Parts of the world are experiencing a long awaited, much-needed spiritual awakening. God is moving in the hearts of people who have long been imprisoned in darkness and oppression—too fearful to even question the long-held beliefs of their ancestors. Their true heavenly Father has heard their silent cries and is answering their growing disillusionment by deepening their hunger for the truth and giving them the courage to embrace it. How is The Alliance responding to Christ’s invitation to join Him in this unprecedented work? By showing up. By being there and staying there. By pointing the way to Him. By loving as He loved.
Eighty-two percent of Alliance global staff serve in parts of the world with little or no gospel access. Our gifts to the Great Commission Fund through the Great Commission Day Offering help keep them there—poised and ready to give reason for the hope that they have.
Edward Awabdeh pastors an Alliance church in the heart of war-torn Syria. His brother, Raed, leads a significant outreach to disenfranchised Middle Eastern immigrants in Sacramento, California. Edward and Raed are products of a young Alliance missionary who obeyed God and went to Syria with the gospel decades ago. Referring to the unprecedented openness to the gospel in the Middle East today, Raed challenged the Alliance family at Council 2015 in Long Beach last month: “Christ opened a door that has been shut for 1,500 years . . . and when Christ opens a door, no one can shut it.”
Watch Raed and Edward’s entire Council message.
Will we continue to be faithful to walk through the doors Jesus opens before us? Our gift to the Great Commission Day Offering shouts, “We will!”