True Nourishment

My fingers twitched in anticipation, hovering over the laptop’s keyboard, ready to advance the presentation to the next slide as my husband spoke to the packed room, each Muslim-background believer hoping to learn how to make disciples of Christ.

Though we would only be with these students for two days of their six-month course, I was eager to get to know them. I loved sharing stories of how the Lord was at work in Southeast Asia, and I wanted to hear how God had called them to share the Gospel with unreached peoples, too.

When the first portion of our presentation ended, my husband and I stepped to the back of the room where eager young people bombarded us with questions.

My husband smiled brightly. “You’ll hear more this afternoon,” he promised. “Now, tell us why you’re here. Who has God called you to reach?”

“Can Jesus change anyone’s life?”

As the students began answering, we made our way out of the building toward a food vendor working a cart down the street. Soon, our group crowded around him, some purchasing lunch while others continued chatting.

As he grilled meat and prepared plates, the vendor leaned toward Ilham, one of the student mentors in our group. “Why are they so excited?”

Ilham smiled. “Jesus changed their lives. They want everyone to know that He can change their lives, too.”

As the vendor considered Ilham’s words, I silently prayed he wouldn’t be too distracted selling satay to discover the true nourishment of the Bread of Life.

He passed another bamboo skewer of grilled meat to someone in our group, then turned again to Ilham. “Can Jesus change anyone’s life?”

Ilham nodded slowly. “He can.”

This was what my husband and I had prayed to see when we went to the field with Frontiers.

As their conversation continued, I gently nudged my husband. Slowly, the rest of the group realized what was happening, as well. The crowd grew quiet, conversations replaced by silent prayers as we watched our training put into practice.

With the Holy Spirit’s leading, Ilham shared the Gospel seamlessly in the local dialect. Only 15 minutes later, the street vendor expressed his desire to follow Jesus.

Joy filled my heart, but I remained silent as the vendor prayed with Ilham, several students joining them.

When the prayer ended, one of the male students turned toward my husband. “Is it okay if I’m late to your next session? I want to help disciple our new brother.”

I couldn’t hold back tears as a small handful of men introduced themselves to the vendor and began sharing how Jesus had transformed their lives.

This was what my husband and I had prayed to see when we went to the field with Frontiers—young, local believers pouring into their own people, disciples making disciples.

I pray this is only the beginning of an incredible movement of faith among these people and that the Gospel will spread throughout Asia and beyond its borders, changing the lives of generations to come.

Orar:

• Orar para que más obreros vayan a compartir el Evangelio donde todavía no hay testigos de Cristo.

• Praise God for the faithful work of Frontiers field workers in equipping Muslim-background believers to be disciples who make disciples.

• Ask God to work through Muslim-background believers like these students, as they bring the Good News of Jesus to unreached peoples.