Compelled by the Friendship of Christ
God’s pursuit of the resistant through community and hospitality in the church
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’”
—Genesis 3:8–9
From the very beginning of Scripture, God pursues His creation. Most notably, this pursuit happens not only within the preserved perfection of the Garden of Eden, but continues, ignited in a new way, when humanity falls into sin in Genesis 3. The first humans’ reaction to their own sin is the fear and shame that led them to hide from God in a desperate attempt to distance themselves from their Creator. In turn, God’s own response to His fallen creation is the question, “Where are you?” (see Gen. 3:9), making His desire to be near to them unashamedly known.
In the world today—and in the life of Nabila,* a 37-year-old woman who immigrated to southern Europe at age 15—the story of God’s pursuit despite brokenness has not changed. Earlier in her immigration journey, Nabila encountered Christianity but later decided to revert to Islam, the religion that she had known, grew up practicing, and that was prominent among fellow immigrants.
Nabila made her choice, and her choice was Islam. After she had walked away from Jesus, she feared rocking the religious boat in her life, deciding to stay with what felt comfortable. In this heart-space, Nabila entered the home of an Alliance international worker for an event that would soon change the course of her life—a house church meeting followed by a meal celebrating the birthday of one of the Christian believers who had come from a Muslim background.
Nabila feared even entering the house at the risk of also entering a religious conversation. She had gone back to Islam and didn’t want that choice being challenged—yet here she found herself, at the home of “religious Christians.” As she arrived at the gathering, already nervous and ready to leave, she resolved to drop off some food to share and never return. With her plan in place, she pulled into the driveway and—to her surprise—her car died. She questioned whether she should even enter the house—after all, was this a sign she shouldn’t have come? She was already scared of the possibility of religious confrontation, and now here she was, with no way to turn back.
Wrestling with her fear, Nabila entered the home, and almost instantaneously, a new perspective began to take root. Among the group gathered, she was surprised to hear of the stories of Muslim background believers in the room, deep in community with the “religious Christians,” who were all sharing stories of their journeys to Jesus. As Nabila interacted with Elizabeth,* the Alliance worker who had invited her to her home, she experienced a long sigh of relief in her heart. Her doubt, fear, shame, and anxiety dissipated, melting into peace, rest, relaxation, and curiosity. Nabila grew more and more comfortable because of the environment in Elizabeth’s home—people from many different walks of life all together like a family, creating a space permeated with love, warmth, and welcome.
Once her car was up and running, Nabila returned home, taking new friendships, questions, and encouragement with her. She felt compelled to return to Elizabeth’s home and continue fostering a friendship with her simply because she liked her—she felt a deep desire to be her friend. In Elizabeth, Nabila was able to recognize a peace, confidence, and trust that was uncommon for her to feel from others. She felt that Elizabeth understood her.
“Although we don’t have the same blood, I felt like she was from my blood. It doesn’t have a price, that feeling.” –Nabila
Over the next days, weeks, and months, as Nabila continued a friendship with Elizabeth, she also began battling a question.
What if Islam isn’t true?
The question persisted, bothering her over and over, so she returned to Elizabeth’s house again and again every Sunday to ask questions about Islam and Christianity.
Amid the persistent, nagging questions in her mind, Nabila had a dream—one of God clearly pursuing her despite her rejection of the Christian faith, one that she points to as the clearest moment of her decision to follow Jesus.
Before bed, she got up to do her prayers and felt a prominent presence behind her. She became very nervous, feeling frozen—so she stopped, deciding not to continue her Muslim prayer, and went to sleep. In her dream that night, she heard a voice asking her:
“Why did you leave me?”
At that point in her life, the only person she had left was Jesus. As she said her prayers every day, she always asked God to guide her on the right path, the straight path. When the voice came, she knew it was God answering that prayer for her—showing her the right, straight path—the path back to Jesus.
“In all your ways submit to [the LORD], and he will make your paths straight.”
—Proverbs 3:6
Even through her resistance, God made Nabila’s path straight. In reflecting on her journey back to the Lord and the ways He pursued her despite her rejection, Nabila feels accepted by God in a priceless way. She feels loved, welcomed, and at peace. This acceptance and wholeness have ignited in Nabila a desire to share the Jesus she has come to know and love with all the world, “When you feel that . . . you feel like you want to open the window and scream and tell everybody!”
Nabila’s walk of faith has led her to a beautiful partnership ministry alongside Alliance international workers, establishing language classes as grounds for ministry work. Nabila and her church family, including Elizabeth, are making important strides in bringing those far from God into His Kingdom family through simple hospitality—making an environment for all people to hear about Jesus and wrestle with what they’ve always believed as it compares to the truth that is being shared with them.
Most recently, over 70 women from Muslim backgrounds registered for Nabila and Elizabeth’s language classes. These women have bi-weekly encounters with volunteers and teachers who are believers meeting real needs, providing real help, and thereby sharing the real love of Christ.
The sending and sustaining of Alliance international workers bring not only encounters with the gospel to those far from God, but develops stability in community and discipleship, providing deeper relationships with God that lead to greater multiplication of His Church throughout the world. Your gifts to the Alliance Great Commission Fund provide and sustain environments for the lost to encounter Jesus all over the world. Visit cmalliance.org/give to make a difference for God’s Kingdom in and through Alliance workers and the people they serve—like Nabila.
*Names changed
About the Author
Emily Smith joined the Story Team at the Alliance National Office earlier this year as an editor and copywriter. Emily earned her bachelor of arts from Iowa State University in 2021 and moved to the Columbus, Ohio, area post-graduation as part of a church-planting team ministering to the city of Columbus and campus of Ohio State.