Nine years ago, Harkan’s Turkish family chased him out of the house with a gun when they discovered him reading the New Testament. Now, in his mid 20s, Harkan is wholeheartedly following Jesus. He leads a lonely life. Like so many Turkish Christians, his walk with Jesus is a narrow trail of tears and rejection. Though he is a Pentecostal, we feel united with him in grace and kingdom hopes when we come together.

One night, we invited Harkan over for dinner. Since he had to travel some distance, we invited him to stay in our guest room.
At breakfast the next morning, Harkan said to me, “Thanks for praying for me last night.”

Puzzled, I looked up from my breakfast.

“You did come into my room last night, didn’t you?”

With wonder, I answered, “No, I didn’t.”

Surprised, he continued, “Last night, my door opened, and someone came into my room and laid hands on me and prayed over me. He stroked my head and my back and shoulders so gently saying, ‘It’s going to be okay, Harkan. Father, I pray you would protect Harkan.’ The whole time, I was sure it was you, and I was thinking, ‘Why did Barnabas come to me in the middle of the night? That is so unusual, but I am glad for his prayer.’”

Harkan remembered the event so clearly that he was sure he hadn’t been dreaming. He heard the door, felt the hand and heard the prayer.

We were shocked as we realized an angel had visited our home. Harkan kept repeating over and over, “I can’t believe it! I thought it was you. Wow! In your home, an angel visited me! I felt the gentle touch and heard the sweetest prayer.” Again in amazement stressing each word, “In your home, an angel visited me.”

• Twitter