Since Christian churches are not allowed in one North African country where our partners minister, they came up with a strategy to increase home groups. They started producing and broadcasting a program on social media called “The Church in My Home.”
The purpose of the broadcast is to encourage believers to gather a small group of Christ-followers in their homes for worship, Bible study, and prayer. So far, they have broadcast 13 episodes of 30 minutes each on YouTube and Facebook. Praise God, several couples have responded and started a group in their respective homes. Samir, one of the leaders, has started six home groups in his town, and will soon start the seventh.
Our partner believes that home groups are the best strategy since most of the churches have been closed by the authorities.
Abdou is the adult son of an Imam, a Muslim religious leader. He “happened” to hear one of the broadcasts. (Perhaps thanks to your prayers!) The program he saw was about Jesus healing people. This greatly interested him because he had cancer and was in much pain.
The following night Abdou had a dream. In his dream, he saw Jesus washing him with water. When he awoke, he was amazed that he did not feel any pain. He was shocked and decided to get a check-up. The doctor put Abdou through all the tests, and indeed, they could not find any trace of cancer! Abdou knew in his heart that Jesus had healed him.
Abdou told his family what had happened. They were thrilled for him, but not convinced Jesus had anything to do with it. Most of all, his father worried about his reputation as an Imam. He knew his son could not stay quiet about what happened, so he asked him to take his wife and child and leave.
Now, Abdou and his family live in another city and are connected with other believers in the area and hope to start a “church in their home.”
