MBMS International. Transforming Lives In Mission

In the Middle East, there is a country of over 70 million people with only 3050 evangelical Believers, one of the lowest percentages in the world. There is a mosque for every 350 people, the highest percentage in the world. This is a young Church with many testifying to meeting Jesus through dreams and visions.

"Hamza" (not his real name) is a believer who called out to God during a period of depression. He saw a vision of a hand reaching out to him. He closed his eyes and opened them again. The hand was still there. The experience shook him so much he called the only Christian friend he knew. This friend shared the gospel with him and gave him a New Testament. As he read he was drawn to the person of Jesus. His conversion, deliverance and discipleship has been a story of transformation. Many have found Christ through his testimony. One day a group of police knocked on his door. He was arrested for sharing the gospel. His court case was in April 2007, on the same day when three Christians were martyred in his country. The mob outside the courthouse yelled at Hamza to leave the country or they would kill him as well. His response to these threats captures the heart of his country's Church. "We love our country. We love to share the gospel." His next trial date is at the end of May, 2009. He needs our prayers.

Jesus spoke to the church in Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11) that He knew their afflictions for the sake of the gospel. He knew the pressure they faced. Jesus called them to face suffering without fear. Their real enemy, the devil, was opposing them within the limits that God had set. There is a saying, "those who are born once, die twice; those who are born twice, die once." Those who are born again are living this costly mission in the Middle East. We are committed to supporting and serving with them.

Items for Prayer
o Pray for Hamza as he prepares for another day in court in May. Pray that God will continue to give him strength, boldness, and peace. Pray that even more people will decide to follow Jesus as a result of Hamza's witness and pray that he will have more opportunities to share about his love for Jesus. Pray that everyone involved in this case will hear and respond to the gospel.
o Pray for the young adults who will be participating in our ACTION programs this summer, with plans to serve alongside long-term missionaries in DR Congo, Mexico, Paraguay, Lithuania, Thailand, Ukraine, Peru and Central Asia. Pray that those whom God calls will be obedient to go, and pray that God will prepare the way for them.

Ministry Highlights
o Twenty-seven full time students, along with their spouses and children, have arrived at the Indian Bible Institute in Yalve Sanga, Paraguay, where missionaries Melvin & Gudrun Warkentin serve. Praise God for good enrollment, including many first-year students! Pray that students and teachers alike will be transformed as they study the word of God together.
o Eleven new missionary candidates will celebrate the completion of our eight-month Missionary Training Institute (MTI) on April 7th. Praise God for their obedience during this time of preparation, and pray for them as they begin to mobilize support and move to the field.

Until all have heard,

Randy Friesen

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