Me: Prodigal, what are you looking at?
Prodigal: Just a map of some of the cities around this area. Trying to decide where to go next.
Me: I just finished reading about a missionary in South Asia and I wanted to share. Do you mind listening?
Prodigal: Go ahead, I would like to hear something positive.
This comes from the book Voices of the Faithful by Beth Moore
Volunteers and a missionary distributed 4,000 Bibles by walking into Muslim villages with backpacks full of the Word. In one village, a team met “Mamoon” (mah-MOON). They shared the gospel and left 14 Bibles, one given to Mamoon. Then the Christian worker gave Mamoon his address.
Two weeks later, Mamoon showed up at the missionary’s house in the capital city. Three local imams (Muslim pastors) forcibly collected 13 of the Bibles. Before a crowd, they proclaimed that the Bibles were false. They opened to Luke 2 and read, “Mary’s husband Joseph.” One imam said, “We know that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to the prophet Isa. This Bible says otherwise.” The Bibles were burned.
The imams found the missing Bible with Mamoon. They demanded his Bible, but Mamoon refused, saying, “Let me read it first. If I find mistakes, I will give it to you.” The imams petitioned Mamoon’s father, but the father said, “Give my son two days. If he hasn’t returned it, you are free to do with him as you wish.”
Mamoon then fled to the missionary’s home. He asked to be taught. During Mamoon’s four months of discipleship, his mother wrote a letter advising her son not to return home because she feared for his life.
Mamoon accepted Christ and was baptized. Not heeding warnings, he went back to his village. There a large crowd gathered as he read Luke 2 and explained the story of the virgin birth of Isa (Jesus).
Today, a church exists in Mamoon’s village. Two of the imams are members of this church. Mamoon has planted another 40 churches, all among Muslims.
You never know how or when the Lord will show up to work!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
