Closing Out the Year…
Hi all, and Merry Christmas!
It’s so stunning to me that another year has already come and gone!
The last couple months have been very full and have passed by too quickly. With settling into and setting up a new home, starting into a new season and style of ministry, and continuing in my university studies, it’s made for a busy but blessed season.
In my last update I mentioned some of the New Opportunities that my team and I have been stepping into. Over the last last few months, I’ve been starting to dip my feet a bit into the work, and it has been so exciting, and SO overwhelming.
We have a database of names which, full of names and contact info of people who have inquired about the Gospel and about Jesus over the course of the last few years. The database is somewhat convoluted, so it’s taken some time to get used to.
Because of how the system is set up, for a while, we didn’t actually know how many people were in our database and backlog. We knew it was a lot, but we didn’t know an actual number until just last week. Turns out, there’s 1700 people who have requested bibles and an explanation of the Gospel, whom 7 of us are tasked with contacting and following up with.
That number blew my mind when I saw it. Scrolling through their names, and seeing the pages upon pages of people, many of them hungry to know about Jesus… it has brought me to tears on several occasions.
And hearing some of their stories has wrecked me even more. One teammate sent us this message a few weeks back:
I came across a guy who’s note (which he wrote when he requested the NT) literally said, “I’ve read in English and am thrilled to read in my own language… this has taught me so much… despite being in a smaller, conservative place I’ve found the courage to share…I want to believe, please show me how to follow…I want to share this message with my whole town, will you teach me how?”
As far as I know I’m the first person to open his profile. That was written 34 months ago.
Sobering.
We tried to contact him, and unfortunately he’s since changed his phone number. It showed me the seriousness and heaviness, and yet great joy of what we’re involved in!
Some of these contacts we’ve met with are so excited about following Jesus, they are wanting to be baptized very soon. Others are sharing with their friends and family about what Jesus is teaching them in scripture. It’s awesome to see!
Jesus is moving in this region. He’s ALIVE and drawing people to Him in the Muslim world. There’s a beautiful opportunity and slice of time that we’re in the midst of, where we’re allowed, welcomed, and indeed invited to share the wonder of Jesus and the transformation of the Gospel with more people than we have capacity for. It’s amazing. So, we’re doing our best to steward it well.
Our team is regularly messaging and communicating with these searching men and women. We are also making weekly trips to these provinces to follow up with those who are willing to meet face-to-face. Please keep praying for us in this! For wisdom, effective communication of the Gospel, and Kingdom multiplication to take place in these regions. (And for grace and direction for us as we work our way through these hundreds and hundreds of people.)
Closing out the year…
As this decade comes to a close, I find myself thinking back on everything that’s happened over the last ten years — what Jesus has done, where He’s led, how He’s moved, and the things He’s spoken; both the things that have come to pass, and the things I’m still trusting Him for.
It’s been wild.
This month marks 5 years that I’ve been living overseas.
As I think back on all that’s happened, I find myself really thankful. Ten years ago, if you’d told me all the things that have happened and the things we’ve seen, I don’t know if I would have believed you. It brings me great joy to call to mind all that God’s done, and all that He’s brought me through.
It also makes me so thankful for you all, for your prayer, your support, your partnership in the Gospel, and just knowing that there are people all over the world who are eagerly desiring Jesus to move in the lives of my Muslim friends I see every day.
Thank you again for your prayer, partnership, and everything over the last 5 years!
God bless you, your families, and everyone in your circles in 2020!
Until the Whole World Knows,
Josh
Please Note: For the sake of security the identity of the Global Worker(s) and exact geographical locations have been omitted from the article.
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