The following story is written by an East-West short-term trip participant. Click here to learn more about our overseas trips.
Armed with limited French, our short-term team headed to a port in France to distribute copies of the Injil (New Testament) to North African Muslims. I noticed a couple waiting in their car to drive onto a departing ferry and approached them to offer them an Injil.
In my broken French, I said, “This is the New Testament. This is a gift. This is free.”
The husband adamantly shook his head and finger at me, so I turned my attention to his wife. She wore a traditional black hijab that completely covered her skin. Only her eyes shown … marking her and her husband as devout Muslims.
My first thought was, “Why would this woman—who is fully covered—want God’s Word?” But I was overwhelmed with God-given boldness and reached into the car and over her husband to offer her the Injil.
Once again I said, “This is the New Testament. This is a gift. This is free.”
The woman stared at me and remained speechless for a few moments. I thought she didn't understand me or was rejecting the gift just like her husband. I was about to give up when she surprised me by taking the Injil and thanking me.
I was completely shocked by her boldness! In her culture, her action was unacceptable. She didn’t just take a Bible. She took a Bible under her disapproving husband’s watch. That takes courage.
Minutes later, I watched this Muslim couple drive through the gate and onto a boat headed to North Africa—an Islamic stronghold—with a book containing words that give eternal life.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” –Hebrews 4:12
Please join us in praying that God would continue giving this woman courage and that her and her husband would read the Bible and find eternal hope in Jesus Christ.