By an Alliance couple serving in the Middle East
Despite being warned that the Bible is a corrupt book, Yusef began reading one given to him by a visitor to his village. It raised many questions, especially concerning stories similar to those in his religion’s holy book. But Yusef did not know any Jesus followers, so his queries went unanswered.
God’s redemptive story takes us to some of the hardest places to reach people like Yusef. The Lord’s love requires His people to take greater risks as they break new ground in sharing this good news. It has taken our Alliance team, one local and two international families, to a major city in the heart of the Arab world.
Though many local believers are bold, ours is a context where following Jesus can come at great cost. Those who embrace Him may lose family, home, financial security, or even life. Seeing local believers isolated and challenged in their attempts to share their faith, we began to seek a new way to form a worshiping community that would provide a place for growth and a witness.
A Vision Becomes Reality
In 2010, in the middle of a prayer meeting, we received our answer. We envisioned an international congregation that would welcome the English-speaking local community as well as expatriates and help to establish local churches.
After a year of prayer and preparation, we opened our doors, and God steadily brought people into our community. Today, about 40 people meet together weekly, including expatriates, believers, seekers, and a core group of nationals. In addition to the worship services, our church offers English classes, Bible studies, seeker courses, discipleship, and community events in English and Arabic so that people can build relationships and encounter truth.
Many, like Yusef, meet us for the first time through English classes. Yusef had heard of the class we offered, enrolled, and was pleased to learn it was taught by Christians who spoke openly about their faith. He felt like he finally found the opportunity he was looking for and frequently stayed after class with his instructor to discuss his questions.
Seeking Truth
Yusuf joined a seeker course to continue the dialogue. During the following months, he studied the Bible and his religion’s holy book, comparing their teachings. He even asked a believer to pray for him in Jesus’ name and was astonished when all three of his requests were answered.
As Yusef progressed in his faith journey, he struggled with fear and guilt about reading the “forbidden book.” One night, he had a vision of a glorious man in white standing behind him. He recognized Him as the Messiah and was overcome with a sense of peace. Yusef knew he had to make a decision. One day, he was awakened in the early morning hours and began to pray.
Oh, Lord, I have tried to discover You and to know the true path. I need to know Your way. Lord, if You really exist, guide me to the true way in which I must walk. I want to know it from You. For it is said that if you seek God, you will find Him. So, Lord, guide me to Yourself.
Public Confession
As Yusef continued to read the Bible, he became increasingly convinced that it explained the way of God. One day at the church, he asked to address the congregation. To everyone’s surprise, Yusef publicly confessed Jesus as Lord.
From that day forward, Yusef’s life began to change. The Lord had answered his questions but more importantly, he experienced true peace and a loving relationship with God. Yusef was baptized 40 days after he trusted in Jesus. He has since become a bold witness, has led others to follow Christ, and senses God’s call upon his life.
The Harvest Is Great
Our desire from the beginning was to see locals enter the faith community and form new Arabic-speaking, Christ-centered, Great Commission communities. Since Yusef’s conversion, five new believers were baptized last year, whose lives illustrate well God’s passion to reach the people of the Arab world and how He is doing so through Alliance ministries.
Pray
Join the Alliance family in praying for our workers at home and around the world. Use the Alliance Prayer Requests to assist you.
Watch
Courageous workers have risen to Jesus’ invitation to sow seeds of hope in some of the world’s most spiritually barren landscapes. Watch the Great Commission Day Offering video and witness the 100-year story of Alliance ministry coming to full bloom in the Middle East.