A Vision tour to the ME
A team of about 20 of us from our Church went on a vision tour to ME. What is a vision tour? It is a time to seek the Lord’s calling and direction. I believe the Lord may be directing me towards the Middle East to pursue the Great Commission. This has been a blessed trip and I am excited to follow the Lord in whatever He may have for me. The Lord has given many of us the vision to move to the M.E. and so our Church is preparing many of us to be equipped to go in the coming years to share the Gospel.
Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength
-Isaiah 40:31
It is illegal to share the Gospel with Muslims in many ME countries. We are hoping and praying for the Lord to open the doors for us to move there, learn the language, make connections, and share God’s love with a dying world. Muslims are one of the hardest people groups to reach but God has a heart for these people, and we are willing to be used by Him.
Christian Woman in a Muslim World
We heard many great testimonies of God’s work, but the story that impacted me the most was of a brave woman with a secret faith. This is a story of God’s love for the Muslim people. Born in South America and then forced to live and marry a Muslim cousin in the ME a woman suffered abuse, and torment from her husband’s family. Amid her suffering, she secretly read God’s word to bring light and truth into her life. One day her Bible got ruined yet she kept the word in her heart and encouraged her children in the faith, her husband unknowing. Eventually, her children converted to Christianity. She prayed to God for Bible, and He provided… As the woman sold bread, she encountered a group also selling bread. She described them as having loving eyes. She walked up to them and asked if they were Christians. Shocked they said yes, gave her Bible, and continued a relationship her. These people helped her file for divorce and gain custody of her children. By the grace of God, she won both. This is unheard of amongst Muslims. She lives happier than ever with her children away from the abuse and free to worship God. I was privileged to hear this story from her in person. After her story, we took a picture with her, laughed with her, hugged her, and watched her place the Hijab around her head as she walked away. This is the life of a Muslim background believer, although she is free to practice amongst fellow believers, many trials still await. This is the reality of the life of a Christian in the ME. Please continue to pray for this woman and her children and all the believers suffering at the hands of persecution
What’s Next?
When I returned, I asked the Lord what was next, and He told me to wait. So, I will wait upon Him.
After this summer I will do another year of the internship here at Calvary Chapel Saving Grace. I will work during the week in the office as an assistant to the Evangelism leader. I will be in ministry, doing school, and running a house cleaning business. I am praying about the Middle East, so I will begin slowly taking Arabic classes so that I can be equipped to go. I will live in my current home, with amazing people. and continue to grow.
1 Peter 1:6-9
Praises
- The Lord providing housing, food, clothes
- My faith growing in the Lord
- People receiving the Gospel in the ME
How You can be involved
We are all one in Christ, a body working for the glory of our father and bringing new believers into Salvation. You can be a part of the Great Commission and move forward God’s word and truth amongst a dying world. If you would like to partner with me through prayer or financial support, please let me know. I would also like to be a part of your lives and to share and encourage you with all that God is doing.
Prayer Requests
- Please Pray that I hear the Lord
- Please Pray for unity within our Church
- Please pray for the Leaders and pastors of the Church
- Please Pray for the Muslims in the ME and the new work going forth
- Please Pray that I have wisdom and discernment
If you would like to partner with me in the work of the Gospel financially either on an ongoing basis or through a one-time donation, you can do so by clicking the “Become A Financial Partner” button below, OR you can mail a check written out to Saving Grace World Missions with “Victoria Villegas support” in the memo section to Saving Grace World Missions, 17451 Bastanchury Rd., Suite 203, Yorba Linda, CA 92886-1873.
