Mrs. Heena, 30, a Muslim woman, became bedridden four years ago while giving birth to her younger son. She could not feel anything below the hip, and could not sit in a wheelchair for very long. Her husband, Ali, a banker by profession, took her to different hospitals and doctors where they did everything possible. After about 18 months they lost faith in modern medicine and began taking her to sorcerers and witch doctors. They did everything possible in accordance with their beliefs and practices, but her condition did not improve. They became hopeless, as the mental struggle grew worse. For Ali, fear and depression became a part of his life.
At this time, some of our house church leaders’ trainees were doing outreach in that area. On a Sunday afternoon, they knocked at Ali’s door. His parents opened the door, and two of our sisters shared the Gospel with them. When Ali’s parents mentioned Heena, our trainees asked permission to pray for her. Ali’s parents pointed to the room where Heena was laying. Together, our sisters shared with her about Jesus and His healing power. Since she was Muslim, she knew about “Isa Nabi” (Jesus, the prophet). Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet, but they do not believe that he was divine or the son of God. The Quran describes the miracles Jesus performed, such as healing the sick and raising the dead, but does not ascribe these miracles to his divinity.
The Gospel Brings Healing
The two women shared that Jesus still heals and one of them shared her testimony of how Jesus healed her from back pain she had for a long time. This built Heena’s faith. They then laid their hands on her and began to pray. Heena was laying in the bed. After about 10 minutes of prayer, Heena said to her husband “look at my toes! I’m moving my toes!” For four years she had been unable to feel or move her toes. With great joy and a grateful heart the women continued to pray. God in His mercy touched Heena, healed her and raised her from her bed. This miracle led Ali, Heena and Ali’s parents to receive Jesus into their life.
The Gospel Brings Persecution
Heena, Ali and his parents began to attend the local church, where they truly fell in love with the Lord. Innocently, they began to share their testimony with other Muslims. Within a few weeks, they were under great pressure from the Muslim community. They were threatened with death if they didn’t stop going to church. Ali was fearful, but Heena continued her walk with the Lord. Her in-laws stood with her, and for the last several months they have been persecuted physically, emotionally and have suffered financial losses because of their love for the Lord.
Under tremendous pressure, Ali stopped coming to church, and tried to stop Heena and His parents. But they fearlessly followed the Lord. Heena decided to receive baptism. Somehow the Muslim clergy came to know about it and they tried to stop Heena and Ali’s parents. They even put pressure on Ali to divorce Heena. On Sunday, August 4th, our team was there to give baptism to 21 people, among them were Heena and Ali’s parents. After the baptism, when we got back in the church, Heena came to us and said “Ali called me on the phone and divorced me.” If a Muslim husband says the word “talak” three times to his wife, he has legally divorced her under Sharia law. We were shaken by the sudden development, but Ali’s parents stood with her and comforted her.
After the baptism service, we were preparing to take Holy Communion when we saw Ali coming to the church. He was not alone, but was accompanied by the Muslim clergy and other senior members of the Muslim community, around 12 men in all. Our local pastor politely went out and welcomed them. He told them that we were having Holy Communion, and invited them inside the church and offered them a seat. They came and sat in the church, and listened as one of our team explained the importance and seriousness of communion, and the suffering of Christ on the Cross.
The Gospel Brings Reconciliation
The Muslim clergy and the people who came with him were listening carefully. We continued with communion, and near the end of the service we asked Heena to give her testimony in front of everyone, including the 12 Muslim men. With great humility she shared her testimony of how Jesus healed her from 4 years of her disease, agony, pain and humiliation. After her testimony, we gave an invitation for anyone who wanted special prayer. At this invitation, 7 out of the 12 Muslim men came forward for prayer. As they came and knelt down in front of the church our team and the local pastor laid hands on them and prayed for them.
After the meeting, the Muslim clergy came and told us that he had not known what Isa (“Jesus”) had done for her. He continued “some people in our community misled us and we are sorry.” He then went to Heena and blessed her, saying “Isa (Jesus) will bless you,” and strictly told Ali to never divorce her. Then he called our leader to grasp Heena’s and Ali’s hands together and he told them “I tried to separate you, but now we together (pointing to our leader) are uniting you in the name of Isa (Jesus).” It was a touching moment for all of us.
As he was leaving he told me “I learned about Jesus in the Quran but today what I heard about Jesus touched my heart. I will go back and try to learn more about Jesus.”
Last month on Sunday, September 8th, we were in that church for another baptism service, and the church was full. People were sitting outside in the shade. Among them, we saw a lot of Muslim men and women who have started to come to the church because of the testimony of Heena.
As we left the village that afternoon, we saw the Muslim clergy, standing on the road waiting for a bus. We stopped the car and greeted him. He was so happy and said to us “since we met I have been learning more and more about “Isa” (Jesus). For the last few weeks during Friday prayers I have been teaching about Isa (Jesus). Your words have touched my life too.”
Help Us Share the Gospel
Will you help us continue sharing the Gospel in the darkest places of India? Psalm 119:105 says ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.’ You can share in the blessings! To find out how to contact us, and to read more inspiring and exciting testimonies of what God is doing among the unreached people groups of India.
With your help, the Gospel will be proclaimed, and you will be blessed, along with thousands of others!
Proclaiming the Gospel…
…until He comes,