After the inauguration of our Faith Dialogue Center (FDC) in July, we began to meet as a group three times a day at the center to pray—at 6 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. For the first two weeks, almost all of our members were present at each prayer meeting. To make it easier on several of us, we began to have the 1 p.m. meeting at two locations, the FDC and our computer center, so members could attend whichever was closer. Thus, when the members gathered at the computer center, I often found myself praying alone at the FDC.

One Monday afternoon as I was praying alone, I asked God for insight on how to use the FDC. I really wanted Him to assure me about the future of the center. I wondered who could help bring open-minded Muslims there. Suddenly, an image came into my mind. It was neither a dream nor a vision, but I saw myself having a discussion with a man who was explaining to me how we could make efficient use of the FDC. I was greatly encouraged as I felt God assuring me about the future of the FDC. Two days later, I shared my experience at prayer meeting with the other members of our group. We prayed about it and thanked God for assuring us about the future. My worries and sadness were gone. I had new confidence that my occasional absence will not affect the future of our work among the Dendi.

God had another surprise for me. The following Sunday, a man named Mr. Riaoub came to our house looking for me. I had never met him before, and he didn’t know me, either. He asked if I was the pastor who had built the FDC. “A friend of mine saw me reading my Quran and told me to look for you,” he said. “He believes we can work together.”

Mr. Riaoub, a Dendi Muslim in his late fifties, is the vice president of the human rights organization in our town. Though he is a devout Muslim, he has many Christian friends. He is already involved in a number of activities we want to promote at the FDC, such as reconciling differences between social leaders. But what he does best is influence his fellow Muslims to read Christian literature before judging Christians. One of his relatives, an El Hajj (a Muslim man who has done the pilgrimage to Mecca) had to recant his negative attitude toward Christian books after Mr. Riaoub drew his attention to passages in the Quran that teach respect and tolerance for Christians.

Mr. Riaoub has agreed to work with me toward reducing prejudice between Christians and Muslims. After meeting for hours, I feel confident that Mr. Riaoub is the man I saw in my mind some days ago. Please pray for Mr. Riaoub’s spiritual journey as we begin working together.

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