In the Field: The Gospel in Arabic

"Yik yak! Yik yak!" It's 2 p.m. in Cairo. Metal plates bang together. The tea man must be coming again. Honking, always honking. It won't stop, not even at night. The call to prayer, fives times a day - the first at 3 a.m. and the third coming soon.

These are the sounds of Ashley's* mission field. These are the sounds of Cairo, Egypt. She'll learn later that "yik yak" man is really asking for people to sell things.

When Ashley was 13 years old, she attended church camp, where she heard an Iranian pastor speak. He prayed that for students at the camp to become missionaries, and since then, Ashley has wanted to work in the Middle East. As a teenager, she planned to attend the United States Naval Academy, thinking the military would be her path to the Middle East. But a brain tumor derailed her plans. Instead she attended a state school where she joined a campus ministry.

In her junior year of college, she attended The World Mission Summit with her campus ministry. Leading up to the conference, she felt God telling her to go to Africa. Like every other attendee, she was given a book with a list of countries where she could be a missionary. She turned to the the section for Africa and prayed over every country. "I felt nothing for any of them. It was all sorts of terrible," Ashley recalls. "I couldn't picture myself there, had a really hard time feeling passionate about the people. Then I realized, that North Africa is included in Eurasia." So she turned to the section for Eurasia. The first thing she saw was a map of Africa with an arrow pointing to Egypt.

"In an instant, my heart broke, and I got a small taste of the deep passion that the Lord has for Egyptians, and I wept all night. I was so overwhelmed with love and that God gave me a piece of His heart for those people," Ashley says. "It was really sweet too, because I knew if He loved Egyptians that much, He loved me that much." So in 2015, Ashley packed her bags and headed to Cairo, Egypt.

Islamic Cairo

Ashley is one of a team of missionaries in Cairo. (And by the way, the tumor that derailed her original plans for getting there, it's been healed in answer to prayer.) Although being a Christian is not illegal, Egypt is still a closed country. Pastors will have their visas denied, so the people who go there as missionaries have secular jobs. In the case of Ashley's team, they teach English. Because the missionaries in Egypt are not pastors, they go through training once they arrive. A typical day includes four hours of Arabic lessons, half an hour of team prayer, free time to spend on homework or ministering to the people they have met, and three hours of teaching English.

In her Arabic class, Ashley's teacher tells her, "If you don't remember your homework, then God can't use that when you're in front of an Egyptian." And God does use it. Because their lessons focus on Christianity, the missionaries are able to share the Gospel as they ask their Egyptian friends to help them learn Arabic.

After six months in Egypt, Ashley shared the Gospel in Arabic for the first time. One of her good friends, Farah, came to visit at her apartment, and they discussed why it can be hard for people who aren't Christians to understand the Bible. Because of her classes, Ashley had memorized a verse in Arabic from 2 Corinthians 3. She was able to explain that only through Jesus can the Gospel be made clear. "The really cool part was that there were some words I didn't know, but the Lord gave me the Arabic for it," she says. "She [Farah] didn't have any questions, and there wasn't any language barrier. It all worked, and God really spoke to her."

The view from Ashley's apartment. The tower
is where the call to prayer comes from.

If you were to enter Ashley's Cairo apartment, you would find a tea tray set up with sugar, nuts, cookies and other snacks. Anytime a friend visits, Ashley and her roommate are prepared hostesses. "Everything in Cairo centers around food," Ashley explains. "You can't do anything there without eating." A shopping trip will always end with Ashley and her friends sitting down to eat. Having a friend over means serving an appetizer, two meat dishes, dessert and fruit, "because fruit doesn't count as a course, but you have to have it," Ashley says.

It was after a meal at Ashley's apartment that Farah started another conversation about faith. Ashley's parents were visiting during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. They had prepared dinner for Farah to break her fast, and during clean up, she asked Ashley about prayer. For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to seek God, so Ashley and Farah prayed that Jesus would reveal himself to Farah through a dream or vision. "They firmly believe that God speaks through dreams, so they expect Him to," Ashley says. "It's really cool because almost every Christian that I know that's converted has converted because they've had a dream or a vision of Jesus."

In Ashley's experience, Egyptians are very open to hearing the Gospel. They want to understand Christianity, but it takes a long time for them to accept Jesus. "To become a Christian, if you're a Muslim, you literally give up everything," Ashley says. "To be Arab is to be Muslim." That, to Ashley, is the hardest part of witnessing to Egyptians.

"Almost every day, I witnessed people hearing about Jesus for the first time, or the first time they would hold the Word of God in their hands. Almost every day had that first. It just takes a really long time to make a decision to follow Jesus," Ashley says. "Sometimes, it can be disheartening, because these people that you share with, you love them. You're friends with them because you genuinely love them. It's really hard to know the reason you're there is because people are dying and going to hell. And you love them so much that you want them to be saved so much, and it takes a long time."

Ashley spent a year in Egypt. She is currently back in the United States, but she plans to return to Egypt as soon as possible. Once she has completed training in Cairo, she hopes to eventually move to Haifa, Israel and minister there. She has maintained contact with Farah, who often tells her, "Tell mom and dad hi for me."

Prayer requests from Ashley:

• For her friend Sarah, whom she has not had contact with since returning to America
• For her friend Farah because her home life is difficult
• For the continued transition back to life in America
• For financial support so she can return to Egypt

*Names have been changed for the safety of those Ashley is ministering to in Egypt and so that her work in Egypt is not compromised. If you would like to learn more about Ashley's work or support her, you can email me at nicoleejones14@gmail.com for more information. 

All pictures have been provided by Ashley.

The Great Challenge

I stood near the top of the stands and watched as more than 1,500 students flocked toward the stage. For the past 24 hours they had been meeting missionaries - eating meals with them, hearing stories of the people they were ministering to around the world, asking them questions. Now, they were volunteering. They were joining what the speakers had just called "The Great Student Awakening."

Four years ago, I was one of them. Four years ago, I was one of the students committing to giving a year of my life to missions while praying about a lifetime. While I wait on my time to go to Denmark, it is truly a blessing to watch these students commit to a year of missions as well. It is a blessing to see them and thousands more get excited about reaching the lost on their own campuses and in nations around the world.

When I was in college, I heard one of the greatest challenges of my life:

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

- Mark 16:15

College wasn't the first time I had heard that verse. I grew up in church. I have the Great Commission memorized in both Mark's and Matthew's words. But college was the first time I was challenged to take those of Jesus' words seriously.

Jesus came from heaven to earth. He taught and healed. He bled and died. All so we could have a relationship with Him. He came to us. He came because His heart broke for us. 

Students prayed for residents
of Indonesia - the largest Muslim
country in the world.

Now, His heart breaks for them. For the Syrian in the refugee camp. For the child dying of starvation in Africa. For the college student in Europe who thinks the church is obsolete. For the gang member in Latin America. For the members of ISIS. For people deep in the jungles who have never even heard His name. For the Americans who have rejected Him again and again. His heart breaks, and He wants someone to go to them.

Just like it cost Him, it could cost us everything. Up to and including our lives.

That is the challenge I and many others accepted four years ago. It's the challenge another couple thousand students accepted just over a month ago.

Students experience what it's like to attend
a religious service in the Middle East
while hearing about mission opportunities
in the region.

And now it's the challenge I issue to you. Be willing to lay down your finances, relationships, goals, and maybe even life to bring people to Jesus. But before you pack up your bags and leave, pray about what that looks like for you. It is an honor to go, but it's also an honor to send. After all, the Bible says missionaries can't go without being sent.

To help you understand both the blessing and the difficulty behind accepting this challenge, I intend to introduce you to different missionaries each month. There will be current and past missionaries. There will be young and old. There will be missionaries from home and abroad. I hope their stories will challenge and encourage you.

Join the conversation: How will you respond to Jesus' command to go? What will it cost you to reach the lost in this world?

God Is...

"He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'" - Matthew 16:15

Jesus was traveling from town to town. Everywhere He went, He performed miracles. He healed people. He spoke with an authority no one had ever heard before. He raised people from the dead. He walked on water. He fed 5,000 men with a meal meant for only one little boy.

And everywhere He went, people asked, "Who is this man?" There were almost as many answers as there were people who asked the question. Some said He was the carpenter's son. Some called Him teacher. Some even called Him possessed. No matter what they decided, their response to Him reflected their answer. Those who called Him the carpenter's son couldn't see past the neighbor they'd known for 30 years; those who called Him teacher listened to what He had to say and moved on with their lives. Those who called Him possessed refused His healing and His instruction.

But a few called Him Messiah. A few called Him Lord. And those few followed Him. They allowed Him to radically change their lives, and through them, the world.

The first time I remember being asked "Who is God to you," I was on a mission trip in Atlanta. We were doing a ministry called "God Is..." Each person on the team was to create a sign declaring who God is to him or her. The night before we hit the streets, I was trying to decide my answer when God asked me, "Who will you let Me be?" It took several hours for me to arrive at the answer I desperately wanted to be true:

Although I will always aim for God to be my everything, the particular role He fills changes frequently. He is Lord, Savior, Counselor, Healer, Redeemer, Best Friend. Most recently, He has asked to be my hope. Letting Him be my hope means looking forward to what He has for me. It means trusting Him that things will turn out for the best even if it's not the way I want.

There comes a time when we must all decide how we will respond to Jesus. And to do so, we must determine who He is. He wants to be your everything. Sometimes, that requires just accepting Him in one more role each day. As you learn how to accept Him in each role, you can also respond to Him in that role.

Join the conversation: Who do YOU say He is? Who will you let Him be, and what response will that role demand?

Some of the answers my friends gave to "Who is God to you?"

Right On Time

You know those watches with all the numbers jumbled at the bottom? The ones that normally say, "Whatever. I'm late anyway." As much as I hate to admit it, it would probably make perfect sense for me to own one of those. I hate it because it drives me crazy to be late. I grudgingly admit it because I am almost always late. 

For as bad as I am at following them, I almost always have a schedule. Except on Saturdays, of course. Although I might be a few minutes behind, I tend to stick pretty close to that schedule. Even on vacation, I like to find out when attractions are open and how long I should expect to be there; then I plan in a way that I can fit the most new things into my time.

I used to think I could schedule my life as a whole the same way I like to schedule my daily tasks. But considering I am in my mid-twenties, living with my parents, never been on a date, don't have kids, and still haven't published a book, I'd say the life schedule my 13-year-old self had was thrown out the window a long time ago. I've made some adjustments along the way. Some changes were voluntary. Some weren't.

I'm willing to accept that I might not have had all the right ideas when I was 13. I'm also very glad that God didn't give me some of the things I wanted back then - especially at the time I wanted them. 

But many times, I want to point at the clock and yell at God. "Come on! Don't You know You're late?! Don't You know You're making me late?!" Times like when He promised a mission field in Denmark four years ago, and I'm still in Missouri. Or when I remember He promised healing 13 years ago, and it still hasn't come.

In recent months, God has been talking to me about His timing quite a bit. I must admit that I am a slow learner. The other day, I came across these verses in John 14. "If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you." And God showed me a picture.

He showed me one of those watches with all the numbers fallen. Unlike the watches you can buy at the stores, where the hour and minute hands still rotate as usual, these hands always pointed at the numbers. But they always pointed at the right time. I just couldn't tell because it wasn't where I would expect them to be.

I have often heard it said that God is never late and never early. He is always right on time. When He makes a promise, He keeps it "when everything is ready." When WE are ready. And when HE will get the most glory from it.

I'm still working on it, but now, when I'm struggling with God's timing, all I have to do is look at "His watch." I will be reminded that He knows what time it is. I will be reminded that He is running right on time.

Join in: Do you struggle with God's timing? Are there any promises He has made to you that you are still waiting on? What helps you trust His timing?

After God showed me that picture, I drew the best version of it I could.
Maybe it will help the more visual people out there like it did me.

Let Me Be

To all of you reading... MERRY CHRISTMAS! Earlier this week, I intended to write early enough that I could avoid the cliche Christmas post. As time went on, I spent more time thinking about the Christmas story.  And I decided a Christmas post actually was the best option. However, I still wanted it to be different, so enjoy reading this poem I wrote as I pondered each character of the Christmas story.


Let me be like Mary.
Believing no matter how impossible,
Serving no matter what the cost,
Let me be like Mary.

Let me be like Joseph.
Fearing not the judgement of man,
Obeying what my Lord has said,
Let me be like Joseph.

Let me not be an innkeeper.
Turning away those in need,
Shutting out my Savior.
Let me not be an innkeeper.

Let me be like the angels.
Proclaiming peace between God and man,
Singing praises to be heard across the land,
Let me be like the angels.

Let me be like the shepherds.
Running quickly to find my king,
Sharing all that I have seen,
Let me be like the shepherds.

Let me not be a Herod.
Clinging desperately to my Kingdom,
Fighting violently for control,
Let me not be a Herod.

Let me be like the Magi
Pouring out my greatest gifts,
Seeking more than gold and treasure,
Let me be like the Magi.

Let me be like Simeon and Anna.
Trusting every one of God's promises,
Thanking Him for all He has and will do,
Let me be like Simeon and Anna.

But most of all...

Let me be like You, Jesus.
Living in my Father's will,
Giving up my life for men to know,
Let me be like You.


Join the conversation: The idea behind this poem originally occurred to me while thinking about the shepherds and their reaction to the angel's message. I was challenged by how eager they were to share the news. But then God reminded me that as a Christian, my goal should be to look like Jesus. I know I often fail to accurately reflect Jesus to the world, so as a first step to accepting this challenge, I am going to be focusing on making every decision in God's will (not just the major ones). Which part of the Christmas story are you most challenged by? And what will you do to meet that challenge?

His Court

The whistle blows, and the game begins. The tallest members from each team jump as high as they can, hoping to beat the opponent to the ball so they can pass it to their team. Once the ball is in play, the offense runs down the court, getting ahead of the defense. The point guard dribbles the ball down the court while the other players take their positions, waiting on her to call the play.

When I was younger, I was on the school basketball team. Back in those days, I was NEVER the point guard. I wasn't a good enough ball handler, and even if I had been, I wouldn't have wanted the responsibility. You see, the point guard is in control of the play. They tell the rest of the team where to move. They choose who gets the pass. There was no way I was going to be able to do all that. For goodness' sake, I didn't even want to shoot half the time; I just wanted to get the ball out of my hands once it was there.

But I've recently discovered that I'm trying to be the point guard. And a ball hog to top it off.

Here's the thing. In life (sports not included), I like to be in control. Sometimes, I even feel like I'm doing a great job. I'm really getting somewhere. And then I realize I'm just running in circles. There are no points on the score board. I might not be losing yet, but I'm certainly not winning either.

I'm learning that God is a much better point guard than I am in my life.

Whether it's my job, my hobbies, my finances, my time, the fulfillment of my dreams, or relationships with those around me, God has a much better plan in mind than I do. He knows the other players better than I do, on both teams. He knows what I need to do to work best with my teammates. He knows what weaknesses the opposition will try to bring out and can help me prepare for them or avoid them all together.

When I run the show, I run wherever there's an opening. When He runs the show, He tells me where to be. When I run the show, I hope I get the chance to shoot. When He runs the show, He creates opportunities for me to put the ball in the basket.

God isn't a ball hog either. He might be the star that demands -- and deserves -- all the glory for the win. But He lets others join in the fun of the game.

So I'm learning, once again, to let God run things. After all, it is His court I'm playing on.

What areas of your life do you need to let God call the shots in?

"Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere." - Psalms 84:10a

All His

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30

Hello, my name is Nicole. I'm a Christian. I'm a daughter, sister, and friend. I am a Tiger, graduated from the University of Missouri - Columbia (and sadly cannot brag about my football team this year). While I was there, I was part of the campus ministry, Mizzou Chi Alpha. I'm currently a social worker. And I am looking forward to one day being a missionary in Denmark.

If you just read that paragraph, you now know the things I consider to be integral parts of who I am. If you reread the sentence after my name you will know what I believe is THE most important aspect of my identity. Not because of who it says I am.

But because of WHOSE it says I am.

I am God's. He created me. He died for me. He loves me. I am His. All His.

If you've read my blog at all before, you probably know that's the title of it. You might have even read the subheading underneath that title. But I've realized recently that when I started this blog, I never really introduced myself or explained my purpose for writing here. So I've decided to do that now. And since I'm planning to make writing a more regular occurrence, now's as good a time as any.

Allowing myself to be all His is a process. There's something I have to give to Him every single day. And sometimes, that can be the same thing every day for a week or a month or a year. Sometimes, it only takes a day, but I have to do it again a year later. That's normal because, like you, I'm human. I want to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. That's what it means to be all His. But I'm not quite there yet.

And that's why I write these posts. I want to share my journey of giving more to Him. I want to share my journey so you can see what He's doing in my life and hopefully be encouraged to allow Him to work in yours. I want to help you become all His as well.

So, feel free to share your own introduction in the comments. Let's get to know each other and encourage one another in this journey.