He picked us up each morning at our hotel, and returned us safely each evening. Most mission trips don’t include bodyguards, but this one did. And Sam was our favorite.
Tough Job from Day One
A number of years ago, our church partnered with a local Christian congregation in a Muslim-dominated country. The goal of our national partners was that together we would establish about a dozen cell churches in a series of apartment buildings by the end of the week.
On the first day we held a large church meeting before heading out to do mission work. When the meeting ended the fifteen teams scattered in all directions. Sam, our government-assigned bodyguard, was distraught. There was no way he could keep track of all the crazy Americans going every which way.
So I took Sam aside and told him it would be okay. I bought a couple of Cokes and we sat together on plastic chairs in the dusty alley and talked for a while. I assured him that the people would be wise and that God would protect them. He said he believed in God.
I told him to relax and stay cool, we would all be back in a few hours. And then I left. Since we all returned as promised, he was much at ease the following days.
Friendship Beyond Religion
Sam’s job was to protect us each day as we traveled. He was even ready and willing to shoot others for our safety. Sam was a Muslim man, but by God’s design, ironically ended up making a way for our team to share the Gospel more freely. Apparently, ensuring national tourism dollars was more important than religion in this religious land.
Sam really had no choice but to listen to our Christian messages and meetings. And we would share Christ with him, and share stories from our lives with one another. He enjoyed being with us and our national partners, and we enjoyed having him with us. We all learned a lot from one another.
After three days with us, Sam was transferred to a different detail, and our group was assigned another bodyguard. Maybe Sam was listening too sympathetically to Gospel. Or, maybe it was simply a routine change. We never saw Sam again on that trip, but many of us still pray for him and what he heard.
God’s Glory in Hard Places
Much progress was made toward the goal of starting apartment-based call groups. Our partner church put a lot of the line to make this happen. This is because they firmly believed that the Lord wanted them to reach out more boldly and share hope with their community.
It would cost them a lot in the coming years. The loss of a building and property by unethical means. And even one of their leaders would be martyred. This is a difficult place to be a Christian, and moreso to spread the faith.
Their courage and risk-taking was inspiring, humbling and empowering. They assumed the cost without reservation, even when it came time to pay it.
Tough Job from Day One
A number of years ago, our church partnered with a local Christian congregation in a Muslim-dominated country. The goal of our national partners was that together we would establish about a dozen cell churches in a series of apartment buildings by the end of the week.
On the first day we held a large church meeting before heading out to do mission work. When the meeting ended the fifteen teams scattered in all directions. Sam, our government-assigned bodyguard, was distraught. There was no way he could keep track of all the crazy Americans going every which way.
So I took Sam aside and told him it would be okay. I bought a couple of Cokes and we sat together on plastic chairs in the dusty alley and talked for a while. I assured him that the people would be wise and that God would protect them. He said he believed in God.
I told him to relax and stay cool, we would all be back in a few hours. And then I left. Since we all returned as promised, he was much at ease the following days.
Friendship Beyond Religion
Sam’s job was to protect us each day as we traveled. He was even ready and willing to shoot others for our safety. Sam was a Muslim man, but by God’s design, ironically ended up making a way for our team to share the Gospel more freely. Apparently, ensuring national tourism dollars was more important than religion in this religious land.
Sam really had no choice but to listen to our Christian messages and meetings. And we would share Christ with him, and share stories from our lives with one another. He enjoyed being with us and our national partners, and we enjoyed having him with us. We all learned a lot from one another.
After three days with us, Sam was transferred to a different detail, and our group was assigned another bodyguard. Maybe Sam was listening too sympathetically to Gospel. Or, maybe it was simply a routine change. We never saw Sam again on that trip, but many of us still pray for him and what he heard.
God’s Glory in Hard Places
Much progress was made toward the goal of starting apartment-based call groups. Our partner church put a lot of the line to make this happen. This is because they firmly believed that the Lord wanted them to reach out more boldly and share hope with their community.
It would cost them a lot in the coming years. The loss of a building and property by unethical means. And even one of their leaders would be martyred. This is a difficult place to be a Christian, and moreso to spread the faith.
Their courage and risk-taking was inspiring, humbling and empowering. They assumed the cost without reservation, even when it came time to pay it.
Hebrews 10:32–39 ESV “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”God sets up our relationships, those with partner congregations and mission opportunities, and those with bodyguards such as Sam. We need to be ready for whomever and whatever God brings our way. We must be intent on bringing glory to Him by our faithful Gospel witness, by our our honorable actions and in pursuing the relationships in front of us, without fear.
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