Middle East | A Healed Sheikh Opens Doors to Jesus

Novo’s global partner in the Middle East trains church leaders with the tools needed to reach every town in their city for Christ—a lofty dream given the country our story is from is 97% practicing or culturally Muslim. It’s an even bigger challenge considering some areas are very restrictive and dangerous to visit.

But God has a remarkable way of opening doors for the good news when people are willing to partner with him. One of these God-moments occurred when one of the church leaders met a Sheikh—a respected elder and leader within the Muslim community. The Sheikh was suffering from debilitating back pain that made even walking difficult. His wife was also battling severe health issues—her diabetes-related blood sugar levels were dangerously high. The church leader felt led to ask a bold but compassionate question: “Can I pray for you in the name of Jesus?” The Sheikh replied, “Why not?”

A month later, the Sheikh reached out to the church leader with a surprising invitation to his home. There, the church leader saw the Sheikh walking normally—no longer hindered by back pain. What’s more, the Sheikh’s wife shared that her blood sugar levels had returned to a normal range. These healings sparked a curiosity in the Sheikh and his wife to know more about Jesus. Upon hearing the gospel, the entire household accepted Jesus!

The Sheikh began telling everyone about the miraculous healings his family had experienced and started five home group Bible studies. “I can not read the Bible, but there is someone sitting beside me telling me what to say,” he said.

The NEO team leader says, “Despite living in a region where Christian faith is not freely welcomed, God is using this Sheikh to bring the gospel to those around him.” His story is a testimony that God’s reach is limitless, and he will move wherever he chooses, even in the most restrictive environments.