[Mission Field News] Jesus Will Reign as King in Saudi Arabia

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Hello. I am Wazdi, a Yemeni born in Saudi Arabia.

When I was young, I was hospitalized with childhood cancer. The nurse in charge of me was a Filipino who believed in Jesus. Through her devoted care and faithful prayers, I came to want to know the Jesus she told me about. Thankfully, after I was completely healed of cancer, I accepted Jesus, but since my family is Muslim, I had to live without showing my faith.

Last year, as I was about to graduate from high school, I began to feel afraid of continuing to believe in Jesus. Then one day, in a dream, Jesus encouraged me, saying, “The path you are walking is right.” After that, my heart toward Jesus grew deeper, and I wanted to make my faith clear. I contacted the nurse who had shared Jesus with me and told her that I wanted to be baptized.

The nurse introduced me to Korean and Filipino friends who believe in Jesus. As I met them, learned the Word, and worshiped together, I was finally able to receive the baptism I had long hoped for. With a trembling heart, I gave my testimony before the community about how I came to believe in Jesus, and through the baptismal confession, I declared that I would follow Jesus, even if it meant losing my life for the One who died on the cross for my sins.

I am still afraid to reveal my faith to my family. Please pray that I may overcome fear through God’s love, follow Jesus boldly, and that my faith may grow strong enough to share Jesus with my family and friends around me.

“I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.” (Philemon 1:5–7)

We thank God for loving Brother Wazdi, healing his physical illness, sending faithful believers to him, and granting him faith to hear the name of Jesus and confess Him as his Savior.

At his baptism, Brother Wazdi confessed that he would follow Jesus even if it cost him his life, yet in reality, he fears revealing his faith to his Muslim family. May his faith grow each day through meeting Jesus and experiencing His love.

May Brother Wazdi have fellowship in faith within the community, be nurtured through the Word, and boldly share the love of Jesus he has experienced with his family and friends, living as a disciple who helps build the church in this land.

God loves Saudi Arabia and is raising people of faith there. May young people like Brother Wazdi rise up and gather as the church in this land where Islam began. Let them become a holy church that breaks the power of darkness and leads people to Christ.

Muslims from all nations come to Saudi Arabia for their pilgrimage. May the church in Saudi Arabia fulfill its calling to share the water and bread of life with them, and proclaim the peace, joy, and comfort that come through Jesus!