Karen Morrow
CBF Field Personnel, Texas
Throughout my life I have had different spiritual guides who have encouraged me in my Christian faith; the most unlikely was a new Muslim convert from the Middle Eastern unreached people group among whom we were called to work.
Ayse and her family were political asylum seekers in Germany when she came to faith through reading the Bible and dreams. She was the first in her family to become a Christ-follower; but with time, her whole family became believers. As I met weekly with Ayse to study the Bible, I was always amazed as she would share with me what God had taught her through scripture the previous week. I had a front row seat to see the work of the Holy Spirit preparing her.
Despite all our prayers, Ayse and her husband Salih’s asylum case was denied and they were suddenly taken from their apartment and deported to their home country. Ayse called me from the airport in tears, asking for us to care for her children who had not been at home when they were taken.
Ayse boldly shared her faith with the police who escorted them on the plane and testified of the angels who walked alongside them as they navigated their way back to their village in the eastern part of the country. The story of their deportation and a copy of her testimony from a German Christian magazine was published on the front page of the local paper. They feared for their lives and went into hiding. But what man meant for harm, God used for good. People came to them wanting to know more about their faith and Ayse shared of God’s work in her life.
Our German church supported them financially and helped care for and reunite them with their children. The transition was very difficult, and the family struggled to find work. With time, they became an integral part of the small but growing Christian church in this predominantly Muslim country. Today, Ayse leads Christian women’s retreats and Salih runs a kebap shop where they witness to God’s work in their lives and the joy and hope God provides.
Through it all I have had the privilege to see and experience God’s overwhelming love, protection and faithfulness to them amidst all the struggles. I see God in a new way and when personal doubts arise, I lean on God, knowing God’s faithful presence.
Pray...Give...Go.