“It’s time for you to go home now,” the stern officer said to Russell, a long-term Frontiers worker. “You’re not welcome here.”

For days, the officer with the secret police had been following him. Other undercover policemen harassed him on the street, bumping into him aggressively and intimidating him.

Then Russell was expelled from the country, along with his family and teammates.

Russell’s team relocated to another city in the region—to a country with several Muslim people groups completely untouched by the Gospel. He and his teammates are the only ones sharing the message of Christ in the entire city.

Again, they found themselves facing opposition. They were warned that bombs are regularly planted on the cars of unwanted foreigners. Russell had his car fitted with under-vehicle surveillance mirrors so he could easily look for anything suspicious.

Bringing a family to a country like this—to face such risk, dishonor, and the threat of death—seems foolish.

But even Jesus is no stranger to hostility. He was born during the reign of Herod, a king so anxious about losing power that he killed his own family members. When Herod heard about the one “who has been born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2), he schemed to go to Bethlehem and murder the Son of God. Jesus’ young parents fled to save Him from being killed (Matthew 2:13-16). It was from this inhospitable context that God launched His mission to bring peace to all.

Throughout His ministry, Christ faced dishonor and shame. But “for the joy that was set before him, [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). In this great plan for redemption, Jesus embraced both joy and dishonor.

Uncertainties and risk are what many Frontiers workers endure as they invite Muslims to follow Jesus. But Russell says that the joy of seeing new believers embrace Christ’s everlasting hope is greater than the threats. For even in this unwelcoming city, God is drawing Muslims to Jesus. Russell’s team is determined to find these men and women and introduce them to the hope of the Gospel.

Throughout the world, there are Frontiers teams living in regions just as inhospitable as Christ’s Bethlehem. But that doesn’t stop God from calling His sons and daughters to follow Him into risky contexts to reach the lost.

These are just the sort of places that need God’s mission of peace.

• Pray for Russell’s team to persevere amid threats and uncertainty to proclaim the love of Christ to Muslims.
• Ask God to lead them to men and women who long for the hope and peace of Jesus Christ.
• Pray for safety for Frontiers field workers and ask God to give them much fruit as they share with Muslims.

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

Original article: https://www.frontiersusa.org/blog/article/unwelcoming-places