Role Reversal

Recently a pastor with whom we partner in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon visited Winston-Salem. Over the last few months, the Lord has revealed an incredible strategy for ATC to reach the Middle East, and this pastor (we will call him John) is a key part of that strategy. In June, ATC was part of an effort to fund the beginning phases of the construction of a worship center and “safe house”, and I assumed that John was simply making a stop in Winston-Salem to say “thank you”.

The reality of operating a non-profit in this economy is a bit trying at times, and when John showed up in Winston-Salem, I was in the midst of one of those times. To be brief, I was not in the best frame of mind when he arrived as I was preparing for a board meeting and trying to discern how we would fund the on-going operations of ATC. However, the Lord knew exactly what I needed to enable me to continue doing what I believe he has called me to do.

John (whose name has been changed to protect his safety) spent two days in Winston-Salem simply sharing stories of what the Lord is doing in Lebanon. And these stories reminded me that the Lord is much bigger than the issues that trouble me; that the work we are undertaking is the Lord’s work; that the Lord will accomplish His work, with or without ATC; and that it is a huge blessing to be doing this work as the Lord leads and enables.

As I spent time with him, I was amazed that John never mentioned his ministry or talked about funding. He was completely focused on what the Lord was doing through the lives of people that have been a part of his ministry. In his sharing of a particular story that I had heard in Lebanon, I was even a little frustrated because I thought he was “underselling”. After all, the person he was talking about was from a particularly well known extremist group, had parents that were teachers of the Qur’an, and had come to Christ! But all that John shared of his background was that this man no longer had identification and could not return to his home. What John focused on was how the Lord was using this man in his current situation. He talked of this man’s love for Christ and his desire to share this love with his people. And for those interested, from an isolated cinderblock room, this man happens to be running the largest Christian online chat room for Muslims.

One story after another revealed how the Lord has touched people from all kinds of backgrounds and then sent them off to share what He had revealed to them. I was amazed and encouraged. To think that the Lord has connected ATC with this pastor; and through this connection, we are able to see how the Lord is expanding His kingdom in the Middle East.

John left Winston-Salem with a bit of a challenge to us. He thanked us for our forefathers, the missionaries that brought the Gospel to Lebanon, but warned us not to rest on their accomplishments. There are unreached people out there, and we have to be in the game! He also reminded us of the simple fact that we need each other. It is kind of cool to think of a small group of believers in the Bekaa Valley praying for us and us for them - and the Lord moving in both places! As this John pointed out, the front line of contact with Islam seems to have expanded outside of the Middle East and, and we need our Arab brothers and sisters to help us understand the most effective way to share the love of Christ with people of Muslim backgrounds.

So thank you John for doing for me that which the Lord has called ATC to do for you and others in hard to reach places – to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations through prayer, encouragement and assistance of and for local leaders and pastors in their ongoing ministries.

Courtney Mauzy