Middle East
The soil in the Middle East is about as rough as you can imagine; it’s hard for vegetation to take root in the rocky, desert terrain. War and unrest have a death grip on this region and terrorism is an everyday reality.
But the seeds of the gospel are taking root in the most unlikely places. Men and women are hearing God’s Word in their heart language and their lives are being transformed!
Believers here are taking the seeds of the gospel and spreading them in every corner of the Middle East . . . not letting anything stand in the way of putting God’s Word in the hands of people in their communities.
In the face of extreme persecution, they lean into the promises of Scripture and are willing to give their lives for God’s Word. And they know that if they do die, more seeds will be sown into the soil and the harvest will indeed be great.
A Personal Testimony: Raza*
“Jesus came to my refugee camp . . . ”
I never thought we would end up living in a refugee camp . . .
Unrest caused us to be displaced from our home. All we had was a 8x13 wooden box wrapped with a tarp and covered with a tin roof. Every day was the same routine until a group of Americans showed up and started telling children’s stories about a man named Jesus.
Together with some other adults, I would sit in the back of the room and listen. Being raised Muslim, I had not heard these stories before. Jesus was so interesting; His words were so compelling! I had to know more.
One day, a group of Bible translators came to our camp. When I told them about the stories I had heard of Jesus and how I wanted to know more, they told me I could help translate the Bible, all the stories about Jesus, into my own language. While they were talking with me, my wife came into the room. She listened for a long time and then said that she wanted to help, too. She had also heard the stories and was hungry to know more.
We are both so intrigued with this man named Jesus! Now I am looking to recruit more men and women to help us get the stories of Jesus into our language. We have been waiting to know all of His words for us.
—Raza,* The Middle East
* Name changed and country not listed for security reasons. Photo is not of the actual person.
The Challenge: To equip national Bible translators risking their lives in this volatile region while there’s still time.
“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Galatians 6:8 (NIV)
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