Divine Coincidence

“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalms 2:8, NIV.

While traveling on business David* entered a city that was the district seat in a Muslim country. David was a foreigner and a Christian who had a heart for sharing the Gospel with the Muslims, so wherever he travels he likes to see if he can find any churches. On this particular trip, David had a friend traveling with him who was visiting from a neighboring country. While David went to the district government offices for business, his friend, Bob, walked around the downtown area taking photos and praying.

As Bob and David drove into the city, they had prayed that God would lead them to believers living in that area. After David’s meeting, David and Bob met up at a restaurant that they had fixed as a meeting point. David said, “Before we leave, let me check at a business real quick to ask if there are any churches in the city.”

Bob stayed in the car and prayed while David went into a furniture store. David soon returned with good news. “I talked to the owner, and there is one church in this city,” said David.

“Was the owner a believer?” asked Bob.

“Good question,” said David. “I didn’t ask. Just a minute, I’ll be right back.” As David went back into the shop, Bob again prayed for this divine appointment. When David came back, he was all smiles.

“You’ll never believe it,” said David. “The owner is a new believer. He is one of only twenty believers in this entire city! What are the odds of me randomly walking into a business owned by a Christian in a city with only twenty believers?”

David and Bob followed the business man’s directions to the church meeting house. They got to meet with one of the staff of the church and a lead deacon. David challenged both of these leaders to pray for their Muslim neighbors and to share the Gospel with them. They both agreed that the church has an obligation to reach beyond the minority groups with whom they are currently working to share with Muslims in their city. Yet with only twenty believers in their church, the task seemed overwhelming.

David provided his contact information, and then he and Bob left. As they drove off, they thanked God for answering their prayers and asked God to bless this small gathering of believers in a city full of lost souls.

*Names changed for security purposes.

Pray that:

God will continue to give believers like David divine appointments with other believers living in the land.

Jesus will use David, and others like him, to rouse the church to share the Gospel with their Muslim neighbors.

Believers like Bob will come and pray over this land until the Spirit is poured out like water and the church is established among this Muslim people group.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.