In a closed Middle Eastern country, church planter Jake began a monthly prayer journey—asking God for opportunities to give Bible studies. Within weeks, he met Omar, a secret believer for 15 years longing for baptism, and Wassim, a returning refugee who had found Christ online. Both eagerly joined Jake’s house church and began studying Scripture. Their stories reveal how God prepares seekers long before missionaries meet them.
The name of the author and church planter has been changed, and the region where he works has been withheld to protect his ministry.
Jake, a church planter, knew there was one thing he couldn’t miss in his daily life now that he and his wife were living in a country where Christians were scarce: prayer. He decided to write down all his prayer requests each month and see how God answered them.
Jake and a group of members at his church plant were each responsible for discipling one or two new attendees. The group gathered each day of the week to pray for these new believers and reserved one day for fasting.
During one house church meeting, a member introduced Jake to Omar, a cook who had discovered Jesus many years ago. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Jake started a conversation with Omar, and soon, the two men promised to meet.
A few days later, Omar visited Jake and shared his testimony of discovering Jesus through the Bible. For the past 15 years, he had followed his faith cautiously, avoiding too much contact with other believers to avoid risking his life. His family and friends didn’t know about his beliefs. Jake listened intently as Omar expressed his desire to be baptized.
From that moment on, Jake and Omar met almost daily to study the Bible.
During that same month, Jake met Wassim, a young man who had lived as a refugee in a Western country for some years. Having left his homeland disillusioned, he had wrestled with questions that led him further away from his past beliefs. Wassim began exploring Christianity alone, finding a sense of peace he had never known. Upon returning to his country, he searched online for other local believers and was introduced to Jake’s house church.
To Jake’s delight, he learned that Wassim also desired baptism. Jake met weekly with Wassim, delving into subjects such as faith, Jesus Christ, and eternity.
As Jake completed the first month of his prayer journey, he was overcome with a profound admiration for God’s responses. He had asked the Lord to help him give Bible studies, and now he had two eager students.
As Jake prepares to step into the second month of his prayer journey, his heart is filled with amazement and anticipation. He knows that his journey has only begun, and he feels the strength of God leading him forward.
To learn about the church-planting ministry of Global Mission pioneers, visit bit.ly/GMPioneers.
