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Rich in Jesus
Viken (VEE-ken) was tired and hungry. He should have been used to feeling that way, but he wasn't. Since coming to Jordan, he and his family felt nothing but tired, hungry, and alone.
The promise of a job had caused Viken's uncle to move his family from their home in Armenia to Jordan. Viken, his mother, and sister came too, but no job was waiting. With no job, the family had no money to buy the things they needed. They were desperate.
One day as they walked the streets of Amman, Jordan 's capital, Viken's mother and aunt began to cry. A man stopped them. "Why are you upset?" he asked.
But Viken and his family could not understand him. They did not know Arabic, the language spoken in Jordan. Instead they tried to talk to him in their language, Armenian.
The man realized they needed help. He made signs with his hands to tell Viken's family about a church on a nearby hill. Someone at the church spoke Armenian and could help them.
Full of hope, the family made plans to visit the church. On Sunday morning, they made their way through the streets of Amman. Making signs with their hands, they asked people how to find the church on the hill.
At last they reached a large house. Viken's aunt looked in and discovered it was the church. They had found it!
The pastor preached in Arabic. Although Viken's family couldn't understand the words, they sensed something they had never felt before. They knew God was in that place.
After the service, the family spoke with the pastor, who understood Armenian. The pastor and his wife told them about Jesus. The family began attending church regularly.
Viken loved going to church and learning that God loved him. The people in the church cared about him too. They helped his uncle find work so the family could afford a bit more food. Some of the believers gave them clothes. Viken might not have had much money, but he knew he was rich because Jesus loved him.
One day Viken didn't feel well. As time passed, he began to feel sicker and sicker. For several days he lay on his mattress on the floor. His mother and aunt prayed for him. Since becoming Christians, they knew that Jesus had the power to heal Viken. They didn't know what was wrong with Viken, but they prayed in faith that Jesus would heal him. They were too poor to go to a doctor.
Viken laid on the mattress for several days. Early one morning, Viken had a visitor. No-someone didn't come to his home. His visitor appeared to him in a dream. His visitor was Jesus. In a dream, Jesus came to him, stood by his bed, and smiled. Viken could feel the love of Jesus. Suddenly, Viken woke up, and he was healed. He went to his mother and said, " I saw Jesus, and He healed me." Viken's family rejoiced! They were so excited!
Viken was completely healed that day. Prayers offered to Jesus brought healing to his body. Viken was poor and lonely on the streets of Jordan, but now he considers himself rich because he is a child of the King-Jesus! Information for this story was supplied by Assemblies of God workers in the Middle East and is used with permission from Assemblies of God World Missions.
©2002 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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