Missionaries Yusuf* and Malik*stood on the street of an Arab neighborhood in Germany and watched the people as they passed. They were there to share the gospel, but this particular area wasn’t a welcoming place for Christians. In fact, other missionaries here had been physically assaulted in the past.

On this day, Yusuf and Malik were hyper-vigilant of their surroundings but unafraid to do what they knew they’d been called to do: bring the hope of Christ to those who needed to hear it.

Together, they approached an Arab delivery man. They knew the risk; they knew he might be hostile toward them. Still, they went. The man was friendly, and the missionaries talked to him of the Lord. But as they spoke, Yusuf saw from the corner of his eye another Arab man nearby, watching them intently as he spoke on his phone.

Compelled to Approach a Stranger

The hairs on the back of Yusuf’s neck stood on end; his body grew tense. Was this man calling others to confront them? Were they in danger?

Yusuf and Malik prayed with the Arab delivery man and ended their conversation. As the man departed, Yusuf felt a strong urge to approach the other man who continued to watch them. There was no other explanation for this compulsion other than that the Holy Spirit was urging him forward.

“Are you Arab?” Yusuf asked when he reached the man.

“Yes,” the man said. “And I know what you were doing. You were evangelizing!”

For a moment, Yusuf’s heart leaped into his throat. He could not decipher the man’s intentions. But he also could not force himself to flee. So, he confirmed the man’s statement. “Yes,” Yusuf said. “That is what we were doing.”

Then, to his surprise, the man smiled. “I recently came to Christ in Turkey,” the man said, his eyes filled with sudden joy. “Now, I’m a refugee here. I’ve been searching for an Arab church or community but couldn’t find one. When I heard you sharing the gospel, I was overjoyed and immediately called my wife, telling her I found believers on the street. I was praying as you preached!”

You Can Help With Outreach Such as This

“This was a powerful encounter,” Yusuf later reported. “The man and his family are now attending our Arab church in the city.”

Pray for missionaries like Yusuf and Malik, who evangelize among the Arab people of Germany, seeking to bring the lost to a saving belief in Jesus. And please consider a donation today to support missionaries as they do this gospel work.

*Names changed for security.