Turkish Christians sit a tables talking among one another

Miracles amid Fear in the Middle East

After a church service in a Middle Eastern country, a pastor was listening to a young nurse who wore an Islamic head covering as she explained how she had been researching Christianity on the internet.

Dana* had visited the worship service after traveling from her home 50 miles away. She told the pastor, head of a native ministry, that she had rigorously followed all Islam’s rules and studied its books and still had no peace.

Studying other religions online for more than half a year had drawn warnings from friends who told her that leaving Islam was among the worst sins, she said. Yet she had continued investigating Christianity, and the pastor asked her what she had concluded about Jesus Christ.

“While I was expecting her to respond like most Muslims, saying, ‘Jesus is a good prophet,’ she said, ‘I’m a sinner, and He is my Lord and Savior,’” the pastor said. “This young woman came to this conclusion with God’s help only, as there were no other Christians around her.”

Her reply shocked him, especially as most Muslims find admitting that they are sinners very difficult.

Her reply shocked him, especially as most Muslims find admitting that they are sinners very difficult, he said.

“It’s such a put-down in this culture, and it’s very difficult to say that Jesus Christ is God,” the pastor said.

He was further stunned when he asked if Dana was ready for baptism. “Actually, I came here to be baptized,” she said.

At the same time, she also said she had some questions. She was living with her Muslim family and working with Muslim colleagues, and she asked, “When I work at the hospital or just do things around the house wearing my Muslim head covering even after I’ve believed in Jesus and have been baptized, will that be deplorable? I’d just like to avoid put-downs from my family and those at work.”

The pastor said the outward covering wouldn’t distance her from Christ.

“Just don’t deny Christ Jesus, don’t continue your old ways of worship, but go as the Spirit leads you in growing strong in your new faith,” he told her.

They then prayed together, asking the Lord to speak to her heart and give her the strength to obey His commands, and she was baptized, he said.

After staying on the church premises for two more days without her head covering, she returned home. On a visit months later, Dana told the pastor she was no longer wearing her head covering.

“Those who ask me why hear my testimony of why I believe in Jesus,” she said. “Some are angry with me, but some ask me about it, and I’m taking back with me two New Testaments for them.”

The pastor said the gospel is spreading in unexpected ways through her.

“I encouraged her not to be sad about those who are angry with her, and she responded by saying that she isn’t feeling sad about their attitudes because she knows she belongs to God now,” he said. “Your prayers mean so much to us, as we are seeing how God is using even isolated people to come to faith and then share their faith in that area with no churches.”

Significant Symbol

The symbolic significance of the hijab (head covering) in some countries in the Middle East has intensified with the spread of both the gospel and Islamic extremism.

A Muslim refugee from Afghanistan who came to Christ after receiving food from the same ministry lives with fear. Reading a New Testament she received with the aid, but secretly to keep from upsetting her husband, she knew removing her head covering would incur risk and wrath.

“I’m a covered lady, and if I take off the covering, what will my Afghan Islamic friends say to me?” she recently told a Christian friend. “My husband lets me come and get food packages from the church, but will he divorce me if he knows I’ve become a Christian?”

The ministry leader prayed with her, and they discussed biblical passages relevant to her dilemma.

“She put her faith in Jesus yet still struggles with fears, so your prayers for her will be greatly appreciated,” he said. “We are quite sure that as she welcomes God’s Holy Spirit into her life, she will grow strong in her faith.”

Christian workers throughout the Middle East are facing the risks, along with the challenges, of forming strong disciples. Please consider a donation today to equip and encourage them.

*Name changed for security reasons

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