An Open Door

“But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has been opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” I am reminded of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 as I read the news today. In Morocco, many Christian foreigners have been deported and Christian citizens “have been questioned by the police and are under great pressure.” And in Iran, the government continues to push an Islamic agenda. One evangelist says that he expects persecution in Iran to increase, and that “everything is moving toward some kind of boiling point.” Many oppose the gospel. But yet—has a great door for effective work been opened?

A missionary leader says of Morocco that the pressure on the church “forces the church to grow and to endure hardship. And that makes them stronger and makes them even more bold in their proclamation of the Gospel.” Similarly, the evangelist who expects persecution in Iran to continue to increase says that there is “no place in all of the Middle East that is as receptive to the Gospel as Iran.” The news of suffering that comes through Smyrna can seem discouraging at times, but we serve a victorious and risen Savior, who has triumphed over suffering, death, and sin. Praise Him!

Source: Mission News Network