As my team walks the dusty streets of Morogoro, a small city in Tanzania, a country in East Africa I still can’t locate on a map, I feel the presence of God in the most overpowering ways.
The backdrop of the mountains towering over the dirt paths and stick buildings of this town constantly remind me how far from home God has brought me, and the presence of such natural beauty subconsciously makes the salvation message I am preaching that much more fervent, as if God Himself is standing there, screaming over the city, “Look at all I’ve made! Don’t you know that you are more beautiful to me than even these mountains?”
We approach a small business, the sticks and dried grass used to make the building baking in the heat of the sun, and our contact, Pastor Raphael, asks permission for us to share the good news with the people there. Tanzanians are the most welcoming people I have met to date, and even if they are very busy, they will stop what they are doing to welcome visitors.
In the intense heat of the day, many people seek refuge in the shade of the open-air buildings, if only to escape the murderous heat of uncovered sunlight. All businesses attract loiterers, so every small store or repair shop is the perfect opportunity to share the Gospel with more people.
We begin to share our story: six people who never knew each other, from very different regions, backgrounds, churches, and belief systems, thrown together on an eleven month journey around the world, all to tell the nations about the love of our Father God. It makes for a very interesting hook. Then, we explain what “born again” means, branching into the Gospel. Sometimes, someone will share a testimony as well. We share what God has done in our lives and the power found in Christ alone to give us salvation. As Pastor Raphael translates into Swahili the fervor of our hearts, I feel the Holy Spirit moving. Sometimes men stand to receive Christ, sometimes they don’t. But whatever happens, I always leave with a joy so heavy I can barely contain it. The word has gone out, and as the Bible says, it will never return void.
On our very first day of street evangelism, we begin to leave a business where Don shared the Gospel message and a man prayed to receive Jesus. Filled with joy from the encounter, I hardly notice the new man with whom Pastor Raphael is speaking. He is a young man of 31, dressed in a clean, button-down shirt with very sharp eyes and very good English. He seems eager to know more about us, why we are here, and what we are doing. Kendra begins to explain that we are Christian missionaries, traveling the world and telling all people about the love of Jesus. She then asks this young man if he believes in Jesus.
He smiles in a funny manner and looks away, “You see, I am a Muslim.”
My heart leaps. If there is one single thing I have learned about myself this year, it is that I get a thrilling, consuming joy the likes of which I have never felt when I can share my faith with Muslims. And even though we are working in a highly Islamic area, there is something different about this man. The Holy Spirit starts to speak to me as Kendra continues to share.
“Yes, thank you.” He politely comments, “But my whole family is Muslim. My friends are Muslim, and I have been Muslim all of my life.”
Soon, Pastor Albinus, our main contact, arrives. This means that we have two translators and a marketplace full of people ready to hear the message. Pastor Raphael says, “Now, we may split into groups so that more people can hear the Gospel. Since this young man speaks English, two people can stay behind and continue to share with him without a translator.” I lept at the chance.
Katie and I pulled up a chair as we began to talk with him. Having studied Islam in college and on my own, I ask a few questions that will really get the conversation started quickly. “Do you believe in the Bible?” I asked him. He told me that he believed in the Bible, since Muslims do believe that the Bible was given to the world by God. He also said he believed in Jesus, which all Muslims do. They believe Jesus was a prophet of God, but not the Son of God or the way to Heaven.
I began to share my faith with him. I told him that I knew that Jesus was real because he changed my life. I told him that in John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the Father except through me.” I asked him if he knew who was in Heaven right now? He said he didn’t know and that no one could know for sure. I pointed out that in the Qur’an, even Muhammed asks for prayer, that he might be found in Heaven. “But Jesus is in Heaven, Banda. He died a sinless death, making a sacrifice for all of our sins. He tells us that if we believe in Him, we will see the Father, because He is the way to the Father. You can’t earn your way there, you can’t work your way Heaven. I know you pray five times a day, but if what Jesus says is true, you don’t have to, because He has already made a way for you to come to Heaven.”
He looked at me very intensely, and I felt the Holy Spirit sweep over me. “Banda, has God ever spoken to you?” He shook his head. “No, I have never heard God speak to me.” I knew his response before he said it, because Muslims believe that God’s final revelation was the Qur’an, and that God doesn’t speak anymore. I looked at him and said, “God speaks to me every single day.” His eyebrows nearly shot off of his face as he looked at me. “God speaks to you?” He asked in disbelief, as if I couldn’t possibly mean what I said.
“God speaks to me every day. If I didn’t have this relationship with God, I couldn’t live my life at all. When I pray and ask God what decision I need to make, He tells me. When I am in a difficult situation, I ask God for peace, and He gives it to me. Jesus said that He would give us a peace that the world cannot give and that the world cannot take away. Because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we can have a relationship with God. Without Jesus, a relationship with God is impossible,”
I began to share my testimony with him, how God had saved me from depression and suicide, how Jesus leads me every day. I told him about my father, and how God gave me strength and power to still follow His will for me when my world was falling apart. As I spoke, he leaned in, closer and closer, devouring every word I said.
I would tell you more of what I said, except that I don’t remember. When the Holy Spirit takes control of my words, I never can remember what I’ve said. I always love this, because then I am assured that the words are not my own and that God used my mouth to speak His message. I can tell you, though, that as I spoke, tears began to fill his eyes. A look of longing and conviction fell on him, the likes of which I have rarely ever seen.
By the time I finished, Banda cleared his throat and said, “Your words have touched my heart, and somehow, I know what you have said is true. But I do have a question.”
“I’d love to answer any question that you have.” I said.
He leaned in, trying to find the best words in English to describe what was weighing on his heart. “Tell me, if I decided to follow Jesus, can God help me to leave my mosque and my family, my life and all I know? Would God help me?” His question nearly stole my breath.
“God will not only help you, He’s the only one who can.” I said.
“My entire family is Muslim. It is how I have been raised. If I left, I don’t know what will happen.” He said, the heaviness of his decision hanging in the air.
I opened my Bible and read to him the cost of following Jesus. I said, “Jesus says that anyone who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not worthy to be his follower. He says that if we follow him, we may have no place to lay our heads at night. He says we may have to leave our families. But in Psalms, it says that even if my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will pick me up.” I looked him in the eye, “Following Jesus is the biggest decision you can ever make, and I can’t even imagine how hard it will be for you, because you will be leaving everything you’ve ever known. But I promise, Jesus is enough, He will supply every need and give you the strength to leave everything behind if you trust him.”
A silence passed as he nodded his head in thought. I asked him, “Banda, is there a decision you want to make?”
He looked up at me, “Your words have pierced me. I believe that this is the truth. But please forgive me, I need a few days to think about this. I need to really think about if I can leave my family, my friends, and my life behind. It will be the hardest decision I can ever make.”
I smiled at him, “You are right, it is the biggest decision you can ever make, and I am actually very glad you are taking time to think about this, because God doesn’t want half-hearted or hasty decisions.”
He looked at me once more, the weight of conviction tangible in his deep brown eyes. “Will you pray for me?”
