Dag* introduced himself to the group as we sat around a table in the fellowship hall at a church in East Nashville. Dag was from a small village in the Middle East. He speaks in passable English but his mother tongue has probably never been uttered in this building. His people are predominantly Muslim and he is one of the few believers in Christ among them. He is of the first fruit, but everyone at this gathering prays to hasten the day when a myriad of believers from his people gathers around the throne to worship. We believe this vision God gave John of Patmos will become a reality one day.
After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
Salvation belongs to our God,
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb!– Revelation 7:9-10 (CSB)
Dag tells a strange tale of how he came to faith. His father was a devout Muslim and wanted his son to become strong in his faith tradition. However, Dag wasn’t having it. His imam, the religious teacher, thought that Dag asked too many difficult questions and that he was an unruly student. His teacher thought Dag was under the influence of foreign ideas or maybe even Satan.
This chapter of the Qu’ran was problematic for him: “O believers! ˹The law of˺ retaliation is set for you in cases of murder—a free man for a free man, a slave for a slave, and a female for a female.” – Surah 2:178 (Qu’ran)
Why are there three classes for humanity, he asked himself. Something stirred in his spirit. He began to doubt. Ultimately Dag was expelled from the religious class offered at his village’s mosque. Dag continued searching. Was God the author of this book or man? He searched for other religious texts and asked himself the same question. Dag finally found a Bible and began to read it. This verse from Matthew became a turning point in his life.
You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
– Matthew 5:43-48 (CSB)
The one who wrote this was only God and not man. Dag wanted to become a Christian, he believed and wanted to be baptized. So, he went to a local congregation from an ancient tradition in his hometown. They rejected his request. This group of Eastern Christians had stayed faithful to Christ for six centuries of Muslim rule, but they had strict prohibitions against accepting the word of a Muslim coming to faith. They might accept him later, but he would have to prove himself. Dag would have to wait.
Dag couldn’t wait. He was determined to be baptized. He gathered a few of his friends to travel to another town where he knew of a church. Maybe this church would allow him to be baptized. On this trip, all four of the friends fell asleep in the car, including the driver. Dag had a dream during this time, akin to an out-of-body experience. In this dream, he saw the present, that all his friends were sleeping in the car, and he envisioned the future, of a turn coming up and an eventual catastrophic wreck. Immediately, Dag was startled to wake, and he grabbed the wheel and saved the lives of everyone in his car. Dag would take this dream as a sign. That day he did find the church and through much pleading and resolute determination he was baptized that day.
Dag’s story and others like his were heard at a conference hosted last week by the Nashville Baptist Association. Due to the sensitive nature of the event, it was invitation only. If you would like to be on the invite list for next year or want to be invited to similar events, please write or call me. Please be in prayer with these requests.
Pray for Dag and his people’s group
Pray that a church will be birthed to reach his people
Pray for this conference of believers that supports the work
Brett Boesch
NBA Connections Strategist
bboesch@nashvillebaptists.com
*Name changed.