God of the Sound Bite

By an Alliance worker

Alliance staffers serve in a city that has seen political upheaval. Holistic activities in nonchurch settings, including a sports club and English language classes, enables the team to build relationships with young adults. Truth Seekers, a discussion group/Bible study, provides opportunities to share the good news.

For several months our host country has experienced civil unrest. Against this tumultuous backdrop, we have seen God working in the hearts of several friends steeped in atheism.

On the Verge

Mike* is the resident skeptic at our weekly Truth Seekers meetings. A policeman, he was assigned to work in the protest area. We prayed that God would not only protect him from injury but also keep him from doing something he would regret.

Perhaps in answer to this prayer, Mike didn’t serve in the protest zone because he developed pneumonia and was hospitalized for two weeks. My husband visited him and gave him a Bible to read.

Last week, Mike showed up at our home with a smile on his face. He told us he’d read through the Gospel of Matthew and was beginning the Book of Mark. I asked him what he thought about it all, and he said that he had written down a lot of questions.

Sam also faithfully attends Truth Seekers and our sports club. He has been telling us for a year how God has tugged at his heart in small ways—similar to sound bites.

On our way home from Truth Seekers last week, he said, “I really want to have a new life.” A few days later, he and my husband exercised together at the sports club and talked about spiritual things the whole time. We believe Sam is on the verge of surrendering to Christ.

A Not-to-Miss Meeting

Our recent Truth Seekers gathering took place right after the bloodiest day of protests here. I made a huge pot of soup, enough to feed 25 hungry people, and was nearly convinced no one would attend.

Thanks to the prayers of the faithful, seven seekers trickled in one by one! One young woman had traveled five hours into the city on public transport. Instead of going home, she called her husband to meet her at our apartment because she didn’t want to miss the meeting.

Not of this World

Of course, much of the conversation was about the unrest. It was great to see how God arranged the evening’s study to relate to the day’s events.

Two of our team members shared how the Jewish people had hopes in Jesus to be an earthly king who would give them peace and offer independence from their Roman oppressors. We spent some time praying for this country and her people.

After our study we always serve refreshments and hot drinks. It was great to hear the conversation continue around the tea table that night. Some shared how God was showing Himself to them through life circumstances. Others spoke of faith in God during troubling times and voiced prayer concerns.

Please pray for members to attend Truth Seekers meetings consistently and hear what God is saying. Pray for peace and stability for this wonderful country and for God to raise up a leader to bring healing. Finally, pray for us to see where God is working and do what He asks of us!

*Names changed

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Read “Integrity’s Witness” for a firsthand account of how concerted prayer facilitates effective ministry halfway around the world.

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