Several years ago, Daniel and his family gave up the stability of life in America. Leaving the comfort of family and friends nearby, they joined a Frontiers team in the Middle East with the goal of starting a movement to Christ.

Daniel and his teammates have counted the cost of bringing the Gospel to a place where Jesus is not yet worshiped. But their sacrifices pale against the hardships experienced by Muslim-background disciples.

Asef was one of the first people in the city that Daniel introduced to Christ. Daniel and his teammates encouraged Asef in his faith and equipped him to reach his friends and family with the Gospel.

Asef grew in boldness. And with urgent determination, he shared Christ with many in his Muslim community. Under the Frontiers team’s coaching, he made disciples, gathered them into Bible studies, and trained them to share the Gospel with even more people.

Then Hamid, the first person Asef led to the Lord, was murdered for sharing Jesus.

Such a crisis could have stopped the church from growing any further. Instead, two new believers approached Asef in the wake of Hamid’s death. They knew that Hamid had introduced many to Christ. And for the young church to keep growing, more followers of Jesus needed to be equipped to share the Gospel. The two believers then asked Asef to coach them to make disciples and start small groups too.

Asef started meeting with them two or three times a week, coaching them in the same way Daniel and his teammates had coached him. Now these two young men are leading seven house churches, each of which has six or more new believers.

Daniel shares that this growing community of believers continues to face trials, threats, and persecution. But they’re finding life in Christ, studying God’s Word together, praying for one another, and leading others to Jesus.

Praise God for this growing movement, and pray that it continues to draw more Muslims to faith in Christ.

Daniel adds, “Pray that the Lord will continue to guide us to more leaders like Asef. Pray that our words will encourage new believers to boldly share their faith in spite of persecution so that their entire people will be saved.”

**This account comes from a long-term worker. Names have been changed for security.**

Main photo by Ashkan Forouzani

Original article: https://frontiersusa.org/blog/cost-of-starting-a-movement