One day about 6 months ago an Imam was preaching his normal Friday sermon in his Mosque which is in a completely Muslim area. As he was preaching from a certain passage in the Quran he came to a verse that calls for the discrimination of non Muslims and disassociation from them. As he was preaching this he was stopped dead in his tracks with the realization that this verse just could not be right and yet here he was not only believing this himself but teaching it to others. The Holy Spirit convicted him which in turn prepared his heart to meet our disciple in a secret meeting just a few weeks later in his own house. Not any disciple however, but a believer who came to faith in the same village who attended the same mosque several years earlier. A believer who experienced tremendous persecution including being violently kicked out of his house and village behind the preaching and encouragement of this same Imam.
Now God had miraculously orchestrated this meeting between these two men. He softened the heart of the Imam to open his house and listen (despite danger on his part) and gave boldness to this disciple to go and love on the man who previously had persecuted him and preached against him(despite danger on his part as well). This disciple was even bold enough to give this Imam a Bible after sharing his testimony of how Jesus had changed his life and had been with him and his family even through all the great trials of the past years. A series of secret meetings ensued with the Imam opening up more and more each time. After about six meetings this Imam realized that he needed to believe in Jesus and follow Him! Subsequently on the very next meeting he made the decision to repent of his sin and give his whole life to serve Jesus! His life has been changed and he already feels like a new person.
Several weeks later after preaching in the Mosque, he immediately changed out of his robe (or dish dash) and took an hour taxi ride to meet this other man. They then drove 3 hours south to meet in private due to persecution and people watching him and other imams in the area after some recent terrorist activity. Here we continued to walk through what it means to follow Jesus and obey him. After sharing his desire to follow Jesus with everything and how Jesus had already cause his heart to totally change he also said that he was ready to be baptized. So right then and there he was baptized by the one he formally persecuted in the bathtub of the house.
He is very excited and committed to His faith in Jesus and is already sharing with others! He remains the Imam and continues to preach in the Mosque but now he preaches Bible truths. We are praying for the 100-200 regulars of this mosque to come to know Jesus as well and for this Imam to turn in to a great leader and walk in the foot steps of the Apostle Paul. We praise God for this miracle and for all the others coming to faith in this area as well. We are believing for much more to come despite the heavy persecution and the great obstacles against us! One of our disciples was shot and killed this summer for his faith but we are holding tight to the belief that “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Now God had miraculously orchestrated this meeting between these two men. He softened the heart of the Imam to open his house and listen (despite danger on his part) and gave boldness to this disciple to go and love on the man who previously had persecuted him and preached against him(despite danger on his part as well). This disciple was even bold enough to give this Imam a Bible after sharing his testimony of how Jesus had changed his life and had been with him and his family even through all the great trials of the past years. A series of secret meetings ensued with the Imam opening up more and more each time. After about six meetings this Imam realized that he needed to believe in Jesus and follow Him! Subsequently on the very next meeting he made the decision to repent of his sin and give his whole life to serve Jesus! His life has been changed and he already feels like a new person.
Several weeks later after preaching in the Mosque, he immediately changed out of his robe (or dish dash) and took an hour taxi ride to meet this other man. They then drove 3 hours south to meet in private due to persecution and people watching him and other imams in the area after some recent terrorist activity. Here we continued to walk through what it means to follow Jesus and obey him. After sharing his desire to follow Jesus with everything and how Jesus had already cause his heart to totally change he also said that he was ready to be baptized. So right then and there he was baptized by the one he formally persecuted in the bathtub of the house.
He is very excited and committed to His faith in Jesus and is already sharing with others! He remains the Imam and continues to preach in the Mosque but now he preaches Bible truths. We are praying for the 100-200 regulars of this mosque to come to know Jesus as well and for this Imam to turn in to a great leader and walk in the foot steps of the Apostle Paul. We praise God for this miracle and for all the others coming to faith in this area as well. We are believing for much more to come despite the heavy persecution and the great obstacles against us! One of our disciples was shot and killed this summer for his faith but we are holding tight to the belief that “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Pray:
Please pray for God’s power to be on display in this area and for an Acts type movement to take place!
Pray for new healthy churches to be planted here for we know that Jesus will build His church and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it!
Please pray for God’s power to be on display in this area and for an Acts type movement to take place!
Pray for new healthy churches to be planted here for we know that Jesus will build His church and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it!