The Faith of Two Women
An important part of ReachGlobal work is to identify nationals with apostolic gifts and develop them for ministry. Often, national workers need to be taught from and be grounded in the Scripture.
Mary is one of those believers. She was taught inductive Bible study skills and she now leads a Bible study group herself.
Mary led Elizabeth to faith. Elizabeth started attending a registered church, but feared being called in by the authorities. Eventually, she was called in for questioning, and was petrified. She frantically tried to reach Mary, but couldn’t because Mary was out of town.
Later Elizabeth recounted to Mary what happened, "When I walked in, the neighborhood leaders and men from the police were looking at me."
The man from the police said, "We heard you have changed to a corrupt religion."
"I don’t know anything about corrupt religions," she answered.
"We heard you have taken on a different religion," he showed her a list of names. "These people told us that you go to a church. Did you know that the pastor gives money to people to change religions and then he takes their money?"
"I don’t know these people you’ve talked about," she said. "And, I don’t go to the church to see pastors or people. I go because I hear the words of God. I am a widow. I was very sick once, paralyzed on one side, but God healed me. I go there because God is there." Then she continued, "The constitution tells me that I can go to a registered church. Why are you telling me that I can’t?"
The more they talked the more confident she became. Finally they let her go. Later, she was talking to Mary, "I was so afraid, before I went in. But, when I was there I wasn’t afraid at all! In fact, it was as if I wasn’t talking at all. The words were coming from somewhere else."
Mary then showed Elizabeth in Scripture where the same things had happened to the apostles. How God had given them words to say. How Jesus Himself said that the Holy Spirit would be giving them words to say when they would be called in by government officials. Mary told her God arranged it so that she wasn’t able to be there. He wanted Elizabeth to lean on Him only and He wanted to show His power to her and through her.
Praise and Pray
Praise God for the boldness and protection of national believers in the face of opposition.
Pray for God to raise up more believers who can instruct others in faith in a creative access context.Â
More information on Central Asia
