Middle East Archives - TEAM Christian Missions Blog

God’s Children are Not for Sale: Gaining Perspective on Sound of Freedom

The movie Sound of Freedom is a classic story of “good guy defeats bad guy.” In the real world, the story of trafficking is rarely so simple.

Sep 18 2023

In recent weeks, the movie Sound of Freedom has brought awareness of exploitation to audiences around the world. The film has also sparked lively conversations and even controversy, as various voices offer thoughts on the movie’s messages. Regardless of where we land on the movie itself, Sound of Freedom’s widespread exposure opens the door to a greater conversation about the realities of trafficking that are far more complex than can be portrayed in a two-hour film.     TEAM has long been engaged in anti-trafficking initiatives in multiple countries around the world. We reached out to some of TEAM’s global workers and…

A missionary talks with a woman from an unreached people group in Chad.

Unreached people groups are found in rural villages, high-tech cities and everywhere in between — but all have the same need for the Gospel.

Aug 01 2021

What pops into your mind when you read the words “unreached people groups”? Simple, tribal living or high-tech, city life? Intense religiosity or no religion at all? Commitment to community or extreme individualism? Hard-to-reach or just a plane ride away? Actually, any of those answers could be correct. Ask TEAM missionary Eric Kroner about the unreached people group (UPG) he serves in Chad, and he’ll share about farmers who live without electricity or running water. “They are very much aware that their livelihood is dependent upon rains, at the whim of disease, and with the very rhythms of day and…

What do you do when your Bible study books arrive in the wrong language? You could send them back — or you could see how God planned to use them.

Dec 10 2020

Heidi’s plan was simple: Teach her favorite Kay Arthur Bible study at church. Watch women grow in Christ. She ordered a dozen copies of the book in English, a common language in the Middle Eastern country where she served. But when the shipment arrived, something was horribly wrong. “There they were, 12 beautiful books, but … they were all in the Russian language!” Heidi says. Heidi’s co-worker said to send the books back. But Heidi realized God must have a plan. “OK, God, … You have brought these books in,” Heidi prayed, “and so we will keep them and give…

After his Bible was stolen, Diyar spent decades searching for another one. How would he find one without knowing any Christians?

Apr 16 2020

Thirty years ago, Diyar owned the most powerful book in the world. He didn’t fully understand it. It went against everything he’d ever heard about God. And he knew he had to find its meaning. But the book was too powerful to go unnoticed, especially in Diyar’s Middle Eastern country. Someone discovered Diyar’s book and stole it from him. Diyar tried everything he could to find another copy, but it was impossible. Impossible, until his wife, Talora, attended an ordinary wedding. A “Chance” Encounter Talora didn’t expect anything unusual to happen at the wedding. But as she got ready, a…

You don't have to go to the Middle East for a taste of delicious Pakistani cuisine! Try one missionary family's favorite recipe for chicken karahi.

Feb 15 2019

Chicken karahi became a favorite Pakistani dish with our family because we often ate it while visiting our sons at their boarding school. There was this wonderful hole-in-the-wall restaurant there which made the very best chicken karahi. You got to choose your chicken, and then they got started preparing it! It is generally eaten with roti — a type of flatbread — and plain yogurt, in case the spices were too hot. Here’s how to make Chicken Karahi! See full ingredients list below. Ingredients: 12 pieces of chicken 2½ tbsp cooking oil 1 tsp salt 1 bulb garlic, minced or…

The Muslim population is growing, but God longs to save them. Please pray with us for Muslims around the world!

Jan 03 2019

Gita* laid in the hospital bed, clutching her sick child. Worry and panic had settled in her heart ever since she’d brought her baby here. And now, her child seemed especially still. The doctor entered the room, looked at the small, lifeless body and then turned to the distressed mother. Your child has died, the doctor told Gita. The words Gita never wanted to hear now lingered in the room. Gita was Muslim, but she realized then that Allah hadn’t been listening to her pleas. Desperately, she cried out to the new God her husband and his missionary friends had…

Across the globe, millions of Christians are fighting for their lives — and the Gospel. This month, discover how you can pray for the persecuted Church.

Nov 01 2018

It started out like any other day for Aasiya, one of the only known Christians in her town. The Pakistani wife and mother of two had gone out that morning to gather falsa berries with some other local women. When they asked Aasiya to get water for them from a nearby well, she did. But she was parched, so she also took a sip for herself. Enraged, the other women accused Aasiya of blasphemy and claimed she had defiled their water. Later, more of her neighbors raided her house. They left her bloodied and bruised when the police finally intervened….

When the authorities interrupted an underground church service, Milad knew he and his friends would have to flee. But where? Keep reading to find out. Photo by TEAM

Jun 12 2018

As the prison door closed behind Milad, he knew his entire life was about to change. Just being discovered with a Bible was a criminal offense in his Middle Eastern country. But being caught in an underground church meeting? Was there any recovering from that? Milad had only been a Christian for eight short months. And he had tried to do everything right during that time — meeting secretly, being discreet about his faith. But his city was full of spies. Even if Milad got out of prison, they would never stop watching him. If he ever got free, there…

Tag - Middle East

God’s Children are Not for Sale: Gaining Perspective on Sound of Freedom

How to Pray for Unreached People Groups

What God Can Do with 12 Books in the Wrong Language

One Man’s 30-Year Search for a Bible

TEAM Eats: Recipe for Chicken Karahi

When Allah Doesn’t Answer, but Jesus Does: How to Pray for Muslims

Bloodied and Bruised for the Gospel [November Prayer Focus]

His Search for Christ Led Him to Prison