From the Inside Out
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 part 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 and those who God has called to work here.
There is a local women in her early fifties who has so kindly welcomed me into her family from the time she met me. During one of our frequent visits , the call of prayer began to sound. This has happened many times when we’ve been together, but this time she asked me if this call that sounds throughout the city five times a day makes me uncomfortable.
Wanting to be respectful, I explained to her every time the call to prayer sounds it reminds me of what I believe and that the foundations of our faith are so different. Of course, this led to us talking about the differences in our faiths. She is someone who loves her religion and takes it very seriously. She began to explain how for Muslims the most important thing is to do good works because hopefully it will cancel out all the sin in their life and the bad things they do. She went on to say how, in her opinion, it doesn’t matter what you think or feel- just as long as you are doing good- that is all that matters.
She then said, “But you know what, I actually think what you believe is better for people. For us, we just focus on looking like a good person and just the outside stuff, but it seems like you and other Christians are actually changed from the inside out because of your faith.”
I have known this woman for almost two years and have had many opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus with her, and prior to this she’s never acknowledged how our different faiths produce different things. Even though she doesn’t have a desire to follow Jesus today, I am still rejoicing. 22 months ago, this woman didn’t think our faiths were any different and today she sees the differences. I’m rejoicing because I know this is due to the Spirit moving in her heart, and I believe He will continue to.
