ZPCBlog

ZPC MISSIONS MOMENT – Learn. Reflect. Help!

(This is a continuation of the account of J and K, ZPC-sponsored missionaries, and their expulsion from their Muslim country which is closed to Christianity. Names and locations are withheld for the protection of underground believers. Read Part One here.) 

After receiving the desperate text from the pastor’s wife about her husband’s arrest, J and K knew they would also be targeted. Because the police had unprecedentedly barged into the pastor’s home, forcibly removed him, and seized his computers and phones, J and K knew nothing in their home was safe. They quickly dropped off Arabic Bibles at a friend’s and began burning documents. Every doorbell, every phone call, every strange car outside, led them to question, “Are they coming to arrest us?”   

Their pastor friend was released after 12 hours of interrogation and given two weeks to leave the country. The government official overseeing their case neglected to follow-up until the night before the pastor and his family were to leave. The official was dismayed that the family was going to the United States rather than their home country. Plans had evidently been made in the pastor’s home country to “take care of him,” where he would have likely disappeared. Instead, he and his family safely made it out of the country.

During this time, K’s work visa was still awaiting renewal. Through checking on its status, they learned that K’s documentation had been flagged. They began to prepare for what could happen next by attending a virtual interrogation training, then having a heavy conversation with their leaders. The leaders expressed great concern over the severe escalation of this situation. Knowing J and K’s deepest desire to remain in the country, they explained that, historically, those who are brought in get kicked out. If allowed to remain, the government would likely continue to surveil them, watching with whom they met, and ultimately endangering those around them.

K worried their leaving would send the wrong message to their local friends. “The story of Christians is one of persecution. In Revelations, this is how the people turn to faith….When the people turn and they see the martyrs, when the people turn and see people who are persecuted for their faith, and still cling to Christ through that, their devotion to Jesus is what brings people to repentance….We endure through persecution. It’s who we are as Christians.”

The decision about leaving had to be made quickly so J and K separated and prayed. Ultimately, they felt they were supposed to go. They priced all of their items for selling and packed a small bag. Although K was to accompany J to get her passport, J was able to retrieve it without difficulty.

They left early the next morning on a nerve wracking three hour drive to the border. A certain number began repeatedly calling them. They learned it belonged to a high-up governmental department. They did not answer. Not knowing whether the government would attempt to intercept them was scary. Seeing the increased police presence along the way due to another political situation was terrifying.

Upon arrival, J and K’s passports were immediately flagged, identifying them as criminals who were not to leave the country. They were detained for 2.5 hours as they saw their passports being bounced from one office to the next, while employees made calls and conferred with each other. The more time passed, the more they thought someone was coming from the capitol to detain them.

Finally, a higher ranking individual apologized, explaining that the system was saying to cancel their visas. By God’s grace, one employee said, “I’m not allowed to stamp this” while at the same time, stamping the first passport. When the same problem occurred with the second passport, the higher ranking employee told him to just stamp it.

Upon getting to the other side, the next country knew nothing of their situation. Traumatized, having gone through so many physical symptoms of fear, they wondered, “Are we safe now?” After time spent in another country debriefing, J and K safely returned to the United States. They are eager to return to ministering to Muslims in closed areas but, for now, God has called them to a different ministry. Please pray for them during this time of reflection, continued healing, and service with this new ministry.   

How to Help
Reflect
Ask yourself, What is God asking you to do? J says, “There are approx. 6,000 unreached people groups that have no Gospel representation. With everything going on, it feels like time is getting short. We should each be looking at ourselves and asking, ‘What are we going to do about this?’”

Pray
Commit to praying as a church. Set a period of time to pray about this issue, then set a time to again gather and discuss what came up for each person during this time of prayer.

Join in praying for mission partners and others serving in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This group meets the second Thursday of each month. 7:45 – 8:15 a.m. Contact Philana Cunningham for more information:   

Learn
Attend a special gathering to learn more about what God is doing in the Middle East and North Africa region. Fazwi Khalil of Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church in Cairo, Egypt, which is a ZPC mission partner, is the guest speaker. Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 5-6pm in the Chapel

J and K highly recommend taking The Perspectives Course (www.perspectives.org ). Provided both in person and online, Perspectives is a course about world missions, as well as a study program rooted in Scripture, clarifying each believer’s opportunity to join God in His global purpose. 

Seek Opportunities
God is bringing people from closed places to us and they want to know about Him. Saudi, Syrian, Somali and other refugees live in Indianapolis. Many wander into Mormon temples or Jehovah Witnesses find them. Connecting with refugees in our area may be as simple as striking up a conversation when shopping or while out in the community. Spending time near mosques and Arab grocery stores can also provide such opportunities.

Students from the least reached places need to be hosted which provides great opportunities to share the Gospel. USA Homestays is one organization that provides assistance with placement. www.usahomestays.org 

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