This past June was the ninth month of the Muslim calendar year, Ramadan. In Pemba, an island off the east coast of Africa, 99% of its 400,000 inhabitants that follow Islam underwent a strict fast. They could not consume anything except water from sunrise to sunset.

Rashid, 25, was among those fasting in pursuit of enlightenment… and the Lord had him in mind.

Send56 missionary, Enoch and his team were led by the Holy Spirit to share the gospel in this region in spite of the opposition they would face.

“They didn’t want us to evangelize during their time of fasting,” Enoch explained, “but we felt like God convicted us to not keep silent.”

One day, Enoch crossed paths with Rashid and spoke with him about Jesus. Throughout the time of Ramadan, Enoch discipled Rashid in Jesus and a bond formed between the two of them. At the end of Ramadan, after considering everything that Enoch taught him, Rashid was ready to put his faith in Christ.

Sadly, in this part of the world, any faith besides Islam is considered taboo; Rashid was not free to be himself. He knew that if he made his newfound faith public, his family would reject him.

“Because Rashid was afraid of family rejection,” said Enoch, “I told him we would meet secretly in his home for a time. He accepted. I began discipling him in his home, and he is growing. He said he is now ready to join the church and be baptized.”

Throughout Africa, many people who seek eternal life are unaware of the saving knowledge of Jesus. Thankfully, national missionaries like Enoch are working to change that.

Click here to learn more about mobilizing missionaries like Enoch.