What Hazara Need

You are a Muslim; it’s all you’ve ever known. Being a Muslim is what everyone in your country is.   

Over time you notice your close friend has changed; he seems “different,” but you don’t know why, so you ask him about it. You're surprised by his response. When you ask him what’s changed about him, surprisingly, he’s overcome with fear. You are puzzled as to why, so you ask again, but he only stumbles through an answer without really saying anything.

Over the next few days, you continue to ask your friend why he’s so different. Finally, he realizes you won’t let it go until he answers you, so he suggests you go to his home so you can be alone. Out of respect for your friend and a crazy curiosity, you follow him to his house.

When you are alone with him, he looks at you, and with fear written all over his face, he says, “I know I must tell you, and I’m ready to suffer the possible consequences when I do.” He then spends the next hour explaining to you about Jesus. At first, you are shocked, then angry, but soon resignation and acceptance reach your heart. Something in you screams, “This is it; it’s real, I’m real, and you know it. Don’t run away; run to me.” You do.

Your friend guides you to understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Now, with the same fear that your friend has had, you tell Jesus, “Yes.” As soon as you do, your fear vanishes, and peace invades and takes over your heart. Your friend cries as he says, “Welcome to the family, brother.”

That was a year ago. If you had known what it would cost to say yes to Jesus, would you do it all over again? The answer is yes, but you never imagined living with such rejection, fear, and loneliness. Your family said they hated you, that you had shamed them. They kicked you out and told you never to return. Your neighbors turned you in to the police, but you escaped being captured.

Now, you live in another country where you are isolated and alone. Loneliness and despair wake you up every morning and whisper hopelessness to your heart every waking moment. Does anyone know or care about you? Does anyone pray for you? Will anyone help you? You begin to wonder. Maybe you will die in despair; it seems that way sometimes.

The story above is a thumbnail sketch of life for our Hazara family. We are so happy to engage them in weekly Bible studies. We are honored to be able to help them put bread on the table or send them to the Doctor when they are sick. They need all of this, but they need something else too.

Encouragement.

Today, I pray we would encourage the people in our sphere of influence.
There are many ways to encourage, but at the end of the day, the best way is to point a friend to our hope, redeemer, and rock.

Pray that our Hazara family will be encouraged. They certainly encourage us.