Habib, an evangelist supported by the Indigenous Outreach Workers Program, has the ability to turn almost any conversation into a discussion of the Injil (Gospel). Many people have come to faith and been baptized through his ministry.

Without a means of financial support he would not be able to continue in this effective ministry. By supporting indigenous outreach workers, SIM Asia is seeing many south Asians come to faith in Christ—new Christians are being discipled and small house churches are forming where there were none.

In January 2009, an enterprising trickster took Habib’s business card, made photocopies, and sold the business cards to unsuspecting villagers. He told them that if they purchased the card, they would join a program which would provide them free tree saplings for their farms. After the man sold about 60 business cards, the buyers began calling Habib ... wondering when they would get their saplings.

Habib quickly realized that he must do something to make the situation right. If Habib did not take action, he would have had a lot of angry villagers coming to his door accusing him of being part of a fake NGO and more importantly, his credibility as an evangelist would be questioned if not destroyed altogether.

He decided that he better try to find this guy. Habib took a friend who had some local influence with him and caught the offender. Habib forced the man to go with him and return the money to everyone that he had cheated. The villagers were grateful just to get their money back, but Habib saw a greater opportunity in the situation. He called together those who had been cheated and held a meeting. He met with the group and explained the good news about Jesus with them. Since then, three of those that were cheated have been baptized.

Pray

• Praise God that Habib’s wise action averted a potentially serious negative backlash against his work and ministry.
• Pray for grace and wisdom to face opposition that arises from time to time.
• Pray for a deeper level of discipleship among those who have come to faith through this program.
• Pray for another evangelist, Ram, as he is just starting out in this ministry. Pray that he will be effective in his ministry and that strong churches will be planted.

Give

Give a gift online to support the Indigenous Outreach Workers Program (98431).

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