How My Journey to Jesus Teaches Me about Praying for the Middle East

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, ancestors of Iran, were present at Pentecost (Acts 2:9)  

https://bible.art/p/iWNKTLmLQwVAWpetezXd/acts-2-2

Guest blog by Saideh H. Bonab with Jeanne C. DeFazio

How can Christians pray for everyone to bring peace to the Middle East? Jesus’s solution was for his followers to help everyone to reconcile with God:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).[1]

Saideh H. Bonab, an Iranian Christian student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, models how to pray for everyone to receive Jesus. Once I converted to Christianity, I saw the beauty and the power to change lives of my glorious Lord Jesus who instilled peace, love, joy in me, and the desire to love and serve others. I knew that I had made the best decision in my life by believing and trusting in him. One core tenet of orthodox Christianity is that the Lord Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to atone for the sins of all humans, as Peter, one man whose life Jesus Christ changed, reports: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit (1 Pet 3:18).

This is what Saideh herself experienced: Jesus died for everyone: Christians, Muslims, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhists. Jesus is a living God who has thoughts and emotions and speaks to us and guides us because his Spirit is alive in us.  To reach out to a Muslim, I develop a trusting relationship between us.  I have compassion for unbelievers looking at them through the lens of love, respect, and humility through the heart of the Lord Jesus which he opened to me. I don't mock and criticize anyone. I share about my own conversion and change of heart, especially the testimonies of the numerous prayers Jesus has answered as he guides me through my daily life. 

 I have learned that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and does not believe in an “eye for an eye” and “a tooth for a tooth.” In Luke 6:29, Jesus taught: “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them” (Luke 6:29). The idea of forgiveness, rather than revenge, is a core message of Christianity. I build a relationship with my Muslim friends with love and respect.  Christians must not forget that once we all were in the darkness and the Lord found us and called us to be his hands and feet. So let us be the Light of Jesus in this dark broken world and bring his light and glory to everyone.

I have found Dr. John Azumah’s book, My Neighbour’s Faith helpful when he states:

Despite the effects of [Muslim] theologians and polemicists over the centuries, and the negative and even hostile news about Jesus that they have produced, many Muslims around the world continue to be fascinated by Jesus. In a survey of over six hundred converts to Christianity from various parts of the world, one in four speaks of the role the figure of Jesus played in their religious development. Many speak of him appearing to them in dreams and visions, sometimes in direct encounters. Their ideas may not be quite clear, but what is clear is that Jesus is encountered as a very real person: a master, a friend, someone who listens and helps.^[2]

As soon as I read this, I got up dancing and crying, realizing that my husband was not the only Muslim who had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ and received him as his Lord and Savior. Over six hundred others are documented to have had direct encounters and visions with Jesus.[3]

All glory to Jesus! As Christians, we need to testify to the living Christ rather than engaging in fruitless debate of who he is and who he is not. The Lord of lords and King of kings performed so many miracles.  These miracles are beyond comprehension. The Lord of glory and majesty cares for the marginalized, widows, the poor, orphans, for everyone from every diaspora, and he is the healer of the sick.  I tell everyone who asks me to pray to believe that Jesus is the healer of our sick bodies and souls. Isaiah 53:4 explains: “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering” (which Matthew relates to Jesus’s healing of the demon-possessed and the sick in 8:16-17).

There is no one like Jesus in this entire universe. So, how does prayer impact national and world events? Lisa Schrad explains:

Prayer transforms us, and our individual transformation does bring change in the world. St. Francis put it even better: “Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.” It feels so much more glamorous and enticing to go sanctify society first, right? I’d much rather work on problems “out there” than have to face my own sin. But how can we even know what true justice and mercy are—much less how we are called to live them out in the world—unless we are first people whose hearts have been changed by God to love those things?^[4]

In short, praying for others to change begins with praying for ourselves to change to become the people Jesus wants us to be. Praying for other societies to change follows our prayers and our work in changing our own society to be who Jesus wants it to be. The Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples by teaching all that Jesus commands starts out home, then reaches out across the world. Our prayers are based on the change Jesus made in us, his filling us with peace, love, and joy.

When I discovered the real Jesus, I mentioned to my Muslim husband that we were not serving the living God and our God is a bogus God. Then he had an encounter with Jesus and fell in love with the Lord. He was so excited to tell me about his encounter that I thought he would live. He was in the hospital dying of cancer. When he died, shortly after, he died in peace going into Jesus’s everlasting arms.

Today my two favorite scriptures are Mark 8:36 what good is it to gain the whole world and to lose our soul. The other one is Matthew 25:35-36 I was hungry and you fed me, and I was sick and you looked after me, and I was in prison and you visited me. My husband and I have done these, and we practiced hospitality in our humble home. These days our family is emotional because my little girl is graduating and is becoming a scientist just like her father and cries a lot, missing her father. I told her that her dad is present in spirit. She is getting a dual degree and she also won an award with money as she is very excited. The good and gracious Lord has been on our side and a beautiful Provider and has given us joy and his peace.

Jesus has been changing our lives. As I learn more and more about the impact of Jesus’s death for my failings, I want everyone to benefit from his sacrifice. I want everyone of every faith to discover Jesus is a living God whose compassion and love is gracious and kind and brings light to our darkness just as he brought light to my life and the lives of those I love by his great love and care.

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[1] All Bible quotations are from the NIV 2022.

[2] John Azumah, My Neighbour's Faith: Islam Explained for Muslims (Nairobi: Word Alive, 2020), 128.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Lisa Schrad, October 13, 2017, “What Difference Does Prayer Make in the World?” https://intervarsity.org/blog/what-difference-does-prayer-make-world, para 6.

 

 

Santa: The Real One

 

Saint Nicholas porcelain figurine hand painted by Leslie Howe 2023. 

Blog is in honor of Three Kings’ Day: January 6, 2025

 

When I go a shopping

I see toy Santas there

I just try to ignore them

but in my heart I care.

 

I kind of know the real one

the one who lived in time

He's nothing like those Santas

So here what's on my mind.

 

Nicholas was his name;

they later added "Saint"

that's what they called him

because he was so great.

 

He was raised by his "Uncle"

that uncle taught him well

and many a Jesus story

did his uncle tell

 

Nick liked that story

the one about the Wise

who came to worship Jesus,

the star before their eyes.

 

They gave so many presents

and never left their names

to Nick that seemed a wonder

to never seek their praise.

 

He saved some men from drowning

when he was just a boy

He learned how to create things

and often carved a toy.

 

Those toys he gave to children

the poor and the sad

He liked to see his presents

make other people glad.

 

He even gave some money

to families who had lost

all their family riches

when their trading ships were tossed.

 

He never left his name

to take away the joy.

He learned from the wise men

when he was just a boy.

 

When he was grown up

A bishop he became

in the place called Myra.

Diocletian caused him pain

 

For he was sent to prison

for holding to the Faith

that his uncle had taught him

I guess that was his fate.

 

But Constantine did free him

when in the sky he saw

"In this sign you conquer."

He freed the Christians all.

 

And Nick was always faithful

to his godly call

and others tried to follow

being good to one and all.

 

When he went to heaven

other people came

they did their selfless giving

in Nicholas’ name.

 

So why don't you join in

with all this wondrous fun,

since Nicholas' giving

has only just begun?

 

The Master gave a blessing

for all of those who give

they are the only ones who

have really learned to live.

 

Bible allusions: Matthew 2:1-11; Acts 20:35

 

Guest blog is by Leslie Elaine Smith Howe, who received a B.S. from Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA (1965), M.A. (math) Cleveland State University (NSF) (1969), and M.T.S. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA (1970). She has worked as a public-school teacher teaching computer languages and math, camp counselor, Sunday School teacher, and served as a Pastor’s wife. She is also the author of a compilation of poems, A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson and Me: Childhood in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries and several historical novels: Hatshepsut, The Pharaoh’s Daughter and Corina of Damascus.

A Pineapple Story: Becoming God’s Chosen Pineapple

[1]

 Guest blog by Grace Eun-Sun Lee

Grace identifies herself as a Korflican, a Korean born in the Philippines raised in an American-influenced environment. A third culture kid who is also a missionary kid, Grace’s interests lie in worship, the arts, cross-cultural engagement and missions, healing, and Global Christianity. She is currently pursuing the Master of Divinity with a focus on World Missions in Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in S. Hamilton, MA. 

“What does a pineapple have to do with where I study or work?” I asked the Lord back in March of 2021. I had entered my sixth semester in seminary, and, by this time, it became clear that I would be here for another year. I asked Him, “God, what is Your vision for this community, in the upcoming year? And what is my role in all of this?” I was expecting words, phrases, something with a WOW factor, that would stir someone to think, “Yes! I want to be part of that!”

God answered my prayer, but not with what I expected. An image of a pineapple came to mind. I thought to myself, “Why a pineapple?” Frankly, while I am a fruit lover, pineapples do not rank high on my list. Growing up in the tropics, I loved mangoes, watermelons, coconuts, apples… but not pineapples. I personally find them a little too sour for my taste. So, I was a bit perplexed why God would call to mind a fruit that I was not particularly fond of.

I recalled humorous memories from the mission field associated with pineapples. For example, one time my mom asked for ten pineapples. Instead, she got ten fine apples (f’s are pronounced like p’s in this country). While I initially chuckled over these memories, the more I prayed into the pineapple imagery, the sadder I became. I realized that this one fruit was connected to deeper memories, memories with people who once were so dear to me but were no longer part of my life. These memories were sour, and in my pineapple episodes I experienced a range of emotions, from anger to sorrow and everything in between as I personally processed and grieved over the loss.

As I cried over these pineapple memories, I remembered what a friend shared with me. One response to the pandemic is a support group called Grief Share that provides help and healing for those who lost a loved one. It is a safe place to share stories and to grieve together. My friend told me that he learned in Grief Share that pineapples are a symbol of welcome. Remembering his words, I felt the Lord clarifying his word to me, “Grace, that’s it. That’s the vision for next year. Welcome.”

The Year of Welcome. This is how I experienced God’s heart through a tropical fruit amid the prolonged winter back in March here in New England. I was honestly shocked to realize how many memories could be connected to one fruit. I was also surprised to discover that part of the discerning process for the next year involved having to travel back in time with the Lord, digging up and processing these painful memories and feeling intense emotions I have not felt for a while.

I asked the Lord what His vision for the community was and He gently reminded me, “Grace, your individual healing is also part of my Grand Vision for this community.

Grace, I welcome you in my Great Story of Redemption.

Grace, I invite you to welcome others too as I have welcomed you.”

            The words of Romans 15:7 resounded like a trumpet’s fanfare. The short introductory paragraph of Romans 15 presents the exhortation to follow the example of Christ for the building of the church, the community of God’s people. Paul states, Christ Himself received all the reproaches of humanity (v.3). He is no stranger to disapproval nor estrangement. Yet, in His humanity He served as the perfect mediator to reconcile us to God and restore harmony between people. For those in accord with Christ can be in accord with one another. Consequently, such harmony results in a unified voice that glorifies Christ.

Being a worship leader in a praise team, I find any form of congregational singing gets me excited. One of the grievous moments for me during the pandemic was not being able to sing corporately with others. But, through the pandemic, I came to learn and experience that one voice can be expressed through different ways, whether it is through humming, dancing, or even silence.

Regardless of the form, I am reminded that presenting a unified voice that glorifies Christ is possible when we first accept the divine call to welcome in His example of welcome. Christ’s welcome is rooted in humility, which is beautifully described in the Christ hymn in Philippians 2. The humility that led to Christ’s death is the humility Christ invites us to imitate, an invitation to consider others more significant than oneself (Phil 2:3). The greatest act of hospitality of all history was exemplified on the cruelest form of death. This death was a death to Himself so that we humans may live. This death will one day lead to the highest form of exaltation, where all tongues might confess the Lordship of Christ (v.11).

Considering all that has happened in the recent years with the pandemic and is happening right now locally and globally, I am convinced that God is inviting all of us into His redemptive story with a posture of welcome towards one another. All of us have been impacted by the pandemic where eating together and inviting people into our homes has become difficult for a season. Navigating differing opinions concerning politics and the vaccine has impacted the space between people, physical and emotional. Racial tensions and trauma have perpetuated a toxic environment, stifling conversations and silencing voices. Whatever ethnicity or citizenship we are, all are stumbling over cultural and relational dynamics. While friendships have blossomed during the pandemic, many connections have been severed as well. Many are going through much pain and turmoil. Consequently, we hide. We hide because we do not feel safe. For many reasons, we do not feel safe to be truly ourselves nor to connect with one another. Yet, even in our brokenness, the Lord welcomes us. He invites us to His story of healing and restoration, one page at a time. He invites us to “welcome one another…just as also Christ has welcomed” us “for the glory of God” (Rom. 15:7).

            I believe God is also extending His invitation to us, inviting us to His culture of welcome, assuring us that we can welcome Him even in our weakness and we can welcome one another in our brokenness. How? We welcome the presence of God and others in the place of worship. In worship, all of us are sinners before the holy God. In worship, all of us are saints before the gracious and forgiving God. In worship, we come together unified before the throne and the Lamb, celebrating together in our diversity. In our welcome, we honor. In our welcome, we worship. One step closer to a taste of heaven.

Now back to the pineapple story. I learned that, in America, pineapples have become a symbol of hospitality and friendship.[2] You can easily find them as centerpieces at a dining table or hanging on someone’s front door. While they are often bought and enjoyed for their sweetness, pineapples take three years to mature. Each pineapple you eat takes three years to ripen from green, to sour, and finally to sweet.

The sweetest fruits take the longest time.

Relationships take time.

Creating a culture of hospitality takes time.

Healing will take time.

But it is happening.

 

So here is my invitation to you. However ripe you are, whether you are a seed or ready to fruit, let us be pineapples together. Let us become the symbol of hospitality and welcome, as God’s chosen pineapples, here in America. As we are invited to partake and partner in God’s Redemptive Story, we too are empowered to invite and to welcome one another to make history together.

It is our desire for our praise be Your welcome
for our songs to signify that we are here for You

We welcome You with our praise

We welcome You Almighty God of love

Be welcomed in this place.[3]

 

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[1] The pineapple is Jane Song’s photograph of Amanda Mittleman’s Pineapple Painting, edited by Grace Eun-Sun Lee, April 2020, from Grace Eun-Sun Lee’s personal collection. This blog is an adaptation of an earlier blog published for Manna Newsletter, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, winter edition, Dec. 7, 2021.

[2] Garrett McCord, The Unique History and Symbol of the Pineapple: A Fruit Representing Friendship, Luxury, and War, The Spruce Eats, Dotdash, Updated on August 15, 2021, https://www.thespruceeats.com/pineapple-symbol-of-friendship-and-luxury-4047011.

[3] Jesse Reeves, Matt Maher, Matt Redman, Tim Wanstall. Here for You. CCLI Song #5925649.  2011 Chrysalis Music Ltd. Sixsteps Music. Thankyou Music. Valley Of Songs Music. worshiptogether.com songs. https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/5925649/here-for-you.