Have you heard the expression “Boots on the Ground?” Well our Live Dead Missionaries are the boots on the Silk Road. Here we’d like to take a moment and allow one of them to share a snapshot of their life with you. Some names and details have been changed, but this is a true story from this colorful, vibrant, and sometimes surprising region.

One Thursday afternoon, I sat in a café with my dear Muslim friend and language helper. We had made an agreement to start each lesson with a bit of conversation practice by having a small debate of sorts. I would ask an open-ended question and we would discuss it in depth until we reach mutual understanding of each other’s views.

This day I sat down and asked her: “What does it mean to be free? What is true freedom?”

We dove into conversation about freedom which quickly led into a discuss about culture at large and how culture tends to define freedom as “doing whatever I want whenever I want.” Before I knew it, she began sharing about how broken she feels this world and the culture at large is. Jumping on this opportunity, I began to share about another world.

In this world, there would be no more mourning, no more lying, no more sin. Nothing would separate us from God, but He would be with us always. There would be no death and everyone would have purpose, joy, peace and true freedom. There would be no more hungry people, sick people or hurting people. It would literally be perfect.

My friend looked at me like I was crazy and said, “I wish that were possible.”

To which I responded,

It is. It is possible and it exists. It’s called the Kingdom of Heaven.

As I began to explain the desire God has to be close to His people and how it’s been His desire and aim since creation, I could sense the wonder beginning to grow in my friend. I talked about how God has always wanted the peace and shalom of the Garden to be the way things are permanently and He sent Jesus to restore this order.

After I spoke for a while, my friend simply looked at me deep in thought and said,

I’ve never heard anyone say things like this before.

I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to do a work in my friend, deepening her hunger to find the Truth, the Way and the Life. I pray that she begins to realize that she was created for relationship with her Creator and she can be reconciled to Him because of Christ’s death and resurrection.

May the Holy Spirit awaken hearts around the world to the truth of the Cross and the reconciliation in Christ. Amen.