Waiting for the Right Moment

As a university student studying anthropology, I signed up for an eight-month cross-cultural program. I had no interest in missions. I wasn’t even a believer. But God placed me in the home of Alim, an elderly Muslim man whose family lived on an island in Southeast Asia.

During those eight months, I studied the local language and taught English. But the best part was living in Alim’s home. I became a part of the family. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t Asian or Muslim. In their culture, staying in their home made me a family member. Suddenly I had dozens of Muslim cousins, nephews, aunts, and uncles.

It didn’t matter that I wasn’t Asian or Muslim. In their culture, staying in their home made me a family member.

Shortly after returning to America, I heard the Gospel and became a follower of Jesus. Almost immediately I felt an urgency to share the message of Christ with Muslims. Thinking about Alim and his dear family, I asked God to use me to bring them the Good News and to help reach their entire Muslim people group for Christ.

Then I met Marie, who also felt called to missions. After marrying, we began preparing to become long-term workers and joined a Frontiers team serving on the same island where Alim’s family lived.

During our first months on the field, Marie and I stayed in Alim’s home. His family welcomed us wholeheartedly. In those first months, we shared everything together.

After moving into our own home, Marie and I visited Alim and his family regularly. We often spoke about Jesus, shared the Good News, and told them our testimonies. For more than 10 years, we prayed that the message of Christ would touch the hearts of our beloved Muslim family—but they showed little interest in the Gospel.

Then Alim fell gravely ill and was hospitalized. Knowing that his life was fading, I decided to share the Gospel with him one last time.

But what more could I say about Jesus that would finally reach Alim’s heart?

As evening drew near, everyone returned to their homes. But I remained by Alim’s bedside, still waiting.

I thought about how I could help Alim understand just how significant the Gospel is. During my first stay in the country more than a decade earlier, I had learned that local people share valuable wisdom indirectly and often after a long period of waiting. In their culture, withholding an important message until the right time gave it more impact.

As I made my way to the hospital, I prayed for God to help me wait for just the right moment to share the message of Christ.

In Alim’s room, family members surrounded the dying man’s weak body. I stayed the entire day. As evening drew near, everyone returned to their homes. But I remained by Alim’s bedside, still waiting.

Evening turned to night, and Alim fell asleep. Settling in for the night, I improvised a makeshift bed on the floor using my jacket as a pillow. I tossed and turned restlessly most of the night. But at some point in the still-dark early morning, I fell into a deep sleep.

It wasn’t until the sun cast its light on my face that I began to stir. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Alim was wide awake, and next to him was his wife. They both stared at me.

“You obviously want to tell me something,” Alim stated. “Isn’t that why you stayed here all night? What is it you have to tell me?”

The wait was over.

“I want to tell you about Jesus again,” I said. He nodded. Then I told Alim that what I had to share was nothing different from what I had said many times before: that in His mercy, God sent Jesus Christ to rescue and redeem us.

“This is a gift from God Himself—not something we can earn,” I said. “I long for you to receive the gift of sacrifice that Christ gave on the cross so we will be together for eternity.”

“I want to accept this gift,” Alim responded, his voice gravelly and sincere. “How do I do that?”

The wait was over. “I want to tell you about Jesus again,” I said.

At Alim’s request, I began to lead him in prayer so he could repent and confess Christ as his Savior. But he quickly took over. As he turned his heart to God, Alim prayed simply, “Lord Jesus, I accept you. Please save me.”

A few days later, Alim passed away. Marie and I shared in his family’s sadness. But we also felt immense joy, because we knew that he had turned to Christ before his death.

After Alim’s passing, three more family members put their faith in Jesus. Since then, our team has planted more than 20 fellowships of new believers among Alim’s Muslim people group.

We praise God for this Kingdom growth—even as we wait and pray for this entire people to receive the same gift of salvation that Alim accepted.

• Praise the Lord that after years of ministry, men and women from Alim’s people group are responding to the Gospel.
• Pray that Alim’s entire family will believe in and follow Jesus Christ.
• Ask God to raise up more teams to share the Good News in Muslim communities where there are still no believers.