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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAt the time, the military movement had cut off TV and radio programs, so there was no way to hear from the outside world. One day, though, Ali climbed to the top of a mountain so that he could seek a signal for his radio. He was having trouble finding a station, when all of a sudden, he picked one up \u2014 a Christian radio show playing worship music and sharing Bible stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGod directed me to one channel that I connected with \u2014 it was a Christian channel, and as I listened, it was interesting and beautiful,\u201d Ali recalls. \u201cAll I loved was the music and the story, but it was so clear that God provided this opportunity for me when I was desperately looking for something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ali went searching for a Bible, but he couldn\u2019t find one in his country. Knowing he wouldn\u2019t be able to learn more in his home country, he decided to look elsewhere. He left his home in 2005, and it took him five years of traveling and walking from country to country to discover a small Christian community, where he finally gave his life to Christ. \u201cI found the Bible and started studying and learning, and I discovered things that I always felt like I wanted, needed,\u201d Ali says. \u201cI fell in love with Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While he was away from his home country, Ali applied for refugee asylum, and he eventually made his way to the United States in 2009. After moving to Colorado Springs in 2017, he met The Navigators at a Nations Within<\/a> collaborative ministry event in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a year of spending time with the Navigators, Ali said, \u201cI want to be a Navigator.\u201d At first, Navigators staff tried to talk him out of it, since he\u2019d have to fundraise. But he replied, \u201cI can trust God, who got me out of the Middle East. I can trust Him again to do this job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali joined The Navigators Nations Within staff in 2020 to start a ministry reaching other refugees in Seattle with his wife, Sierra. While there, Ali connected with another Christian refugee from his homeland named Latif, who soon after also joined the staff of Nations Within to reach the refugee community in Memphis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The fruit of both of their ministries has been abundant and multiplying disciples, reaching far beyond Seattle and Memphis to bring Jesus to those who have little to no access \u2014 men and women back in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Ali and Latif\u2019s different ministries, there is a specific way they build community and reach people for Jesus \u2014 meeting needs, hearing stories, and healing past hurts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are working with people who have been used, tortured, manipulated, or hurt physically, mentally, or spiritually,\u201d Ali says. \u201cSome have never experienced love or compassion from others, even their parents, because of where they grew up. They may have different perspectives that require you to love them, serve them, be patient, and see where God is leading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Seattle, Ali serves Middle Eastern refugees and families by helping them find jobs, communities, housing, schools, and more. By meeting physical needs, he creates a starting point for relationships and trust to grow, eventually leading others to Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just one of the many stories of this occurring was several months ago, when a couple from the Middle East came into Washington with no place to stay. Ali connected with them and found a family from his church to take the couple into their home. Eventually, they learned the couple\u2019s story \u2014 they had run from their home country and desperately needed community. Ali and the church continued to share the gospel and love the couple by serving and providing for them, and after a few months, the Lord opened their hearts. The husband and wife accepted Christ and were baptized!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are working with a minority group coming from harsh places here in the United States,\u201d Ali says. \u201cBut by continuing to help them, talk, and work with them, they will reach a point where they get healed. They will receive love and become more and more comfortable. They will love you, hold you, count on you. And God can do some significant things through them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, Latif creates a safe space for Middle Eastern refugees in Memphis to connect and create community. Whether it\u2019s Saturday night soccer games or inviting women into his family\u2019s home for tea, Latif will welcome others in and create relationships where he can share the gospel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe love them and serve them, and now we have a very good friendship with them,\u201d Latif says. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy, but we see the word of God work in our ministry. We started with three people here in our church, but now we have about 40 Middle Eastern believers meeting every Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The beauty of Ali and Latif\u2019s ministry is that they have extended their work to not only reach those in the United States, but their families and communities back in their home country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali currently splits his time by creating schools and work for Middle Eastern women who are not allowed to be educated or have public jobs. Currently, he and his team have provided education for over 1,000 girls and job opportunities for 300 women, employing them to make beautiful lamb\u2019s wool rugs that are hand-dyed with berries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Latif is also reaching people across the Middle East through media channels, much like the radio station that Ali found when he was young. Twice a week for an hour, he broadcasts the gospel, and they often get calls and messages from people around the world with questions or who are praising God. This has led to over 20 virtual Bible studies, led by Latif and his team, that are currently happening in home churches in the Middle East. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are building a community of believers inside the Middle East, providing an opportunity to answer their questions, share the gospel with them, and send them whatever they need,\u201d Ali says. \u201cFor me, 20 years ago, I was desperately looking for a Bible or a Christian to tell me who Jesus is. We want that to be available for other people, too, whether in the Middle East or the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The work that Ali and Latif are doing with the Middle Eastern community has inspired others to step up and do similar ministries across the country, from Louisville, Kentucky to Dallas, Texas. The work has grown to four locations and almost 10 staff working with those from the Middle East, and they have seen over 200 people come to Christ that Nations Within can count, both in the States and across the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For Ali, the spread of the gospel makes sense. After all, light shines brightest in the darkest of places. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a very unfortunate time inside of the Middle East \u2014 people are grieving, and it is dark there,\u201d he says. \u201cBut because it is dark, people are desperate for light. Christ\u2019s light is shining brighter and brighter, and when they see it, they have questions and want to be around it.\u201d\u00a0 Discipleship Tip:<\/p>\nAli and Latif excel at building trust in relationships, listening to people\u2019s stories and meeting their tangible needs. Think about how you can build trust with non-believers in your circles. Are you listening well to where they are coming from, learning about their past experiences and what they might need? Getting to know people well \u2014 and letting them know you \u2014 can be the best first step to sharing the gospel and introducing them to Jesus.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Ali and Latif have made a significant impact in their communities by serving others, loving them well, and sharing the gospel. How can you be a good neighbor in your communities? Learn how you can make meaningful discipleship relationships in our resource, \u201cShare God\u2019s Love With Your Neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nUplifting Middle Eastern Communities in the United States<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How God is Moving Across the World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A Light in Dark Places<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you feel called to support Ali and Latif\u2019s ministry, you can both come alongside them in prayer and become a partner monetarily by offering a gift to our Nations Within ministry<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nHow to Impact Your Community<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n