M
y first contact with Irshad* was the Sabbath morning a fellow church member handed me a slip of paper scribbled with his name and phone number. “He might be interested in spiritual things,” my friend said, with a gleam of hope in his eyes. I nodded my thanks and decided to contact Irshad that afternoon.
It took me only a few minutes visiting with Irshad to realize that God had been working in his life for a long time and that his wasn’t a casual interest.
After the usual courtesies, Irshad launched into his story. He told me that he already knew Jesus based on his study of his own faith. He explained that he had attended a well-known national university to become a leader in his community and, while there, noticed a vast difference between the teachings of his childhood and the Bible. He concluded the Bible was inspiring and not corrupt as he had been taught.
Years later, after he had joined the army, a Christian friend urged Irshad to leave the military and become a servant of God. Soon after that unusual advice, Irshad had a dream in which someone delivered the same message to him: “Quit being a soldier to serve God better.” Dutifully, Irshad left the army and began studying what he could about Christianity.
Now, another Christian friend noticed Irshad’s interest and urged him to be baptized. Irshad was thrilled to experience baptism, but he realized he knew very little about Christianity and even less about the Bible. He told me how puzzled he felt. No one seemed to think he needed to do anything beyond accepting Jesus or that there was anything more for him to know.
As Irshad ended his story, he reached out to me with pleading eyes: “Would you teach me so I can know more about Jesus?” Would I be interested? Would I be willing to tell Irshad more? Did I have the time? Absolutely!
Since that first visit months ago, Irshad and I have studied the Bible together every week. Please pray that God’s Spirit will continue to work on Irshad’s heart so that he and the people of his community may come to know Jesus.
Also, please pray that I, a frontline worker in this veiled country,, will have the wisdom to present Jesus in all His beauty so the people of this region may be ready for His soon return.
*Name has been changed
Global Mission reaches the unreached for Jesus in the 10/40 Window. We do this in various ways, including through the service of Global Mission pioneers, urban centers of influence, and tentmakers who use their careers to share Christ.
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