Letters from Afar
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| Persons of Peace want to be found (Luke 10, Matthew 10) |
Part of what we are engaged in is to coach as many other workers, both expat and local partners, as we can in the process of what it is to implement Disciple-Making Movements (DMM).
A couple who serve in India came to our island to spend a few days implementing DMM together, as we model here.
Amie and I walked along the beach as we prayed and trusted the Holy Spirit to lead us to those whom God would prepare to open their households. As the men (our husbands) played in the sand with the children, we strolled and trusted. This day, we would go out in a tag teaming way: us two women, then the men. (Luke 10, Matthew 10).
Bu Nima is a grandmother who comes to the beach each day in search of customers for her massage/manicure/pedicure business. We sat with her and chatted as we went through the usual introductions. Her two friends and their children joined in the fun.
At one point, I transitioned to mention that both my friend and I are followers of Isa Al Masih. To which these women responded by assuming that meant we were Muslims. We clarified that we are not but “Isn’t it wonderful to know that Allah is in search throughout the earth to seek those whose hearts are truly wanting to be His. Are you ladies some of those whom Allah is drawing to Himself?”
They nodded in curious agreement.
I then mentioned that my friend has a message from Allah and could she share that with them?
Again, they nodded with a bit of a suspicious squint in their eyes.
Amie asked if she could share a story which reflects the heart of those who long to truly follow Allah. She began…
There once was a little girl who longed to be with her father. Yet, at a young age, her father went abroad on business. The little girl waited day after day for any word possible from her dad. Years passed, still no word. Finally, the now grown woman received four letters all at once on the same day.
My friend Amie then asked the women, “Which of the four letters do you think the woman chose to read? If you were her, would you read just the last one or would you read all four?”
Bu Nima muddled over this perplexing question. Her friends expressed various answers. But, it was Nima who began to understand what was being asked.
Finally, she answered, “If I truly want to know the heart of my father, then I would want to read every word written in all four letters.”
At this point, we shared that in their book it teaches in Sura 4:126 that they are instructed to read what they consider to be the four holy books. The Koran, the Taurat, Zabur, and Injil (books of Moses, Psalms, and gospels).
I then asked Bu Nima when she and her household could get together to study the stories of the prophets from these other books?
To be intentional is really to simply walk out what it is to live a Shema lifestyle (Deuteronomy 6:4-11). To be kingdom of God purposeful is to be closely aligned with the heart and purposes of our beloved Saviour and Lord, Isa Al Masih.
Pray for the follow-up time with Bu Nima, as I bring a national partner with me as we facilitate the first prophet story of Adam, in our 10 OT Discovery Bible Study stories, then the 14 NT stories on Isa Al Masih.
A couple who serve in India came to our island to spend a few days implementing DMM together, as we model here.
Amie and I walked along the beach as we prayed and trusted the Holy Spirit to lead us to those whom God would prepare to open their households. As the men (our husbands) played in the sand with the children, we strolled and trusted. This day, we would go out in a tag teaming way: us two women, then the men. (Luke 10, Matthew 10).
Bu Nima is a grandmother who comes to the beach each day in search of customers for her massage/manicure/pedicure business. We sat with her and chatted as we went through the usual introductions. Her two friends and their children joined in the fun.
At one point, I transitioned to mention that both my friend and I are followers of Isa Al Masih. To which these women responded by assuming that meant we were Muslims. We clarified that we are not but “Isn’t it wonderful to know that Allah is in search throughout the earth to seek those whose hearts are truly wanting to be His. Are you ladies some of those whom Allah is drawing to Himself?”
They nodded in curious agreement.
I then mentioned that my friend has a message from Allah and could she share that with them?
Again, they nodded with a bit of a suspicious squint in their eyes.
Amie asked if she could share a story which reflects the heart of those who long to truly follow Allah. She began…
There once was a little girl who longed to be with her father. Yet, at a young age, her father went abroad on business. The little girl waited day after day for any word possible from her dad. Years passed, still no word. Finally, the now grown woman received four letters all at once on the same day.
My friend Amie then asked the women, “Which of the four letters do you think the woman chose to read? If you were her, would you read just the last one or would you read all four?”
Bu Nima muddled over this perplexing question. Her friends expressed various answers. But, it was Nima who began to understand what was being asked.
Finally, she answered, “If I truly want to know the heart of my father, then I would want to read every word written in all four letters.”
At this point, we shared that in their book it teaches in Sura 4:126 that they are instructed to read what they consider to be the four holy books. The Koran, the Taurat, Zabur, and Injil (books of Moses, Psalms, and gospels).
I then asked Bu Nima when she and her household could get together to study the stories of the prophets from these other books?
To be intentional is really to simply walk out what it is to live a Shema lifestyle (Deuteronomy 6:4-11). To be kingdom of God purposeful is to be closely aligned with the heart and purposes of our beloved Saviour and Lord, Isa Al Masih.
Pray for the follow-up time with Bu Nima, as I bring a national partner with me as we facilitate the first prophet story of Adam, in our 10 OT Discovery Bible Study stories, then the 14 NT stories on Isa Al Masih.
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