I heard an amazing story from North Africa recently. I want to share it with you because I value your ongoing partnership in mission. Even though this story comes from a land far away, it is our story. Each one of us plays a role in the mission to plant churches throughout the world, whether it is through praying, giving or going. I want to say again that I appreciate your active involvement in this collaborative effort.
The story comes from a country where the Gospel has been opposed for generations. The name of Jesus is now being proclaimed and churches are being planted. A young couple that came from a strict Muslim background is now actively gathering new followers of Jesus into house churches where they are being discipled and growing in their faith.
The young woman of that couple is named Magda. She first heard the Gospel almost thirty years ago on TV. For years, she watched these programs in Arabic and was fascinated by what she heard. Although she watched in secret, she regularly took notes and wrote down the passages of Scripture that she heard. After some time, Magda had a notebook full of Bible verses and, as she would study those passages, her heart was being drawn toward Jesus. But that notebook was the only Bible she had.
Magda had been carefully compiling her own Bible for years, but now she was given the entire Bible in her own language—a wonderful gift.
Then one day, Magda met a young man in her neighborhood who was interested in her, but he was a very militant Muslim. She told him plainly, “If you’re interested in me, you need to know that I’m interested in Jesus.”
The young man was bewildered by her statement, but quickly responded with an equally surprising reply. “Then I’ve got something that you might want,” he said to her. “Someone just gave me a Bible the other day. I certainly don’t want it or need it, so you can have it.”
Magda was thrilled. She had been carefully compiling her own Bible for years, but now she was given the entire Bible in her own language—a wonderful gift from a radical Muslim!
She could hardly wait to begin reading. She started in Genesis and devoured it page by page, book by book. Although she had some difficulty understanding portions of the Old Testament, when she met Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, she was so refreshed. She loved the way that Jesus had compassion on people, how he healed their sicknesses and forgave their sins. But then, as she read on, her heart was crushed when Jesus was killed! “How could that happen?” she cried. She was so upset and disappointed. “This is terrible!” she thought. “Jesus was supposed to save his people!”
Finally, Magda decided to keep reading and then she came to the resurrection story. “He’s alive!” she rejoiced. Overwhelmed by happiness and relief, her eyes were opened to God’s wonderful plan of salvation. She thanked God for his amazing love and surrendered her life completely to Jesus.
Her heart was so full that she needed to tell someone else about this love. So she found her radical friend—the young man who had given her the Bible—and she told him all about what she had read. This time, his heart was somehow ready to hear it. As she shared her testimony and spoke boldly of her faith, he was moved to respond and also gave his heart to Jesus.
Today, he and Magda are not only following Jesus together, they are married and they are key partners for us in North Africa. In a dark and difficult place where very few people have encountered God’s love and grace, Magda and her husband are shining the light of Jesus, proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and gathering new believers together in churches.
Stories like this inspire me to believe that God is always at work in wonderful ways all around the world to draw people to himself and build his Church. This story also inspires me to keep investing in church planting and in the people who are passionately engaged in making disciples and growing the Church worldwide. Does it do the same for you?
Your partnership assists workers like Magda and her husband and supports church planting efforts not only in places like North Africa but in North America as well. Would you consider making a financial gift to Multiply that would further this work?
You and I share a passion for making disciples, planting churches, and reaching nations, including Canada. Together, we are discerning new directions and strategies for a fruitful harvest. As we join hands, may God bless us and make us a blessing.
Your fellow multiplier,
Randy Friesen