From a Dream to a Movement

One night Nick, a pastor in the Middle East, had a vivid dream in which the Lord encouraged him in his ministry. But in the dream the affirmation was followed by a challenge: “What are you doing to reach the majority Muslim population in your region?”

When he awoke, he prayed a simple prayer: “Lord, if this is you, please give me one person to start this journey.”

Not long after, Nick heard about an Asian Muslim man, Abdullah, who regularly dropped his Filipina Christian wife at Nick’s church every Friday. He never entered himself, believing the building was only for Christians. When his wife experienced a miraculous healing, Abdullah decided to visit the church for the first time.

Nick reached out and began discipling both Abdullah and his wife. Little did they realise, something far greater was unfolding.

Nineteen months after Abdullah chose to follow Jesus, he returned to his home country in Southwest Asia for his mother’s funeral. Although the country was hostile to Christian witness, Abdullah and his wife sensed God calling them to stay and share the Gospel with their people. Even though they had no experience they began meeting others in their homes and reading the Bible with them.

Over the next seven years, God used them to start a discipleship movement which grew across five cities. More than 300 Muslims chose to follow Christ, and over 200 were baptised. Miracles, healings, dreams, and deliverances marked the journey, experiences Abdullah later described as “just like in the book of Acts.”

Eventually, Abdullah was arrested and charged with apostasy, a crime punishable by death. After three months of imprisonment, prayer and fasting, he was miraculously released. Though forced to leave his homeland, Abdullah and his family continue today as UN-recognised religious refugees to reach Muslims and train others wherever they are sent.