The Best Offer

“Excuse me. Friend?”

The voice came from behind me, and I smiled. My body was stiff and sore after delivering and setting up several tents, but the work was worth it. The people of this city had been devastated by a recent earthquake, and thousands were still homeless.

I joyfully provided what I was able to through gifts of generous friends, but I couldn’t get the tents made fast enough to meet the need. For many of the suffering, I could only offer comfort, but I never tired of sharing how much God loved them.

When I turned around, I recognized the man standing before me. We’d met several times, and I’d even given him a tent a few weeks before. “Alem, hello. How are you?”

“I’d like to talk to you about my shelter. Come have tea with me.” He didn’t wait for me to answer and simply disappeared through the flap of his temporary home.

“We could make these for you faster and cheaper. I have connections all over the region.”

I laughed, remembering how bluntly he’d spoken the last time I’d seen him too. Then I followed him inside.

He motioned to the rug, then poured me a cup of tea after I sat. “Tell me, did you construct all these tents yourself?”

I shook my head as I accepted a steaming cup. “No, I hired someone to make them. I don’t have the skills to do it on my own, especially not when we need hundreds of them.”

“Ah!” Alem’s face lit up. “I have skills. I’ve worked with metal for years. I can bend pipe better than this, and my cousin can sew. We could make these for you faster and cheaper. I have connections all over the region.”

“Really?” I asked him a few more questions and was impressed with his knowledge.

 I prayed we’d be able to help many more people, even with our limited funds.

By the time we’d drained our cups we had come to an arrangement. I would provide the supplies for the next few tents, and, if Alem proved himself, he could source the materials next time.

I left his tent excited at the prospect of equipping this man to serve within his own community. And I prayed we’d be able to help many more people, even with our limited funds.

Over the next few weeks, I discovered Alem was a man of his word.

He took pride in the quality of his work and was always intent on finding the best bargains. He had a head for business and negotiation, which made my visits with him interesting. Especially when we talked about Christ.

The Gospel is the best offer out there.

One day as we reviewed invoices, I said, “These remind me of the debt that Jesus paid for me. He covered the cost of all of my sins.”

Alem tilted his head. “You’re telling me Jesus paid off your debts?”

I nodded. “And He wants to pay off yours too.”

“Why would your Jesus want to help me? What’s in it for Him? Why would He do that?”

I smiled. “Because He’s rich in love and mercy.”

Our conversations continued for months, long after the need for tents dwindled.

Alem and I are now collaborating on a few new projects together, and the spiritual conversations continue.

Although Alem has yet to trust in Jesus, he continues to engage in discussions about Him. I pray in time he will come to understand that the Gospel is the best offer out there.

Pray:

• Pray that business-minded Muslims like Alem would see the supreme value of following Jesus and turn to Him.
• Ask God to continue to use Frontiers teams to positively impact their communities in the name of Jesus.
• Pray that field workers would have more opportunities to collaborate with local Muslims and share the Gospel in their regions.