Stories

Karen* was drawn to mission from a very young age. She began to pray for an unreached people group at a student mission conference – the B* people. But how could the gospel ever reach these nomadic sheep herders? She prayed for them but it seemed like an impossible dream.

Karen got married and began raising children but did not stop praying for the nomads God had put on her heart. She continued to pursue her interest in missions and attended a gathering in South-East Asia of Christ-followers from various religious backgrounds. It was at this event that Karen met Adam, the man who was the answer to her thirteen years of prayer for the B* people. Adam is a clan leader in the B* tribe. Born into a Muslim family, his father sent him to live with local Christian missionaries as a boy to study English.

The missionary told Adam’s father that he would also teach Adam his faith, along with English, and the father agreed. Adam put his faith in Jesus and chose to remain in his Muslim community as a disciple of Christ, one of the first in this people group. Because of his integrity, care for others, and passion to share the good news of Jesus, he found favour with the leader of his tribe. When the tribal leader was on his deathbed, he named Adam as his successor, rather than one of his own biological sons. God’s favor and anointing has been evident on Adam’s life, and he has been an integral part of one of the largest movements of Christ-followers among Muslim people worldwide. He has stayed true to the Word of God bringing honor to his people and culture.

In the seven years Karen has known him, Adam has faced serious persecution including imprisonment and torture. He almost froze to death navigating mountains to deliver aid to earthquake victims. He loves Jesus and has committed to spend his life helping the poor and speaking out for justice.

Through the years God has opened doors for deeper partnership as Adam and Karen have both marveled at what God can do through this surprising partnership! What began with prayer for a people group Karen could not picture, has become a lifelong friendship with Adam and his family.

Karen and her husband have partnered with Global Teams to help Adam continue his work among the B* people and other people groups in that region. They recently had their first meeting with his extended family - the culmination of twenty years of prayer and collaboration.

*names changed

Global Teams is a member of the Faith2Share network of mission movements.

Original article: Global Teams website, Years of Partnership

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