Open door, cluttered minds

He sat at the next table, but I could tell he was trying to listen in on our conversation.  He was leaning back in his chair with his Turkish chia in one hand and a cigarette in the other.   At that moment, I was at the adjacent table carrying on a cultural exchange with six college students from the local university.   The five Turkish men at my table, and one female from Bulgaria,  had come from all over the country to study at the University in Izmir, Turkey.  They were studying engineering, statistics, and chemistry with the goal of “making money” (this was their own words).  It sounded like a similar conversation you might have with any cluttered mind from the West who thinks that life is all about the stuff we can gain.  There is a very Western feel to the area, no doubt.

We continued past the money-making-talk in about 15 minutes.  It was a great time of getting to know each other as we shared with each other about our countries before the students asked me if I was religious.  Can you say: “open door” (Colo 4:3).  We began to converse about Christianity and Islam.  All of the students were professing Islamists, but none actually practiced their faith on a regular basis.  The more we talked about the faith, the more the man at the next table wanted to hear what we were saying.  His desire finally got the best of him and he asked if he could join us and be a part of the conversation.  About 10 minutes later, the original six excused themselves to attend class, but “Randy” didn’t leave.  It was now a virtual 1 on 1 conversation (I did have a translator to help when needed).  “Randy” wanted to know more, though he told me point blank he was a Muslim and had no intentions of changing.  I shared from the Quran (Shurah 3:45-47), how even the Quran points people to Jesus as the perfect virgin born Son of God (Mohammad didn’t have such claims).  Our conversation continued for another 15-20 minutes. I gave him some “verses” to read from the Quran that point people to Jesus.  We exchanged email addresses and then went on our way.  It was an orchestrated God encounter.

Pray for “Randy,” the translator said we made good headway with him.  This was good after talking to many other students with cluttered minds…

1. Pray Jesus will show up in his life miraculously (vision, prayers, etc).
2. Pray that he will find fellow believers to journey with him in the faith.  There few in a country of .01% evangelical professing followers of Jesus.
3. Pray that we can continue a relationship via email
4. Pray that Randy will know Jesus as his savior.

As I finish this blog, I will be writing Randy to start our on line conversation.  Be praying!

You’ll have to ask the others about their conversations…especially Huff and Oliphants new dues:)

 

1. Becky Shaffer says:

   November 4, 2011 at 8:34 am

   Awesome update! Praying!! Please give Jaclyn and Jeremiah our love from Saving Grace!!!
2. Jay says:

   November 4, 2011 at 8:50 am

   Only the Holy Spirit can overcome barriers like that! I am praying for you all.