Andrew and Rebecca began a new season of ministry in August last year. Along with their three boys they have been setting up life in a new location in the Middle East. It’s a big change for the couple who spent eight years in Southeast Asia building capacity for churches to use sport. However, the longer they spent in Asia the more they became focused on communities closed to Gospel work and helping find creative ways for local believers to have a presence in those communities.

The region had been on their radar for a while, with Andrew growing up in part of Sydney with a lot of people from the Middle East. “At a regional conference for the Middle East, Andrew heard so many stories of both barriers and opportunities and became convinced that our skillsets could be useful for helping cross some of those barriers,” shared Rebecca. As well as using sport as a ministry platform, the couple are working in partnership with a local church to develop leadership potential in young people and disciple others.

Andrew and Rebecca have already seen God’s faithfulness at work. They have been praying that God would open doors into communities with little Gospel presence. God has begun to answer those prayers with the arrival of new coaches and players at the football club they are involved with bringing the whole family into relationships with people they might not otherwise meet at school or church.

Andrew shared, “Making relationships in a new culture is always challenging. Football gives us a chance to get close to people and to spend a lot of time with them. I see my players four or five times a week, which is a lot more than I see people from church. I bring a skillset that people value, that means they respect me, want to spend time with me and learn from me. This presents some great opportunities to speak into people’s lives.”

The couple are also intentional about building capacity among local believers and discipling young adults. Rebecca said, “At the very first young adults’ event we went to last year, we were excited to see a good-sized group gathered.” As they were introduced to the group, they realised that many of them had plans to leave for work or study. “In a country where many are leaving because of an economic crisis we are learning to pour into people for however long you have them,” she shared. “We are focussed on trying to strengthen their faith and to try and equip them for an uncertain and unsettled future whether here or elsewhere.” Andrew and Rebecca continue to journey with the group and encourage them to remain strong in their faith in the face of pressures and persecution.

To someone considering serving in the Middle East, Rebecca shared, “This is not a region for the faint of heart but there is an openness that comes with the kind of repeated, perpetual crises these people have experienced. What is most needed is a deep heart for people and willingness to be creative in finding ways to build bridges and bring value into communities.”

As the family continues to establish their ministry roots in the Middle East, they look forward to strengthening their relationships. “It’s such a deeply hospitable culture and we are looking forward to sharing more meals and coffees and for opportunities to go deeper in conversation each time,” said Rebecca.
 

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PRAY: Join us in praying for our mission workers in the Middle East and the churches in the region. Find out more at sim.org.au/middleeast.

GIVE: Would you like to partner with SIM in making Christ known in the Middle East? You can give to support Andrew & Rebecca at sim.org.au/andrewrebecca or alternatively support SIM in our work to raise and equip new skills-based Gospel workers at sim.org.au/missionglobal.

Image credit: Alamy