For ten months, Ahmet had watched the transformation of his wife, Ranya. As a new follower of Jesus Christ, her anxious and manipulating ways were disappearing. Ahmet saw joy and peace blossoming in their place.

It had started when Lisa, a Frontiers worker, started sharing the Gospel with Ranya. The Muslim woman was immediately drawn to Christ.

But the people in Ranya’s village, which was nestled on a hillside in a former Soviet state, were devout Muslims. Their spiritual roots stretched far and deep into Islam. When the villagers found out that Ranya had become a follower of Jesus, they rejected her.

The most severe opposition came from her husband, Ahmet. He yelled at her, cursed her, and even locked her out of their house.

Still, nothing seemed to take away Ranya’s newfound joy in Christ. She endured her persecution with patience. When faced with Ahmet’s cruelty, God gave her the strength to respond with love and gentleness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Her kindness caused Ahmet to wonder over the miracle taking place before his eyes. “How can someone change so much unless God has met them?” he asked silently.

Ahmet began crying out in quiet prayer, pleading for the same transforming miracle he’d seen in his wife. “God, could You save me, too?” Ahmet prayed.

After several weeks, he broke his silence. He wanted Jesus to change him so badly that he finally confided to Ranya, “I need to be saved from my sins, too. I need to follow your Lord. Show me how!”

Today, Ahmet tells his neighbors—the same villagers he’d joined in persecuting his wife—about Jesus Christ and the transforming power of His love.

• Praise God for showing His power, love, and salvation to Ranya and Ahmet!
• Ask Him to send more workers to the post-Soviet states of Central Asia and the Caucasus—regions with high concentrations of unengaged Muslim people groups.
• Pray that new Muslim-background believers will be strengthened to endure persecution as they tell others about Jesus.

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

Photo by JM Fumeau

Original article: http://frontiersusa.org/blog/a-marriage-transformed/