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Driving Toward Heaven
The Michigan District has adopted Kosova as its missions focus and has sent
several ministry teams there. One unexpected “side effect” is the impact these
teams have made on the drivers who transported them.
Aziz* and Muharrem* are two drivers who have watched the Michigan teams
minister and listened to their prayers while hauling them back and forth on
Kosova’s rugged roads. Here are their stories.
Aziz* had always been attracted to Christianity, but for a long time he was not
ready to make a commitment to live for Christ. But God was working in Aziz’s
life. After driving the prayer team for a week, Aziz had heard the name Jesus
many, many times.
Not long ago, Aziz was high on a ladder working on a haystack when the
ladder began to fall backwards. Without even thinking, he shouted the name “Jesus!” The ladder reversed its course and fell back onto the haystack.
Since then, Aziz has told a missionary that he considers himself a believer.
Although Aziz is not ready to make his conversion public, God is still working
on him. Aziz often jokes that his van won’t run anymore without someone
singing praise music.
Muharrem* was another man who drove the prayer team around. When a
children’s ministry team arrived in Kosova from Michigan, most of their luggage
had not arrived. Day after day the luggage trickled in, one piece at a time.
One team member named Curt had to find a way to get to the airport everyday
to pick up the luggage.
Muharrem and one other driver agreed to take Curt back and forth each day.
Both Muharrem and the other driver spoke German. By God’s perfect arrangement,
Curt also spoke German, for he had been a missionary to Germany!
The drive to the airport and back took about four hours. Curt used the opportunity
to talk to the drivers about the Lord. Muharrem did not accept Christ at
that time. But a month later, when a youth ministry team arrived from Michigan,
Muharrem made friends with the team leader, Brad.
On the day that the youth team was to leave, Brad made sure to ride in Muharrem’s
van. Brad told Muharrem that he was glad they were friends, and since
they were friends, he hoped to see him in heaven. Brad explained that in order
to go to heaven, Muharrem had to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for his sins. Muharrem
said he was ready to do this. With the help of a translator, Brad led Muharrem
in the sinner’s prayer.
As ministry teams from the United States bring the gospel to the people of
Kosova, wonderful and unexpected opportunities such as these often bring
life-changing decisions.
*Names have been changed.
Information for this story came from www.eyeoneurope.org and is used with
permission from Assemblies of God World Missions..
©2006 The General Council of the Assemblies of God. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce and adapt lesson components for exclusive use in the local church. Any other use requires written permission.
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