We organized an event to reach people for Christ. We invited a woman from one of our searching groups to join us. The messages we delivered were very clear, and we felt the Holy Spirit surrounding and touching the event and many hearts.
When the event was finished, the woman came to me saying: "I loved the message. It was good, but I can't accept Jesus as Savior for my life. That decision would turn my life upside down.”
I thanked her for coming and for sharing her thoughts with me. I left her with a question: "What will your life look like if you don't accept Christ as Savior?” She smiled at me and said: "It will be the same – fine.” Soon after, she called three times asking questions and asking for some books about Jesus, which we delivered to her.
Then I had a dream. Jesus was standing, knocking at this woman’s door. But no one opened the door. Jesus whispered to my heart, "She couldn't hear my voice because of the noise – the noise of her family, community, culture, and her busyness of work.” This dream encouraged me to continue speaking of Jesus even more directly to her.
We received the good news that she came to love the message so much she accepted Jesus as Savior for her life! Our team was so happy for her, and we continued to pray for her. I then received a call from her asking if she could move from the searching group to one of our house churches. And she was going to bring her husband with her as well. She laughed saying before she hung up the phone, "He might love the message, too, and accept Christ!"
A New Start
We invited him to our house church meeting to speak about how he had become a follower of Christ. Although he was shy and hesitant to speak in front of others, he began his story.
“I was living in darkness. Through the years I tried all kinds of drugs. I sold all I had to buy those drugs. I lost everything – my family, my work, and the respect of others. I reached the point I had no place to sleep except under bridges and with criminals.
“One day I was arrested when the police gathered up some criminals. My only association with them was that we were sharing a place to sleep. I went to prison for three months, but the Lord went before me there! A fellow prisoner - an old man - asked me why I was in prison. I told him about my life. He listened to my story, then he looked at me and asked, ‘Would you like to restore your life?’ I said to him, ‘I can't.’ In a strong tone of voice, he said, ‘You can through Him. He can change you, clean up your life, and give you new start.” I asked him, ‘Tell me about this doctor of yours who can restore my life.’ He told me the story of Jesus and what He had done on the cross. He told me how Jesus, through His grace, accepts everyone, especially people like me.
“I went to bed thinking about what the old man had told me. I was worried and distressed. While I was sleeping, I began to have a nightmare. In the middle of the dream, I saw Jesus walk toward me. He said, ‘Calm down, my son!’ As He touched me with His healing hand, I felt a calm come over me immediately. That peace remained when I woke up in the morning and into the following days. When I left prison, I was hungry to read the Bible, to get baptized, and to join the body of Christ to receive support, encouragement, and instruction.”
The man looked at us who had gathered for the house church meeting and said, "Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ changed me, and He gave me a new start. I am here to remind you to make your life about reaching the unreached at home, around you, and to the ends of the earth with the great news of a new start."
The Strong One
Eaden asked me to have a meeting at her home and speak about love and forgiveness. Just days later, I held the meeting and spoke about the importance of forgiveness in the Christian faith. Eaden was listening carefully. After a while she asked me to repeat what I had been saying. I did not know why she asked me to do so. As I started again, I noticed Eaden was gazing at Udella, her daughter-in-law. Udella was listening carefully.
I concluded my thoughts by telling the women that God loves us and therefore He forgave us. We should forgive others if we truly experience God’s forgiveness. A forgiving spirit forms and shapes us after God’s character.
Most of the women left after the coffee time. Then Udella asked me to stay longer because she wanted to speak to me. So, Eaden, Udella and I were alone. Then Udella shared with me that she and her husband had a big problem with her brother-in-law Aaro. Many times Aaro had borrowed money from Udella’s husband until the total he owed was a huge sum of money. When Udella’s husband asked his brother to return the money he owed, Aaro refused saying, “I do not have any money to reimburse you. Even if I had the money, I would not pay you back.” Then Aaro planned a big engagement celebration for his son but did not invite his brother. This type of slight is a big issue in our culture. Thus, the two brothers and their families became estranged.
Udella confessed to us that whenever she sensed her husband was willing to reconcile with his brother, she would discourage him from doing so. She would tell him, “He was the one who did you wrong. He is the mistaken one. He is the bad person. I did not want you to forgive your brother and be a weak person.”
As our conversation ended, Udella told me, “God forgives us because He is a mighty God. From what you have shared with us this morning, I have come to understand that the one who forgives is the strong one.”
Names have been changed
The Gift
Testimony shared with Impact Middle East leader in Egypt
I love our neighbor Mrs. Soad. She is a great woman, and she loves everybody in our building and on our street. I like the way Mrs. Soad talks. Her conversations include words like “grace,” “thankful,” “mercy,” and “freedom.”
I would climb the stairs to her flat to talk with her about books and listen to her beautiful stories and her soft voice. Every time I visited her, I came away with calmness in my mind and blessing in my heart.
Last year during Christmas I found my name on a gift under her Christmas tree. I asked her, “What is this?” She explained to me, “At Christmas time, Christians share gifts with their families, and I got a gift for you.” I was so happy that Mrs. Soad had remembered me in such a special way. She knows how much I like to read, and she had given me a book called “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” I spent the whole night reading this book about Jesus. The book tells why Jesus came to earth and what He did on the cross for sinners. My heart was greatly moved by the story.
The next day I couldn’t wait to speak to Mrs. Soad. I had realized I was one of those sinners Jesus had died for, and I wanted to tell her how much I love her Jesus. Mrs. Soad responded to me, “If you follow Him, you will be a new person – a new creation. Your whole life will change.” She explained to me how I could be born again. I was so excited as I made the decision to follow Jesus, and I had a great joy in my heart that no words can explain.
A few months later I was baptized, and for a year Mrs. Soad discipled me. I love reading the Bible, praying to the Lord Jesus and being a part of my house church.
Our friend wept as she told this story. We wept with her as she told us how her life had changed. We praise the Lord for our sister's story and for Jesus' story ... the greatest story ever told!
Photo edited for security reasons
Life to the Full
as told to Impact Middle East leader in Egypt
My goal was to get rich so I could retire and enjoy the rest of my life. Like many people, I thought money would bring me happiness and freedom to do whatever I wanted.
After 25 years of working hard, long hours, I was ready to stop working. But before I could enjoy life as I was hoping, I came down with a physical condition that caused me to move very slowly. I was downhearted and angry at God. Why me?
I went to many doctors hoping to find a treatment to relieve my symptoms. I spent a lot of money trying to find a cure, but no one and no treatment could help me. Then I joined many different religious groups hoping their prayers could bring me healing.
When I came to the Impact Middle East house church, I didn’t care what the leaders were teaching. I came looking for healing. One night as we were praying and crying out to God for His help, I felt like a hand touched my head in a special way. But I did not receive healing from my physical condition. Instead, I felt a change in my heart and in my mind. I felt like scales came off my eyes, and I could see life clearly. I had been so blind to life’s meaning and what is true enjoyment!
I now understand life’s meaning is found in Jesus and in God’s word. I experience a deep kind of freedom and joy by helping people, talking with them on the phone, encouraging them through Facebook, praying for them and even visiting them from time to time.
I now want everyone to understand the true meaning of life. I want them to find release from their way of thinking and behavior so they can enjoy life … real life.
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
You Can Live
from Impact Middle East leaders in Egypt
His name was Abdullah. Now his name is Peter.
Abdullah lived as a Muslim. He never thought to study his religion. He was just a normal Muslim, practicing his faith by feasting, praying, and trying to do good things to go to heaven.
One day Abdullah began to think about his religion. Like others he knew, he was afraid to ask questions. After reading a specific chapter in the Qur’an, he was especially confused. He asked the elders of his local mosque for answers. They told him he must accept what he had read without question and without looking for any answers. Abdullah asked others for the truth, but they had nothing to offer him.
Abdullah began to search the Internet for answers. His quest led him to a Christian who had posted these questions:
Do you know who the real God is?
Do you know who Jesus is?
Are you looking for the true God?
These questions were the same ones Abdullah had been asking. The Lord used that Christian to lead Abdullah to answers. He found more answers in the Bible, especially in the gospels Matthew and John. Abdullah's eyes were opened. He was born a second time. This time he was born of the Spirit as he accepted Jesus as Savior. He was a new person, and he took a new name - Peter.
Jesus Environment
by Impact Middle East leader in Egypt
An oppressive spirit permeated this little village in upper Egypt. The people were superstitious, believing in ghosts and that luck determined their futures. The main goal of young women in the village was to get married, no matter what kind of husband or family they would have. Families fought; young people had nothing to do. The children looked miserable, and they had no educational opportunities. The buildings were run down – windows broken out, pieces of sharp glass scattering the ground.
As a team of ministry leaders, we visited this village. The people were like sheep without a shepherd. We decided to bring a Jesus environment of love, joy, and hope to them.
We started by reading and discussing the Bible's book of Mark with the adults. We talked about their lives in Christ, raising their awareness of the beauty of the Lord and His Word. They began to ask questions. We gave them Bibles. We told the children Bible stories, taught them songs, and prayed with them.
When we left after a week of ministry, we could already see changes in the people. We chose some potential leaders to train in the near future. We noticed the children were smiling more and were singing “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”
Yes, wherever there is a Jesus environment, people find the way, the truth and the life.
The Simple Jesus
by Impact Middle East leader in Egypt
Before our home meeting began, one of the regular attenders called to ask if he could bring a guest. I asked him who the guest was. He responded, “Somebody from a different religious background.” I said, “OK. No worries.”
Half an hour later the regular attender arrived with his guest, a young woman named Lamis. As we began to pray and worship the Lord, I noticed tears coming down her face. I didn’t know what was happening inside the visitor's heart, but I asked the Lord to give her peace.
Then the meeting moved to a discussion about Jesus. Lamis started to ask questions because she struggled to know whether Jesus was God or a great prophet. Group members used complicated theological arguments to try to convince her that Jesus is the true God. Finally, someone began to talk about the Jesus who loves us all and meets our needs. He spoke about the Jesus who forgives our sins and remembers them no more, the Jesus who changes our lives from dust to glory, from darkness to light and who gives meaning to our lives.
When he finished speaking, Lamis looked at us and said, “Brothers and sisters, Jesus … Jesus is the one I have been searching for! I need someone who loves me even though I am a sinner, someone who understands me and where I come from. Someone who knows my heart, someone who can forgive and forget my sin. I need someone who can change my whole life and take me on a new path, even when the road is bumpy.” Before we ended the meeting, Lamis gave her life to Christ.
I left that home with praise in my heart. “Thank you, Jesus, because you care for us. You came from heaven to earth to show us the way. You paid the price on the cross for our sins. You rose from death to glory to give us hope for the future here and in eternity. Thank you, Lord, for Lamis and her new life in You. And, above of all, thank You for opening our eyes to know You in a simple and caring way.
The Grumpy Woman
by Impact Middle Leader in Egypt
Demyana,* who attended our two-day retreat about the real reason for Christmas, wasn't interested in the beginning. She didn’t look happy at all. We prayed with her and encouraged her. We were not sure she would return the next day, but she was the first one to arrive.
At the end of the second day's meeting, Demyana stood up and said: “I am a grumpy woman. I have never felt joy in my life. Every day I fight with my husband and my mother-in-law for no reason. I used to spend lots of money on buying clothes and other silly things. Today, since I entered the door of this meeting, I felt the Holy Spirit touch my heart and my mind through the reading of God’s Word and conversation with others. I never thought about Christmas being about Christ. But now I believe Jesus is the answer to my worry and anger. I am asking Him now, before of all of you, to clean my mind and my heart. I believe everything is rubbish compared to knowing Christ.”
With a loud voice Demyana said: “Jesus, I want you to be my Savior and to be forever the King of my life.”
We praise the Lord for what has happened to Demyana! Pray for us as we continue to minister to her.
*Name has been changed
Boundaries
Story from Impact Middle East leaders in Egypt
Sara*, a young married woman in Egypt, used to constantly help her mother-in-law. In spite of this kindness, Sara never heard encouraging or affirming words from her – just negative words. Her mother-in-law also stirred up many problems between Sara and her husband. In the beginning, these problems seemed small but day after day they grew bigger.
Sara attended meetings offered by “N” and “M”, Impact Middle East leaders of an important ministry to girls and women in Egypt. There she heard lectures on setting boundaries – clear limits as to what is considered acceptable and welcomed in relationships. She began to apply what she had heard, setting healthy boundaries with her mother-in-law. As a result, Sara’s marriage has greatly improved. She has become more comfortable and happy with her husband.
God is doing great work through the ministry with girls and women in Egypt. After every lecture, ladies are beginning to ask questions, and some are telling about their problems. “N”, “M”, and guest doctors give these women answers for their problems. The girls and mothers go back to their homes and apply what they have learned. The ministry is helping to address many psychological problems suffered by women in Egypt.
*fictional name
Forgiven in the Name of Jesus
Story from Impact Middle East leader in Egypt
We met the murderer on one of our prison ministry visits. He told us the story of how he had killed a 26-year-old man. Sometime later we went to see the family of the man he had killed. We visited the family many times and talked with them about Jesus. They accepted Jesus as their Savior, and they forgave the killer. Then the family decided to visit the prisoner. They brought him food, and they told him they forgave him in the name of Jesus. After the family visited him many times, the killer also accepted Jesus Christ. Now he is an evangelist to other prisoners. Praise the Lord!