By a worker in N. Africa
The difficulties for Habib* started right after he got baptized. Habib had been working construction and asked his supervisor for a day off for an important appointment (his baptism). His boss had agreed and said it wouldn’t be a problem. When Habib returned to work on Saturday he found that his boss had fired him and already given his job to another guy. In a country with high unemployment this was devastating news and there was nothing Habib could do about it.
Praying for a Stranger
Habib began searching for any work the next day. As he was job searching downtown, he walked into a coffee shop to see if they had openings. He felt the Holy Spirit telling him to go talk with a gentleman drinking his coffee.
“God, I don’t even know the man. He is just sitting there by himself.”
But Habib couldn’t shake the feeling, and so he decided to walk over and speak with him. As they spoke, Habib learned that the man had traveled over 300 miles to the capital for an operation on his arm. He required a very expensive and difficult surgery, and the capital was the only place where it could be done.
Habib began to share with him that he had been reading about a Jesus who healed many people. Then Habib began to pray for the man’s arm in the name of Jesus and asked God to heal his arm so that he wouldn’t have to have the expensive operation. The man had a total look of shock on his face. There, in the middle of a coffee shop in a Muslim country there was a man who had been baptized less than a week ago, praying for his arm to be healed. The man felt incredible heat in his arm and then all the pain dissipated. He got Habib’s contact information and then departed to his doctors visit. That evening Habib got a phone call,
“You’re not going to believe it, but the doctors said I don’t need the surgery any more.”
“Not believe it? I told you that was going to happen, Jesus can heal people” Habib replied.
“I need to go back to my village and tell my whole family what has happened.”
A Worried Cousin
About a week later, Habib’s aunt and cousin showed up at his house. They had traveled up from the desert and as is customary just appeared one day at Habib’s home. Local custom dictates that Habib would receive them and provide them a place to stay. During their stay, Habib’s cousin, Akram, began to open up to him. “Habib we have been friends our whole lives. Can I ask you something and you must promise not to be angry with me?” Akram asked.
“Of course, cousin. We grew up together, we are family, you are closer than a brother to me. Both my parents are dead and I have no family left, you are my brother. You can ask me anything. I will not be angry.” Habib replied.
“No, you must promise me you won’t be angry with me. I trust you, you are like a brother to me, but promise not to be angry when I ask you this question. I have not even asked my own family because they would be angry with me but I trust you.”
This continued on for a while longer until finally Akram asked Habib, “Habib please don’t be angry with me, but do you know any Christians? I’ve been wanting to ask them questions about their book and since you live in the capital I thought maybe you knew of some Christians that I could ask some questions to. Please don’t be angry, you know if my family found out they would beat me or kill me.”
Testify and Disciple
Habib could barely believe what he was hearing, he replied, “Well I actually got baptized last week, you can ask me anything you want.” He then proceeded to share with Akram all that he knew. He had Akram sit down and read the New Testament for himself and the two have been studying the Scriptures together for weeks.
Pray for Akram
Akram is currently counting the cost. Pray that he will make the decision to follow Christ even if it costs him everything. Pray that God would continue to use Habib to be a light in the darkness.
If you would like to pray for more people like Akram, join our Prayer Force and be interceding for the many unreached people around the world.
*Names changed.
