One thing is clear: When we pray, God often does what seems impossible to us. People are healed, lives are transformed, marriages restored, and families united when we pray. We have even seen medically verified accounts of people being raised from the dead. God is intent on revealing His power, glory, and love—especially in places where the gospel is unknown!

As we pray, sometimes people are given the strength to endure pain, suffering, and death. I’m reminded of Aisha, a twenty-something woman who came to faith in Christ in a setting known for violence and hatred associated with Al Qaida and ISIS. Those who choose to follow Jesus are often killed or their property is confiscated, and they are driven away.

Aisha belonged to a secret underground fellowship that prayed persistently her healing. Yet she grew worse, and it was apparent she would soon die. She approached her father and pleaded for one last favor—that she have a Christian funeral. Her father was incensed! “No way!” he declared. As an imam, a leader at the local mosque, such a decision would bring shame and disgrace to his family and certainly create trouble.

Aisha’s pleading persisted as her final days approached and her father finally relented. He contacted the one Christ-follower he knew—a disciple-maker, trained through Global Disciples, who had been stabbed repeatedly and left for dead but had miraculously recovered.

The once-wounded disciple-maker agreed to do a Christian funeral for Aisha. It created an uproar! And curiosity. The underground fellowship fasted and prayed for her funeral to be peaceful. A large crowd gathered and many heard the gospel for the first time. Secretly, 19 people accepted Jesus! 

Since then, disciples of Jesus Christ have been multiplying in that area. They still meet in secret. But through prayer, studying the Bible, and being discipled, transformation is coming to lives, marriages, and families. As they pray, the Holy Spirit is drawing more people in.

Through prayer, God removes the blinders that prevent others from seeing the light of the Gospel which displays the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). Prayer is foundational to effective witness. In prayer, the Holy Spirit softens hearts, opens minds, and draws people to Jesus.

Transforming prayer is one of our core values as Global Disciples. It calls us away from self-centered, ‘wish-list praying’ into a passionate pursuit of the presence of Jesus and intercession for those who have not yet confessed Jesus as their Savior and Lord. As we pursue intimacy with our Heavenly Father through Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit, our minds are transformed, and our priorities are reordered.

Why not contact some friends and begin to meet regularly for prayer as a part of our Global Disciples 24/7/365 Prayer Chain? We’ll be glad to provide some tools and prayer requests. Start here.