I'm sitting in an online meeting with the field coordinator of the Danish European Mission, who is telling me about the situation of the church in a country in Central Asia. I can't help but smile through the conversation. God's love is great and flourishing in the Central Asian country where the vast majority of the population is Muslim.
Christians meet people's concrete needs
When Jesus was on earth, he met real people with real problems. So do the Christians in Central Asia with whom the Danish European Mission works. They don't stay within the four walls of the church - they want to go out and share God's love in Jesus with others. They drive out to small villages in their tuktuk, which is packed with food bags for poor families.
Out in the small villages, the church has contact with a so-called peacemaker (Luke 10:1-12). The peacemaker is often a new Christian convert whose acquaintances are in need of help. The Christians visit the needy family and give them the bag containing almost 15 kilos of food.
Reactions to the help are varied. "Some are open and very grateful. They say 'yes' when the Christians ask if they can pray for the family. Others say 'no thanks' politely, while only a few react negatively and angrily. The bags are handed out to everyone, regardless of faith or beliefs, and it's up to them whether they want to accept or not. In many cases, the project changes the community's perception of Christianity from negative to positive," says our field coordinator.
Violent attack on house church, but it continued to pray...
And there is a need to turn the tide against convert Christians. "Last year we saw a violent case of persecution against the church we work with. A house church had gathered to pray when a large group of extremists banged on the gate. The Christians just kept praying, and then God did something that the congregation still doesn't fully understand, because suddenly the opponents disappeared. God intervened in this situation where things could have gone wrong."
"God intervened in this situation where it could have gone wrong."
- Field coordinator
We call the work of mercy "Bags of Hope". I ask him if the bags really bring hope and if the Christians experience fruit from their service. To that he replies: "Yes! The term 'Bags of Hope' is a really good name because that's exactly what they do. The Christians say: 'We do this because we love you. And God loves you.'" And Christians don't just focus on meeting a physical need. "The bags are also used for the church to connect with people it wouldn't otherwise have connected with," says the experienced field coordinator.
The local pastor leading the work tells the Danish European Mission's intercessors and donors: "I want to express my special gratitude for your help. It really makes a big difference and it is very encouraging for us. The Bags of Hope project helps us fulfill the Great Commission in practice. People see that Jesus loves and cares for them and many hearts are opened to Christ. This year alone, more than 10 families opened their hearts to Jesus here in our city."
Christians say: 'We do this because we love you. And God loves you.'"
- Field coordinator
Facts: 100 new underground churches
Our partner church's statistics show that over the last 11 years it has planted 100 churches, and of those, 80% of them have been planted within the last 3 years, which is the period Danish European Mission improvers and donors have supported the project.
