“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10 (NIV)

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Of the many privileges I have in serving as the National Director for SGM Canada, one is to visit local churches; advocating for the Bible, speaking on Bible engagement, and proclaiming the Bible’s life words. In November 2008 I was in Toronto at The Spirit of Truth Church, a Farsi congregation with an outreach to Muslims. At the conclusion of the service, Pastor Siamak asked if I would pray with the people. A long line formed and one after another people shared their stories and requests.

One of the people in the prayer line was an Iranian lady who’d recently immigrated to Canada. She related how a few days prior to the service she’d received a vision from God about a foreign man who would come to the church and speak about salvation and healing in Jesus Christ. In the vision she’d clearly seen the man dressed in brown pants, with a black shirt, dark tie, brown jacket and a black computer bag slung over his shoulder. With some hesitation and nervousness she told me, via the interpreter, that prior to coming to the service she’d phoned Pastor Siamak and shared every detail of the vision. She concluded by asking me to pray for her salvation and healing . . .

Dressed as I was in brown pants, with a black shirt, dark tie, brown jacket, and a black computer bag, no longer on my shoulder as it was when I walked into the church but now lying under a table, I tried not to be distracted by the goose bumps on the back of my neck, and did what I’d been asked to do.

It’s marvelous to see how God continues to draw people to Himself. As I held the lady’s hands, prayed, and thanked God for His promised healing and salvation, I simultaneously, yet silently, thanked Him for how people continue to be changed by His life words. All praise to God! His word accomplishes the purpose for which He sends it. Muslims, like many others, are hearing the gospel and experiencing life transforming encounters with Jesus Christ.