meet *T

Meet *T. He is the chief, or Ardo, of the village of T. He is a man who is sweet of spirit and takes genuine interest in and care of all those he meets. He has been as a father to the two journeymen who work with him, and the two summer missionaries who stayed in his village. He has been listening with interest to the tapes about the Bible that the summer missionaries have given to him. He says the tapes make him happy .

Recently, T made the walk into the largest city near him to buy beans at the market. On his way in, he stopped at the home of the two journeymen. The journeymen and their summer missionaries were in the middle of their Sunday worship time, but invited T to stay with them. Taking advantage of the opportunity, one of the journeymen provided the story of the Crucifixion of Jesus, found in Luke 23. T took in the story, and discussed it with the journeyman. Then, the Spirit led one of the summer missionaries to speak. The young man told T that he was a respected leader, and that his people would follow him wherever he led. He also told T that he had been deceived into thinking that good works and five prayers a day, and a mosque visit on Fridays could earn him salvation. The young man spoke of how only faith in Jesus Christ, and His saving grace, could guarantee their salvation.

T took all these words in and turned them over in his heart. T has been following the way of Islam for 65 years. Everything he knows is wrapped up in religion. Now he has admitted that he believes what he has heard about Christ to be the Truth, but says that he cannot change. He refuses to leave behind what he has known and done all his life. He says he is scared to follow Christ and that he must continue to be Muslim like all of his people.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give T the courage that he needs to make the decision to follow Christ. Pray that he would not be fearful of others and that he would not deny the Truth.

(by chelsea)