Our Frontiers team moved to a new location in Central Asia with our sights set on a rural people group who lived in the mountains. But once we arrived, we were discouraged to learn that people who lived in the mountains didn’t welcome outsiders like us. We couldn’t travel to their villages, much less live among them.

Still, we were certain God had called us to minister to these people. So we settled in a nearby city and prayed for opportunities to connect with them.

After a year, we knew only a handful of families from the people group God had laid on our hearts, even though we knew many more lived in our new city. We wondered if it was time to shift our focus.

Then the pandemic struck. Like in many other regions around the world, businesses began to shut down, people lost their jobs, and many went hungry.

One day, one of my few friends from the mountain people group, Fevzi, visited my home. We spent the afternoon chatting in the shade of a tree in the front yard, and Fevzi told me his son had found a good job. Most of his friends were not so fortunate.

“Fevzi,” I said, “do you think we could help anyone from your people?”

His eyes lit up. “Oh, yes. Many people have no way to provide for their families.”

Although we grieved the crisis our neighbors were enduring, we hoped Jesus’ name might spread because of it.

“Write down a list of a few families—maybe seven,” I suggested.

The next day, he arrived at my house with the list.

“Wow,” I said. “There are twelve families on the list.” I raised my eyes to his and found a spark of hope, and I couldn’t bear to let him down. “I’ll do my best to help all of them.”

“Good.” He smiled at me. A few days later he added 25 more to the list.

I decided that if God had given us 37 families to reach with the name of Jesus, He would provide a way to do so.

I began to meet with the heads of each household and soon learned that COVID was not the only crisis they faced. Conflict had broken out between them and a neighboring people group. Eighty families had fled to the capital city after enemies burned down their homes, leaving them with almost nothing.

Our list of families in need continued to grow, reaching fifty in a short time. We were in awe of how God connected us with mountain people. During our time with these families, we learned that many of the men were carvers. But they had lost their tools in the fires and had no way to return to work. 

I had experience in construction, so I decided to begin a business for these carvers. With some money donated by a friend, I purchased the tools we needed and set aside enough for a month’s worth of salaries for the men.

The carvers enthusiastically took up their trade, happy to be able to provide for their families once again. Now I had even more time to spend with these men, which meant more opportunities to share stories about Jesus with them.

Before long, word about the fine craftsmanship of our carved boxes and picture frames spread in the city and soon the program was able to bring in enough income to provide for every worker’s salary. Even high-ranking government officials began to request custom items for their homes.

I felt like one of Jesus’ disciples watching him multiply loaves and fishes. In front of my eyes, God was answering our prayers. Not only did this program enable many families to get back on their feet after a devastating transition, but it also provided the means for us to connect with a people group that was supposed to be impossible to reach. The Gospel continues to spread among the unreached in ways we never could have imagined.

Pray:

• Praise God for making a way for Fevzi’s people to provide for their families. Ask God to open their hearts to His truth.
• Pray for other displaced families in need to find hope in Jesus and sustainable employment.
• Ask the Lord to reveal to field workers more new and creative solutions during difficult circumstances—all for His glory.

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

Main photo on iStock

Original Article: https://frontiersusa.org/blog/caring-for-carvers-crisis/