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.

About two years ago my wife and I joined a social activity in our city advertised on a social platform and spent the next 3 hours conversing with 5 young people from different countries in broken English. This event inspired us to start our own social group on the platform and invite people to hang out with us doing social activities in our city. Well, 22 months later, 1400 people have joined our social network and we have hung out with 100+ people in various activities from breakfasts, dinners, concerts, picnics at the beach, holiday parties to hikes in the mountains. We have have also held discussion groups on leadership, life development and business entrepreneurship.

Along the way we have developed deep friendships and a sense of community with many of our friends. We share stories about our spiritual life, our prayer life, our love for God and try to be as authentic as we can about our purpose, pursuits and hopes in life.

Recently we started a chat group and post scriptures about God’s love and how the Bible tells us to live a life of love. Each week we are adding people to the group. We recently started a Thursday night worship and prayer night at a local Turkish church. Six of our friends have joined us in the last month.

Most of our friends have a pluralistic view of God and religion; that as long as you are trying to be a good and loving person, all roads lead to God and he is merciful. The road is slow and the journey is long in drawing our friends to the understanding that Jesus is Lord and that “there is no other name given under heaven whereby we can be saved”, but the name of Jesus! But we are hopeful and so we press on knowing ” . . . as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many” (2 Cor. 1:11 NLT).

And God’s encouragement to us, “Do not be afraid, keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10 NLT).