[This is a story from James, one of our missionaries in Africa. Names and locations are changed to protect the security of our partners.]
My journey in the Sola region was filled with anticipation and prayer. I was seeking a person of peace: someone whose heart was open, someone with whom I could share the love of Christ. One morning, as my two friends and I were walking through a bustling Sola market, I noticed a man who caught my attention. He spoke the same language as me and, to my surprise, he approached me and started a conversation. At that moment, I knew that God was opening a door for me to engage in a spiritual conversation.
He invited us to visit his village and we eagerly accepted. After a forty-five-minute journey, we arrived at his home. As we sat outside, one of his wives brought us tea. We were acutely aware of the risks involved in sharing the Gospel in a region where persecution is real, but I felt a deep conviction not to shy away from the truth. Romans 1:16-17 echoed in my mind, reminding me that I should not be ashamed of the gospel.
I boldly told them that I was a Christian. As we conversed, I asked the wife to read a verse from the Bible about God's love. I shared John 15:12-13: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." Tears welled up in my eyes as I witnessed this Muslim woman read the Bible for the first time, right in front of her husband.
For many Christians, the mention of Muslims often brings feelings of fear. But when God looks at a Muslim seeking Him, He sees love and compassion, not fear. This is the lens through which I want to see them. The Bible tells us that it is God's will for all people to be saved, and that includes the Sola people, one of the most unreached people groups.
As we prepared to leave, their fifteen-year-old son approached me. He asked if we could pray for him to receive help so he could attend school. It was a beautiful moment, filled with the hope that God’s love was beginning to touch this family.
