Temecula, CA | A Story Only God Could Write

It became clear to Mohammed that he was being pursued. Not by dangerous men but by a God who loves him so much that he would use a little old lady to guide him right to a church in a random city to meet a random man who knew his world in Lebanon.

When people make themselves available to God, he may use them in ways that are totally unexpected. This happened to Dr. Alex Galloway, the founder of Novo’s missionary care team, SentWell, in Malaga, Spain. Alex was back on furlough, sharing about his ministry at a supporting church in California, when he found himself in the middle of a gospel story only God could write.

During the service Alex had talked about his work counseling traumatized refugees in Lebanon. Afterwards, a man approached Alex to ask about his work in Lebanon. Mohammed, half Lebanese and half Kurdish, admitted he was a Muslim who had ended up in church that morning through a series of unexpected events.

Mohammed shared that 15 years ago in Iraq, he was driving his business partner to view a property when two black cars forced him off the road. His partner was dragged out of the car and executed right in front of him. Although they let Mohammed go, they warned him, "You will be next." Mohammed applied for asylum and eventually ended up as a refugee in Chicago. 

Mohammed had come to California for a meeting about his father’s inheritance. His uncle—who Mohammed thought might be connected to the people who killed his partner—was trying to force him to sign away his inheritance. Mohammed abruptly left the meeting, but as he was driving away, a black car came up behind him. Mohammed took a series of turns hoping to lose the car, but it continued to follow him. He thought for sure it was men sent to kill him.

Eventually, he found himself directed into a busy parking lot by people with reflective vests. The black car pulled up right next to him, and an older woman got out. Mohammed asked her where they were, and she cheerfully said, "We are going to church!"

Mohammed realized this might not be such a coincidence after all.

Still quite shaken, he decided a church was probably the safest place he could hide. As Alex shared from the pulpit about how God is moving in Lebanon, Mohammed realized this might not be such a coincidence after all. 

He told Alex that over his lifetime, he had had several meaningful encounters with Christians and often wondered, "Who is this man, Jesus, that they keep talking about?" He’d even had a dream about Jesus. Alex was able to share more about who Jesus is and pray with him, and, since Alex would soon be flying back to Spain, he promised to connect Mohammed to the pastor of the church.

The following week Alex was meeting at a Panera Bread in a completely different city when Mohammed walked in. Mohammed exclaimed, “Alex, are you following me?!” It became clear to Mohammed that he was being pursued. Not by dangerous men but by a God who loves him so much that he would use a little old lady to guide him right to a church in a random city to meet a random man who knew his world in Lebanon. And God had orchestrated a meeting with Alex not once, but twice, to answer his questions about Jesus.

Mohammed began reading the Bible and texting Alex his questions. He met with the pastor of the church that same week and committed his life to following the One who kept pursuing him. Mohammed hopes to be baptized in the church he “accidentally” attended.