kill her if she did not leave Christianity. During the beating, Selwa was able to escape from the house and she went directly to a police station and turned herself in and told them she was a Christian. Selwa was held in prison for two months where she was subjected to beatings and intense persecution. In court, she confessed to the judge and some lawyers defended her and she was finally released from prison. After that, Selwa and her husband moved to the city where they are now living with their children. Indigenous leaders have been meeting with the family regularly and are guiding Selwa to balance her zeal for Christ with the wisdom and discretion that will allow her to share her faith effectively within our society.
Journey with us on the way:
Pray for our leaders that they will have wisdom and capacity to shepherd the many new believers who are coming to faith.
Pray that many people will come to faith in Christ during this time of spiritual openness in our country.
Pray that seekers andnew believers will get in touch quickly with indigenous leaders in their local areas who can advise them in how to deal with their families and social networks with wisdom and maturity.
إذا كان لديكم مشاركة (شعرية، أدبية، تشجيعية، صلاة، الخ) وتودون مشاركتها معنا فبإمكانكم ارسالها إلى البريد التالي