I have just returned from the ancient country of Georgia, where a global partner invited me to speak and lead worship at their regional leaders’ retreat. A few years ago, his agency had only three workers serving in the Caucasus region. This year a hundred leaders, mostly from Azerbaijan, came to take part in this retreat. It was deeply encouraging.

Over three days a Disciple-Making Movement leader from the Middle East shared. We all worshipped together, prayed and shared what God was doing in the region. One disciplemaking team had just moved to a new city in Azerbaijan and shared this story with me:

In the street they met a woman who had many brothers. Each brother was a strict Muslim and radically committed to Islam. She was not as radical but still believed in Islam. The team met her later to do a Discovery Study with her. Over time, she began to ask herself which way was right—following Mohammed or Jesus.

One night she had a dream where Jesus came to her. He told her to follow Him. She asked Him why the Muslim prophets did not come and talk with her. Jesus said, "They are all dead, but I am alive.” Then she woke up. Becoming an open disciple of Jesus is hard for her because of her brothers, but she is quietly following Jesus and growing stronger in her faith each day. Pray for her, her brothers and the team walking alongside her.

Here's another story:

In Iran during the time of the first Ayatollah, one of our national partners was leading an underground church. The police were pressuring him to betray his church members. He would not, so the police threatened him with jail if he did not tell them what they needed. They gave him a few days to go home to think, then come back to the prison. He would not betray his church, so he was preparing to go to jail. On the day he went to report at the prison, he noticed something strange. It was quiet in the streets and all the stores were closed. When he arrived, he banged on the door. At first no one came. After a while, someone answered without opening the door and told him to go away. He was confused. They said, "Don’t you know Ayatollah Khomeini died in the night? We don’t know what will happen in the next few days, so go home."

Our partner knew he now had a chance to leave the country. In the confusion of those days, he left the nation of Iran with his family, never to return. He now serves the kingdom of God internationally through translation, teaching and media ministry.

Never forget—Jesus is alive! He is the King who rules and reigns with all authority. He is the King who speaks and the King who is returning. Let’s trust in the Lord with all our hearts and all we are. Truly seek His kingdom first. For the Lord is good and His faithfulness and mercy endures forever.

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Chris Jones is the Global Outreach Director at New Hope Church. He longs for the unreached people of the world to experience the life-changing love of God and for people at New Hope Church to find fullness of joy by obeying the Great Commission.