‘Several years went by, and I kept thinking about the invitation of that leader to come back to see him there at the large, beautiful worship center. I thought about how God had given me urgency to pray with that man.
The next time I was flying into that city, I prayed, “God, if it would be for your glory, help me to find that man again.”
The next morning after my arrival back in that city, God awakened me very early. I had another flight out that very day, but before my flight, God impressed me to go back to that same big worship center. I went and found the place and entered. I asked for the leader whom I had met previously. It was past the time for the call to prayer. The few men who were still there watched me with great curiosity.
“Our leader is not here. You can find him at his home,” they said.
“Where’s his home?” I asked. They pointed to an apartment across the campus.
I walked over to the apartment, and I rang the doorbell. No one answered. I rang again, and no one answered. People were walking by on the street, looking at me. I was a westerner, and I could tell that they were puzzled why I was at the door of their religious leader. Again and again, I rang the doorbell. I felt foolish but was impressed not to give up. Finally, I heard a door open on the upper level and the sound of little feet coming down the stone steps.
A little boy came and looked at me with a puzzled expression. He greeted me in his language. I asked him if I could see the leader who called for prayer, and he scampered back up the steps. I heard the voice of the little boy and the voice of a woman as they discussed something. Then the little boy came running down the steps as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran right up to me, looked up, and commanded confidently, “Follow me.” And he immediately started walking back across the campus. “Where are we going?” I asked him.
“To the worship center,” he said.
“I have already looked for the leader there,” I told him. “No, he is there!” The little boy said emphatically. “How do you know?” I asked, unconvinced.
The little boy grinned, “He is my daddy. Follow me!”
I followed the boy back into the worship center and directly across the main place of prayer. Those gathered there to pray stared as this little boy confidently led me, a westerner, through the prayer hall down a hallway and into what appeared to be a special, private chamber. He walked very quietly up to a man lying face down with his head covered. “There’s my daddy,” he whispered. His daddy was sound asleep!
Oh, this isn’t a good situation! I thought to myself. He won’t be happy to have me wake him. Should I wake him up? Then I remembered how this leader had invited me three years before to come back and see him. I tried to assure myself that when he woke up and saw my face, he would remember our great conversation.
The little boy was waiting to see what I would do. So, I whispered, “Please wake up your father.” I was standing a few feet away. I was so excited to see this man again.
The little boy began tugging the sleeve of his father, but the man appeared to be in deep, deep sleep.
His son tugged at him again and began to shake him. “Daddy, Daddy, wake up!”
The man turned over and slowly sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes. His son tugged at his arm jabbering something and pointing with much excitement at me. But when the man took his hands off his face, I was shocked! The man looking up at me was not the same leader who had invited me back. This man looked at me blankly, and then stood up without a smile. He was not happy to see me standing there.
It was an awkward moment, but the Spirit of God was there. I introduced myself to him, and he understood enough of my English to carry on a conversation. I told him about meeting the other leader several years previous. He asked, “Are you of our faith?”
“No. I am a follower of Jesus,” I responded. We had a good conversation. Then the Spirit of God whispered to my mind, “Give him a book.” I asked him if I could give him a book that I had written. He nodded his approval. I gave him one of my books that shares about how God has called our homes to be disciple-making places for Jesus.
Then the Spirit of God said, “Ask him if you can pray with him.” I asked him if I could pray with him, and he cautiously agreed. I prayed with him, and then I left as it was almost time to catch my plane.
As I rode in a taxi back to the airport, I silently praised God for His perfect timing in arranging for my visit three years before and now for my return visit that morning. I had not seen who I had intended to see, but instead was led by God back to the worship center to a spiritual leader who was even more open to what I had to share as a follower of Jesus.
Call to Action
Oh, my friend, remember that the Spirit of God has people for you to see in every city and on every continent, even in the city or town where you live. And when you go, if you keep your heart and mind in tune with Him, He always has an agenda. Just pray and prepare for amazing divine appointments!
