Danish European Mission donors support the rehabilitation center, which is located in a Muslim country that we cannot name here for security reasons. Murat has served faithfully for many years and asks us to lift them up in prayer.
Murat is a former drug addict
"I have been the director of a Christian rehabilitation center for many years, and we have seen hundreds of men come out of their drug and alcohol addiction. I also have a history of addiction and spent many years in prison before I met Jesus. He transformed my life and for the last 20 years I have been walking with Jesus and serving him. For the past 13 years I have been married to Nadia and together we have Katya, 10, and Alek, 7.
Everyone in our family loves Jesus, and it's great as parents to see and feel that the children also want to follow Jesus just like us.
Our girl, Katya, attends a special music school as she is very talented in music and singing and she wants to be a musician and singer. She has participated in several major music and singing competitions and won several awards. Alek is fond of sports, especially martial arts. It is a great joy for Nadia and me to see that our children are doing so well and are very diligent," says Murat.
Murat and wife in new role as pastor couple
"Here in January this year, Nadia and I were installed as a pastoral couple in the church in our town. The church was a small church and we decided to hold the meetings together with the men at the rehabilitation center, as the church building was very inconveniently located on the outskirts of town, far away from public transportation.
Since January, a lot has happened and we've seen more people join, especially families with children. My wife Nadia leads the children's ministry and a home group, and is also good at telling people about Jesus. We both have a big heart for people in need and for those who are struggling in one way or another," Murat explains.
Evangelical Christians are perceived as sectarian
"As a Christian, it is often also a great challenge to serve, as the authorities and a majority of the population perceive us evangelical Christians as sectarian. Our family, both Nadia and I, but also the children, have experienced many inconveniences over the years. Nadia, and especially I, as an employee of the church and as manager of the rehabilitation center, have experienced a lot of unpleasantness, harassment and threats over the years.
But we as a family have chosen to stay in this place and serve the Lord with the talents and gifts He has given us and with the calling He has placed in our hearts. As a family, we have experienced the Lord's faithfulness and blessing upon us," says Murat.
Lift Murat and his family up in prayer
"Please pray for God's will to be done in our lives and ministry. Pray also that the Lord will provide for our needs and for the needs of rehabilitation ministry, which is often a difficult ministry for me. I have served in rehabilitation ministry for many years and we have a great staff team. We see many victories and experience many joys, but also challenges, and as a leader and manager this can often be very difficult.
Please pray for great grace and power from God for us as a family to be able to do the Lord's will, and please pray for God's protection for our family.
May God bless you!", Murat concludes.
Thank you for helping to surround Murat, his family and the work they are doing with prayer.
