Praise Report: Gulf Inner Healing Conference 2020

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We’re familiar with the idea that following Jesus incurs a great cost, but this most often looks like denying worldly comforts for us in the West. We don’t tend to live our daily Christian lives under the constant threat of imprisonment, violence, or death. Living for Jesus in the UK rarely results in ostracisation, manipulation and abuse from our families. When we turn up to church on a Sunday, we aren’t treated as suspected spies by brothers and sisters. Gathering for church isn’t marked with concern of being discovered by oppressive governments.

This is the reality for the majority of New Church (NC) believers coming from a Muslim background in the Middle East. Believing the Gospel, in some ways, is the easiest part. Navigating the way through life as a Christian believer is a road paved with deep emotional tension, confusion and struggle. Many NC believers in this region come to faith with an already trauma-laden past, too, from backgrounds of abuse, trafficking, warfare and poverty. 

Opportunities to confront emotional hurts and encounter the tranformative work of the Holy Spirit are rare. This is why events such as the Inner Healing Conference, attended by around 50 individuals from across the entire region and run by our Gulf team at the end of December, are so important.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10

Running events like this in the MENA region is extremely dangerous. Christians meeting together in any number is risky enough, let alone the security threats involved in organising a three-day conference with visiting speakers and guests from abroad. 

Yet, praise be to our faithful God! Everyone attending was kept safe. Practical, technical and logistical details were smooth. But, most importantly, the presence of God was there! The power of the Holy Spirit was at work in many hearts, and lives were changed. There are so many stories of healing and transformation we’d love to share with you, but here are just a few of our favourite personal testimonies from those who attended. 

  • “I have been struggling with a relationship for ten years. The Forgiveness talk liberated me.”

  • “I have been carrying loads of emotional pain that needed to be healed. It was huge.”

  • “God touched my heart in a very special way.  It was a turning point in my life.”

  • “I was able to release forgiveness, and hold neither them nor me in bondage any more.”

He truly has come to bring LIFE to the FULL! We hope and pray for more opportunities for events such as this in the future.