This site was desiged for standard modern browsers. Please upgrade your internet browser to Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

Living and Active

Alycia DeLong /Wednesday, February 8, 2023

 

On an isolated hillside surrounded by miles of forest and mountains, Murat* found a large rock to sit down and take a break. He’d been trekking though the uneven terrain all day keeping a protective eye on his sheep and goats. Although there were no established roads, he and other members of his community had worn many paths throughout the area over the years as they had a long history of herding livestock there. They knew where to lead their flocks to and when, how to maneuver the rocky foothills, pace themselves for the long, winding trails, and everything else it took to make sure the job got done.

Murat reached into his coat pocket, pulled out his phone and raised it up in the air as high as he could looking for a service signal. Most of the other shepherds that Murat worked with were relatives: brothers, cousins, uncles, and other connections. Despite being separated for most of the days, they were a very close family. They regularly checked in with one another when they could get reception on their cell phones. In the late evenings, when all the livestock was safely returned to the stalls, they would all gather again on the homestead.

Over the past few months, though, something had changed. Murat had been doing some soul-searching and came across a website that offered access to the Bible. He signed up and began getting text messages every few days of a Bible verse from the New Testament, followed by four simple questions: What does this tell me about God? What does this tell me about mankind? How can I obey this scripture? Who can I share this scripture with?

Most of the scriptures had to do with Jesus, of whom Murat had heard of before in the Quran, but never in this way!

  • This Jesus was poor, but rich men sought his power!
  • This Jesus was meek but had the power to cast out demons and heal the sick!
  • This Jesus was human but had the holy authority to forgive sins and redeem souls!
  • This Jesus died but rose again!

Murat stood up from his rocky seat and continued to wave his phone in the air. Usually, the scripture messages came through around this time and he found himself looking forward to them. It was like the more he learned the more he wanted to know – almost as if something was speaking directly to his heart…

*Ding* came the sound from his phone. Opening his messages, Murat saw it was from the man who always sent him the verses. He was obviously a foreigner, judging by his name, but Murat didn’t know much else about him.

Murat eagerly clicked on the message but was quickly disappointed and a bit thrown off when he saw it wasn’t a Bible scripture but an actual message from the foreigner man himself.

“Hello sir,” the message began, “I am just checking to see if you are receiving or wanting to continue receiving these scriptures on a regular basis. I’ve never heard any response from you since I started sending these messages to you a few months ago, but I hope you are well and blessed. Sincerely, Danny.”

It had never really occurred to Murat to actually respond to these messages, he was often just so caught up in the scriptures, he forgot about the foreigner man who sent them. Sitting back down on the rock, he began to type:

“Hello sir. Nice to meet you. I definitely wish you to continue to send me these scriptures from the Bible! Not only am I reading them, but I forward them to all my family as well. We are constantly talking about this and Jesus! In fact, if I send you their numbers, can you add them to your list and send them scripture messages too?”

The text messages continued back and forth for a while as Murat told Danny about their small, hidden community in a remote area, and how these verses about Jesus were nothing like they’d ever heard before! They had so many questions!

“We would all love it if you could come here and meet with us,” Murat excitedly invited his new foreign friend.

Meanwhile, miles away in the city, Danny sat at his dining room table; laptop and cell phone open, sending out hundreds of scriptures and follow-up messages to the thousands of Muslim seekers who have requested more information about Jesus through this same website.

Looking up from his work, he called to his wife in the other room.

“Hey, Alycia,” he said, “You won’t believe the conversation I just had!”

*Names have been changed.


Alycia DeLong and her husband, Danny, have been involved in overseas missions for over 20 years. In 2015, they moved to the Middle East, focusing on discipleship multiplication ministry in unreached areas. They were there until last August when they returned to Canada with their two children. Now both Alycia and Danny are on staff at the Regina Apostolic Church, Alycia in creative design and Danny as Pastor of Global Initiatives.



print


Show All Blogs

Nowruz Mobarak! Happy New Year!

Nowruz Mobarak! Happy New Year!

For many in the northern hemisphere, the first day of Spring (this year falling on March 19th) is a cause for hope and anticipation. Warmer weather, sunshine, and outdoor living is just around the corner.

But for people from places that have been influenced by Persian culture, such as Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey, and the countries of Central Asia the spring equinox marks Nowruz, their New Years Day, and the start of thirteen days of celebration.

While the celebration of Nowruz varies between ethnic communities, it is an important celebration—including among the diaspora here in Canada. Perhaps even some of your neighbours are celebrating Nowruz?

Here are some ways to pray for those who are celebrating Nowruz


Love Your Muslim Neighbours this Ramadan: Ways to Pray and Engage

Why do Christians Pray for Muslims During Ramadan?

During the month of Ramadan Muslims devote a lot of time to prayer and fasting, seeking Allah’s favour and the purification of their sins, though they are never sure if they have been forgiven or if what they have done is ever enough. Muslims everywhere are seeking God’s approval through a system of works, and yet, they don’t have assurance of their salvation and forgiveness.

As Fouad Masri, the founder of Crescent Project, puts it: “For followers of Jesus, Ramadan is an opportunity to focus on God’s heart for Muslim people, many of whom are desperately seeking God’s approval through a system of works.”

Discover Opportunities to Pray and Engage with Muslims During Ramadan!


Empowered to Influence: Part 3

Paradigm 3 – Worship that Adds Value to Communities

Most unchurched people wouldn’t imagine participating in one of our events because we are completely irrelevant to them. In this third paradigm, Ken Chua explores the shift in thinking that we, as Christ-followers, must make to have any relevance or attract the interest of those in our community. 


Empowered to Influence: Part 2

Paradigm 2: Labour, The Premier Worship

For many, 'work' is a four-letter word, a necessary means to enjoy the desirable. In this second paradigm shift, Ken Chua suggests that the issue lies in how we perceive work/labor and whether God is involved. Your 9 to 5 could be your path to worship!


5 Prayer Points for Lunar New Year

Here are 5 prayer points for the Lunar New Year Celebration ...


Every Day Mission: A Kairos Story

One thing the Kairos course gave me was a fuller awareness that I'm always on mission and the seemingly trivial details of life often can give me an opportunity to fulfill that mission. 

A great example of this was what happened when I went to the hairdresser several kilometres from my house. My sisters had recommended this particular hairdresser saying she was from Iraq and had the same first name, Amina, as one of my friends who is also from Iraq...


Empowered to Influence: An Introduction

What does it mean to be salty or light-filled? This is the core question that is explored in the Empowered to Influence course. Salt is a preservative and flavor enhancer. Light dispels darkness and illuminates the way. How is saltiness and illumination expressed by Christ-followers in the community—at home, at work, in the neighbourhood? What does this mean as the ‘Church-scattered’ is throughout the community during the week?

In this introductory article to our new blog series, Lorna:

  • introduces the Empowered to Influence course - an 8-session video-based course intended to be offered using the normal structures of a local church (Sunday School, small group Bible study, etc.) 
  • and explores "a correct understanding of worship". 

"When Kingdom Values, the fruit of true, sacrificial worship, are lived out in the sight of all in our community, it is compelling evidence of the powerful transformation of the indwelling Christ in us. We are salty and light-filled, and the community is impacted."