Music, Technology, and the Spirit
One outreach plan uses many different talents–musical training, technology, and the spiritual understanding to reach hearts. The outreach, called The Yakoudouni Project, puts carefully selected biblical reflections into an audiovisual that uses the local language. It’s all done in a home studio with the help of friends who know the language and understand the culture. The team requests…
Read MoreBreathing Free
Breathe Free 2 was Amal’s first contact with Adventist Christians. Her smoking habit had gripped her; for weeks she faced serious temptation to give in. But every day she received a spiritual message on her phone from the Breathe Free 2 team. Just recently Amal shared, “Every day I would come home facing horrific temptation to smoke. Many times, at the hardest…
Read MoreLearning to Be Open
A MENA pastor tells about a visit he made recently to a local university: “The professor I needed to talk to was teaching a class and asked me to wait until the break. I didn’t know when the break was, so I approached a student on the patio. After he told me, he asked if I was a student…
Read MoreIf I Could See Jesus
A university student writes asking for special prayer for a friend. “I’ve been studying the Bible with a friend who told me, ‘If I can see Jesus in a dream inviting me to follow Him, I will know He is by my side and I would have the courage to stand against the world for Jesus.’ Please pray…
Read MoreThe Awkward Witness
The jokes coming from the restaurant workers made it awkward for the canvassers to approach any potential customers with their books. The fun the workers were having at the obvious “outsiders'” expense grew as one joke was followed by a better joke, until the commotion brought out the manager. He was not amused. “What’s going on?” The workers kept snickering,…
Read MoreRunning for a Book
The store owner was delighted to learn that a group of young people were selling uplifting materials in his community. He purchased a four-book set that included Patriarchs and Prophets and Acts of the Apostles. The canvasser left his office and headed down the street, lighthearted and rejoicing. This was a good day! But within moments he realized someone…
Read MoreWe Are Brothers
Recently a young man approached a humanitarian worker in a completely closed country in MENA. “You are my brother,” the young man declared. The worker, thinking he was receiving a compliment, affirmed the young man, “Yes, yes! We are all brothers.” “But you don’t understand! You. Are. My. Brother.” the young man responded emphatically. The worker quickly realized…
Read MoreA Daisy Witness
A critical care nurse in one of the most prestigious hospitals in a closed country in MENA was recently surprised when she was given the hospital’s D.A.I.S.Y. Foundation Award, a highly-coveted professional honor sponsored by an internationally-recognized foundation with 3,000 participating hospitals. The award recognizes nurses who are exceptional in expressing compassion and care to their…
Read MoreMore Information Please
A frontline worker shares the story of a friend of their family who had often been in their home. At times she had joined them in Bible discussions and had even prayed with them, so she knew they were Christians. One day she told them she had been looking for a group that would teach the closest to the Holy…
Read MoreMy Testament
On a recent Sabbath, I joined a house church of believers who had experienced a sobering level of persecution. As we gathered, I noticed one woman wearing heavy make-up. When she shared her story I realized she was trying to cover the bruises from a crushing blow a relative had given her for attempting to share a Bible story. Afterwards…
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