Our family met Ellen in a chance encounter at an Indian restaurant in the US.

It happened about four years ago, just before we moved overseas to live among an unengaged Muslim people group. Ellen, a young grandmother, told us she had a heart to pray and serve and she said she would pray for our ministry on the field. In fact, she was already planning to use her vacation time to go overseas to pray and bless long-term field workers like us.

We didn’t think we’d see Ellen again. But two months after we landed in our new country, Ellen came and visited.

That trip sealed her heart for the Muslim people of our country.

Little did Ellen know that she would venture back to our city three more times. Each visit, she brought more people to pray for the Muslim people God had sent us to reach.

Ellen has often prayed for God to lead us to persons of peace—men and women who can help us meet others in the community and who open the doors for us to share the message of the Gospel.

On her last visit, God answered this prayer.

We had just shown Ellen and her prayer team the new location of our business, a therapy center for those with disabilities. Ellen and another team member took a moment to walk along the street, praying.

As they were coming back, it happened—a divine appointment and the answer to her prayer.

A man named Zaydan was returning to his home, a building situated next to our business. Ellen greeted him. After a few moments of conversation, he invited her and the rest of us into his home.

Zaydan introduced us to his wife and children and served us tea. Then he told us about his long career as head of the police over the entire region. It was a position that meant he was well-known and highly respected throughout the state. We chatted about culture, religion, and faith. When he asked about our business, I shared how our goal is to bless the most vulnerable people in the community.

At that moment, Zaydan pulled out his phone and started calling other influential people—doctors, nurses, and social workers. He instructed them to come to our business within the next week. “Help them with whatever they need,” he told each of them.

In the days that followed, strangers started showing up at the business. “We’ll help you with anything you need,” many of them told us.

One of Zaydan’s friends is now organizing an inauguration for us. He intends to invite a hundred medical professionals and people of influence who can help promote the services provided through our business.

We rejoice in the divine appointment with Zaydan—which God orchestrated through Ellen’s obedient, faithful, and persistent prayers. It has opened so many opportunities—not just for the success of our business, but also for sharing the Gospel among our adopted Muslim people group.

Ask God to bless the new contacts that have come out of this special relationship with Zaydan. Pray for abundant opportunities to share the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace—that many would discover Jesus Christ as Savior.

Ask the Lord to raise up even more praying men and women like Ellen to move mountains for the Gospel in Muslim communities.

Has God called you to pray for the nations? 

Like Ellen, may you faithfully obey and persevere in the call God has placed on you—that you may bear much fruit for the Kingdom!