Ministry of Friendship

I recently returned from 3 weeks in the Middle East. I was able to share the gospel with approximately 10 Muslim traveling companions or Uber drivers, then point them to gospel content online with good follow-up. Pray for an Uber driver named Khalid who said, "I have doubts about Islam sometimes." When I asked him to clarify, he sheepishly said, "I probably shouldn't talk about it... but I can't imagine the verses in the Qur'an about killing and wars are from God." It was wonderful to visit a few friends in Dammam, Saudi Arabia after not being there since '12. Surprisingly, my host lived close to the mall where I spent many hours/days meeting Saudis with whom I was in gospel conversation online. 

During this past trip, approximately 80 Arab brothers visited me to drink tea and pray together. Through this "ministry of friendship", I've begun to understand the importance of asking questions and listening carefully. From TikTok to podcasts, everyone wants to be heard but who wants to hear? These brothers will most likely live all their lives in the cities I visit. The Kingdom moves forward as they trust & obey Christ.

A mature, younger brother who lives in south Lebanon where the terrorist group Hezbollah is strongest, recently wrote to me, "Our church started a home church in another nearby area. They believe in it but the goal is not to reproduce it but to do it until it becomes a big church. I am considering maybe starting one at some point since my house will have a big living room. There is no such thing where I live."