Source: Frontiers USA, September 12, 2022
Aptitude tests said that he shouldn’t be able to learn a second language. But when God called him to share about Jesus in North Africa, no test score could hold him back.
The smell of baked goods floated above the chatter of voices in the apartment. Nicholas hunted for a spot to sit, stepping carefully to avoid crawling babies and squirming toddlers. Fitting 40 adults plus their children into his living room for their weekly [ministry team] meeting was a challenge.
However, finding enough elbow room was nothing compared to their goal of starting a church in their unreached community. The North African region where the team worked was a tough place to live, much less engage in conversations about Jesus. The last missionary in the area had left over 50 years earlier, driven away by threats of violence.
One way [the] team tried to connect with Muslim men and women was through a radio station that offered listeners the chance to study the Bible. But so far, nobody had taken them up on their offer.
Nicholas found an open spot on the floor next to two men deep in conversation and sighed as he sank down against the wall. Maybe the radio program was a lost cause.
As if on cue, the team’s leader, Brad, burst into the meeting with a huge grin. “Someone wants to study the Bible with us.”
The team went quiet for a moment, then exploded into excited chatter.
“The radio station called,” Brad continued, motioning for everyone to quiet down. “They want the team member with the best language ability to meet Tahar, the student.”
Everyone looked at Nicholas.
Read the full story. God did something amazing that continues to bear fruit years later. May this story give hope to those in the early days of their cross-cultural work.
Also from North Africa: Libyan Christians urge us to pray for a young man who converted to Christianity a few years ago and has been sentenced to death for apostasy (Middle East Concern).