For weeks, Joey and his teammate had been praying for connections with Indian Muslims in Nairobi. They knew there were many in the city, but every attempt to start a conversation had led to dead ends. Still, they kept praying, trusting that God would open a door in His time.
One afternoon, Joey and his teammate were searching for an audio Bible resource in downtown Nairobi. They went from shop to shop, asking where they might find a specific audio player. Most shopkeepers shrugged them off, but then, in a small, cluttered shop, they met an Indian Muslim-looking man who knew exactly where they could find what they were searching for.
They quickly walked fifteen minutes, found the device, and began heading back to their car. As they retraced their steps, they passed the shop where the man had given them directions. Joey hesitated for a moment, then felt a nudge—why not stop and thank him? It was a simple gesture, but perhaps it could open a door to share the gospel.
As they approached the shop again, Joey noticed something strange. The man was wearing a wristband with Hebrew writing on it. That was highly unusual for a Muslim man. Curiosity sparked, Joey asked, “What does your wristband say?”
The shopkeeper’s face changed instantly. His eyes darted around as he motioned for them to come closer. In a hushed voice, he said, “It says, ‘Jesus is Messiah.’”
Joey’s heart pounded. “Do you believe that’s true?”
The man immediately pressed a finger to his lips. “Shhhh,” he whispered. Then, with a deep breath, he leaned in and told his story.
“I lived a bad life,” he admitted. “I tried to kill myself—twice. But in my desperation, I cried out to Jesus. He saved me.”
Since that moment, everything had changed. But his newfound faith came with a cost. His community had discovered his secret, and now, other Muslims were searching for him, wanting him dead. To survive, he had gone into hiding, calling himself a “secret agent” for Jesus.
Joey and his teammate listened, overwhelmed by the way God had orchestrated their meeting. They spent time encouraging their brother, reminding him that he wasn’t alone, that God sees him, and that there is a family of believers praying for him. Before leaving, they asked him to pray for another opportunity to meet again.
As they walked away, Joey marveled. They had gone looking for an audio Bible, but God had led them to something far greater—a brother in Christ hidden in plain sight, a living testimony of Jesus’ power to save.
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