This article is part of our series, ‘Letters to the Next Generation’, where one of our mission workers explores different aspects of ministering cross-culturally.
By Christina*, a long-term worker
Imagine that you are living in the Arab world. Who are the people you’re ministering to? What does your support group look like?
In my experience, they are the same people. When you think of a small group in the Arab context, maybe you don’t picture a multi-national group (some of whom are believers from a Muslim background), encouraging each other and seeking to live a life that reflects Romans 12. But these types of groups do exist. It is a real blessing for believers from many nations to come together, encourage one another, and benefit from the spiritual support of others. when my group met, we would spend our time eating, praying, reading the Bible, and sharing updates on our personal lives – much like you would expect with a group in the UK.
Prayer was a strong focus of the group. Believers from a Muslim background were encouraged to look at prayer from the perspective of developing a relationship with Father God, a considerable change from seeing prayer as a ritual you complete five times a day. Although more mature believers naturally shared their experience and wisdom, newer believers, in an atmosphere of unity, equally took part in encouraging everybody’s personal prayer life.
Whenever we prayed as a group, each person was free to pray in their heart language, and this enabled them to express themselves more naturally.
We had mixed experiences of developing relationships between people. As a group we shared many aspects of our lives together, and discovered the strong bond we had despite coming from different nations and cultures. Deep trust took time to build and could be quickly broken. There were many ups and downs, and at times it felt like we were really battling to keep the group going. It was important to keep in mind that ‘our struggle is not against flesh and blood’ (Ephesians 6:12, NIV).
Praise God for these small groups and the work He is doing through them. If you are considering serving in the Arab world, I hope you place a high value on building community through the life of a small group.
Some recurring themes cropped up in the varied concerns that weighed people down: estranged families, the need for employment, the desire for a believing spouse, and persecution because of our faith. So in unity, we celebrated when we saw answers to prayers. We also felt sadness together when new believers prayed about these things and the answers they wanted didn’t come through or come quickly enough. Despite some of our setbacks and discouragements, God was at work and we all grew through our faith adventures.
Praise God for these small groups and the work He is doing through them. If you are considering serving in the Arab world, I hope you place a high value on building community through the life of a small group. Groups like these can be a lifeline for the lonely or young believer in the region, but they can also make a big difference to your spiritual growth and perseverance in ministry.
Interested in exploring your next step in cross-cultural mission? Contact Dan, one of our mobilisers to explore the best options for you.
*Name changed to protect identities.
This article was originally shared in our quarterly magazine Link in May 2019.
MISSION RESOURCES
CORE VALUES
OUR STORY
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
WHAT WE BELIEVE
PLACEMENTS
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