Sharing the Season

Living in the UAE gives Christians opportunity to build relationships with people from many different walks of life and lots of different religions. The Bellmans became friends with one of their neighbors who is a Muslim family. Since they do not have any of their extended family or close friends in the country with them, they are seeking friendships with neighbors. The Bellmans started to get together frequently with this family for dinner, shopping or coffee and they have become much like family.

The Muslim family has seen Thanksgiving and Christmas family dinners portrayed in movies and they asked the Bellmans if they would have a dinner “like the movies”. Since the Bellmans had some of their family visiting from America, they knew more people would make for a nice, large family gathering. An invitation was extended, and the Muslim family came over for a dinner in mid-December. Traditional American food was served, and they graciously tried all the foods.

The meal began with a time of prayer, and they discussed the reason Christians celebrate Christmas: that Jesus was God’s son born of a virgin who lived a sinless life and willingly died as a sacrifice for our sins so that we can have a restored relationship with God and eternal life. We love spending time with our friends, and our Christmas dinner provided an opportunity for us to fellowship in love and laughter and share our reason for joy and hope.

Please pray for the following:

Please pray the relationship will progress on a spiritual level so that it is more than a cultural relationship.

Pray that they see their spiritual need for Christ and that soon the two families will share the same relationship in Christ.

*All names are changed.