A disciple-maker/leader in a Muslim country sent two of his church planters to reach and plant churches in a certain village. So they went to the chief of the village to get permission to be there and make connection with people, but the chief sent them away strongly, telling them that his people didn’t want Christianity, and that they were not allowed to share about the Christian faith in that village. So the church planters returned to their leader and reported that there was no opportunity there, and that the village was hostile to Christianity. To their surprise, however, their leader didn’t change his mind. Instead, he said, “Let’s pray.” He called together the intercessory prayer team and they interceded in prayer for that specific village for two whole days.
Then the leader added a third person to their team and sent them back to the same village.
When the team of three church planters arrived, they went back to the chief’s home. They requested again to make connection with the people, but the chief, being quite bothered that they came back, said, “No way!”, and told them they needed to leave. So the church planters said, “Well, chief, may we pray?” The chief, having been taught as a Muslim to value prayer, said, “Who will deny prayer? As long as it is prayer to help us, we will not deny it. Pray for us, but after prayer, please go because we don’t want you to come and say anything to our children to turn their hearts to another religion; that is the white man’s religion. We don’t need it here.” The church planters had learned that the chief’s son had a serious physical problem; something like Polio. He had tried many things to help his son’s condition, but nothing worked. So they said to the chief, “Can we pray for your son?” So the chief gave them permission but then reiterated that they needed to leave after they prayed for him.
So the three church planters prayed for the chief’s son to be healed, and he was instantly healed. The child jumped up and walked with no limping or difficulty whatsoever. He ran to the chief and grabbed him with joy saying, “I am healed, father!”
Then the chief looked at the church planters and said, “You people, you are magicians!” And they replied, “No! This is Jesus!” and they explained that Jesus was the one who healed his son. The chief responded, saying, “As from today, this is your home... you are welcome.” And he even told them that they were welcome to build a big Christian cathedral in the village, which they were not interested in doing. So, being welcomed, the church planters proceeded to teach the gospel, baptize new believers, make disciples and plant churches… right there in that “hostile village.”
You can find this testimony in Jerry Trousdale’s book, Miraculous Movements.
Then the leader added a third person to their team and sent them back to the same village.
When the team of three church planters arrived, they went back to the chief’s home. They requested again to make connection with the people, but the chief, being quite bothered that they came back, said, “No way!”, and told them they needed to leave. So the church planters said, “Well, chief, may we pray?” The chief, having been taught as a Muslim to value prayer, said, “Who will deny prayer? As long as it is prayer to help us, we will not deny it. Pray for us, but after prayer, please go because we don’t want you to come and say anything to our children to turn their hearts to another religion; that is the white man’s religion. We don’t need it here.” The church planters had learned that the chief’s son had a serious physical problem; something like Polio. He had tried many things to help his son’s condition, but nothing worked. So they said to the chief, “Can we pray for your son?” So the chief gave them permission but then reiterated that they needed to leave after they prayed for him.
So the three church planters prayed for the chief’s son to be healed, and he was instantly healed. The child jumped up and walked with no limping or difficulty whatsoever. He ran to the chief and grabbed him with joy saying, “I am healed, father!”
Then the chief looked at the church planters and said, “You people, you are magicians!” And they replied, “No! This is Jesus!” and they explained that Jesus was the one who healed his son. The chief responded, saying, “As from today, this is your home... you are welcome.” And he even told them that they were welcome to build a big Christian cathedral in the village, which they were not interested in doing. So, being welcomed, the church planters proceeded to teach the gospel, baptize new believers, make disciples and plant churches… right there in that “hostile village.”
You can find this testimony in Jerry Trousdale’s book, Miraculous Movements.